Chapter 1: Awakening
Inuhoshi opened her eyes, slightly groggy from the sleep. She first saw an unfamiliar roof. Blinking a few times, she watched as the glass hatch above her head opened, allowing her to sit up. She then realised that she was not where she remembered being last. Quickly jumping out of the capsule shaped bed, she looked around, seeing glass walls keeping her trapped. She began to breathe heavily, disliking the situation she was placed in. She didn't know how she got here, and she didn't care. All she wanted was out of this room. The first thing she noticed were her clothes. Instead of her blue jeans and red t-shirt, she was wearing a very orange tracksuit. She had no shoes as of yet and her pentagram was missing. She began to hyperventilate, she was growing increasingly stressed.
"Hello, Subject 1, Name: Inuhoshi. We hope your slumber was peaceful and no nightmares were present." said a voice within the room. Inuhoshi froze, searching for a camera to go with that voice.
"What do you want with me you pervert?" she shouted, picking up the coffee mug on the bench beside the toilet, throwing it at one of the glass walls.
"I will open the doors for you to exit the chamber in one minute. In the meantime, please understand your purpose here. You will be drilled with numerous field tests in order to determine your maximum capabilities. When you have reached your limit, I will be notified by your sudden death. Are there any questions?" the voice asked. Inuhoshi was stunned speechless. She backed up into a corner, knocking the table out of the way. She crouched down, sitting on the ground with her legs to her chest, curling up into a ball.
"To make your experience more fair on your part, I have taken the liberty of placing a weapon within this facility that will help you navigate through these tests. All you are required to do is find it...Your door will open in: 3...2...1...Now!" Suddenly, a large life-size oval with an Orange outline opened up in the door in front of her. Without thinking, she shot out of the room and ran towards what looked like an exit.
"Very good. Now, head to your right and walk through the next portal." the voice said. Inuhoshi, feeling untrusting, reluctantly did as commanded, seeing an orange portal fluctuating between different areas. First, she saw a button, then an empty room. Finally, she saw a large box with a heart shape in the centre of the cover.
"Take the companion cube and place it on the button to move on to the next stage." the voice commanded. Inuhoshi shook her head, gripping her ears out of frustration.
"I don't want to do this test, I want to go home!" she screamed, wondering if the voice would hear.
"Take the companion cube and place it on the button to move on to the next stage." the voice repeated. Inuhoshi began to tear up, her eyes watering, making it difficult to see. She stood there for a while, wondering what to do. She thought: Perhaps if I make it to the next stage, I'll discover a way out. Deciding to go ahead with her plan, she waited for the portal to open for her to get the so-called companion cube. When it did, she ran for it, tripping over the portal in the process. Ignoring the sudden pain shooting up her leg, she grabbed the cube and quickly crawled back out just in time to see the portal change to the area with the button. With the sudden adrenaline rushing through her body, she struggled to throw the cube into the portal, watching as it landed right on the button. Inuhoshi relaxed, collapsing on the ground. She watched as a door opened to her left. Taking a minute to rest, she listened to the voice praising her success.
"Congratulations! Make your way to the elevator for the next round." the voice said. Inuhoshi groaned at this, slowly rising to her feet. She shuffled over to the elevator, her enthusiasm non-existent as she began to imagine what the next round contained. The elevator doors closed behind her as she entered and began the descent. Inuhoshi was too scared and too exhausted from the first round to even wonder if the elevator was taking her closer to salvation, or further into destruction.
She was answered soon after by the sound of electricity. The elevator doors opened and the sound grew louder. She walked out, searching the white walls for a hint towards the source of the electric sound.