#e liquid testing laboratory

[phoenixblaze1412]

Hi! Could I request child reader reacting to Omega deleting the other clones?

Main segments to take note of (not canon):

Webttore will be referred to as Theta

Akademiya segment will be Iota

Child segment will be Kappa

You could only look in horror as you glanced around the laboratory that was filled with the motionless bodies of the segments.

You had just woken up from a nap that Iota tucked you in earlier yet here you are staring at his lifeless eyes.

Chemicals and lab equipments have been scattered around the room. Splatters of blood was scattered throughout the lab, the scent of iron filling your nostrils. You could only whimper in fear as you held a plush of Dottore close to your chest.

You walked closer to Theta's figure, kneeling down and gently shaking him. You were hoping they were only playing a trick with you. They would usually tease you by playing a game where they would pretend they were dead.

But why aren't they moving?

"Theta, wake up. I don't like this game anymore..."

You felt tears prick the corner of your eyes as you moved Theta's mask away from his face. You know he would lightly scold you about removing his mask and playing with it.

"Why aren't you scolding me.. I took off your mask, Theta. Please look at me..."

You patted the segment's cheek, after receiving a silence in reply, you could only let out a cry as you kneeled down in the middle of the corpses.

Even though they were only a replica of Prime himself in different parts of his life, you considered them as your own family. They treated you like a little sibling, even protected you from the dangers of the world.

You just wanted Theta to wake up and playfully pinch your cheeks. Epsilon handing you your favorite sweets. Beta and Gamma teaching you how to read and write. Iota reading you bedtime stories. And even Sigma who would dress you up in lots of different clothes and would always make sure you looked presentable.

You gasped as you looked around the room in search of Kappa, the child segment of Prime. Your footsteps, covered in red liquid, echoed through the room.

You dropped your Dottore plushie as you stared at Kappa's figure. He was sitting up against the wall, blood dripping down the corner of his lips as the back of his head looked like it just exploded.

Now that you notice it, all the segments in the lab looked like their heads exploded.

You cried as you moved closer to Kappa and held him close to you, the blood from his head stained your clothes but you didn't have the mind to react on it.

"No, no Kappa.. not you too please..."

Your wails can be heard along the hallways as you held onto Kappa. He was the segment that was almost close to your age. He was your playmate whenever the others are busy doing experiments. Kappa would even comfort you whenever you would hear the screams of the test subjects that was coming from the lab.

You choked back a sob when you heard the door to the lab open and a figure walk in. You tightly held onto Kappa as you watched the figure approach you.

Once the figure showed themself under the light, you were faced with Omega's towering form. You also noticed a purple and green item in in his grasps but had no clue on what it could be.

"Omega! E-everyone isn't waking up.. and there's blood a-and their heads..."

"Calm down, little one. There's no need to cry."

You lost your hold on Kappa as Omega picked you up in his arms.

"B-but everyone.."

"They are not going to wake up. They never will. They are now dead, (Y/n)."

You cried on Omega's shoulder in grief, he only cooed and tried to calm you down by rubbing your head.

You didn't notice him kicking Kappa's corpse away as if it was a mere pebble on the road. Even doing it to the other dead segments as he made his way out of the lab with you in his hold.

"But how.. no one dangerous came in the lab before I took a nap."

Omega hummed as he gently rubbed circles on your back.

"It's simple, really. I was the one who destroyed them."

You slowly looked up at Omega, your mind not able to process the information he told you.

"What do you mean you destroyed them?.."

"I had to neutralize them, give them the direct order to self-destruct. Just so I can be able to obtain the dendro and electro gnosis."

You felt your grief turn to anger as you glared and punched at Omega's chest.

"You killed them! Why would you do that, Omega?! They're family!"

Omega didn't even flinch as you repeatedly hit his chest. Your cries of telling him to bring the others back only fell on deaf ears.

You cried out in pain when Omega pinched a pressure point at your neck, knocking you unconscious. He adjusted his hold on you so that your head was laying against his shoulder before making his way to find Prime.

"What's done is done, (Y/n). You'll come to learn that sacrifices must be made. I'm sure you'll forgive me soon. Besides, they can be created again.. although they won't have any memories of their old versions."

Back in the laboratory, besides Kappa's bloodied corpse, there laid your Dottore plushie. All covered in blood and forgotten just like the rest of the segments.

[ultimatelytired]

Parasite

word count: 17,334

Fandom: Stranger Things Pairing: Eddie Munson + Wayne Munson x Male!Experiment!Reader Pronouns: He/Him Relationship: Familial Occupation: High School Student Ability: Venom

This ability was forced upon the character by the scientists within the laboratory similar to that within Hawkins, fascinated by the creatures within the Upside Down, they managed to merge some of it within the character and he was bestowed with being the host of a lesser version of the Mind Flayer. This part of the Mind Flayer was so insignificant that it wasn’t able to properly take over its host body, instead it relied on its hosts body to keep itself alive. In return this part of the Mind Flayer was able to to reinforce their body beyond its natural human capabilities. This granted the character superhuman abilities but the character was burdened with needing to keep the Mind Flayer fed, giving them an enormous appetite and crave anything to keep it satisfied. They are also, like that of many residents within the Upside Down, gifted the ability to open gates to and from the Upside Down and the real world, but it takes a lot of energy out of them.

Keys:

[M/N]: Male Name [L/N]: Last Name [H/C]: Hair Color [E/C]: Eye Color [D/F]: Drink Flavor

Warnings: child abuse, alcohol consumption, drug use, vulgar language, violence, eating disorder/anorexia/bulimia, cannibalism.

I have no idea how the american high school system shit works so I’m bullshitting my way through most of it.

I wrote this ages ago before and this was much longer but decided to cut this into different parts.

that is all.

They made me this.

They made me a killer.

A cannibal.

A monster.

Number Five, formerly known as [M/N] who was picked up off the lonely streets and experimented on because no one would look for a nameless kid with nothing to him but his name and the clothes on his back. They told him that he should be grateful that he wasn’t living out on the streets, that he was out of the cold and the rain and the possibility that he could be murdered, but honestly? He would take that over being in this hellhole they called his home, sure he had nothing, but he rather have nothing than to be tortured all because these scientists needed a test subject for their stupid experiment. He was told that he wasn’t the first one they tried this experiment on, and he honestly wished that he wasn’t the last, as selfish as that was. He wished whatever they did to him killed him like the rest, but instead that got the results they wanted and he was perfectly bonded with this… thing.

They called it a symbiote.

He called it a parasite.

It now lived within him.

He honestly wished it killed him.

