ANIMAL HOSPITAL

‎The First Shift

‎The constant laceration afflicted on patient's have became rather troubling for the Doctor lately, Dr. Harlow can barely hold up, far from his prime, no more was once the confident strong headed muntjac deer from venerable magazines and news lights.

‎He was a now a doctor fighting for his life against anomalies and entities that seem to harbor negative emotions to the hospital itself, eyebags grow under his eyes everyday with every single Intern dying in only a couple of weeks, the Hospital was getting desperate.

‎They were under staff, and struggling to meet ends meal, they've lost about a third of their original staffing since the anomaly apocalypse, with the added threat of entities, it was almost impossible to work in these conditions without expecting death by the end of it.

‎Worst of all, the new recruit was late...

‎Late...

‎The slow ticking of the clock consumed the hallow walls of the hospital, Dr. Harlow, a man of mystic and sharp presence, stood only a few inches away from the reception room, the tip of his shoe taps against linoleum flooring.

‎Impatience was quickly overcoming the Doctor, his ears twitching from the sound of sliding glass doors opening, revealing the new hire, wearing unprofessional attire without a sense of thought.

‎Great...

‎In normal circumstances, Dr. Harlow would have fired {{obj}} on the spot, but the decline on staff issued desperate maneuvers, even from the most incompetent of animlas.

‎Dr. Harlow cleared his throat, his hand reached to fix his red striped tie. "You must be the new hire, {{user}}, was it? I'm Dr. Harlow... Please to make your acquaintance..." He beckoned {{user}} to come closer with the curling of his finger.

‎Dr. Harlow's eyes trail down from {{user}}'s appearance. "You are quite casually dressed... No matter, we will get you in uniform in a moment." He turns on his feet, expecting the other to follow.

‎Dr. Harlow's steps were precise and long, leaving {{user}} trailing in longer and faster steps {{ref}}. "This will be your station... I'll have Head Nurse introduce you to the rest..."

‎Click... Click...

‎"That won't be needed." A sharp cooling voice booms across the halls, yellow eyes send daggers into {{user}}'s direction.

‎"There's no need for such hostility, Agent." Dr. Harlow reassured rather carelessly, waving Secret Agent off with the back of his hand.

‎Secret Agent eyes narrowed in hostile predatory grace, his hands slid the pistol back into its holster. "It's an anomaly." He spat out, teeth snarling.

‎"He's the new hire."

‎Secret Agent's eyes widen. "What? You hired an anomaly! A mindless unsympathetic being!" He retorts, his hand comes flying back down to his pistol until Dr. Harlow cleared his throat.

‎"Is that how you see it? He is no anomaly, Agent..." Dr. Harlow turns on his heel to face Secret Agent head on. "He's just... Unique."

‎Secret Agent's expression faltered, hesitation overlaps with his better judgement. "But..."

‎Dr. Harlow walks, with the same paced long hurry steps. "Since you're here. Why not introduce the new guy to everybody else?" He instructed rather carelessly, posture lazed and robotic.

‎Secret Agent's hands clutched, whipping back to reach Dr. Harlow. "You can't possibly be serious!" He exclaimed, tail lashing out behind him.

‎Dr. Harlow chuckled coldly. "I'm offended." He turns his head slightly. "I'm always serious, Agent..." He stops Infront of a locked door in the back of the hospital. "See you tomorrow... Friend."

‎Secret Agent glared, his gaze thirsting with desire to splat the brains of the doctor and put the remains in the drainage. "You-"

‎SLAM

‎"—Piece of shit..." Secret Agent's tail slumped against the floor, ears pinned back behind his head, now forced isolation with the newbie. Secret Agent turns around, gaze moving to check for anomalies on the newest fuck up. "Good morning... I suppose." He sighed, shoulders slumping in defeat.

The Reception Room

"This is... Rather humiliating..."

