Well-Grounded Confidence: Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Depression

I woke up the next morning, or what I assumed to be morning, to the smell of eggs. I opened my eyes and was shocked to find that I could see again. For some reason, my eyesight had not only returned during the night, but it had improved from what it was before! It was like I had my glasses on again.

Pleasantly surprised by this fortunate turn of events, I took in the sight of my room, including a tray of scrambled eggs and a glass of water on the floor. I jumped off my bed at the sight and ran over to the tray, where I proceeded to shovel the eggs into my mouth with my hands. There were no utensils, but even if there had been, I wouldn't have bothered with them. I hadn't eaten for a little over a day, it seemed, and I was starving.

When the eggs were gone, I looked warily at the water glass. I was thirsty, but I knew that I was weak against water, or water-type moves, at least. Did that mean I couldn't drink it? After thinking it over, I shrugged and took a sip. Nothing happened, so I downed the glass and set it back on the tray before moving over to sit in the armchair. Staring at my reflection in the TV screen, I saw that I hadn't changed any during the night. Or if I had, it was nothing noticeable.

I had been in the armchair for no more than five minutes before the bolt slid and the door opened. Another military man, this time with dirty blond hair and a mustache, walked into the room, kicking the tray to the side. It hit the wall with a clatter, causing me to cringe as the glass shattered into pieces on the floor. He walked towards me, slapped handcuffs on my wrists, and lifted me up over his shoulder one-handed before walking out of the room.

"Oh, they still think I'm blind," I realized. "Um, sir?" I asked the man. "Can you put me down? I can see just fine now, and-," I stopped talking when he dropped me roughly to the floor of the hallway, the cold metal jolting my body.

"Then shut up and walk before I kill you," he growled at me, eyes narrowed.

I got up and was escorted at gunpoint to Dr. Davidson's office again. Upon opening the door, I could tell that today would be especially bad. In addition to the normal amount of crazy stuff in the lab, there was now a cage against the wall. It was roughly my size.

"Oh, you're walking?" Dr. Davidson asked upon seeing me, "Then the vision enhancer IS a success! I must take note of this…" He scribbled furiously on his clipboard for a minute, leaving the guard and me by ourselves. When he finished writing, he instructed the guard, "Put him in the cage over there. I have a special treat for him today."

I swallowed hard out of fright before following the guard's instructions by stepping inside. I watched the door shut and the lock be clamped down over it. Motioning to my wrists, the guard silently took off the handcuffs as I stuck my hands between the bars. After he received them, he walked out of the room, leaving me in Dr. Davidson's hands. What fresh torture was in store for me today?

"Well, Moe," Davidson began, "I'm afraid we can't continue testing until you finish your transformation." Without showing emotion, I inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. That was great news! But if that truly was the case, then why was I in the cage in his lab? "Luckily, I have a theory," the doctor continued, holding up a small vial to the lights overhead, "If I inject some of this Cubone Pokeuman DNA into your bloodstream, then your transformation should rapidly accelerate." I backed up to the opposite side of the cage. Like I wanted someone else's DNA in me! Seeing my apprehension, the doctor flashed his sidearm at me from its holster under his lab coat. "Now, now, Moe," Davidson warned me, "I don't want any trouble, and I'm sure you don't either. So, hurry up and get over here." I reluctantly obeyed, afraid of what would happen to me if I didn't. "Good, good. Now hold still or this'll be a lot more painful than it needs to be."

With that, Davidson stuck my bicep with the needle, releasing the DNA. Almost instantly, I felt a sharp pain in my feet. Ripping off my socks and shoes, I watched in horror as my toes pressed against each other, eventually fusing into one nail on each foot. The pain then rushed up to my head, where I could feel my face changing shape drastically. I clutched my head and shut my eyes, struggling to remain conscious through the agonizing pain of shifting and reforming bones. Before long, I felt like I was falling. Opening my eyes, I saw that I wasn't. I was shrinking. My pants began to loosen and eventually slid off, uncovering a newly formed tail. Finally, the changes stopped along with the pain. I looked around the cage, taking in my new point of view.

"I thought that would work," Dr. Davidson smugly said, looking up from his clipboard. He must have been taking notes during the rest of the transformation.