It living inside him was torture, it had an insatiable hunger for just about anything; blood and flesh seemed to be one of the biggest factors that could quell it, and so the scientists had something else to obsess over. They had him eat things from something small to something unreasonable, nothing cooked or prepared, straight up raw or grotesque. The worst had to be when one of their soldiers died to one of the monsters from that alternate world, he still remembered the way the dead soldier’s bones crushed against the incredible bite force of his jaw, or how his blood and shredded clothes was all that was left within his trembling hands. He was sick, he was going to throw up everything he had just scarfed down and they were going to punish him for something he couldn’t exactly control.

“If we’re able to duplicate this experiment, sir, we could have an entire army of super soldiers.” one of the many scientists informed, looking down at his clipboard while the man he was speaking to watched through the two way window to observe Subject No. Five. It was fascinating to see the way the symbiote they connected with the child was able to manifest itself a liquid like body and hover around the boy as if it were a shadow, they shared a psychic link with each other and were able to hear each other’s voices to communicate. This was unlike anything they’ve ever managed to do, the children that were able to move things with their minds was one thing, but connecting a monster with a human was just something else entirely.

“I am more surprised the boy managed to survive the connection, I would have thought he’d die in the process.” he murmured softly, watching as the thing moved from shoulder to shoulder to watch what the boy did to keep himself somewhat entertained.

“Well, that’s the thing, sir. Though I am not entirely sure what made them compatible, it seems like the symbiote has somewhat of a preference to what host it wants. When we tried on an adult man, both the parasite and host went feral until the body couldn’t handle it anymore and it killed the host from the inside out.” the scientist looked back towards No. Five and saw the way the same liquid made from the monster formed over his arm and created a claw of sorts, they back up a little when it extended and shot over to where they were standing and nearly shattered the glass “When it bonded with that child, it seemed like they had a similar hatred towards us humans.”

“Human in general?” he shook his head, watching as the pressure against the glass grew and formed a crack.

“No, just us. Since they share a mind, they seem to know which amongst us are friends and foe. Like with the other children, he doesn’t seem to lash out, but with the helpers and fellow scientists, well…” he didn’t need to finish that sentence, already knowing how that boy was able to rip some of the other scientists apart with his barehands alone.

“Do you believe he’ll ever come to obey us?” he shakes his head.

“Highly unlikely, sir. We grabbed him when he was older than the other children, where they were nurtured from birth. He already has a personality developed along with a mind of his own. Getting him to cooperate with us willingly is going to be more of a challenge.” he explained, the other hummed softly as the liquified arm gave up its attempts at smashing through the glass and returned to the boy, who stared at his hand then went back to what he was doing previously.

“Well, how hard is it to break a child?” he asked, the scientist opened his mouth the answer but paused when he noticed that it was a rhetorical question. He couldn’t help but swallow thickly at the gaze the man had in his eyes the longer he stared at the child, that boy was very resilient and he couldn’t help but marvel at how long that boy could forego the experiments without passing out. Well, maybe that was because he had help from the symbiote, healing any and all injuries inflicted onto him; his body could heal faster than a blade piercing through his skin “I want him prepped and ready for the next tests.”

“A-And that would be what, sir?” a cruel smirk graced his lips.

“What sort of weakness they have.”

The bond between the boy and the parasite gifted them with great endurance and strength, but like every hero and villain, they were bound to stumble upon a weakness. Fire seemed to be one, from a little flame to something bigger, the symbiote didn’t hesitate to retreat back into [M/N]’s body to hide from the smouldering flames that could melt him away. But what could be worse than the common flame? Well, sounds with high enough frequency’s is able to make the host lose control and the symbiote struggle to retain its physical form. The first time they trapped the boy within a room and blasted a pitch that gradually grew louder until neither one could handle it, the symbiote actually managed to separate himself from the host. However, the separation didn’t last long because neither could survive without the other. [M/N]’s body had unfortunately grown accustomed to the parasite that even his body weakened.

Of course the scientists found this discovery fascinating, so they found new ways of torture to gather more research for their stupid experiments. [M/N] couldn’t help but be impressed with himself with how long he’s been holding out, from being cut open from having his bones broken and feeling everything while being awake. They weren’t even kind enough to do it while he was unconscious or with anesthesia, not like it would work, drugs and alcohol seemed ineffective against him because of this son of a bitch. His body found comfort in his cold prison, the monster inside of him quelling from the cool air within their dark and confined room. Moments like these after endless hours of torture was where the two of them could really bond properly.

“I want to die.”

“I do not.”

“It doesn’t matter what you want.”

“It does when it is I keeping us alive.”

“I’d rather you didn’t.”

…

…

“I am hungry.”

“I’m hungry for actual food.”

“Like what?”

“A cheeseburger.”

“What is a cheeseburger?”

…

…

“What are we, parasite?”

“What do you mean, human?”

“Are we friends, or simply partners?”

“Well, you are merely my ride.”

“Oh.”

…

…

“Would you like to be “friends” human?”

“Well, it’s not like I have any.”

“You did not.”

“Thanks for rubbing it in.”

“You are welcome.”

The longer the two spent together, whether it be in the confinements of their room or in the lab being tortured and experimented on, their bond grew stronger and so did their power. [M/N] was growing a better control over the parasite and even trust to the point he would let him out of his body willingly, however, the more the two of them spent doing just about anything, the larger their hunger grew. This was [M/N]’s least favourite part of being bonded with this thing, that no matter how much he was fed his craving for more could not be satisfied. The lingering taste of human flesh and blood on his tongue often left him feeling sick, and though the parasite apologised for his need for human consumption, there wasn’t much he could do if he didn’t want his kidney’s to be next on the menu.

“No. Five’s progress has been developing smoothly, sir. He isn’t quite cooperative with us just yet, but at least he isn’t biting people’s heads off whenever they get too close.”

“That is good. Do you think he’ll be able to stand a chance against someone like those monsters?”

“I am confident he can take on no more than three at the time, sir. Within that body of his when they’re synchronised, he is able to withstand rounds from a shotgun. There isn’t much that can take them down, that body of theirs is durable despite its liquified state; also capable of shaping any piece of their body into whatever they want and extending in length.”

“Perfect, we’re getting closer and closer to the results we want.”

“And if we don’t reach them, sir?” the man let out a hum, eyes narrowing down on the boy that was seemingly talking to thin air but was actually sharing a conversation with the voice in his head.

“Then it’d be a shame to have to find another host to bond with the parasite.” the scientist couldn’t help but shake his head.

“That would be near impossible, sir! Those two have formed a perfect bond that finding a new host to match the compatibility of that child would take forever; the symbiote would die by the time we did find a host close enough for it to inhabit.”

“Well then we best hope things turn out the way we want, right?” the scientist couldn’t help but swallow thickly, not liking the way his words didn’t match the way his eyes were glaring at him, so he just hung his head and nodded.