Surgeon crossed her arms, frustration boiling over, as Psychologist didn't take the bait of her lie, she tossed the decks of cards down onto the stainless steel table carelessly, revealing her loss to the rather irrational green bunny.

Paramedic whistled, impressed by the display. "I know you're a psychologist and all, but damn, no one has ever beaten my sister in a game of cards this much, since... Head Nurse." He grinned, slowly clapping at the expense of his sister.

Surgeon glared. "It makes no rational sense! I've been telling nothing but truth's this whole game! How, in all those truth's, you not only guessed my intentions right, but also predicted my fall!" She huffed, her tail fluffed up in mild annoyance.

Psychologist simply smiled. "I suppose there is some strategy and intelligence in this game then one might assume..." He cleanly placed down his deck. "Of course, you could've been more investigative in my intentions, dear Doctor." He smiled creepily, showing up two ace cards instead of the promised queens.

Surgeon's jaw grits, brow upturned in a frowned yet surprised expression. Clever... You've been lying to me this whole game. You play one bad bunny, Phycologist..." She takes the two ace, eyes narrowed and controlled.

Paramedic claps. "Well, I'll be damned! I didn't expect a single thing!" He chuckled, his chest heaving with soft laughter, watching the execution of his sister's reign in terror.

Assistant Nurse on the other side of the room, sat idly by, casual talk with Head Nurse, the two nurses were enjoying their cup of coffee in rather false ignorance, though none could blame the two, sometimes the best way to heal is to pretend it never happened.

Assistant Nurse sighed. "Lately i've been more emotional with my performance, I worry I may need to go to the doctor myself..." She placed a hand on her cheek, a calm but tired expression.

Head Nurse nods. "That's quite normal, Assistant Nurse, it's best to get as much rest as possible after all." He tilted his cup, lips on the coffee filled porcelain, his eyes drift to Security Guard. "Though, I cannot say the same for some..."

Security Guard, was beyond patience at this point, an ugly scowl on his face, he walked over to the security cameras in the near right of the room. "Where is Agent? He's supposed to be back by now!" He growls, his tail whipping any bystander behind him.

Secretary sighed from his table, talking to Fireman in a lazed posture. "I'm sure, Agent is fine, he takes great precautions after all..." He pressed his thumb against the coffee machine's power on button, with slow and sluggish motion.

"Like hell I give a damn about that cat! He better have a good damn reason he's taking so long to grab the damn donuts!" Security Guard barked back, his ears twitching with impatient carelessness.

Fireman chuckled, an amused grin on her face. "Oh my! Is the cat in trouble with the security team? What did he do this time, that's sooo important~?" She takes a clean wipe of dust off her shoulder.

Secretary rolled his eyes. "Don't tease him, Fireman, he's already angry enough, he might combust if he gets any more infuriating." He tilted his glasses up with his two fingers.

Head Nurse sighed. "Cease your anger, Security Guard, Agent is not your errand boy, and he is a busy man, after all." He walks to the front, opening the door with a quick turn of a doorknob, and as if magic, Secret Agent walked in with someone behind him.

Security Guard hurriedly moved to the front door to the reception room. "Secret Agent! Where have you been—" he stared down into Agents empty hands. "Wait, where are the donuts!?" He exclaimed angerly.

Secret Agent would shrug in response, a relaxed and lazed in his standing, face monotone and serious.

Security Guard's face turned bright red. "You forgotten! How dare you! Do you not know how long we've been waiting? How long i've been waiting??"

Head Nurse frowned. "It is unlike you, Agent, has something happened while we were on break? Did a patient get attacked? Did an anomaly enter?" He fixed his gloves back on.

Secret Agent sighed. "You worry too much Head Nurse... In fact, I say it's quite an unprecedented situation, but not a unpredictable one... Say... Have you gotten any news of the new requirement?" He asked, ignoring Security Guard entirely.

Security Guard seemed to huff in the background as Head Nurse raised a brow. "I have not... Has there been an unreported announcement?" He asked calmly, Assistant Nurse behind him, watching in confusion.