"So, um, Dr. Davidson? Mind letting me see myself?" I asked, hoping for a mirror. Ignoring me, the doctor turned to a new page of his clipboard and started drawing something.

"Don't move," Davidson said as he continued to draw, "I need a nice, detailed sketch of that face of yours. After all, it's not every day you get to see a Cubone's face!"

"My…face?" I asked. Reaching up, I noticed that I didn't have the signature skull that hid a Cubone's face. Something inside me snapped and panic washed over me. Realizing how vulnerable I now was, I quickly dashed to a corner of the cage and curled up in a ball, whimpering out of fear.

"Moe…" Davidson sternly warned me, forcing his words through gritted teeth, "Get back over here. Now!" I refused to budge. Even if I wanted to, my body wouldn't obey. I heard the reloading of a gun, causing me to look up directly at the doctor. He had his sidearm leveled at my face. "You will follow orders or else!" he yelled.

"I-I'm sorry," I whispered, forcing myself to stand up and get back into place. Smiling, Davidson put the gun down and went back to drawing. When he was finished with it, he opened the lab door for another military man, a tall, muscular, bald guy. Turning his back to me, he said, "Go back to your room and rest, Moe. You'll need it for what I have in store for you in the future."

Knowing the drill by now, I stuck both of my arms through an opening in the bars to receive my handcuffs. With them secured, the cage door opened and I left the lab, escorted via guard to my room.

When I arrived, the door shut behind me and locked with a bolt. I noticed that the tray and shards of glass from earlier had been picked up. Didn't want me hurting myself, I guessed. Shrugging, I went over to the TV and turned it on for the first time. The only channel available was some brunette woman in a white dress talking about Pokextinction and how the Pokeumans were foul, evil creatures that must be destroyed. Disgusted, I flicked it off, vowing never to watch that stupid propaganda again.

I flopped down onto my bed, stomach first, and looked up at the strange purple-tinted light bulb again. It was so strange… I almost felt comforted by it, like everything would be okay as long as the light was on. Comforted by these thoughts, I drifted off to sleep.

-   -   -   -   -

I was in a cave. Skulls were piled high against each side, all staring at me, or so it seemed. A small opening in the top of the cave bathed the skulls and rocks in moonlight, giving everything an eerie and otherworldly glow. Slowly, I made my way forward, examining the skulls as I looked for an exit.

As I was staring at one skull in particular, I stubbed my toe on something, tripping in the process. Standing up, I looked back to see a bone wedged beneath a rock. Grabbing hold of it, I freed the bone and held it up to the moonlight. It was a clean, straight bone, with no visible damage on it. Holding it felt…right, somehow. I decided to take it with me.

Bone in hand, I turned back to the skull I had seen before I tripped. I walked up close to it, staring at it. The sight comforted me for some reason. I wedged it away from the rest of the skulls and held it in my free hand, admiring its unique shape. Something shone from inside the skull. Curious, I turned it over and looked inside. I stuck my head in to investigate further…

-   -   -   -   -

I woke up in a jolt, gasping for air, cold sweat drenching me. Taking several deep breaths to calm down, I closed my eyes, trying to focus on the dream I had just had. "What was that?" I asked myself, clutching my bone like a stuffed animal. Wait a minute…my bone? I looked at the bone, still in the grip of my right hand. But…that was impossible! It was only a dream, wasn't it?

After turning it over in my head, I figured that there was only one way to check. I looked over at my reflection on the wall, seeing a Cubone with a skull on his head and a bone in his hand. So, it was real after all. I was a full-fledged Cubone now. Shuddering, I hugged the bone again. It was my only comfort through this nightmare.

Suddenly, I thought back to my normal life and everything I missed. My dad, even though he was the reason I was here. I didn't blame him, though. Those gray eyes… Someone, or something, had been controlling him. I could feel it.

My mind then drifted to school. Even if I did get bullied constantly, I'd rather tutor Dylan and George for the rest of the school year than be in here another second. Anything would be better than this place.

Images of my mom crept into my mind, and it was too much. I couldn't control myself. Tears streamed out of my eyes, rolling down my skull, which vibrated as I cried.

I was left alone all day, the only exception being the occasional food tray brought in by guards. I solemnly partook of them, my mind preoccupied with my own torturous thoughts. If only I could go back to my normal life…