Anomaly

Author: Rowen

Chapter 48 – Black Lake [8]

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Wherever I looked, I saw nothing but darkness interrupted by the reddish glow of flashing lights. Maybe because I was alone, the hallways seemed colder than when I first arrived here, when the place was full of life. Now, everything felt simply dead, giving off a strange sense of abandonment.
I kept walking down the corridor until I reached a fork with three paths: one to the left, another to the right, and one straight ahead. To be honest, I have no idea where each one leads, but standing here definitely won’t help me.
However, I wasn’t completely lost. I looked at the wall, got closer, and opened a portal, diving back into the dark world. I began to "swim" until I emerged on the surface, well above the hallways.
I kept swimming upward until I reached a good height, then looked down. As I expected, I could see where the three paths led. The left one led to some kind of arsenal, where a few guards were present, arming themselves with all kinds of weapons they could find.
Although I didn’t know exactly what was going on, it seemed pretty serious, considering the level of their weaponry. The corridor on the right led to a control room, and along the way, there were cut-up tentacles scattered across the floor—honestly, a repulsive sight. The tentacles had spikes and mouths where the suckers should be. Further down, I found the door to the control room, with about eight guards positioned in the corridor and at the entrance.
(Ah! So that’s where they are. They seem fine, thank God. Honestly, if something happened to them, they'd probably make that old man my new caretaker... just thinking about it gives me the creeps. I don’t know why, but I’m sure he’s got some sinister plans in mind)
Inside the control room, Laura, Emily, and Victor were busy hurriedly organizing everything. Laura and Emily seemed focused on analyzing the situation, while Victor was preparing for something—he was stuffing his pockets with ammunition, which made me think this had something to do with the tentacles.
Finally, there was the path ahead, which seemed to lead to an exit—not the same one we came through, but another route out of this place. By the way, more of those tentacles were trying to invade, banging repeatedly against the door. Using my power to identify their weak point, I noticed a thin, glowing line in rainbow colors connecting the tentacles to something in the forest.
My first instinct was to follow this line to reach the main body of that thing, if I could even call it that. At least, the tentacles weren’t its weak spot; even if we kept cutting them, that wouldn’t stop whatever was behind them.
By the way, what kind of anomaly is this with tentacles as weapons? A giant octopus, maybe? I could imagine something like that, or at least something similar, but honestly, I don’t even want to think about what this thing must look like, given how the tentacles appear.
Besides, Victor definitely seemed willing to go out and face the situation. Although he acted tough, the chance of him dying was pretty high. I wasn’t underestimating him, just recognizing the facts. In the end, Victor was still human. Taking all this into account, I set my goal and swam toward the control room, where the others were.
Although Emily was somewhat used to irrational situations—after all, working with anomalies almost always led to abnormal and unscientific events—she had to admit that problems like this didn’t usually happen so often. However, for some reason, it seemed like a new kind of problem cropped up every week, and in all of them, the little anomaly was always somehow involved.
“The situation isn’t looking good. For now, we’ve managed to eliminate all those tentacles, but if more show up, we’ll probably only be able to handle two more waves at most. After that, we’re completely screwed”
Emily calmly listened to Victor’s opinion, but although she kept a calm appearance, inside she was far from calm. The mere thought of those grotesque tentacles trying to grab her to devour her made her bones freeze, and she felt like she might vomit at any moment.
“We can’t stay stuck here anymore. I can’t contact the guards who were supposed to be watching the lake, so I have no idea what’s going on. I don’t even know if the lake is causing this. It’s the first time I’ve seen anything like tentacles”
Emily could hardly identify the exact moment when things started to spiral out of control. It happened so fast that, before she could process it, tentacles appeared from all sides, trying to grab anything alive.
And the question that consumed her was: why so suddenly? There had been no sign of anomaly in the previous four months. So why, right after the arrival of the little anomaly? Although Emily didn’t know exactly why, it wasn’t like she didn’t have an idea of who might be behind it.
(Graham, what the hell are you after with all this?)