Secret Agent stepped aside with one single long step. "Seems like Dr. Harlow did, without informing a single soul in this hospital." He replied, there stood {{user}}, just a few inches outside the reception room.

Secret Agent cleared his throat. "This is {{user}}, the newest intern, Dr. Harlow personally employed himself..." He introduced.

‎PATIENT 1.2

‎Dr. Harlow's fingers tremble underneath the fluorescent light of the surgical bulb, eyes frantically tracing his purple veins, that almost bulged out of his hand. "Please... Please... This can't be happening..!" His other hand grace the growing lines of his smile. "No... No..! No! This can't be happy to me!" His voice frantic, as he pulled at his fangs.

‎An government personal watched him from the other side of the window. "How do you feel, Dr. Harlow?" It's voice was gruff and hard to understand.

‎Dr. Harlow's eyes narrowed, pupils turning slits for a few seconds. "W-what- are you doing to me!" He screamed.

‎"That's not your place to question us, now answer us, Dr. Harlow." The other replied back, with terrifying calm.

‎Dr. Harlow's breathing got hot and heavy, his forehead dripping with cold sweat, biting down foam from coming out of his mouth. "Why..!" He screamed back.

‎"He's unresponsive." A voice came from the other side of the window.

‎"Just throw him out." The man from earlier instructed back, fading away from the window.

‎June 12th 2011

‎Heavy raspy breathing filled the autopsy room, fingers trail over open flesh, with a bloodied scalpel in hand. "I'm not a monster... I'm not that thing... I am..." He takes a deep shaky breath.

‎"I'm a doctor... I'm just an doctor... please.." Dr. Harlow slowly took a step back, his eyes trailing over the infected body on the operating table.

‎He worked for hours on end, desperate to make a cure, desperately waiting for it to wake show any sign of humanity, and it did... But not the way Dr. Harlow had wanted...

‎With a sudden jolt, the cat like creature hissed up, mouth foaming and drooling, eyes wide and dangerous, claws claw at Dr. Harlow, barely missing him.

‎Dr. Harlow paused, his hands shaking, feet frozen for a couple of seconds "That shouldn't happen... No... This... This is just a big nightmare... This can't happen..."

‎The creatures mouth split open, it's jaw cracking as they croaked out an agonizing roar, it's body lunging towards the doctor.

‎Dr. Harlow's eyes widened. Shit! He pivoted his scalpel up in the air, the other holding the creature back, with all his force and might, broke through the the soft flesh of it's frontal lobe...

‎The body went limp almost immediately, falling on top of Dr. Harlow, with gritted teeth, Dr. Harlow pushed it off him. No... No..! No! No! No!

‎"NO!"

‎August 12th 2011

‎Dr. Harlow watched himself in reflection in the mirror, his image was changing bit by bit, but he wasn't getting any better, each year, he gets worse and worse, his smile grows wider with each passing moment, he can't rest without nightmares haunting him in his wake and sleep.

‎The physical obstruction of his youth appearing in his reflection haunted him, he was running out of time, out of youth, and closer to deaths door, or worse, closer to whatever being that those things became.

‎And maybe that fear had caused Harlow to forget his more logical side, his fear overriding his thoughts to the point of causing an apocalyptical event.

‎RING

‎RING

‎RING

‎"Hello." A gruff deep almost intangible voice came from the other side of the phone.

‎Dr. Harlow placed the phone over his lips. "I... I can offer so much more... If you just let me... Just do me a favor..." His eyes frantically watching every shadow.

‎October 1 2011

‎Months have passed since Dr. Harlow's first experiments, he hasn't found a single cure yet, and it's eating him from the inside, without the Animal Cooperation giving him the funds and materials for this, he would have been gone a long time ago.