Both [M/N] and the parasite noticed that the experiments were a lot more harsher, they looked like they were really aiming to kill him at this point. One time he remembered he was on the operating table and then next thing he knows he’s back in his room, the parasite told him how they stopped his heart and he was proclaimed dead for a couple seconds, it would have stayed like that if it weren’t for him interfering. They did shit like that before, but they never outright played with the concept of life and death like that before when they were undergoing experiments on him. He knew he was valuable, he knew they couldn’t afford to lose him, so what the fuck do they think they’re doing? Are they so desperate to get him to bend over to their every whim? How long could he push their patience before they did outright kill him and replace him with someone new.

“They are going to kill you, [M/N].” the parasite’s words couldn’t help but send a shiver down his spine, his fingers taping against his knee, his eyes staring at the wall from across him intensely.

“T-They— they wouldn’t. You’ll die without me.”

“They know that, but their patience runs thin.” [M/N]’s eyes tore away from the wall when he made himself manifest and float around him, that sharp toothed grin making him more nervous “It is only a matter of time before they run out of that patience.” he shakes his head once more.

“True, but even if they did manage to find you a new host, how will they know you’ll be a perfect match for them? All those tests and experiments will be for naught if we both die.” he brings his thumb to his lips, his teeth gnawing at his thumbnail “I didn’t hold out for this long just to be tossed out because I won’t listen to them.” he let out a soft grunt when he felt a soft knock against his head, looking over at the parasite, he saw that he bumped his own forehead against his to gain his attention.

“Then why are we still here?” those words caused a different sort of shiver to run down his spine.

“W-What do you mean?” that grin grew wider as he hovered a few inches from his face.

“We can leave.” [M/N] furrowed his brows before shaking his head, looking away from the parasite, pulling his knees to his chest and hugging them tightly.

“But where will we go? We have nowhere to go, and they’ll find us easily. We’re not exactly the most inconspicuous lot out there.” he sat in silence for a couple minutes until he felt the soft knocking on his head again, he didn’t turn his head but let out a soft hum to let him know that he was listening.

“Then, would you rather stay here and await your end like an animal in a slaughterhouse?” the parasite felt [M/N]’s anxiety rise so he draped himself along his back to comfort him, it almost felt like he was hugging him “We might not have somewhere to call home, but we will be free.”

“I’ll be all alone again…”

“But you are not alone, for you have me.” that alone caused [M/N]’s lip to tremble as he shed a couple tears, the parasite was kind enough to wipe away his tears as he wept. Later that night, the alarms were blaring and sounding off because [M/N] did, in fact, manage to escape. [M/N] and the parasite were having a hard time keeping together because of all the noise going on around them but they managed to make do, hell, [M/N] was even letting the parasite eat the soldiers that were trying to take them down as they made their escape. He let out a gasp when he busted down the door from inside the facility to the outside world, he nearly collapsed when he could finally smell the fresh air while the moonlight sky shun down on him. He almost basked underneath the rays of the moon but turned his head around when he saw the soldiers honing in, he didn’t hesitate to turn on his heels and speed off.

“Stop him!”

“Don’t let him get away!” [M/N] couldn’t afford to stop, because he knew the moment he was within their clutches again he wasn’t going to get another chance to escape. He knew that the moment he fell back into their hands, they were actually going to kill him this time.

“Pa— Parasite!” he called out, eyes widening he saw that the only thing standing in the way of his freedom was a barbed fence.

“Don’t call me that!” the voice shouted and took control of their body, crouching down and launching them in the air and over the fence. [M/N] let out a grunt as he landed before running off down the path of uncertainty, but he knew now that he was free, but he wasn’t off the hook just yet. The soldiers that were sent after him were brought to a panic when they lost sight of him within the forest he fled through, shouting out where he could have gone and how they could have lost him. The boy himself was hiding up at the very top of a tree, hugging it close to his chest as he panted out breaths of exhaustion. He didn’t dare look down nor move in fear that they could hear him and spot him, so he stayed as still as he could until he could no longer hear their voices. When it was absolutely silent he finally let his body relax, his head looked up at the starry night sky and he couldn’t help but laugh weakly as the twinkling stars greeted him.

“I never thought… I’d see this again.” he spoke softly, his face gleaming with hope.

“What are those lights in the sky, human?”

“Those are stars, parasite.”

“I told you not to call me that, human.” this caused him to roll his eyes.

“Well, you haven’t exactly given me a name to call you, now have you? I’ve been calling you parasite because that’s what you’ve been to me ever since we’ve been stuck together.” he shook his head when the parasite appeared before him “Well, what do you want to be called? We’re free now, so maybe a new name for you can be a fresh start.”

“Yes, I would very much like a name.” [M/N] raised a brow when he saw him look up in thought, thinking of any possible name “I have chosen a name most suited for me. I am Venom, and you are mine.” the para— no, Venom said with absolute pride. [M/N] stared at him before bursting out into laughter he didn’t know he was capable of producing.

“Venom? Is the best you can think of?”

“What is wrong with Venom? I believe it suits us very well. I called us Venom because of our shared bitter hatred towards the men in white, who have tortured us for a number of years for their twisted version of science.” this reason behind the name caused [M/N] to hum softly.

“Hmm, then it is a very cool name. I like it very much, Venom.” this caused Venom’s already permanent smile to grow bigger.

“I am pleased, [M/N].”

Now their next problem was the fact that since they have nowhere to go, had nowhere to retreat to and they couldn’t afford to stop moving, they had to make do on what to eat. [M/N] was forced to eat anything they set their eyes on, Venom was an even pickier eater now that their only source of food was no longer available. The unfortunate times he did have to eat an unsuspecting hiker, Venom would apologize when [M/N] would throw up the contents because he couldn’t never get used to the taste of flesh and blood on his tongue each time Venom feasted because he too had to eat. But this was something he would prefer then being stuck in that white room to be torn apart over and over and over again, he would rather develop a sort of eating disorder then to be stuck in that cycle of torture any day. He didn’t know how long he was on the run for, how far he had walked to put some distance between himself and that lab, but he knew he had crossed over several states to get where he was.

He let out an exhausted sigh when he found a clearing through the thick forest he traveled through, a road separating him from the forest on the other side. The darkness would be the only thing to cover him from any prying eyes that could possibly be lingering this late in the night, but would we be out this late anyways. He let out a huff and left his hiding spot between the trees and crossed the road to get to the other side, he must have been too exhausted to hear the noise coming from the right side of him because it didn’t dawn on him that he got hit until he was on the ground. Perhaps it was Venom that shielded him from the full impact from the vehicle that hit him but it still knocked the wind out of him and sent him flying a few meters away from the truck and landing on the ground with a thud, maybe it was the hunger and craving of food that caused his lack of reaction and why he didn’t bother to move, he just let his worn out body lay there.

