T-02-43
TETH is the danger level of abnormalities that represent a greater danger than ZAYIN. As long as we were cautious about the managerial tips before entering a containment unit, we wouldn't be in danger whatsoever.
Now. Having those useful tips is awesome, but… what are we meant to do when we don't have them?
I pressed my ear against the unit's door. I could hear the tippity noises of many legs moving along without much purpose. I peeked again at the Animal Encyclopedia I requested upon learning the nature of the new abno assigned to our department.
A fact often overlooked by many is that victims trapped in a spider's cocoon are actually not dead. The prey is in fact slowly dying within. Their death is postponed so they can be kept fresh for later consumption. A spider's poison contains a toxin that permanently damages the heart, eventually leading to death. Insects, trapped in the pitch-black cocoons, have no choice but to wait for the spiderlings to feed on them, feeling their heart beat slower and slower.
"Whatever I do, pissing them off will mean becoming their prey."
When I opened the door, darkness welcomed me. Holding fast to my notes and the bag filled with dead insects, I stepped inside. Scratch that. I halted before stepping on a spiderling. The thing then began climbing my leg. My instincts screamed at me to shake it off, but I didn't dare. Not with their mother studying me from the ceiling.
It resembled a bulb with many red eyes. Its legs were attached to a dark ceiling. The lights of the unit were malfunctioning due to the excessive amount of spider webs and residues. I considered cleaning the unit, but disrupting their domain would be rude.
The door closed behind me. I was left completely alone with the abnormality. Marette was in no condition to start managerial tasks before relearning their training and Laurence… they didn't fancy the idea of working with T-02-43. When the manager chose me to venture into the unknown, Laurence didn't hide his relief and also mocked me for my bad luck. Our Sephirah silenced them and sent them to work with O-03-03, as per the manager's orders.
Alone with Spider Bud and its spawn, I opened the bag of insect carcasses and sprayed it around. The little spiders danced around and enjoyed the feast. I rose my eyes to meet their mother's. Spider Bud was satisfied with that conclusion, but the way it eyed me… I felt endangered, so I kept my wits about everything and fought hard to give them no reasons to eat me instead.
The darkness and the crawling spiders. Sounds in the void. I was starting to lose my sanity. When I was about to look at the door to check if the work was over, a spiderling bit me in the leg. I jolted from the sudden pain, but remained as still as I could. I knelt, grabbed the terrifying little monster with care and removed it from my new injury. It buried its fangs so deep inside my flesh the scent of blood agitated the others. My situation worsened by the second.
Ding! Good results! I left the unit as fast as my legs permitted me. Upon hearing the door close behind me, I crumbled to the ground and gave out a sigh.
"Are you okay?"
A clerk passing by stopped to check on me. Their short red hair was cut in a straight line, letting its fringe fall over its eyes in a gloomy fashion. I wondered about the turd-like shape they kept on top.
"I am alive. Next time, I will research essences the spiders don't like eating so they don't bite as much."
"That sounds terrible. Here, let me help you."
I took their hand and got up. Letting out yet another sigh, I picked my pen and began taking all the notes I didn't dare scribble during my work. I was utterly frozen in fear inside that place. Gladly, temperance and patience were my most remarkable virtues. Besides, having survived the experience of feeding spiders… made me feel stronger… as if my fortitude had increased thanks to the experience.
Don't. Step. On the kids. Period.
After I returned successfully from a couple sessions of Instinct Work with T-02-43, Laurence started grumbling more and more, probably due to how Marette admired my guts to deal with such a scary abnormality. Consequently, Laurence asked Malkuth to be assigned to Spider Bud in order to get better results than I did.
At her request, I monitored Laurence from outside, just in case something happened. Guess what? That bully's first instinct was crushing the spiderlings. Spider Bud's legs grabbed Laurence and took them to the ceiling. Their screams resonated through the corridor, alarming a couple of clerks passing by. I immediately asked for help, but after I stepped inside the unit… I once again froze in fear.
Next to Spider Bud, a cocoon weakly wiggled hanging from the ceiling. Laurence was still alive. A voice inside my head told me to help them. However, Spider Bud's eyes advised me against it. If I moved an inch, I would join Laurence instead. So… I just stood there. Listening Laurence's begs for rescue and the spiders nibbling on their flesh.
Ding! A smiley face told me I could leave.
"No! Please! Don't leave me here! [DATA EXPUNGED]!"
The door opened. The brown robot waited for me besides a beautiful lady.
"That is enough. With this, we just met today's quota. Good work. Now, leave the containment unit."
Alternating looks between the cocoon and Angela and Malkuth, my eyes then became fixed at Spider Bud. Was I allowed to leave? Could I really leave Laurence to a slow painful death?
"You can leave, [DATA EXPUNGED]. Thanks to your work today, we found out T-02-43's energy production goes up when there is a cocoon in its unit. Although the Welfare Team requested to approve a plan of rescue whenever one of these incidents happened, the increase in results yielded cannot be overlooked. In that regard, I advise you to never make the same mistakes as your coworker." Angela had golden eyes. That was the first time she opened them. "Help will not come for you."
I regretted not leaving as soon as she gave the order. I could have saved Laurence from listening to those gelid words. Even if their life was forfeit, they could have held fast to hope. As miserable as their last days were about to be… I… I wasn't cruel enough to wish them such tortuous last moments.
Without losing a second, Angela moved away to continue her never ending duties.
"You really stepped up your game, [CONFINDENTIAL ID]. Great! You even received Angela's praise!" Malkuth celebrated as she closed the unit's door. "I didn't know she was capable of saying such nice words to employees like you. Let this fill you with motivation and give it your all!"
"Are we really going to leave Laurence there, miss Malkuth?" My voice cracked under the emotion. "Don't take me wrong. I don't like them, but this treatment is beyond cruel. Is human life a coin with which purchase energy? Are we so worthless?"
The Sephirah lowered its gaze and pondered silently. She took the notes I took from my prior works and read a few lines.
"Employee 001202's death is a regrettable event. You will get used to seeing your colleagues dying everywhere around you, though, so don't worry. You just have to keep doing your best every day!"
I shouldn't worry about getting used to my co-workers dying all the time? Does that mean… I am expendable? That's when it hit me. Wings always have one or two secrets behind their success. Lobotomy Corporation was one of the best energy produces inside the City… because it worked its employees to death inside its HQ and its many branches.
After being left alone in the corridor, I looked at the T-02-43's unit once again.
"Should I enter there and become a cocoon now? At least the energy production will improve…"