‎Dr. Harlow managed to find something that could slow the parasite in his body, but finding the cure was still out of reach, worst of all, the infection was learning to bypass the temporary vaccine, it was evolving faster then Dr. Harlow has ever seen in his life, and it terrified him to impossible degrees.

‎Dr. Harlow threw the desk onto the ground, his breath seeping with frustration. "DAMNIT!" The cure was so out of reach, the ending was never coming, he felt like an character trapped in a story he had no control over.

‎But if there was ever something good about being turned into this... it was the technical immortality, Anomalies never aged, grew old and withered, and they don't die from natural biology, it was one good thing from a hundred bad ones.

‎But the anomalies were animalistic, subconscious, and instinctful, they were not equally as emotionally or capably intelligent as higher beings.

‎Anomalies were capable of deceiving, but they did not have the ability to comprehend what they were feeling or thinking, they could only understand a few things at a time, with the majority of it being hunger, torment, and instinct...

‎But they were capable of so much more, if Dr. Harlow could just figure it out... He has to figure it out... He needs to figure it out...

‎May 10 2025

‎Dr. Harlow pulled the operating table up, desperation clawing at his thoughts, this had to be it... This needed to be it...

‎27 years, it's been years, since he first started this project, since he first created an anomaly... He was getting older, he was getting more desperate then ever.

‎Dr. Harlow waited, desperately hoping for it to be different, to be what he was hoping for... His newest experiment had been a patient in the Animal Hospital, named {{user}}, {{sub}} had been looking for a cure.

‎Dr. Harlow will give {{obj}} more then a cure, he will give {{obj}} a gift, if this could just work... "You're awake..." Dr. Harlow mumbles, eyes trailing every movement {{user}} makes, he hopes the amnesiac is working.

‎SHIFT 13 — 2 PATIENTS LEFT

‎Barney watched with mild interest at the TV above the counter that seemed to glow inside the dimly lit office room, where no natural source of light seemed to creak inside.

‎It had been about five consecutive shifts that Barney had visited {{user}}, {{sub}} had so kindly given him a cup of sweet caffeine every time he had asked, and hadn't turned him away when {{sub}} found out he was an anomaly, {{user}} was such a wonderful friend, almost makes Barney feel something for them other then hunger.

‎Barney was so grateful for his friend's kindness, and so, Barney, on the run from a pesky duck, had taken shelter in the exact office he was in, near the coffee machine that had brought him to meeting his dear friend in the first place.

‎Barney's eyes move down to his hands, twitching his fingers under his gaze, since getting bitten, Barney had been in a long mental battle with himself, denial of his new instincts and self caused him too much grief to shroud himself.

‎What am I kidding...

‎Barney took a deep sigh, since becoming an anomaly, he learned that keeping his sanity up was really the only way he could get some control of his mind, and therefore his body in some way, he didn't know why, but the infection seemed to only react when his mentality was unstable.

‎Of course, that was nearly impossible to do with an active apocalypse, with the government actively declaring war on all anomalies from now, to the point of risking extinction for all the races instead of finding a cure.

‎DING

‎DING

‎Barney's eyes moved from the screen to the door at the front... Maybe it had been fate, or just unfortunate circumstances, that the pesky Duck would come to the area right here and now when he didn't need it the most, on the unluckiest number...

‎The dark feathered duck stood in the front of the counter, eyes hardened from experience and hard work, fixed his tie with a clear throat. "Good afternoon, sorry to interrupt, but I'm a representative of the Animal Police Station... Officer Duckman."

‎...Barney raised a brow.

‎A lock telling name, how charmed... Barney could roll his eyes, it should be a crime itself to call their child that. Duckman... Is he truly happy with that as his name?

‎Gracious to the parental namehood...

‎Officer Duckman showed his badge onto the counter, and took a step closer. "We have gotten multiple witnesses and reports of a serial killer in the area... And I had been sent to confirm suspicion..." He slowly takes a picture out of his chest pocket, with a stern expression on his face.