Said owner of the truck didn’t even see the young boy until it was too late, he slammed his foot on the breaks the moment he laid eyes on the figure the darkness hid until his lights revealed him. He sat inside his running truck for a couple seconds before slowing it started settling in that he had actually hit someone, he quickly threw open his car door and rushed over to the person that laid motionless on the road. He felt guilt wash over him when he saw that it was a child, dirty and malnourished, looking as if he went through hell before he was hit by his truck. The state of this child made him think of his own kid so he didn’t think twice about picking him up as gently as he could, trying not to add any more pain to this already broken child, and hightailed it to the hospital. He did his best to keep his eyes on the road while occasionally sneaking quick glances at the unconscious boy in his passenger seat, grimacing every now and then whenever the boy would wince and whimper from just the smallest amount of movement.

“I’m sorry, boy. I’ll get you help, I promise. You’ll get the help you need.” to say the hospital workers were startled was an understatement, this was a town where everybody knew everyone so when they saw Wayne Munson burst through they doors with a bloodied child cradled in his arms “Please, you’ve got to help him.” a couple nurses took [M/N] from his arms and brought him to a room so they could see what exactly was wrong with him while a doctor spoke with Wayne.

“Where did you find him?” he gave the doctor a guilty look.

“I-I— I was on my way to work and he— he came out of nowhere. I didn’t see him out in the middle of the road and I accidentally hit him. Oh, god. He looked so bad, it was horrible. I don’t know if all that damage was from me or from whatever he went through for him to be out there this late at night.” the doctor let out a soft sigh, understanding what he went from the quick glance he got on the young boy “He looked so… small.”

“It was a good thing you brought him here, Wayne. I think if he was out there for a couple more days he might have died from starvation. He looked thin.” Wayne nodded his head.

“Yeah, I could feel his ribs.” a couple hours past, the doctor advising Wayne to get going since he still had a job to get too, he reluctantly left but promised to be back right after his shift to see if the boy will be alright. The few doctors and nurses who were getting [M/N]’s diagnosis were astonished to see that where they thought were open wounds and cuts were already healed over, as if they weren’t there to begin with, even places where scars should have formed weren’t visible.

“I’ve got to say, this has got to be the luckiest kid in the world.” the doctor, who was previously speaking with Wayne, raised a brow as he entered the room.

“What do you mean by that?” she let out a scoff, going back over to the unconscious child and pointing at his legs.

“If what Mister Munson told us is true, from how fast he was driving and with what little time he had to break, the force the kid should have had to face would have been enough to break his legs. But his legs are perfectly fine, as if there was nothing wrong with them. He’s maybe got a few scarps and bruises, and also the fact he’s malnourished and suffering a possible concussion, he’s perfectly fine.” he hummed at the brief analysis.

“Did you get anything else from Mister Munson? Maybe a name and origin? Maybe even his parent’s names?” a different nurse asked, the doctor shook his head.

“Nothing. We’re just going to have to wait until this young man wakes up.” and thanks to Venom it didn’t take all too long for [M/N] to wake up, it was when Wayne returned in the morning hours later did he come to find [M/N] awake. He noticed the few staff in the hospital rushing in and out of the room, panicked looks on their faces as they shared brief and rushed conversations with each other before leaving.

“W-What’s going on?” he asked a passing nurse.

“Y-You’re back, Mister Munson! Great.” she grabs him and starts leading him to the room where [M/N] was being held, he goes to question her but was caught off guard at the screaming. He peeks into the room and his eyes widened when he saw the young boy on the floor, curled up into a ball as he backed himself into a corner while screaming at the nurses that tried approaching him to get away from him “He’s been like this ever since he woke up, sir. We don’t know what’s causing this erratic behaviour.” [M/N] was having a panic attack, the moment he woke up and saw the white ceiling above him his mind immediately kicked into survival mode. His mind thought he was back in the lab, he thought they caught him last night and they dragged him right back to continuing testing on him. He couldn’t register that the people approaching him were only meant to help him, he couldn’t stop his body from falling off the bed and getting as far away from these strangers.

“P-Please, don’t hurt me! I don’t want you to hurt me, please!” he cried out, his head curling in on himself when he saw someone reach for his head. Watching this scene play out broke Wayne’s heart, watching this trembling child cry that he didn’t want to be hurt anymore, it really reminded him of the child he had back home. He’s seen this type of play may times so he knew how to help, he knew how to bring this child back down to reality. [M/N] was covering his head with his arms as he let his fear overwhelm him, he hadn’t realised the nurses backed off to make some space for someone else “P-Please, just leave me alone…!”

“It’s alright, young man.” the new voice started him, causing him to lower his arms briefly to get a look at the man who spoke those soft words. After years of torment, manipulation and pain, [M/N] learned how to get a good read on people and could tell the difference between nasty and vile people from the genuine and good people. This man, despite his rather gruff and slightly brusque expressions, get could tell he was a sincere kind of man and he relaxed a little “Do you… perhaps remember me?” Wayne felt foolish for asking that kind of question.

“Oh, he is the man who hit you with his truck. Should we eat him? He is the cause of your pain, he is the one that brought you here.” [M/N] lowered his arms a little more so they were now hugging his legs, his knees pressed against his chest. Wayne waited patiently for a response and when [M/N] shook his head, indicating that he didn’t know who he was, he gave him a soft expression.

“I am the one who, well, um— ahem, hit you last night.”

“Told you.” Wayne noticed [M/N]’s eyes glare off to the side, muttering something under his breath, before hesitantly looking back up at Wayne but his eyes evidently looked past him as he avoided eye contact.

“What were you doing out there so late into the night?” as if all the memories of last came crashing back down onto [M/N], the look of fear struck his face.

“I-I— I was— I was just…” he bottom lip started to tremble, tears beginning to form in his eyes “I was just—“ he shook his head, burying his face into his legs. He didn’t know what to say, he couldn’t put his thoughts into rational words, and even if he could, why’s it any of his business? Why didn’t he just leave him out in the middle of the road right where he found him? He wouldn’t be in this predicament if this old man just minded his damn business.

“It’s okay, take your time. There’s no need to rush.” he couldn’t help but tense up at that, he wasn’t allowed to take his time. He was constantly rushed to get tasks done, they never gave him time to go at his pace and he’d be punished when he didn’t finish things at the allotted time that was given.

“Do you have a name?” [M/N]’s head perked up at the question, his hand instinctively moving to his wrist where the number 005 was inked into his skin “My name is Wayne, and you are…?” he greets, placing his hand on his chest then gesturing to him.

“I-I’m…” he’s risking a lot by saying his name, well, it’s not like those scientist ever took the time to learn his name and he didn’t know if he had any records on who he was so… “[M/N].” his body started to become less tense when Wayne’s face softened, it almost felt welcoming.

Almost.

“Well, it’s very nice to meet you, [M/N].” the other occupants in the room take their leave when they see that Wayne had everything under control, seeing as how the child wasn’t screaming anymore and though he was giving short answers to Wayne’s questions, at least he was talking “I’ve got to ask again, but why were you out there?” [M/N] swallowed thickly.

