Anomaly

Author: Rowen

Chapter 260 – Timeless State [17]

Previous Chapter
I was momentarily startled by the voice that suddenly appeared. When I turned to look at Victor, Emily, and Laura, I noticed they still stood tense before the mosaic anomaly—but none of them seemed the least bit surprised by the voice. It was as if I were the only one who had heard it.
A chill ran down my spine, and for a brief moment, I wondered—did it really speak? There was something strangely distinct about that tone, a nuance unlike anything my sisters produced when they communicated with me telepathically. It felt... more vivid.
Instead of hearing actual words, what flooded my mind when I “heard” that voice was pure intuition—if the mosaic anomaly could speak, this was exactly how it would sound.
I sighed, shaking my head to dispel the intrusive thoughts, and turned my gaze back to the anomaly. There were countless questions hammering in my mind, but I decided to start with the most important one—the real reason we came here, searching for it.
(You...) I began, but immediately paused, catching my own words as I tried to organize the jumble of thoughts racing through my mind.
A heavy, suffocating silence fell over us for a moment. Then I continued, each word leaving me carefully, heavy with accusation and disbelief: (Was it you who left Sara... Victor’s sister... in that state? Completely frozen?)
When my voice echoed mentally toward the mosaic anomaly, it—until then focused on Victor, Emily, and Laura—slowly turned its gaze toward me. Strangely, the instant I felt its attention land on me, another shiver ran down my spine.
I knew it didn’t intend to attack me, but for some reason, its presence was still overwhelmingly intense. The mosaic anomaly didn’t answer my question with words—not a single sound escaped its lips.
And yet, its hypnotic movements, the subtle tilt of its head, and somehow that strange, absolute sense of certainty—as if I could read its thoughts—were enough for me to understand, without a doubt, what it meant to convey through every motion, every pause, every silent stare.
My eyes drifted from the anomaly back to Victor for a moment. His gaze, locked on the mosaic entity, was cold and razor-sharp—like invisible blades cutting without mercy. I bit my lip in restrained anger—no blood, no pain, yet a silent fury grew inside me.
One question burned in my mind, impossible to silence: (Why did you do it? Victor... Victor and his sister were just ordinary people... so what exactly are you after?)
The anomaly didn’t respond right away. Instead, its two gleaming, mosaic-covered arms moved gently behind its back, in a motion that seemed almost choreographed.
Then it began to walk—not toward any specific place, but slowly, as if each step were part of a silent ritual. Its face tilted toward the sky, perhaps contemplating the pale moon or the starry veil above. I couldn’t tell; I couldn’t even see its features, its expressions.
When its “words” reached me, they arrived silently—or maybe they weren’t words at all. What I felt, with almost tangible clarity, were its true “intentions” My face remained still, outwardly controlled, but inside I was completely shaken, as though every thought I had were suddenly turned inside out.
(What do you mean, “It was necessary?”) I asked, my voice probably sounding firmer than I intended: (And what does that have to do with me? I wasn’t the one who left Victor’s sister like that!) I’m not sure how my voice sounded to the mosaic anomaly. Angry, probably.
The anomaly shook its head at my words. What exactly did that gesture mean? Honestly, nothing in that moment made sense. Even if it truly was to blame, there was something in the way it “spoke”—in the way it conveyed those silent thoughts—that made me feel an unfair weight pressing down on my shoulders.
Why? I had no memory of ever doing anything to Victor’s sister. In fact, we hadn’t even met before I was captured by the organization. And yet, there I was, consumed by guilt that didn’t belong to me.
Lost in my own thoughts, I didn’t notice the mosaic anomaly’s approach until it was standing directly in front of me—barely inches away. A sudden chill ran through me as I saw it lift its hand toward my forehead.
I blinked, startled by its silent, unexpected closeness, before feeling something soft and warm gently brush against my skin. A shiver ran through me—an odd mix of fear and curiosity—as a faint, lingering warmth spread from the spot it touched.
The anomaly moved its hand in a slow, circular motion. Aside from the touch, I didn’t feel much else, but the action was sudden enough to make me flinch and close my eyes. Its movements were curiously precise; after gliding across my forehead for a few seconds, it pressed lightly.
There was no pain, only a strange sensation—almost like a delicate itch crawling across the point of contact, as though it were awakening something dormant beneath my skin. Then dizziness struck, as if the world around me had lost its balance. My thoughts tangled, confused, as disorientation swept through me.
Images and moments I had never lived began to surface, one after another, flooding my mind unexpectedly. Though unfamiliar, they carried a strange sense of recognition, as if they had always been part of my memories, quietly slipping through the cracks of my consciousness.
Finally, just as my mind felt ready to burst under the weight of it all, the mosaic anomaly lifted its finger from my forehead. Instantly, a searing pain shot through my head—like thousands of burning needles stabbing deep into my brain. It was unbearable; each second dragged my consciousness toward an abyss of agony.
Even as my skull felt on the verge of exploding, out of the corner of my eye I could still see Victor, Emily, and Laura. The three of them watched me with genuine concern—their eyes wide, lips slightly parted—as if they too could somehow feel the pressure crushing my mind.
