A tense silence stretched across the room, and Yazmina felt her pulse quicken.

She doesn't want to be part of That project. Her fingers curled slightly, nails pressing into her palm. If this was what they wanted from her, she wasn’t sure how much longer she could stomach working here.

With an air of finality, Eddie said, “I would like to assign you to one of our secret research projects—something much more delicate.”

Yazmina stiffened.

“This project is called the Poppy Gas,” he continued.

Her breath hitched.

That wasn’t what she expected. For a brief moment, relief washed over her—anything was better than.....

Her eyes then flickered between Eddie and Leith.

“You seem surprised,” Eddie remarked, his gaze sharp as he studied her reaction.

Yazmina was—though not for the reasons he might have assumed. Before she transmigrated, she had already studied Poppy Gas extensively. However, she had yet to uncover its full potential.

Back in modern times, when it was released, she had experienced its effects firsthand—it had knocked her unconscious almost instantly.

That single encounter had left her with more questions than answers.

Now, she had the chance to be at the heart of its development.

Far from being intimidated, she felt a surge of determination. If she could oversee this research, she might finally uncover the true nature of Poppy Gas.

“I see,” she said finally, her tone carefully measured. “I accept the assignment.”

Eddie’s faint smile deepened, as if he had expected nothing less. “Excellent.” He gestured toward the folder in front of her. “Inside, you’ll find details about the project, including previous test results and our current hypotheses. I suggest you familiarize yourself with them before tomorrow.”

Yazmina nodded, flipping open the file. Pages upon pages of data stared back at her—chemical compositions, observed effects, and disturbingly clinical descriptions of test subjects’ responses.

Some had become sluggish and compliant, their higher reasoning dulled. Others had shown increased aggression before shutting down completely.

But one thing was clear: Playtime Co. was nowhere near finished refining the gas.

Leith stretched lazily in his chair, his smirk never fading. “You’re in for quite the experience, Yazmina.”

She didn’t respond, instead focusing on the document in her hands.

As she skimmed through the reports, one particular phrase caught her eye:

The subject displayed signs of heightened neural activity before collapse.

Her fingers tightened around the pages. That—that was what she had felt before blacking out in her past life. A brief, almost electrifying sensation, like her mind had been forced open just before everything went dark.

"What exactly is this gas capable of?" A flicker of excitement stirred within Yazmina, but she buried it deep, masking her emotions behind an impassive gaze.

This opportunity was more than just an assignment—it was a puzzle she had been desperate to solve long before she arrived in this world.

Before she could dwell further, a knock on the door interrupted the moment.

A woman in a crisp white lab coat stepped inside—Doctor Greyber. The older scientist adjusted her glasses and offered a polite but hurried nod.

“Doctor De la Vega, I need you to cover for me in Playcare for a while,” Greyber said, her voice firm but not unkind. “I have an urgent meeting with Mr. Ritterman.”

Yazmina blinked. Playcare. The very heart of the factory’s so-called childcare division—though she knew better than to think it was anything as innocent as it sounded.

The children housed there were not orphans rescued by the company out of kindness.

They were test subjects.

Resources.

Still, she nodded. “Understood.”

Eddie glanced at her before returning his attention to Greyber. “Don’t take too long,” he said. “I want her to start reviewing the case studies before tomorrow.”

Greyber simply nodded before turning to leave.

Yazmina stood, slipping the folder under her arm, and made her way toward Playcare.

As Yazmina walked through the winding halls toward Playcare, the weight of the folder under her arm seemed heavier than it should have been. The implications of her new assignment pressed against her mind, but she forced herself to focus.

For now, her immediate responsibility lay with the children.

As she stepped down from the cable car, it reveals the familiar warmth of Playcare’s main common area. The soft glow of the overhead lights cast a gentle ambiance, a stark contrast to the sterile corridors of the rest of the facility.

The children were engaged in various activities—some drawing, others constructing small towers from colorful blocks.

Their laughter filled the space, momentarily washing away the unease coiling in her chest.