“Do not tell him. He will not believe us. He will think we are crazy.” [M/N] knew that, he wasn’t that gullible to tell this stranger everything.

“They… hurt me. I couldn’t take it anymore…” that was more than enough, maybe then he’ll stop asking that question.

“Who hurt you?” [M/N] grits his teeth, why won’t he just drop it already?

“… the men in white.” that sentence caused Wayne to look back at the doctors, he spared [M/N] a look and noticed the way fear spiraled in his eyes as he kept them trained in on the doctor. Was that the reason why he was freaking out at the sight of all the doctors in the room? Because men dressed in white hurt him? “P-Please stop asking questions.” Wayne gave him an understanding look.

”Okay, alright. But I’ve just got one more.” [M/N] couldn’t help but groan “I know, but this one is important. Do you have a home to return too?” the questioned momentarily caused him to freeze up, his expression now saddened.

“… no.” with that he stopped talking completely, his face blank but he could just see the sadness lingering in the air surrounding him. [M/N] allowed Wayne to pick him up, despite how long it took him to allow him to touch him, and place him back in the hospital bed where he spent the rest of the day laying in silence.

Well…

“That old man needs to know how to stop asking unnecessary questions. Did he not notice how he was making us uncomfortable?” [M/N] swallowed thickly, raising his hand to caress his wrist once more “We can’t stay here for too long, [M/N]. We don’t know how much distance we put between us and that lab. They could be here since the moment you were unconscious. I can get us out of here.” this caused [M/N] to look over at the open window, he didn’t know what floor they were on but he knew they were up pretty high.

“It’s broad daylight, Venom. You can’t be out when the sun is up. We’ll get caught.”

“It’s not like we have a lot of options, [M/N]. Do you want to waste your time here and risk getting caught or trust me and get us out of here?” Venom growled softly when he felt [M/N] hesitate, his mind thinking back to the kind man.

“I-I…” Venom let out a sigh when [M/N] chose to stay and see where this option would take them, if things started to go south then Venom had full control of the situation, and if things looked better… lets not get their hopes up just yet. Venom and [M/N] shared the same questioning expressions whenever Wayne stopped by and visited [M/N], they didn’t question it when he came by to drop off food and share a few words with [M/N]. The young child would eat as much as he could but he’d eventually throw everything back up, [M/N] grimaced when he realised that his body had gotten used to the consistent diet of human flesh and blood that he couldn’t handle actual food. Now he couldn’t even enjoy the simplest things in life, like eating. And it’s not like he could tell them what he ate previously that got him to get this sort of a reaction, that would really get him in trouble.

“You know, I have a nephew.” [M/N] hummed at the news, Wayne and him playing a card game, one that he couldn’t seem to remember the name of but he could remember how to play. He thinks he’s winning, telling how Wayne was getting frustrated a little.

“Oh? Where is he now?” he asked, placing another card down on the deck then rearranging his hand. He was also talking a bit more since Wayne keeps visiting him, [M/N] becoming more relaxed but he still had his guard up in case something bad happened “With how often you come to see me, and with the only time you ever leave is to go to work, I’d think you have no one waiting for you at home.”

“Well, he’s usually at school about this time and he’s been busy as of lately. He’s got this band, um, Corroded Coffin, if I remember correctly. He’s really into heavy metal and stuff, all that loud and energetic music.” [M/N] nods at that.

“Loud? I would not like that at all, it would hurt us.”

“And, if I’m being honest, he reminds me an awful lot like you.” this comment made [M/N] pause, he slowly looked up at the older man and held back a soft laugh, seeing how he was sticking his tongue out in concentration as he thought out how to play his next card.

“You don’t know anything about me.” he nod his head.

“True, but I do know you need help.”

“And what makes you think you can help me?” Wayne shrugs and plays his card, it was only then did [M/N] realise Wayne’s hand was empty, meaning that he had won this card game.

“I don’t know, but with time I’m sure you’ll get better.” [M/N] furrows his brows.

“I still don’t get how your nephew and I are similar.” Wayne hums.

“When I first met him, he was quiet and standoffish. Kept to himself and never really spoke, only speaking when spoken too.” this caused [M/N] to flinch, wrapping his arms around his body “I can’t share much about that boy, but it took him a long time to fully open up and trust me, but I was patient with him. It was definitely worth the wait because the day I got to see who that boy truly was, it was a magical moment.”

“… you wouldn’t want to know who I truly was.”

“I beg to differ.”

“We can’t trust that he’ll accept us, [M/N].” he knows that, it sounds too good to be true. Hours later [M/N]’s room was blanketed in darkness with the light of the hallway being the only illumination that peeked through the cracks of the door, he was trying to sleep but struggling to do so, his body curled up on the bed with his arms wrapped around the pillow he was laying on. The silence was peaceful, the only noise being his breathing and a heart monitor of another patient residing in the room, other than that it was absolutely quiet. He let out a huff and turned himself over so that he was laying on his back, his eyes now staring up at the bleak white ceiling, quickly closing his eyes when his mind went back to that damned room.

“You struggle to sleep, why?” [M/N]’s lip quivered.

“I’m scared.” he whispered softly “I don’t know what to do.”

“We can always run away.”

“I don’t want to run, I want to live. Running is not living.”

“We don’t have much of a choice, [M/N].” his eyes opened, glaring up at the ceiling in disdain.

“We don’t.” his tensed up when he heard voices in the hallway, briefly making out a few of them as the doctors that treated him and Wayne. He had come to like Wayne’s company, even Venom was relaxing under the presence of the old man and spoke less about wanting to eat him, it was a start at least.

“Mister Munson, since [M/N] is now physically well enough, I think it would be best to try and find out where he came from.” this statement had [M/N] wide awake, his body shooting up from where he was laying and his head whipping around and staring at the door with wide eyes “His parents don’t seem to be in the picture, and we don’t even know which state he is from. He doesn’t seem to be from Hawkins because he didn’t recognise which state he was in when asked.” Wayne nods his head.

“I understand that, but what are you going to do now that he won’t be under your care?”

“The best option would to leave him in the care of a social worker, perhaps even ask the police to investigate the child’s origin.” this made him panic, police? He didn’t need the police digging into anything involving his past, he didn’t need them spreading out news that he was there in “Hawkins” and bring those men right to him. He was quick to throw the covers off and head towards the window, being ever so quiet as to not draw attention that he was awake.

“If we aren’t able to find any sort of living relative or guardian, I’m sorry, but we’re going to have to hand him over to the authorities. We can’t continue to shelter him, we’re a hospital, not homeless shelter.” this was more then enough to break his resolve, already climbing out the window and getting ready to jump out but paused when Wayne spoke up.

“Well, what if I took him in?” what? [M/N] sat on the windowsill as he looked back towards the door, what did he just say? “I’ll take him in.” the doctor sigh.