However, all my attention was fixed on Victor—on the memories of his sister lying in that bed, in a state that could hardly be called alive or dead. For the first time, I felt something strange, a kind of pressure that wasn’t quite fear or sadness—not because of Victor’s sister’s condition itself, but because I was the one who had left her that way.
It had been necessary; I knew that much. With the new memories came the clarity that even now, I didn’t feel guilt. It was something that had to be done—a decision born out of inevitability and purpose—and nothing could change that. Still, a faint unease crept in, a quiet reminder that some actions leave scars, even when reason seems to justify everything.
More than anything, I lifted my eyes toward the mosaic-like anomaly before me. For some inexplicable reason, even without a face, I could feel its expression—a mocking, malicious smile that seemed to pierce straight through me. How did I know it was smiling when it had no face? The answer was simple, and terrifying at the same time: because it was me.
Victor’s hands were clenched with an almost inhuman force, his knuckles white with tension. Fresh blood trickled from the corners of his lips, tracing red lines over pale skin as he stared at the mosaic anomaly. His expression was grim, tense, filled with determination—but for a fleeting moment, that hardness gave way to a hint of concern as his gaze fell upon the
.
Victor didn’t understand what was happening—nor what those two entities were saying to each other. Humans communicate with words, but anomalies don’t follow such rules; they speak in forms, in intent, in a language his mind couldn’t decipher. And that left him restless, vulnerable, constantly on edge.
“She’s going to be okay, right?” Laura murmured beside him, her voice trembling with fear and anxiety.
“I... I’m not sure” Emily replied, confusion thick in her tone: “Interactions between anomalies and rare phenomena are unpredictable. Most of the time, they either cancel each other out or completely ignore one another. Seeing two anomalies interact like this... I’ve never witnessed that before. I don’t even know if conceptual virtues apply here, since, technically, they share a common origin. It’s... complicated”
As she spoke, Emily took a few cautious steps forward, positioning herself next to Victor. Then her voice grew firm, though it carried a deeper meaning: “Are you sure about this, Victor?”
Slowly turning his gaze toward her, Victor stared for a few seconds, as if trying to read every nuance of her expression. Emily met his look head-on—steady, curious, unflinching. For a moment, the world around them seemed to fade, leaving only the two of them caught in that silent tension.
Then Victor looked away, eyes fixed ahead, his fists tightening even further. A storm of thoughts and emotions surged through his mind—each more chaotic and intense than the last—making it nearly impossible to contain the turmoil within.
“What choice do I have?” Victor muttered, his voice laced with melancholy and self-loathing: “I’m just a human... what harm could I possibly do against an anomaly?” He drew a shaky breath, hesitating before continuing: “Not to mention...” The words caught in his throat. His eyes shifted from Emily to Laura, heavy with guilt and dread: “The
is right. One wrong move, and you two could die as well. I didn’t bring you here to get yourselves killed. I could never forgive myself for putting you in danger... because of me”
Hearing his words, Emily and Laura exchanged a quick glance before both shrugged, as if sharing an unspoken thought. It was Laura who broke the tension first.
“I appreciate the concern, but we’re scientists” she said with a faint smile, trying to lighten the mood: “For us, nothing matters more than the data—and the knowledge—we can extract from anomalies. It’s kind of ironic, considering I’m terrified of most of them...” She let out a short, nervous laugh: “But if I ever have to die, I’d rather it be at the hands of an anomaly with a truly remarkable ability. Wouldn’t that be a worthy end?”
Victor blinked, caught off guard, before turning to her with disbelief written all over his face. Laura, however, remained composed, almost indifferent, as if Victor’s reaction was little more than background noise.
When he turned toward Emily, all he caught was her sideways glance—studying him with curiosity—before she shrugged and flashed a faint, teasing smile.
“What?” Laura asked, raising a brow: “Almost every scientist in the organization thinks like that. In the end, wouldn’t you rather die with a few more answers to your questions than go without knowing even one percent more about them?”
Victor didn’t know what to say. For a moment, it felt like every word had vanished from his mind, leaving behind only a thick, uneasy silence.
In the end, what came out sounded more like an insult than anything else. And yet, strangely, he didn’t feel entirely wrong: “You two... have lost your minds?” he said, voice trembling with disbelief—a mix of restrained anger and genuine shock.
At that, Emily let out an ironic chuckle—the kind that blended mockery and disbelief: “You think we’re the crazy ones?” Laura asked, raising an eyebrow as her gaze drifted toward the two anomalies ahead.
She paused for a second, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she added: “I find it even crazier that there are people out there willing to do fieldwork for nothing more than a slightly above-average paycheck”
When Emily spoke, Victor couldn’t shake the feeling that her words were aimed directly at him. And the worst part? He couldn’t deny them. It wasn’t like he had joined the organization just for the money—but pretending that wasn’t one of the reasons would’ve been lying to himself.
Previous Chapter

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]
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