TIME: 19:05
DATE: CLASSIFIED
LOCATION: TESTING SITE #3

“The time is...7 o’ clock.” Dr. Berry murmured from behind the camera, which was struggling to focus on what was in front of it.

After a few moments, the screen became clear.

Subject J was strapped to a chair, completely calm. At least it appeared that way. The slight shake in his hands showed how scared he actually was. The sound of Subject P wailing loudly could distantly be heard in the background. 

“State your name and age, Subject J.” Dr. Berry sounded distracted, clearly preparing something else.

Subject J cleared his throat. “Janus Orm, 23 years old.” He said, voice clear. 

“Do you know why you’re here?” 

“Because I tried to help the others escape.” Subject J replied, cool and collected as ever. “Are you going to do to me what you did to Remus?”

“No.” Dr. Berry denied. 

“No?” Subject J asked, voice wavering a bit before he cleared his throat. “Then, what do you plan to do to me?”

Dr. Berry ignored him, the sound of a pen writing being the only sound heard. 

“Dr. Berry?” 

“What?”

“When will I go back to the others?”

Whatever Dr. Berry was doing, he stopped, the audio going silent. Subject J shifted uncomfortably in his chair, trying to seem like he was in control of the situation. 

“That depends on how you behave during your time with me.” Dr. Berry said simply, returning to writing. “Failure to cooperate with me may prove to result in things you will not find so pleasant.”

“What did you do to Remus?” Subject J asked abruptly. “His laugh is strange now, and the look in his eyes is different. He says the strangest things, and his mood swings…” Subject J shook his head. “Why is he so different?”

“I’m afraid I cannot disclose personal information about other subjects.” Dr. Berry replied smoothly.

“Why not?” Subject J huffed. “We’re all a family, us ‘subjects.’” He said. “I deserve to know.”

“That’s rather entitled of you, Subject J.” Dr. Berry said. 

“Is that a no?”

“You’d be correct in assuming that.” 

“You can’t even tell me a little bit?” Subject J asked. 

“No, I can’t.” Dr. Berry denied. “That is information that only Subject R-E can choose to disclo--”

“Please, Dr. Berry. I’m desperate.” Subject J begged, interrupting the scientist. “He’s like a brother to me. I can’t help him if I don’t know what’s going on. He won’t talk to me anymore, he won’t really talk to anyone anymore.” 

“I’ve never seen you act like this before, Subject J.” Dr. Berry told him, mirth filling his voice. “You must really care about him.”

Subject J paused, before a carefully neutral expression returned to his face. “I suppose.” 

“Now,” Dr. Berry seemed to finally focus all of his attention on Subject J. He walked into the camera’s field of view. He was wearing plastic gloves, a vial of something in his hands. Dr. Berry grabbed a tray from a table that couldn’t be seen on camera, placing the vial inside of it. “What’s your pain tolerance like, Subject J?”

“My...My pain tolerance?” Subject J swallowed nervously. “Why do you ask?”

Dr. Berry took a large syringe off of the tray, holding it up so that Subject J could see. It was empty, but the needle itself was enough to cause Subject J to freeze up. 

“See this?” Dr. Berry asked, placing the tray back down. He held the needle a little closer to Subject J, who leaned away from it instinctively. “Sharp, isn’t it? I’m going to fill this with the stuff in that vial.” 

“What’s in the vial?” Subject J asked, feigning confidence. 

“Pure hydrochloric acid.” Dr. Berry told him, pulling the needle away from his face. “The stuff that’s in detergents.”

“That...that can burn me.” Subject J murmured, glancing back and forth from the syringe to Dr. Berry. “That can kill me.”

Dr. Berry put the syringe down, and instead grabbed a medical mask. He put it on, and grabbed the vial of clear liquid from off of the table. “Do you know how badly this will hurt?”

“You’re going to kill me?” Subject J asked, voice wobbling as his breathing became more frantic.

Dr. Berry chuckled, grabbing the syringe again.

Slowly, he poured the liquid into the syringe. He didn’t put much, only an eighth of the bottle. Still, it was enough to cause Subject J to burst into tears. “Please, please you can’t! I won’t do it again, I-I promise! I’ll do whatever you say, from now on! I-I’ll be good, I won’t cause any more trouble!”

“Shut up.” Dr. Berry snapped, annoyance in his voice. “You’re giving me a headache.”

“I don’t wanna die, Dr. Berry. Please.” Subject J pleaded. “I’ve been nothing but obedient!”

“I just told you to be quiet.” Dr. Berry hissed. Subject J went silent.

Dr. Berry waited a second, before putting the syringe down. He glanced at Subject J, who seemed grateful. 

“Thank you.” Subject J whispered, relieved tears streaming down his face. “Thank you, thank you.”

Dr. Berry chuckled. “You didn’t seem to like the needle.”

“I’m terrified of them, Dr. Berry. They’re my worst fear.” He admitted lowly. “Thank you, really.”

Dr. Berry glanced at the vial in his hands, and threw half of it onto Subject J’s face. 

Subject J bristled, blinking in surprise as it dripped down his face.”It...doesn’t hurt?” Subject J laughed breathlessly. “It doesn’t hurt!” He cringed. “It...smells…”

Dr. Berry only stared blankly at him, not seeming alarmed in the slightest. “It doesn’t hurt?” He echoed sarcastically.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Subject J asked, brow furrowing. “Why are--” He gasped, eyes widening. 

A few moments passed, and suddenly Subject J was shaking and coughing. “Oh god--Oh god, it burns!” He screamed, pushing against his restraints.

Dr. Berry laughed cheerfully. “Do you feel that?” He asked, moving a little closer to Subject J. “That’s your skin melting. Burns, doesn’t it?”

“Please--Help me! It burns! Help!” Subject J begged, breaths becoming heavier and more frantic again. Dr. Berry took the rest of the vial, grabbed Subject J’s face with his gloved hand, and poured it down his throat. 

The scientist backed away, marvelling at his creation. 

Red, angry burns were beginning to show up on the half of Subject J’s face that he poured the acid on. Subject J was screaming now, raw and painful. He writhed in his chair, hands tensing like they wanted to claw the acid off of his face. 

A second later, Subject J coughed up blood, eyes wide and unfocused. He choked and spluttered, the thick, red liquid coming out in large amounts. Subject J couldn’t speak anymore, the blood cutting off any words he had to say. 

Dr. Berry watched in a sort of sick fascination, putting the empty vial back down. 

“Incredible.” He murmured.

Subject J screamed, raw and bloody.

He went limp, eyes dull as he stared straight ahead. Dark red blood dripped from his mouth onto his clothes. He twitched, but other than that gave no movement. 

“Subject J?” Dr. Berry called, only being met with silence. “Subject J?” He repeated after a few moments of silence.

Subject J didn’t move, deathly silent. His chest didn’t rise and fall, completely still. 

Dr. Berry hummed, walking behind the camera. “Time of death: 7:15 P.M.” He murmured, writing something down.