The Villainous Cruz Family - Chapter 16

“That’s a terrible name.” Vin threw Atlas’ clothes back at him and rudely stated.

“I think it’s cute though?”

“I think Cotton sounds better.” Iris chimed. She was holding the rabbit now and thought that it felt exactly like cotton, hence the name. It also looked like cotton candy, very cute and delicious!

“Ooh, Cotton…That’s sounds good!” Unexpectedly, Atlas agreed straightforwardly with a bright smile strewn across his face. The twins looked at each other and laughed bubbly whilst discussing their plans to take care of the rabbit. Vin would occasionally chime in and give suggestions of his own. Ian just listened as he stared out the window in the front seat. The rather long journey home was quite harmonious.

When the issue was brought up to Kin and Joan, they merely nodded, “Yeah, you can keep it. Just make sure to take care of it properly.”

“Yayyy!!” The twins cheered. They thanked their parents and began telling them all about their plans in regards to the rabbit.

Just like that, the strange looking rabbit became the family pet.

—–

“T-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-the test subject…” A female draped in a white lab coat stuttered fearfully as she pointed at an empty glass cage.

“What’s wrong?” Her coworker looked up from his notebook. He had been recording his observations of the dog laying limply in the middle of a similar glass cage. When he glanced over, he found that the animal that was supposed to be there was not to be found.

“I-I’m going to die.” The female shrieked. “He’s going to kill me!”

“Calm down, perhaps someone just took it out for a test or something.” The male suggested nervously.

“That’s impossible. There are no records of the cage being opened.”

“…In any case, we must find it before the professor finds out or it’ll be our necks…”

They looked at each other and nodded resolutely. It was unknown how the test subject managed to escape but they had no choice but to search for it. The two anxiously looked around the lab, scrounging again for any traces of the test subject. As time ticked by, they grew paler and paler as their hearts beat faster and faster.

“How are the test subjects?” A crackly old voice boomed in the lab, sending chills down the hearts of the two.

“Professor!” The two greeted.

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, sir.” The male lied through his teeth and smiled. “Most of the subjects seem to be faring through the first stage. There is one that appears to be ready for the second.”

“Which one?” The professor tried to sound calm but the excitement in his voice was unconcealable.

“Test subject P-89, sir. It can already walk around and is eating well too. However, other subjects of the P series haven’t displayed the same vigour so it is unlikely that species plays a part in the success. Further research is required confirm this.” The female calmed her nerves and attempted to reply as professionally as she possibly could.

In truth, there was another subject that performed better than P-89. R-53 had reacted weakly at first but recovered at astonishing rates and even became stronger and healthier than previously. However, this R-143 had disappeared. The two could lie and say it had died but the professor would have wanted to dissect it for being the first to die so quickly and there were also records they could not erase in the database of its recovery.

“Let me see it.” The professor ordered.

“Yes, Professor.” The two secretly let out sighs of relief. P-89’s cage was the opposite from R-143’s. They walked at a decent pace and eventually arrived at their destination in which different cages, each containing a pig each, greeted them.

The pig seemed to recognise the professor and oinked in alarm. It ran to the back of cage, attempting to escape as far as it possibly could from the devil.

“Hahhahahahah!! It even learnt to fear now!” The professor cackled joyfully. “Excellent! Most excellent! Whahahahhaha!!”

The uproarious laughter of the professor filled the whole lab, echoing around obnoxiously.

“Keep observing for now. When there are enough subjects, we’ll continue to stage two.”

“Yes, Professor!” The two waited until the professor’s back disappeared from view as the automatic doors closed.

“Luckily, he did not find out.” The female cried.

“Yes, we might just be able to live. R-143 will not be the death of us.”

Unbeknownst to the two, their entire conversation was overheard by H-108. With a glowing bead in hand, H-108’s lips curled up. Then, when the bead broke and crumbled to dust, those lips fell and returned to their previous state.