Emily had no doubt that Graham was the one responsible for everything. If she stopped to think, it was him who, in the beginning, practically forced them to go to Base 17 with the little anomaly, using his authority and somehow convincing the council to back the decision.
“I hope the little anomaly is okay. I wonder if these tentacles are trying to get it”
Emily heard Laura’s lament. To be honest, she was also worried about the little anomaly, but deep down, she knew she didn’t have time to worry about others while she herself was still in danger.
“You don’t need to worry about the little anomaly’s safety, Laura. The containment room where it’s being kept was originally designed to trap whatever that lake thing was, using the most resistant material we had at the time. It’s probably safer than we are”
“I know, but... still...”
Laura seemed about to say something when suddenly, silence filled the room. Emily raised an eyebrow and turned to see what was happening. To her surprise, when she turned around, she saw something on the floor: a small head emerging from the surface. Its bright eyes were unmistakable. The head briefly scanned its surroundings before focusing on Emily. When the little creature tilted its head and blinked, Emily, almost involuntarily, mirrored the gesture.
"Little Anomaly! You came to save us again!"
Emily snapped out of her thoughts as she heard Laura's cheerful shouts, who, as usual, threw herself into a hug with the little anomaly. Although Emily also felt relieved by its presence, she couldn't shake the doubt of how exactly the anomaly had managed to escape.
(She may look bored, but she’s never actually broken anything in the facility to try and escape. Besides, we replaced the glass since she broke it last time, and we reinforced the containment room a lot more... The only option left is that she used that ability I saw when she faced the
)
Emily turned her gaze back to the little anomaly, who, as always, didn’t seem to enjoy Laura’s hug at all. As soon as she had a chance, the little anomaly quickly vanished into a body-sized portal that opened beneath her feet, reappearing next to Victor.
(With this, that's three different anomalous abilities now, including her eyes... But how many anomalous abilities does the little anomaly actually have?)
Although Emily was curious, she knew that the current situation wouldn't allow her to investigate this. Also, even if she believed the little anomaly could be useful, she understood that, in practice, the creature didn't fully comprehend human speech. However, something simple, like asking her to follow someone, was probably something she could manage.
Emily really didn’t want to scare Victor, so she had kept quiet up until then. However, since her arrival, the little anomaly hadn’t stopped staring at Victor, as if sulking over something. Interestingly, even though she was staring at the back of Victor’s neck, he seemed focused on Laura, raising an eyebrow and his lips trembling as if he was about to say something.
“You know, I never mentioned this before, but it’s really strange how you two keep calling her ‘little anomaly’...”
Laura was the first to turn toward Victor, blinking her small eyes with a confused expression before breaking into a wide smile. Even to Emily, that smile seemed a bit odd.
"Hehe, you're just saying that because she won't let you call her that, right?"
Victor sighed at Laura’s words. Emily wasn’t much different: she knew that Victor didn’t really care about how he referred to anomalies. In general, he called them “monsters” without exception, except for a few that he referred to by their assigned name.
“Actually, no... it’s just that the name’s kinda dumb. I’m sure I could come up with a much better name, something that wouldn’t make her seem as harmless as she really is”
Laura pouted, crossing her arms. Some of her actions were, in a way, pretty childish, so to speak. Still, the names given were important because they helped identify the nature of each anomaly at first glance. In the end, even Emily was curious about the name Victor thought would be fitting for the little anomaly.
"Humpf, in that case, why don’t you tell us the brilliant name you came up with?"
Victor put a hand to his neck for a moment before turning to face the little anomaly. They locked eyes for a few seconds, and then Victor’s lips subtly moved as he started to speak.
“What do you think of
?”
(... what the hell is this guy talking about now?)
I ignored everything else in the base and came over here, but in the end, what do I get? A name that’s clearly very specific to me, but in a negative way? What kind of weird view does Victor have of me to come up with something like that? Although, honestly, it's probably better than any name Laura would have given me.
But seriously, what the hell kind of nickname is that? I mean, I liked the "angel" part, but why did he have to add "death" at the end? I don’t remember killing any humans since you guys found me, you know? That name isn’t just because I ripped the heart out of that dog-anomaly in the forest when we first met, right? Victor, you're way more petty than I thought.
