Otterly Cruel

WRITER'S NOTE: There is some animal cruelty in this passage. I strongly disapprove of these actions. If anyone of us sees an animal in need, let's do our part and save the critters from any harm. In the meantime, please proceed with caution.

"Okay, Number 47, let's test your capacities," I said as I grabbed the otter from his containment. I wore safety gloves that you wear when handling cats. Can't be too careful.

As I grabbed Number 47, he seemed a bit shaken. Must be his containment being freezing cold. I'll have to just the temperature a bit later as I have a job to do. Once I got a hold of the otter safe and secure, I took us to the lab table and lock him into place so he wouldn't go away. He was sealed up by metal arcs on his feet and body once I placed him on the table belly down. The otter wasn't comfortable, of the slightest. But with how he acts in the lab, even one time, nearly biting off my finger, I had Mr. Roost help fund the extra measures.

While the otter remained stationary to the table, I gather some of my things. It has been a full month of working on the little guy. He was becoming stronger day by day. It's unfortunate that the other 47 experiments we have done didn't make it.

"A fail experiment can often be a set back but we can always get another otter the next day with better results," Mr. Roost would often say to me every time. At first, I feel sympathy for the other otters but as time went on, I didn't care much about them. Even if I tried considering Mr. Roost demanded I put these critters in harsh conditions, whether I like it or not.

"I could care less about these pathetic creatures," Mr. Roost would also say. "There are a million of them out there considering the world started to go all environmental. What's one less otter going to matter?"

I wish I could say but I know that if I told my egoist and one-sided boss, he will surely not only let me go but kill me too. Especially after saying it numerous of times. So like the otter, I was also trapped. I had nowhere else to go then this place I work, sleep and eat.

Sure, I have a nice bed in a comfortable room and I get free meals, considering I work there for five years. However, working 10, sometimes 12 hours a week per day, can be extremely draining on anyone's body. Mr. Roost believes there is no such thing as breaks so I can't even go on vacation, even I wanted to.

The first thing I do was draw blood from Number 47. This was the less inhumane I had to do to the little guy. I was comparing the blood sample of today's to yesterday's when suddenly the door opened and in came Mr. Roost himself.

He is a handsome billionaire who owes his own company, Roost Industries. His company was known throughout the world for biogenetics. He paved the way to cure most diseases, including cancer! He was the biggest money bag you can ever meet, but he didn't have much the brains if you ask me. Please don't tell him I said that.

Mr. Roost has been the one funding for these types of secret experiments on the otters. He wanted to see what makes them so special that people can't resist their cuteness and suddenly care about the environments. Plus: he wanted to see if any of them could withstand the harsh realities of the world. His words, not mine.

As Mr. Roost walks into my lab with this fancy red suit, I turn around to face my boss with as much respect as I could give. I learned that from last time...He stops midway and goes: "How's the experiment coming along, Dr. Alan Harpp?"

He never once says "good morning" or "hello" to me ever since I started working here. Always about the business and never about the social cues. I shook my head mentally, just thinking about it as I replied to him: "I just started the blood samples."

"Why so late? We should have got that done by ten minutes ago!"

"Yes, well, I had something that upset my stomach. Must have been that burrito I ate last night. So I needed to take care of that first thing."

"I don't pay you to take a dump, you little piece of shit! I don't care about your bowel movements! I need results!"

"Yes, yes sir, and we'll get them."

"You've been saying that every single time, and I find it all quite annoying."

"I apologize, Mr. Roost. However, these experiments do take some time."

"Yeah, experiments that are costly me greatly. I need to know if these annoyances are capable to see how the world works."

"Why, yes sir. I know after you telling me a bunch of times."

"Well?" my boss asked as the blood samples were ready that he even had to point it out.

I turned around and gathered the vials of blood and compared them. As I looked into them, my boss was hovering over me. This won't be the first nor last time, he has micromanage me. Even the lab was recorded by a live camera but only to Mr. Roost's purposes. So yeah, I don't get much privacy when working as I should. At least he hasn't installed any thing in my bedroom nor the bathroom; at least not for now.

"And?" Mr. Roost asked impatiently while he crossed his arms and taps his foot.

I shook my head but only to answer his question: "No changes."

Mr. Roost threw his hands out before yelling: "Are you freaking kidding me!?"

"Sir, these experiments take time. We have to be patient."

"Patience isn't my motto, Dr. Harpp. I need results and I need them now!" He then turns to Number 47 giving the otter a nasty look. "I swear if you are stalling I will make you a nice fur coat, along with a warm hat."

The otter was shaken from Mr. Roost's outburst. I calmly talked to my boss by saying: "It's not him, sir. You can't rush these things, you know."

He then turns to me: "Or maybe you're the one stalling!"

I waved my hands and said: "Mr. Roost, we both know that's not true. You can check the footage and you'll know if me or Number 47 are stalling. I would highly suggest you do so, if you need some assurance."

"You telling me what to do, Dr. Harpp."

"No, no, no, Mr. Roost. It's only the suggestion. Not a request."

"Good, cause if it were such a case, you would have got your hand slammed to your thick lab table."

"I understand sir."

Mr. Roost's I watch rang. "I must go now. Got a business to maintain. I'm wasting precious times in this place. I best see those results in 24 hours from now. Compish?"

"Yes, sir. Compish."

And like that, Mr. Roost exited the lab, leaving me and Number 47 alone. I looked at the helpless otter as he too looked at me with some tearful wet eyes. He was scared out of his wits.

I then looked at the camera for a moment and then looked back at the otter. "Come on, Number 47. You know Mr. Roost isn't a patient man."

The little guy whined in response.

I shook my head again mentally before getting into my work. Might as well try pleasing the boss. An egoist and standoffish one of that.