“You’ll take in this child that you barely know? Mister Munson, as much as I respect that thought, do you think it’s wise to bring a child to a trailer that can barely house yourself and your nephew. You’ll be bringing a lot onto your plate by including another child under your roof. Why burden yourself with that?”

“That boy already looked like he’s been through a lot, why make things worse for him? Besides, it took him so long to open up just a little bit to me, how long do you think it’ll take for him to talk to whoever else is supposed to look after him.” he sighed himself, wiping a hand down his face “I understand the concern, but I can’t stand to watch that child shut down. The foster care system is flawed, I’ve seen it and it ain’t pretty, I wouldn’t want to see that boy suffer more than he already has. The look in his eyes is like that of a war veteran diagnosed with PTSD.” the doctor gave Wayne a look.

“But you understand the troubles you’ll face with taking this child in.?” he nods.

“I do.” Venom made himself appear to look at [M/N], he noted the way his lip was trembling as the tears he held back for so long started falling down his face as he let out a choked by quiet sob. After a couple minutes talking with the doctor, Wayne peeked into the room and there he saw [M/N] sleeping in his bed with his back facing the door. He was quiet as he approached his sleeping figure and taking a seat at the edge of his bed, raising his hand so it could rest on his side “I’m not sure what you went through, [M/N], but I’ll make sure you won’t have to suffer anymore.” he pats him softly before standing up and taking his leave, not noticing the way [M/N]’s body trembled as he cried silently.

[later]

To say Eddie Munson, the so called nephew of Wayne Munson, was surprised would be an understatement. He was completely floored at the sight of the young boy clinging to his uncle, clutching onto his jacket as he hid behind him and peeked out to look up at him. There wasn’t that big of a height difference between the two of them but he was still having to look up at him, not that it mattered, what mattered was the fact that his uncle brought some kid home that he had no idea about. Wait, no, he did know about him. Maybe it was a dick move of him to not remember, but a couple weeks ago he remembered his uncle distraught about something. Upon asking, he was shocked to hear how his uncle accidentally hit some kid and took him to the hospital, he did remember his uncle mention how he would visit him with any chance he got but— did he mention about bringing him home?

“Hey, Eddie. Do you remember about that kid I hit awhile ago?”

“Yeah, why?” he replied, not paying to much attention to his uncles words in favor of tuning his guitar.

“Well, he doesn’t really have a home to return too. If it isn’t too big of a deal, I was thinking of bringing him home to live with us. I understand that it’s a big— a huge deal for us, and I’ll also understand that you’ll be against it. I just— I won’t rest easy if he’s not somewhere safe.”

“Y-Yeah, yeah, nah. It’s all good, it’s fine.” he answered, sticking his tongue out in concentration as he twisted a knob and gently strummed the string, grinning to himself when he got the correct tune from it.

“Really, Eddie? You don’t mind at all?” he waved his hand to dismiss his uncle.

“Yeah, it’s fine, it’s fine! Don’t worry about it.” he grimaced to himself. Damn, he really did bring it up with him, he was just too much of a dumbass to listen to him properly.

“Eddie, this is the young boy I always talked about, his name is [M/N] and he’ll be living with us. [M/N], this is my nephew that I’ve been taking care of since he was a child, his name is Eddie.” his hand reaches back to gently pat his back, [M/N] and Eddie stared at each other before [M/N] turned his head so that he was hiding his face in Wayne’s back.

“H-Hello…” he spoke out weakly, Eddie awkwardly raised his hand and waved.

“Hi.” that was good enough for Wayne, at least [M/N] was speaking. Since that night Wayne had noticed the way [M/N] now brightened, even if it was small, whenever he entered the room. He was more open and didn’t speak in a monotone voice, going so far as to initiating their conversations and carrying most of them. It made Wayne happy that he opened up more to him, he was so happy.

“I know that this is sudden for the both of you, but I really do hope that you two can get along.” [M/N] swallowed thickly as he looked back up at Eddie, yeah, this was going to take awhile to get used to. [M/N] now found himself sat in their living room(?) as they two spoke outside, he took this as his chance to get a look around the room, he snorted softly at the shelf that held a large collection of different mugs.

“How cozy.” [M/N] nodded his head.

“It’s nice. I like it better than the open space of the lab and hospital; I like the mess and clutter of everything.” he turned his head and saw Venom appear at his side.

“The plan to flee is still on the table, [M/N]. If anything bad happens, we’re out of here. As much as I have come to like this human, we can’t trust that things will go our way for long.” he nods his head, a sad look now appearing on his face at the thought of this being ripped away from him “I understand the sadness, but we can’t take any chances.”

“I know, I know.” he pats his shoulder where he feels the sludge of Venom’s body “I trust your intuition, Venom. But we should trust Wayne as well.” Venom lets out a sigh.

“I suppose you’re right, but that doesn’t solve our food problem.” this caused a bead of sweat to trickle down the side of his face, that’s right. Venom still needed to eat humans, or, something that had a lot of meat or else he’d resort to eating [M/N]’s organs and shit, that definitely won’t be fun. He could already tell that Wayne didn’t seem to have a lot of money on hand and it’ll be even tighter with another mouth to feed, he couldn’t burden Wayne with Venom’s appetite. He’ll figure something out.

“Eddie— Dammit.” his head shoots up at the shout, Venom was quick to retreat back into [M/N]’s body when the door was thrown open and in stormed Eddie who looked mad. [M/N] flinched when Eddie’s wild eyes glared at him before storming off into down the hall and supposedly into his room, slamming it shut and blasting loud music. He winced softly at how loud it was despite it being muffled, Wayne then walked back into the room and sighed softly “Well that didn’t go as well as I hoped.

“Is he angry at me?” [M/N] spoke, Wayne dragged his hand down his face.

“Yes and no. He doesn’t like the thought of sharing a room with a stranger.”

“Well, it’s understandable. We are strangers, and having to share a room so suddenly with someone you don’t even know…” he trailed off, rubbing his arm “M-Maybe this was a bad idea, Wayne. Maybe I should—“

“Shush now, don’t talk like that.” Wayne was suddenly in front of him, kneeling down from where [M/N] was sitting on the sofa and placed his hands on top of his shoulders “I decided to take responsibility of you—“

“To which I still don’t understand.” he quickly looked away when Wayne gave him a stern look, he let out a sigh when the older man waited for [M/N] to look at him again and when he did he gave him a soft but stern expression.

“This is going to take a lot of time to get used to, for the three of us. Eddie had just recently gotten used to having his own space and living with me, with the sudden change of adding someone else to our bubble, I can see where his anger is coming from. It was wrong of me to suggest the two of you sharing, not taking into consideration of the both of you. I apologize for that, I will be saying the same thing to Eddie as well when he calm down. You’ve suffered enough, young man, allow me to help relieve that suffering.” tears started gathering in his eyes, his lips trembling as he started averting his eyes.

