(POV – Protagonist)
I don't know exactly how much time has passed, but it's probably been a few good hours. Since that man in the strange outfit entered, no one else has shown up. The glass through which I was being observed returned to normal, so I couldn't see if anyone was on the other side.
With absolutely nothing to do, I tried to entertain myself. I started spinning in circles, then jumped repeatedly, and finally, threw myself on the floor, bored. The place was just a vast, dull white emptiness, and I was beginning to feel like I was about to go crazy.
(Couldn't they give me a video game or something to pass the time? It's not possible they've just forgotten me here... could they?)
The thought that I might be completely alone and abandoned was terrifying. However, the heavens had not yet forsaken me. Just as I thought this, and tiny tears began to form at the corners of my eyes, the door opened again. This time, it was Victor who entered. He wasn't wearing the special suit like the previous person but regular clothes, similar to what a security guard would wear.
He was carrying a bag in his hands, and his gaze was fixed on me, while I couldn't take my eyes off the bag. I seriously wondered what was inside, as the pleasant aroma reaching me suggested it was food. Victor stopped right in front of me, holding the bag.
He then opened the bag, still with a cautious look directed at me. However, I was more interested in the bag than in his expression. Although I wasn't hungry, it didn't mean I didn't want to eat something. Eating would give me satisfaction, even if it wasn't necessary to stave off hunger, since I didn't even feel hungry to begin with.
"I really don't know if you can eat or if you feel hunger, but it's part of the procedures. We need to find out if you need to eat or not"
Saying this, Victor began taking items out of the bag: a wrapper that clearly contained a hamburger and a can of Coca-Cola. He placed them on the floor right in front of me and then stepped back slowly, keeping me under watch.
For some reason, I had the feeling that he was treating me like a pet, but honestly, it didn't matter at the moment. In front of me were a can of Coca-Cola and a hamburger wrapper. I couldn't even remember the last time I had eaten something.
I completely ignored Victor's presence and sat down. First, I took the can of Coca-Cola and opened it. I noticed Victor giving me a strange look, probably surprised that I managed to open the can despite theoretically having never seen one before. I then turned my attention to the wrapper containing the hamburger.
I took the wrapper and put it directly in my mouth. Victor gave me a look of surprise. I chewed the hamburger, and as I expected, I was able to filter out the taste of what I wanted to feel. In short, even chewing both the plastic and the hamburger, I only perceived the taste of the hamburger.
I ate calmly, ignoring Victor's gaze. At some point, he had already left, but I didn't care. Anyway, that hamburger was delicious. If possible, I would love to have another one.
***
(POV – Emily Parker)
On the other side of the glass, Emily watched the scene calmly. She still didn't understand the reason for the anomaly's earlier aggressive reaction. Emily felt intensely that she could have died at any moment at the anomaly's hands if it had wanted to. However, instead, the anomaly simply started ignoring them.
As she reflected on the possible cause of the anomaly's negative reaction, Emily heard Laura's voice beside her, also observing the situation attentively.
"Maybe the anomaly felt uncomfortable with the presence of a stranger. What if we sent someone it already knows?"
At first, Emily thought this idea was absurd. Was Laura comparing the anomaly to a small child? However, Emily knew that Laura had survived all these years precisely because the absurd often ended up becoming reality.
"Call Victor, explain the current situation, and ask him to bring some food for the anomaly"
Soon after, Victor entered the anomaly containment room offering food. Emily didn't know if the anomaly needed to eat, but she thought it was an excellent opportunity to observe its reaction.
This time, the anomaly didn't react with aggression. In fact, it even seemed satisfied, its gaze fixed on Victor. Could Laura be right? Emily wasn't sure, but it was undeniable that the anomaly was showing a much friendlier behavior compared to before.
Emily wore a satisfied smile, indicating that the anomaly had at least a certain degree of intelligence. It seemed capable of remembering faces and distinguishing between good and bad people, suggesting that its perception went beyond what was expected.
"Victor, good job. You can go back now"
Emily pondered the next steps. She was eager to conduct various tests as she had never encountered such a fascinating anomaly. Not because it was especially unique—she had already studied thousands of anomalies that defied all known knowledge—but because its complexity and behavior intrigued her deeply.
However, this anomaly seemed to have something distinct from the others. Emily couldn't pinpoint exactly why she felt this way, but it might be a reflection of her years of experience with anomalies or simply a brief illusion. Either way, she couldn't contain her excitement.
***
(POV – Protagonist)
When Victor stepped back, I continued savoring the taste of the hamburger I had just eaten. Honestly, it was delicious. Even though I didn't need to eat, it didn't mean I didn't want to. Besides, this experience confirmed that I could still taste food, which was a relief.
Also, I didn't know why, but Emily and Laura were watching me with satisfied smiles. At some point, the glass was reinstalled, but this time only Laura and Emily were present. Although I wondered where the other scientists had gone, it wasn't something I really cared about. Speaking of which...
(When are they going to bring me more food?)