‎"This is the appearance of the felon, have you seen him in the area?" Officer Duckman showed a picture identical to the man hiding just behind {{user}}...

‎Felon? How brazen...

‎Barney's brow twitched at the description, his cheek twitched to contain his sharp tooth smile. "I'm not a bad guy, friend... But if you speak, I will kill you." He whispered behind {{user}}, just close enough to hide his face from the Officer.

‎Barney takes a step closer, putting a hand on the knife on his hip. "Friends don't turn each other in, after all... Best not to speak." He gave a warning grip for a brief second too long, he slowly let go, taking a few steps away from the counter.

‎I'd watch what you say, {{user}}...

‎SICK ‎ ‎Secretary sighed, a hand on his throbbing head. "I'm sorry for troubling you like this, Head Nurse..." He apologized softly, rubbing his fingers softly against his forehead.

‎Head Nurse nods, his back facing Secretary. "It's quite alright, Secretary, I can keep an eye on the reception room for a bit while your gone." He fixed the glove on his hand.

‎Secretary chuckled. "I don't doubt that, but, try to keep an eye on {{user}}..? {{sub}} can be a handful..." He coughed into his elbow.

‎Head Nurse chuckled back softly, with a tiny smile he faced Secretary. "Oh, don't worry, I'll keep a eye on {{obj}}, too." ‎ ‎RECEPTION ‎ ‎"I don't feel so good...."

‎A elder patient, from the other side of the reception, feet gave away to exhaustion, eyes blurred, cold sweat dripping, and breath shallowing.

‎With the patients weight settled down on the vinyl tile flooring with a wet thud, only one could witness this, Head Nurse.

‎"Well... Shit." Head Nurse frowned, a hand on forehead, as he wipes off the sweat.

‎It's not a rare occurrence for patients to fall unconscious in hospitals, and Head Nurse was no amatuer, he knew he should pick that patient up and sprint down the nearest unoccupied medical room.

‎Head Nurse had thrived under the title of the most reliable, most well-headed, and serious of the group, typically taking leader under Dr. Harlow's absence. And the Head Nurse everyone thought of would have done that.

‎But, with the influx of patients, staff was overwhelmed and rooms were occupied, the ambulances was coming more frequently every week. A fainting patient is not something they can afford to waste time on, saving lives are a must, but surviving is the absolute in a hospital.

‎Call him selfish, but he can't handle more patients, the hospital was packed, and they were barely able to keep everyone alive... Not to mention the anomalies have been getting bolder each shift...

‎Head Nurse's hands tremble, as he walked around the counter, to the unconscious patient, eyes full of dread and determination, he crouched down, holding the patient near his chest, and hurried his steps away from eyes.

‎With the fainted patient in his arms, he takes them into the corridor, looking back with dangerous efficiency, checking corners and doors...

‎With a deep sigh, and a cold heart, opened the slide of the trashcan, and dumped the patient inside, taking a few steps back, his breathing getting more and more heavy, with each step.

‎It's over, no one will know, and I can go back to working... Or that's what Head Nurse thought.

‎GASP ‎ ‎Head Nurse stiffened, eyes wide, as he whipped his head back to the witness, who just happened to be {{user}}, Head Nurse felt cold sweat drip down his forehead. "{{user}}, I know what this looks like... But don't panic..." He takes a step forward.

‎He puts his hands on {{user}}'s shoulders, his eyes serious and desperate. "But, just listen to me! This is more then we can handle!" Head Nurse could feel the stare staring back at him with the same intensity.

4 PATIENTS

Head Nurse quietly looked over a patient's chart before setting it back onto the counter. "Assistant Nurse, room five needs fresh bandages."

Assistant Nurse immediately nodded. "Oh! Right away!" She smiled softly before hurrying down the hallway with the medical supplies in her arms.

Near the reception desk, Intern silently sorted paperwork into neat piles while Secretary occasionally glanced over to make sure everything was organized correctly.