“I-I— I don’t understand why though. Why me? You could have just left me there.”

“I already told you. You remind me an awful lot like my nephew.” he sniffles at that, wiping under his nose and a few tears that managed to leak from out of his eyes “I couldn’t stand to leave you there when you needed help, and you trusted me more than the people that helped you.”

“I don’t trust doctors.” he murmurs, he really didn’t like doctors.

“But you trust me? You very well could have declined my offer to house you as well, [M/N], but you didn’t.” he could see where he was coming from, he could have said no but despite being twelve years old, he already knew how flawed the foster system was. I mean, he was homeless at the age of nine because he couldn’t stand being in a house where he was nothing more than the outcast. He was afraid that it was going to happen again, he was so scared he was going to have to relive another nightmare, but the gentleness from Wayne’s voice calmed him “Eddie will come around, I swear.”

“A-And if he doesn’t?”

“He… well, it’s his loss.” [M/N] frowned softly.

“He’s your nephew, Wayne. I’ll understand if you choose him over me.”

“I’d rather not be given that choice. I haven’t known you long enough, but with the time we had, I can already tell you’ll do great in life. You are both destined for great things.” this managed to crack a smile, though smile but definitely a smile, on his face that caused Wayne to chuckle “Now there’s that smile.” he wipes away a few more tears that managed to stray from his eyes with his thumb. Eddie peeked his head from out of his room and in his eyes a memory of when he was in the same position as [M/N] flashed in his head, he could see the same hurt and pain in [M/N]’s eyes that once belonged to him. He could see himself in that boy and he could understand why Wayne took him in, maybe it was to feel better about himself for hitting him with his truck or because he felt bad that he hit him with his truck… [M/N]’s eyes looked over when he heard a soft creek and saw Eddie’s door open for a brief second before it was closed.

The following days went by quickly, [M/N] politely refused to share a room with Eddie but adamantly refused to take the pull out bed that Wayne used to sleep on. He was stubborn about it too and said that he didn’t mind sleeping on the couch, though uncomfortable, he would feel less bad if he took Wayne’s bed. Though the two of them avoided each other, they were cordial and civil when they did have to interact but they were mostly quiet. Eddie found it easy to avoid the young boy since he had school and other extracurricular activities to attend to so he made sure to come home later so he didn’t have to interact with him as often, [M/N] didn’t take that to heart because at least he was left in the silence of the trailer where Eddie blasts hard rock 24/7. Him shredding his guitar was the worst for both himself and Venom, the high pitch shrieking of his fingers gliding along the strings of his guitar were sharp enough to cause Venom to react badly and nearly take control on their body but [M/N] was quick enough to grab a walkman and tape to shut out all the unnecessary noises. The first time Wayne noticed how sensitive [M/N] was to sounds he dismissed the worry and concern with saying he just couldn’t handle loud noises and this was Eddie’s home, he couldn’t possibly tell him to knock it off when it was what gave Eddie comfort. The next day [M/N] woke up with a walkman on the coffee table and a couple tapes with calming and soft sounding music, that brought another rare smile to his face.

Another problem [M/N] struggling with was Venom’s hunger, that problem was easy to solve, though. He was lucky that Wayne worked the night shifts for his job at the plant and Eddie was a heavy sleeper, wouldn’t wake up even if a tornado was going off in his room. Venom was strictly told not to eat any humans and instead to feast on the farm animals that resided in Hawkins, the occasional raccoons and possums but to never eat any pets or even strays. Venom didn’t see the difference between a pet with a cow, they were both animals in his eyes, but [M/N] couldn’t possibly live with the guilt of eating an animal like a dog or cat. Animals like cows, though despite how cruel, were already up for slaughter since being bred into this cruel reality, so he didn’t have that much guilt over eating them. But no matter what he ate, it still made him sick to his stomach to eat animals, there was nothing else in that town that could satisfy Venom’s stomach and he couldn’t stomach the thought of eating another human being again.

It was a school night and Eddie found himself struggling to complete his chemistry homework, frustrated with the complicated wording of the work he stormed out of the trailer to take a short smoke break to clear his mind. He didn’t know how long he was sitting out there when he heard soft weak whimpering, he blows out the smoke he inhaled from his cigarette before evidently snuffing it out and investigating where the noise was coming from. He’s peeking over fences for a sign of life but found nothing, he’s walking towards the woods and the noise was louder, he’s not too far from the trailer park when he enters the woods when he found the source of the whimpers. He recoils back in disgust at the sight of a half eaten deer that was still alive, it looked like a bear had mauled it but the bite marks on its neck didn’t look right, even more so one of its legs was torn off while its stomach was ripped open and eaten.

“Jesus…” he muttered under his breath, turning away and pressing the palm of his hand to his mouth to stop himself from throwing up at the grotesque sight. How the hell was this thing still alive? He felt so guilty that he had no way of putting it out of its misery so he fled the scene back to the trailer, he doesn’t realise that there was someone inside until he opened the door and there he saw [M/N] sitting up on the pull out sofa, that Wayne had bought to replace the sofa because he felt bad for allowing [M/N] to sleep on a sofa. He saw the young boy trembling as he hugged his knees close to his chest, tears running down his face as he bit rather violently on his thumbnail. He didn’t know how deep [M/N] was in but he still had to register that Eddie was there, he slowly approached him as to not alarm him so suddenly of his presence before kneeling down so that he wasn’t standing over him “Hey…” he spoke softly, it still wasn’t enough because [M/N]’s head shot up with a gasp, head whipping around to look up at Eddie in fear. The older boy raised his hands and held them out in front of him, whispering softly words to calm him down but whatever had [M/N] freaked out overcame his senses.

“W-Wha— Eddie? What a-are you—“ Eddie brings his finger to his lips to shush him softly, his lips trembled as a few noises manage to escape his mouth but no words so he just closed his mouth. Eddie frowned softly at the image in front of him, [M/N] looked like a sad puppy as he looked up at Eddie with those beady little eyes.

“Did you also see…” he didn’t need to finish his sentence for [M/N] to know what he was talking about because fear struck his eyes, what he didn’t expect was for how harsh [M/N]’s reaction to it. He slapped a hand over his mouth as his stomach gurgled, whatever he had eaten previously travelling up his throat and threatening to puke it back out. Eddie probably would have picked [M/N] up to move him to the bathroom but he was advised not to touch him when he was having an episode so he quickly looked for a bucket and held it out for him. [M/N] all but snatched it out of his hands and puked his guts out, Eddie grimaced at how violently he was emptying his stomach, he stood to his feet and let [M/N] do his busy while he got a glass of water for him. He sat the glass on the coffee table and waited for [M/N] to finish and when he did the bucket was nearly full, he felt a little sick to his stomach but he shouldn’t let it show “Are you… okay?” he raised his eyes to look at the older boy before bursting out into tears, wiping away the saliva and puke on his chin while his other hands wiped at his tears.

