A soft clacking could be heard throughout the hallway, gradually getting louder and louder as the person producing those sounds approached closer and closer… A scientist, Pasy, coming to observe what was known as the “Kuzu Vines”, An invasive species made to counter the Grajong, their enemy in warfare. According to the reports, this species had a devastating effect on land, sapping all of the water from a tree in under a minute, effectively killing it off. What Pasy wanted to know, though, was what effect it had on living, breathing humans.

As they approach the closed-off glass tube the monstrosity of a plant wriggles, aching to enter the open space and inject itself into the very soul of the planet. And as Pasy looked unto the weed, they turned to their coworker, nodding at the other and clearing their throat before speaking.

“Bring the prisoner in.”

Once the order left their mouth the moment of silence was interrupted with wailing coming from the prisoner who was currently being transported in by the guards. He thrashed against their holds, letting out pleas and cries, fear pouring into every word that left his mouth.

“Please, please! Don’t make me touch that thing, just kill me! I’ll do anything but go near that!”

With a simple smile and a wave of the hand, the guards understood, bringing the subject closer to the vines, waiting for the tube to be opened so that the test could commence. Craning their head over to their fellow scientist, a curt nod was given in affirmation, soon after being returned by the man parallel to them before a button had been pressed and the glass was lifted just enough for the prisoner to fit inside.

One minor problem though, the hull had been breached. And an overwhelming smell –– Rotten… Eggs? –– Overwhelmed his senses, overtaking his nose just as the monstrosity took hold of its new host, the prisoner. It seemed like in an instant that the skin on the prisoner’s body hugged his bones, only an instant when the vines started entering through every orifice in the prisoner’s head, an instant for it to affect his mind and body, taking it over for good.

And in that instant the Kuzu, with the help of its new host, loomed over Pasy whilst they slowly lost consciousness. The last thing they saw was the newly infected prisoner, A vine reaching out to infect them too, And a single terrifying thought that rang through their head.

‘…Will I feel it all happen?’