After much consideration (and fighting off years English and Creative Writing training to do it), I present my submission to the CM Bad Fiction challenge. (I seriously cannot believe I wrote this drivel!) Hope you, erm, enjoy... [Usual disclaimers.]
Wide brown eyes took in the sight of the enormous dark space around him, with one wall being covered in bright lights. A huge spotlight beamed down just slightly next to him, and Reid thought if he squinted he could make out the figure of a man in a dark cape standing inside of it. A deep, hitchy breathing wafted from the man's lungs, and the sound seemed almost eerily familiar.
No way, the profiler thought. No way this is happening…the physics alone are impossible!
He tried to move from his position on the cold metal surface that was elevated like a table, but the presence of restraints on the contraption all but put that idea to rest. Reid could only watch as the caped man circled him slowly, staring at his thinly clothed form that seemed as though it was exposed for all the world to see.
"What…what do you want?"
The caped man said nothing, but leaned in for a closer look. The absence of a face—just a shiny charcoal-like mask that had been polished to a bright sheen—put chills up the young man's spine.
Suddenly the lights in the giant room flipped on, and Reid cautiously turned his head slightly to see what looked like thousands of figures staring at him in awe. Some looked very much like he did, while others looked everything from tall and slimy to short and furry with beady little eyes. Oh, God, this isn't happening, he chanted to himself. This isn't happening…this isn't happening…this isn't happening…
"Good evening," the caped man said, his strong yet breathy voice booming over what sounded like a loudspeaker. "You may recall that in our last session we discovered what made a normal human tick." Several heads shifted on shoulders, and the sound rustled loudly in Reid's ears.
"Today we will focus on the higher order of that particular race, and determine what it is that makes a so-called 'genius' function in Earth society," the caped man continued. "With luck, this specimen should survive the testing, and we can ask questions later."
Near Reid's head, the sounds of an electrical object began to hum and the whir of some sort of cutting tool echoed in his ears.
"Don't worry, young human," the caped entity said gently, attempting to be soothing but failing badly on account of the harsh voice. "This won't hurt…much."
It was all Reid could do to stop from screaming.