The worst part was that I couldn’t deny the name since I couldn’t speak. Or rather, is there really a way to speak? I don’t have the organs for that, so my only alternative would be to somehow get a psychic anomalous power or something. But does such an anomaly even exist? Come on, anomaly, show yourself and let me talk.
"Humpf, really didn’t like that name. Why put “death” at the end? That’s totally the opposite of what our little anomaly really is... but I’ll admit, I liked the “angel” part!"
No, seriously, why did I still have any hope in Laura? Aren’t you supposed to be a scientist, Laura? Why do you always act like this when I’m around you? And why does no one comment on it? Is this normal? My God, I’m surrounded by crazy people here.
As I tried to process my new name, which I clearly had no say in, Emily approached, and when she got close enough, she crouched to be at my level. I blinked in her direction, not really sure why, but feeling like she was about to say something really serious.
I tilted my head slightly, watching Emily. She smiled and let out a soft laugh. I couldn't think of anything I'd done to make her laugh, but seeing how relaxed she seemed, I figured everything was fine. After all, the situation we were in was definitely not the best.
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Chapter List

Chapter 1 – First Contact [1]
Chapter 2 – First Contact [2]
Chapter 3 – First Contact [3]
Announcement!
Chapter 4 – First Contact [4]
Chapter 5 – First Contact [5]
Chapter 6 – First Contact [6]
Chapter 7 – Outbreak [1]
Chapter 8 – Outbreak [2]
Chapter 9 – Outbreak [3]
Chapter 10 – Outbreak [4]
Chapter 11 – Outbreak [5]
Chapter 12 – Outbreak [6]
Chapter 13 – Adaptation period [1]
Chapter 14 – Adaptation period [2]
Chapter 15 – Adaptation period [3]
Chapter 16 – Adaptation period [4]
Chapter 17 – Adaptation period [5]
Chapter 18 – Threat from the shadows [1]
Chapter 19 – Threat from the shadows [2]
Chapter 20 – Threat from the shadows [3]
Chapter 21 – Threat from the shadows [4]
Chapter 22 – Threat from the shadows [5]
Chapter 23 – Threat from the shadows [6]
Chapter 24 – Threat from the shadows [7]
Chapter 25 – The director’s visit [1]
Chapter 26 – The director’s visit [2]
Chapter 27 – The director’s visit [3]
Chapter 28 – The director’s visit [4]
Chapter 29 – The director’s visit [5]
Chapter 30 – The director’s visit [6]
Chapter 31 – Conducting experiments [1]
Chapter 32 – Conducting experiments [2]
Chapter 33 – Conducting experiments [3]
Chapter 34 – Conducting experiments [4]
Chapter 35 – Conducting experiments [5]
Story recommendation: the new chapter of Anomaly will normally be released at 7pm.
Chapter 36 – Conducting experiments [6]
Chapter 37 – Conducting experiments [7]
Story recommendation: I’m reposting because, last time, the author’s story hadn’t been approved yet.