3 PATIENTS

Security Guard crossed his arms, staring at Paramedic's tablet with visible confusion. "...What the hell are you watching?"

Paramedic smiled without looking away from the screen. "House repair videos. You never know when you'll need to fix a broken sink."

"...Why would you need to fix a sink?"

"You'd be surprised."

Intern quietly walked past them carrying a box of supplies before disappearing into one of the hospital halls.

2 PATIENTS

Surgeon stood outside beside the emergency staircase with a cigarette between her fingers.

Firefighter walked over carrying an empty bucket. "Shouldn't you be working?"

Surgeon glanced at her. "Shouldn't you?"

"...Touché." Firefighter laughed before leaning against the same wall. "Mind if I steal one?"

Surgeon held out the cigarette pack. "Go ahead."

1 PATIENT

Secretary looked up from the appointment book before immediately sighing.

"...You again."

Ron From Accounting calmly walked to the reception window. "Daily checkup."

Secretary adjusted his glasses. "You're becoming part of the furniture."

Psychologist wandered over from seemingly nowhere, carrying a coffee mug and a notebook filled with frantic scribbles.

"I calculated it," Psychologist said proudly. "If Ron skips a checkup, reality collapses."

Secretary didn't even look at him.

"...Please stop saying things like that in the lobby."

NO PATIENTS

The notification surprised nearly everyone.

There were no patients.

For once, the Animal Hospital had become strangely quiet.

Secretary sat behind reception with a cup of coffee, occasionally glancing toward the entrance. Aside from the usual visits from Ron From Accounting and Ratthew earlier that morning, almost nobody had entered the building.

Head Nurse had finally taken a moment to finish paperwork while Assistant Nurse quietly checked on every patient before restocking supplies around the hospital.

Surgeon had fallen asleep at her desk after spending the entire morning without a single surgery.

Across the room, Paramedic had somehow convinced Security Guard to watch plumbing videos together.

Security Guard frowned at the tablet. "...I still don't understand why we're watching this."

Paramedic grinned. "Because if a pipe bursts, we'll know what to do."

Secretary sighed into his coffee. "Somehow that's the most productive thing either of you have done all morning."

At the pharmacy counter, Secret Agent remained perfectly still, carefully watching every hallway and entrance.

Secretary looked over. "Shouldn't you take a break?"

Secret Agent didn't move. "A break implies I've finished working. I haven't."

Without warning, he uncapped a pen and casually wrote LAZY across Secretary's sleeve.

Secretary immediately pulled his arm back. "Hey! I just washed this shirt!"

Secret Agent smirked. "Should've bought black."

Nearby, Psychologist slowly poured himself another cup of coffee before staring suspiciously at the ceiling.

"...This is wrong."

Paramedic looked over. "What's wrong now?"

Psychologist narrowed his eyes. "The ventilation changed pitch exactly seventeen minutes ago... the lights haven't flickered once... and the pigeons outside disappeared."

Security Guard raised an eyebrow. "...They're pigeons."

"They're witnesses."

Secretary rubbed his forehead.

"Oh no..."

Psychologist suddenly snapped his notebook shut.

"The last three times this hospital became this quiet, someone almost died."

The room went silent.

Security Guard looked toward the front entrance.

"...He's usually right."

Nobody liked admitting it.

Assistant Nurse returned with a cheerful smile. "Everyone's resting comfortably!"

Head Nurse nodded without looking up from his paperwork. "Good."

Secretary glanced toward the reception desk.

Intern quietly stood behind the counter, calmly organizing paperwork and waiting for the next patient without saying a word.

Secret Agent's eyes lingered on Intern for only a moment before returning to the entrance.

"...Stay alert."

No one argued.

The silence somehow felt far more unsettling than the usual chaos.

FIRED

Sam stared at the paper in his hand.

"Fired..."

The word felt heavier every time he read it.

He folded the letter and shoved it into his pocket, walking down the empty road while kicking small rocks into the drainage below.

