Participant

Author: Meow

Six days ago, I decided to be a guinea pig in a trial for a new drug. The professionals call me a “clinical trial participant” to make it sound better, though. I knew it was risky. But they were right about me when they wrote, “self destructive and chaos-seeking” under my notes. I’m the perfect person for it. No family, no friends, no job. Most people would consider someone like me a pathetic excuse for a human. But in my opinion, people like me are great for tests and studies like these. Apparently the drug is to help people with insomnia and anxiety disorders. It’s already day three of being in this place. The lighting is just a little bit too bright, the walls are just slightly off from being a perfect white colour. The other participants don’t interest me. The nurse comes around at 11am sharp to check on us all. She’s straightforward and gets it done fast. I take the pill once everyday at 9am. So far I haven’t noticed any troubling side effects, aside from some mild tiredness. Day five and I’ve noticed my pupils are more dilated than they normally are. The other participants are acting odd. The first few days, they seemed like normal people. Now some of them seem aggressive, some seem overly anxious. I noticed the nurse fidgeting with her pen. She seemed more nervous or unsure than before. Day six, already. My pupils are now fully blown, and I feel more on edge. I’m not sure why the other participants are experiencing these side effects faster than me, but maybe it’s better I don’t worry about it. These side effects weren’t mentioned in the warnings we all got. We were told it would make us tired and maybe give us a headache. Not this. I can’t even rest in bed. They keep… screaming. I might as well check. My steps are cautious. They have to be. My pulse is beating like a drum. I can hear and feel it. There’s bloody footsteps leading to the… lab testing room. We aren’t even allowed in there. Should I really open the door? My hand turns the doorknob. Inside, there’s more blood splattered everywhere. Some of the lab ingredients have been spilled onto the floor. There’s a metallic, chemical smell as I walk further around. I hear eating sounds. Like the noise of someone eating meat… but somethings off. And that’s when I see it. Participant one eating participant three. My eyes widen and I stumble backwards, too in shock to say or do anything. I should run away. But I can’t. Participant one doesn’t even look back at me… he just keeps eating participant threes body. Participant three is still alive. Barely. He’s looking at me for help, while he’s being eaten alive. Participant one is like an animal. A rabid animal. But… his flesh does look juicy, if I dare say. It feels like I’m dreaming… until I feel the wet liquid my hand is touching. Blood mixed with… something. My breaths are loud and panicky, “P-participant one?” I barely manage my question, but he hears me. He stopes eating participant three and slowly turns around to me. His expression makes me think he feels no remorse or even confusion. He’s salivating at the mouth, “I can explain,” he tries convincing me. Like I’d ever believe that. I stand up, his gaze never leaving me. His flesh looks even tastier than the now-deceased flesh of participant three. His flesh is alive. I can feel the saliva in my mouth. It’s… too much. His pupils are dilated too. He can tell. He can tell I’m hungry for his flesh. I can see the nerves in his face. He’s good at hiding his nerves, I’ll give him that. I grab one of the glass bottles behind me and lunge at him, immediately slashing his arms and then his legs. I would slash his throat, but I want to eat him alive. I bite down on his left arm and eat it the same way I’d eat a tough bit of steak, savouring the blood and veins. It tastes amazing. His screams are like the seasoning. Then I take a final bite of his throat and savour it.