"The Dark Latex Beasts seem to function like amoebas, They are one cell organisms their odd 'skull mask' being the nucleus. Further research is needed" - Excerpt from Dark Latex Beast documentation file, no author found.

  I sat next to the hard, black latex “statue”. I held a flower tight in my paw, as I stared up at its dead, empty eyes. I released my tight grasp on the flower, and gently placed it in the already present circle of flowers. I moved some aside to place it, then slid the other flowers back into place so they would not overlap. If I could cry, even a little, I bet you a tear would slip out. But I knew, it never would. I stood up and shuffled out of the room. The lights flickered off for ten seconds then flickered back on for ten seconds and repeated the pattern as always. I slid under a table where I had hidden some stolen books.

  Other black latex beasts patrolled the area as I opened the book to the first page. I started flipping through the pages and before I knew it I saw the other black latex beasts leaving. I put the book back into its original placement and slid out from under the table. I walked to where the others had gone, a large room with multiple big bean bags scattered around. Other black latex beasts were already settling down on their designated bean bag. I walked over to my bean bag in the corner, it had a few neat piles of books around it. Also with a low shelf holding other books. I curled up on the bean bag and drifted to sleep, comforted by the scent of worn down paper.

  I woke to see the rest of the latex beasts still sleeping. I woke up early, as always. I reached into one of my neat piles of books and pulled out one labeled “Universe theories”. I skimmed through the book most words unfamiliar to me, but still interesting. My ear twitched as I peered at a faraway bean bag. It looks like the pup that was sleeping on it had moved in its sleep and now only its head remaining on the bean bag. The rest of its body sprawled out on the wooden planks. I chuckled, amused. my head turned back to the closed book in my paws.

  I placed it on the shelf and pulled out a different book labeled “herb studies”. I read that for the rest of the early morning. I got up as some of the other latex beasts started to drowsily raise their heads. My legs brought me to a bag full of oranges out of instinct. I reached in and pulled out a small, round orange. I walked back to my bean bag and peeled the orange. Sour, bitter flavors parade around my mouth whilst I eat my orange breakfast. Once I finish I lay back and continue reading. The day passes by similar to the day before. But this time i woke up much before any other latex beast, i can tell because the pup that i always wake up to find half off their bean bag is still on it.

  How come I woke up so early? Did something wake me up!? I got up alarmed with the thought that it may be a sound that had woken me. My eyes scanned the room, and despite my horrible eyesight especially when it’s dark, I noticed a black figure. I lowered my head and I heard them tip toe past, I sniffed the air quietly…A HUMAN!? I almost yelped but kept it inside my head. They quickly slipped into another room, also scared by the fact they had just snuck past a whole pack of sleeping black latex beasts. I could tell as even their dark figure seemed tense as they left the room. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, dropping my head onto the bean bag and letting out a sigh of relief. I realized I had fallen asleep reading a book as it was open right in front of me. I softly closed it and placed it back in the pile with the other books. I let out a yawn, surprised by my sudden drowsiness.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “Maybe I can sleep in late,” I mumbled as I nodded off. I woke up, expecting the same monotonous routine, but to my surprise every latex beast GONE. not a single sign of any of them. I tripped over my tail trying to stumble up. I walked out of the room and found them all very active…strange. That's when I noticed something, the scent of human. That’s why they were all up, they noticed the strange scent and expected an attack or something. One approached me, he looked strangely more intelligent than the others.

  “Hi” he mumbled. I almost toppled out of my non-existent seat. HE COULD TALK!?

  “How can you talk!?” I yelped, and then he yelped in response to my yelp as he was surprised I could talk. We both took deep breaths

  “How can you speak? And what is your name?” I asked, trying to get a hold of the situation.

  “My name is Puro and I learned to speak Via reading,” He said, also calming down.

  “Me too! That's also how I learned to speak” I said excitedly. I had to grab my tail to stop it from wagging. When I looked closer I could not ignore the floof. Puro was MEGA fluffy, I almost reached out my paw to touch his fur, but stopped myself knowing it would be rude to do so. Puro tilted his head

  “Can I have the honor of touching your floof?” I asked. He looked at me with a weird expression.

  “Sure?” the second the words left his mouth, my paw was already on his fur. He was so fluffy, his fur was silky, and smooth too. So fluffy I shook my head and retracted my paw.

  “Sorry” i apologized

  “It’s fine,” puro said, patting me on the shoulder. His eyes drifted towards my table and it looked like he noticed my books.

  “Are those….yours?” he asked, sounding somewhat surprised.

  “Well, kind of…i stole them from some random black latex beast” I mumbled trying not to let him hear.

  “You stole from me, i remember losing a few of my books but i never thought they were stolen” He looked down at me.

  “I-I’ve got to go” and with that he turned and walked towards the ventilation ducts which were very big, yet still cramped. After that day everything went back to normal, but I had a nagging feeling that soon…this empty lab would become active once more.

  I found myself staring into the entrance to the ventilation ducts. The black darkness consumed everything inside of them. That's when I heard a door opening. I spun around scanning the room, and standing in the entrance with hands over his mouth….a human. I now noticed green and red circles in the blind spots of the black latex beasts patrol order. Who had betrayed us like this? Who was helping the human? But I found a thought lingering in the back of my mind. Maybe you should help him too, he looks like he’s been through alot no! Stop thinking that black! I shook my head, and took a menacing step forward. As I approached him taking slow steps I noticed something, was I even in control of myself? I stopped my body from moving, taking in a deep breath. Then I found myself picking up a green marker and drawing just one more useful circle.