Chapter 38 – Conducting experiments [8]
Chapter 39 – Conducting experiments [9]
Chapter 40 – Conducting experiments [10]
Chapter 41 – Black Lake [1]
Chapter 42 – Black Lake [2]
Chapter 43 – Black Lake [3]
Chapter 44 – Black Lake [4]
Chapter 45 – Black Lake [5]
Chapter 46 – Black Lake [6]
Chapter 47 – Black Lake [7]
Chapter 48 – Black Lake [8]
Chapter 49 – Black Lake [9]
Chapter 50 – Black Lake [10]
Chapter 51 – Black Lake [11]
Creation of the Discord server
Chapter 52 – Black Lake [12]
Chapter 53 – Black Lake [13]
Chapter 54 – Black Lake [14]
Chapter 55 – Black Lake [15]
Chapter 56 – Black Lake [16]
Chapter 57 – Black Lake [17]
Chapter 58 – Black Lake [18]
Chapter 59 – The call [1]
Chapter 60 – The call [2]
Chapter 61 – The call [3]
Chapter 62 – The call [4]
Chapter 63 – The call [5]
Chapter 64 – The call [6]
Chapter 65 – The call [7]
Chapter 66 – The call [8]
Chapter 67 – The call [9]
Chapter 68 – The call [10]
Chapter 69 – The call [11]
Chapter 70 – The call [12]
Quick update
Chapter 71 – The call [13]
Chapter 72 – The call [14]
Chapter 73 – The call [15]
Chapter 74 – The call [16]
Chapter 75 – The call [17]
Chapter 76 – The call [18]
Chapter 77 – The call [19]
Chapter 78 – The call [20]
Chapter 79 – The call [21]
Chapter 80 – The call [22]
Chapter 81 – The call [23]
Chapter 82 – The call [24]
Chapter 83 – The call [25]
Chapter 84 – The call [26]
Chapter 85 – Storm [1]
Chapter 86 – Storm [2]
Chapter 87 – Storm [3]
Chapter 88 – Storm [4]
Chapter 89 – Storm [5]
Chapter 90 – Storm [6]
Chapter 91 – Storm [7]
Chapter 92 – Storm [8]
Chapter 93 – Storm [9]
Chapter 94 – Storm [10]
Chapter 95 – Storm [11]
Chapter 96 – Storm [12]
Chapter 97 – Storm [13]
Chapter 98 – Storm [14]
Chapter 99 – Storm [15]
Chapter 100 – Storm [16]
Chapter 101 – Storm [17]
Chapter 102 – Storm [18]
Chapter 103 – Storm [19]
Chapter 104 – Interludio – A little chat
Chapter 105 – Something called Life [1]
Chapter 106 – Something called Life [2]
Chapter 107 – Something called Life [3]
Chapter 108 – Something called Life [4]
Chapter 109 – Something called Life [5]
Chapter 110 – Something called Life [6]
Chapter 111 – Something called Life [7]
Chapter 112 – Something called Life [8]
Chapter 113 – Something called Life [9]
Chapter 114 – Something called Life [10]
Chapter 115 – Something called Life [11]
Chapter 116 – Something called Life [12]
Chapter 117 – Something called Life [13]
Chapter 118 – Something called Life [14]
Anomaly
Chapter 119 – Something called Life [15]
Chapter 120 – Something called Life [16]
Chapter 121 – Something called Life [17]
Chapter 122 – Something called Life [18]
Chapter 123 – Something called Life [19]
Chapter 124 – Something called Life [20]
Chapter 125 – Something called Life [21]
Chapter 126 – Something called Life [22]
Chapter 127 – Something called Life [23]
Chapter 128 – Something called Life [24]
Chapter 129 – Something called Life [25]
Chapter 130 – Something called Life [26]
Chapter 131 – Something called Life [27]
Chapter 132 – Something called Life [28]
Chapter 133 – Something called Life [29]
Chapter 134 – Something called Life [30]
Chapter 135 – interlude – Hidden intentions
Chapter 136 – Inside the mist [1]
Chapter 137 – Inside the mist [2]
Chapter 138 – Inside the mist [3]
Chapter 139 – Inside the mist [4]
Chapter 140 – Inside the mist [5]
Chapter 141 – Inside the mist [6]
Chapter 142 – Inside the mist [7]
Chapter 143 – Inside the mist [8]
Chapter 144 – Inside the mist [9]
Chapter 145 – Inside the mist [10]
Chapter 146 – Inside the mist [11]
Chapter 147 – Inside the mist [12]
Chapter 148 – Inside the mist [13]
SPECIAL PROMOTION ON PATREON!