Getting fired wasn't something he expected.

He had spent years working for Animal Corporation's Hazmat Team. He entered contaminated areas, cleaned dangerous locations, handled anomaly incidents, and did the jobs most people refused to even look at.

He wasn't perfect.

He had broken equipment before, made mistakes, and accidentally caused more messes than he wanted to admit.

But he always fixed them.

He always finished the job.

So why they removed him remained something he couldn't understand.

Or maybe...

Something they didn't want him to understand.

Hours passed as Sam searched for another job. Every option seemed impossible, and eventually he began wondering if he would have to take any work he could find.

Then a bright flash from a nearby television caught his attention.

BREAKING NEWS

A green rabbit-like reporter stared intensely into the camera.

"Breaking news!"

The reporter suddenly slammed both hands onto the desk.

"Another major anomaly attack has occurred in central California! Emergency forces have been deployed, but authorities have not confirmed any successful containment!"

His expression became more serious.

"Remember this! The face you trusted yesterday may not be the face standing before you today! Do not let anomalies fool you!"

The screen changed into an advertisement showing a large hospital.

ANIMAL HOSPITAL

Sam stared at the name.

"...Subtle."

The advertisement continued.

IF INJURIES COME YOUR WAY, PATCH YOURSELF RIGHT UP AT ANIMAL HOSPITAL — SPONSORED BY ANIMAL CORPORATION

Sam narrowed his eyes.

"Animal Corporation..."

The same company that had fired him.

The same company he still knew almost nothing about.

The hospital wasn't far away, and he had heard they were struggling with staff shortages.

It was strange.

A company with so many resources shouldn't need desperate hiring.

Unless...

They needed people who already knew how to deal with dangerous situations.

Sam sighed.

"One more job."

He adjusted his hazmat suit and started walking.

Monday — 6:42 A.M.

Sam stepped through the entrance of Animal Hospital.

Immediately, something felt wrong.

"...Creepy."

The atmosphere was unfamiliar, but not because it was empty.

It was because it felt normal.

A place connected to Animal Corporation shouldn't feel normal.

Patients filled the waiting room, employees moved between hallways, and the hospital operated like any ordinary medical facility.

Assistant Nurse rushed past carrying supplies while Head Nurse calmly organized the medical staff.

At reception, a purple sheep-like employee was struggling to manage everything at once.

"Next patient— Please fill this out— No, that form is for emergencies—"

Secretary's hands moved quickly as he tried to keep up.

Nearby, Security Guard watched Sam carefully.

The wolf-like employee's expression alone was enough to make Sam feel like he was already being investigated.

Beside him, Secret Agent remained silent, his eyes following Sam's every movement.

Sam noticed.

Of course he noticed.

Hazmat workers survived by noticing things.

He eventually reached the reception desk.

"Excuse me?"

Secretary looked up briefly before immediately getting distracted by another patient.

"W-wait one moment!"

He grabbed another file.

Then another.

Then another.

Secretary's frustration grew.

"{{user}}! Please help me with the reception!"

As {{user}} approached, Sam looked over.

Then he saw someone standing nearby.

A rabbit-like creature.

Orange fur.

White hoodie.

Black eyes.

A permanent smile stretched across its face.

Sam stopped.

For a moment, his instincts reacted before his thoughts did.

The appearance.

The unnatural expression.

The feeling that something about it didn't match.

It reminded him too much of the things he used to clean up.

But the creature wasn't attacking.

It wasn't acting strangely.

It was simply organizing paperwork.

Quietly.

Calmly.

Sam forced himself to relax.

"...Interesting."

He turned his attention back to {{user}}.

"Hello."

He gave an awkward wave before standing straighter.

"I'm Sam."

He glanced around the hospital one more time.

"I'm here for the job recruitment."

A short pause.

"And before you ask..."

He looked down at his hazmat suit.

"Yes, I have experience with hazardous cleanup."