Children wandered the halls, some engaged in quiet activities, while others sat in small clusters whispering among themselves. The moment they noticed her, their gazes followed her movements, curiosity and wariness flickering in their eyes.

She had only been here a handful of times, yet her presence was already familiar to them.

A voice called out, breaking the murmurs.

"Doctor Yaz!"

She turned just in time to see Theo rushing toward her, his small hands grasping at the hem of her coat. His expression was bright, but there was a knowing glimmer in his eyes—something deeper, something unreadable.

"You’re back!" he beamed. "I missed you."

Yazmina knelt slightly, brushing a few stray curls from his forehead. "You saw me just yesterday," she reminded him with a gentle smile.

"Still!" he insisted. "I like when you’re here."

"Will you stay long today?"

She hesitated. "Just for a little while. I’m covering for Doctor Greyber."

Theo’s expression didn’t falter, but Yazmina caught the way his grip on her coat tightened. "That means you’ll be here for nighttime too, right?" His voice held an odd hopefulness.

She studied him for a moment before nodding. "Yes."

A staff member approached, informing her that a report needed her attention. With a final ruffle of Theo’s hair, she stood and made her way toward the Playcare office, though the sensation of Theo’s lingering gaze followed her.

-------------------------------------------------

Night fell quickly in Playcare, the artificial lights dimming to mimic a natural dusk. Yazmina sat at the desk in the small medical bay, scanning over the notes left behind by Doctor Greyber.

The tests for the day had gone as expected—some children responding well to behavioral conditioning, others requiring further observation.

A soft knock at the door drew her attention. Before she could answer, Theo peeked his head inside, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Doctor Yaz?"

"Theo, you should be in bed," she said, though her tone held no real reprimand.

"I know, but…" He hesitated, stepping inside. "I wanted to ask if you’d read me a story. Just one?"

Yazmina sighed playfully. "Only if you promise to go to sleep right after."

Theo grinned. "Promise!"

She motioned for him to sit on the small bed in the corner, selecting one of the books stacked nearby. As she read, Theo leaned against her, his small frame warm against her side.

His breathing slowed, but Yazmina noticed his fingers fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve—a nervous habit.

Then, in a near whisper, he asked, "Do you believe in friends that no one else can see?"

Yazmina paused, lowering the book slightly. "What do you mean?" She asked knowingly.

Theo shifted, his voice hushed. "He’s not bad, you know. He’s just… lonely. That’s why he comes to me."

Though she already knew, she kept her expression neutral. "Who, Theo?"

He hesitated before answering, "Him. He doesn’t have a name—not really. But he likes when I talk to him. And he listens to me."

Yazmina felt the weight of his words settle in the space between them. "And does he ever ask you for things?"

Theo’s fingers stilled. "Sometimes. But he says he’d never hurt me."

She exhaled slowly, choosing her words carefully. "You’re very kind, Theo. But sometimes, even friends don’t always have the best intentions. If he ever asks you to do something that feels wrong, you can always tell me. Okay?"

Theo looked up at her, searching her expression before nodding. "Okay."

As the final words of the story left her lips, Theo’s eyelids grew heavy, his breathing evening out. Yazmina closed the book, setting it aside before gently adjusting the blanket over him. The dim glow of the nightlight cast long shadows against the walls, shifting ever so slightly—too slightly.

She sensed something and she didn’t need to look to know.

It was watching.

The air felt heavier, thick with something unseen yet undeniably present. She still kept her movements natural as she reached to turn off the light.

Even in the quiet, she could feel it watching.

Staring.

Waiting.

But Yazmina didn’t waver. Instead, she carefully tucked the blanket around Theo, brushing a few strands of hair from his forehead before settling in beside him.

A slow smirk curved her lips. If it wanted to play its little game of watching from the shadows, then fine—she’d let it.

Let it observe.

Let it take in every detail of her as she slept peacefully, unbothered.

She wasn’t going anywhere.

With that, she closed her eyes, her smirk lingering as she drifted into her beauty sleep.

(The mechanical needle-like hand image at the top)