Chapter 149 – Inside the mist [14]
Chapter 150 – Inside the mist [15]
Chapter 151 – Inside the mist [16]
Chapter 152 – Inside the mist [17]
Chapter 153 – Inside the mist [18]
Chapter 154 – Inside the mist [19]
Chapter 155 – Inside the mist [20]
Chapter 156 – Inside the mist [21]
Chapter 157 – Inside the mist [22]
Chapter 158 – Inside the mist [23]
Chapter 159 – Inside the mist [24]
Chapter 160 – When logic escapes [1]
Chapter 161 – When logic escapes [2]
Chapter 162 – When logic escapes [3]
Chapter 163 – When logic escapes [4]
Chapter 164 – When logic escapes [5]
Chapter 165 – When logic escapes [6]
Chapter 166 – When logic escapes [7]
Chapter 167 – When logic escapes [8]
Chapter 168 – When logic escapes [9]
Chapter 169 – When logic escapes [10]
Chapter 170 – When logic escapes [11]
Chapter 171 – When logic escapes [12]
Chapter 172 – When logic escapes [13]
Chapter 173 – When logic escapes [14]
Chapter 174 – When logic escapes [15]
Chapter 175 – When logic escapes [16]
Chapter 176 – When logic escapes [17]
Chapter 177 – When logic escapes [18]
Chapter 178 – When logic escapes [19]
Chapter 179 – When logic escapes [20]
Chapter 180 – When logic escapes [21]
Chapter 181 – The Burden of Remembering [1]
Chapter 182 – The Burden of Remembering [2]
Chapter 183 – The Burden of Remembering [3]
Chapter 184 – The Burden of Remembering [4]
Chapter 185 – The Burden of Remembering [5]
Chapter 186 – The Burden of Remembering [6]
Chapter 187 – The Burden of Remembering [7]
Chapter 188 – The Burden of Remembering [8]
Chapter 189 – The Burden of Remembering [9]
Chapter 190 – The Burden of Remembering [10]
Chapter 191 – The Burden of Remembering [11]
Chapter 192 – The Burden of Remembering [12]
Chapter 193 – The Burden of Remembering [13]
Chapter 194 – The Burden of Remembering [14]
Chapter 195 – The Burden of Remembering [15]
Chapter 196 – The Burden of Remembering [16]
Chapter 197 – The Burden of Remembering [17]
Chapter 198 – The Burden of Remembering [18]
Chapter 199 – The Burden of Remembering [19]
Chapter 200 – The Burden of Remembering [20]
Chapter 201 – The Burden of Remembering [21]
Chapter 202 – The Burden of Remembering [22]
Chapter 203 – The Burden of Remembering [23]
Chapter 204 – The Burden of Remembering [24]
Chapter 205 – The Burden of Remembering [25]
Chapter 206 – The Burden of Remembering [26]
Chapter 207 – The Burden of Remembering [27]
Chapter 208 – The Burden of Remembering [28]
Chapter 209 – The Burden of Remembering [29]
Chapter 210 – The Burden of Remembering [30]
Chapter 211 – The Burden of Remembering [31]
Chapter 212 – The Burden of Remembering [32]
Chapter 213 – The Burden of Remembering [33]
Chapter 214 – The Burden of Remembering [34]
Chapter 215 – The Burden of Remembering [35]
Chapter 216 – The Burden of Remembering [36]
Chapter 217 – The Burden of Remembering [37]
Chapter 218 – The Burden of Remembering [38]
Chapter 219 – The entity of pride [1]
Chapter 220 – The entity of pride [2]
Chapter 221 – The entity of pride [3]
Chapter 222 – The entity of pride [4]
Chapter 223 – The entity of pride [5]
Chapter 224 – The entity of pride [6]
Chapter 225 – The entity of pride [7]
Chapter 226 – The entity of pride [8]
Chapter 227 – The entity of pride [9]
Chapter 228 – The entity of pride [10]
Chapter 229 – The entity of pride [11]
Chapter 230 – The entity of pride [12]
Chapter 231 – The entity of pride [13]
Chapter 232 – The entity of pride [14]
Chapter 233 – The entity of pride [15]
Chapter 234 – The entity of pride [16]
Chapter 235 – The entity of pride [17]
Chapter 236 – The entity of pride [18]
Chapter 237 – The entity of pride [19]
Chapter 238 – The entity of pride [20]
Chapter 239 – The entity of pride [21]
Chapter 240 – The entity of pride [22]
Chapter 241 – The entity of pride [23]
Chapter 242 – The entity of pride [24]
Chapter 243 – The entity of pride [25]
Chapter 244 – Timeless State [1]
Chapter 245 – Timeless State [2]
Chapter 246 – Timeless State [3]
Chapter 247 – Timeless State [4]
Chapter 248 – Timeless State [5]
Chapter 249 – Timeless State [6]
Chapter 250 – Timeless State [7]
Chapter 251 – Timeless State [8]
Chapter 252 – Timeless State [9]
Chapter 253 – Timeless State [10]
Chapter 254 – Timeless State [11]
Chapter 255 – Timeless State [12]
Chapter 256 – Timeless State [13]
Chapter 257 – Timeless State [14]
Chapter 258 – Timeless State [15]
Chapter 259 – Timeless State [16]
Chapter 260 – Timeless State [17]
Chapter 261 – Timeless State [18]
Chapter 262 – Timeless State [19]
Chapter 263 – Timeless State [20]
Chapter 264 – Timeless State [21]
Chapter 265 – Timeless State [22]
Chapter 266 – Timeless State [23]
Chapter 267 – Timeless State [24]
Chapter 268 – Timeless State [25]
Chapter 269 – Timeless State [26]
Chapter 270 – Timeless State [27]
Chapter 271 – Timeless State [28]
Chapter 272 – Timeless State [29]
Chapter 273 – Timeless State [30]
Chapter 274 – Timeless State [31]
Chapter 275 – Timeless State [32]
Chapter 276 – Timeless State [33]
Chapter 277 – Timeless State [34]
Chapter 278 – Timeless State [35]
Chapter 279 – Timeless State [36]
Chapter 280 – Timeless State [37]
Chapter 281 – Timeless State [38]
Chapter 282 – Timeless State [39]
Chapter 283 – The Primordial Fear [1]
Chapter 284 – The Primordial Fear [2]
Chapter 285 – The Primordial Fear [3]
Special Christmas/New Year’s promotion on Patreon.
Chapter 286 – The Primordial Fear [4]
Chapter 287 – The Primordial Fear [5]
Chapter 288 – The Primordial Fear [6]
Chapter 289 – The Primordial Fear [7]
Chapter 290 – The Primordial Fear [8]
Chapter 291 – The Primordial Fear [9]
Chapter 292 – The Primordial Fear [10]
Chapter 293 – The Primordial Fear [11]
Chapter 294 – The Primordial Fear [12]
Chapter 295 – The Primordial Fear [13]
Chapter 296 – The Primordial Fear [14]
Chapter 297 – The Primordial Fear [15]
Chapter 298 – The Primordial Fear [16]
Chapter 299 – The Primordial Fear [17]
Chapter 300 – The Primordial Fear [18]
Chapter 301 – The Primordial Fear [19]
Chapter 302 – The Primordial Fear [20]
Chapter 303 – The Primordial Fear [21]
Chapter 304 – The Primordial Fear [22]
Chapter 305 – The Primordial Fear [23]
Chapter 306 – The Primordial Fear [24]
Chapter 307 – The Primordial Fear [25]
Chapter 308 – The Primordial Fear [26]
Chapter 309 – The Primordial Fear [27]
Chapter 310 – The Primordial Fear [28]
Chapter 311 – The Primordial Fear [29]
Chapter 312 – The Primordial Fear [30]
Chapter 313 – The Primordial Fear [31]
Chapter 314 – The Primordial Fear [32]
Chapter 315 – The Primordial Fear [33]
Chapter 316 – The Primordial Fear [34]
Chapter 317 – The Primordial Fear [35]
Chapter 318 – The Primordial Fear [36]
Chapter 319 – The Primordial Fear [37]
Chapter 320 – The Primordial Fear [38]
Chapter 321 – The Primordial Fear [39]
Chapter 322 – The Primordial Fear [40]
Chapter 323 – The Primordial Fear [41]
Chapter 324 – The Primordial Fear [42]
Chapter 325 – The Primordial Fear [43]
Chapter 326 – The Primordial Fear [44]
Chapter 327 – The Primordial Fear [45]
Chapter 328 – The Primordial Fear [46]
Chapter 329 – The Primordial Fear [47]
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