“I-I’m sorry…! I’m sorry—“ he started getting choked up, trying to take deep breaths to calm himself but he was struggling to do so. He was so caught up in his tears that he didn’t notice Eddie get up until he felt something over his ears, he looked up and saw that Eddie had put headphones over his ears and hooked it up to his walkman, the song “Moon River” by Audrey Hepburn playing. He sniffled softly and looked up at Eddie to see him mouthing something that his overwhelmed brain couldn’t understand, he just sat in silence as the song played, watching Eddie closely as he cleaned up his mess before returning and gesturing to the glass of water that was still sitting on the table.

“Are you okay?” Eddie asks once more, though a different song was playing this time [M/N] understood what he said and meekly nodded his head. Wayne had already informed Eddie that [M/N] had a weak stomach, telling him how the doctors said that whatever he ate in the past, his body had gotten used to whatever diet it was and he wasn’t able to properly stomach food and would end up throwing up whatever he ate. He’s heard the few instances [M/N] did have to empty his guts out into the toilet late at night, but this was the first and most violent one he’s witnessed.

“Thank you…” he muttered under his breath but Eddie managed to catch it, Eddie cracked a small smile but looked away, raising a hand to rub at the back of his neck. [M/N]’s eyes adverted to the side as he thought back to why he reacted like that, Venom was hungry and took over [M/N]’s body while he was asleep, he woke up while Venom was in the middle of his meal and quickly changed back and leave that poor deer in its half eaten state. He could remember feeling its slimy intestines in his mouth as he chewed, it was similar to gum, and the crunch of its flesh being torn right off the bone— god, he quickly brought his closed fist to his mouth to hold back another wave of nausea.

“H-Hey, are you gonna—“ he shook his head, raising his hand to stop Eddie. He threw his head back and swallowed the chunks of left over flesh, his lips trembled and a new wave of tears started flowing down his cheeks. He gasped softly when Eddie stood up from where he was and sat down on the pullout sofa beside him, he hesitantly raised his hand before placing it on [M/N]’s, comforting him gently “It’s alright, you’ll be okay. Whatever is out there, it won’t hurt you like it did with that deer.” the longer the two of them sat there Eddie hadn’t noticed the way [M/N] started to smile, rolling his eyes when he heard Venom gag. Wayne returned in the morning at a time that Eddie would usually have left for school but when he entered the trailer, though he should be mad, he was treated with the cutest sight of Eddie and [M/N] leaning against each other on the pullout and fast asleep. Eddie had his arm wrapped around [M/N]’s shoulder while the he in return let his body rest against his chest, maybe he’ll let Eddie sleeping in go just this once.

From then on the two of them have been getting along for the better, [M/N] acted like Eddie’s shadow but Wayne thought it looked more like a baby duckling following its mama. Eddie was constantly looking over his shoulder to see if [M/N] was still following him or [M/N] would be holding the end of his shirt, jacket or even his chains wherever they went. Wayne was happy that he didn’t have to worry about the two anymore, watching from the corner of his eye where Eddie and [M/N] were sitting on the couch and the older boy was teaching him all about his D&D game. He noticed that the young boy wasn’t by all means stupid, he was quite smart by the times he’s caught him easily answering Eddie’s homework questions on various subjects, but he was having quite a hard time understanding the concept of D&D. He didn’t seem to take that much of an interest of the make belief world of knights and monsters but he did enjoy observing and Eddie’s narrating, much to Eddie’s dismay that he couldn’t enjoy playing his favourite game with [M/N], he’ll take what he can get.

“[M/N],” said boy raised his head at the sound of his name, Eddie doing the same from beside him as they both ate a sandwich that was served for lunch “how would you like to attend school like Eddie?” both boys, who were mid bite, pause and sit in silence as Wayne’s words slowly processed in their minds.

“School?” [M/N] mumbled, crumbs from the sandwich falling from his lips “Why?”

“I’ve noticed how smart you are, and you must be bored being home all day with nothing to do.” he shook his head.

“Not really. I have the few nice neighbours to talk to, and some of the older ladies teach me their cooking recipes.” both Wayne and Eddie made a face, so that’s how he’s been able to make dinner the past few nights “Is going to school only because I’m a little smart your only reason?”

“Well, how about making friends your own age? Don’t you think it’s a little odd the only social activity you get is with old bums like myself?” he shrugs his shoulders, now setting his sandwich on his plate.

“You’re easier to talk to.” Eddie then raised a hand.

“Also, kids our age are savages.” he quickly looked away when Wayne gave him a sharp glare, [M/N] lowered his head and pouted softly.

“Will me going to school make you happy?” the older man let out a soft huff, a bead of sweat on his cheek as he rubbed the back of his neck.

“As much as I’d like to deny it, it would. I think a better education would be good for you, and you clearly have an advantage if you’re able to answer questions with ease from Eddie’s level, who’s in high school.” Eddie made a face.

“Way to tell me I’m dumber than a middle schooler.” [M/N] shook his head.

“Chemistry just isn’t your forte. You’re amazing at creative writing, very imaginative.” they both ignore the way Eddie turned a little bashful, [M/N] frowned softly and messed with his hair.

“I think going to school will be great. More options on the menu for us.” Wayne noticed once again the way [M/N]’s eyes lingered to the side, a small glare on his face as he muttered something before adverting his eyes back to his lap.

“Do I really have to school?”

“I really think it’ll be good for you.”

And that’s where [M/N] found himself being registered into Hawkins Middle School under the name of [M/N] Munson, this didn’t fail to bring a smile to his face. The woman at the desk gave off a bad reaction at the news of another Munson attending the school, he already knew from both Eddie and Wayne that the older boy was a bit of a problem child, but like Eddie said, kids were savages and thought less of Eddie because of his origin. Eddie gave him a thumbs up before retreating to the high school that was across from the middle school while Wayne tended to [M/N], who looked more and more nervous at the thought of having to be surrounded by children; yuck.

“I-I’m having second thoughts, Wayne.” the older man let out a laugh, patting him on the shoulder and giving him a confident smile.

“You’ll do great, [M/N]. You’ll do just fine, I mean, how bad could it be?” [M/N] grimaced badly “Oh, don’t be overdramatic. You don’t have to make friends on the first day, but try not to keep in your own bubble for too long.” he stood there for a couple seconds before nodding his head.

“I’ll try.” this time Wayne pats his head.

“There you go.” he messes with his hair then backs away “I’ll see you later in the afternoon, have a good day.” [M/N] watches Wayne leave, waving his hand to bid the older man goodbye until he disappeared into his truck.

“… this is going to end horribly.”

“Shut up.” and he wasn’t wrong, the moment he stepped into the classroom, the teacher announcing that he was a new student enrolling in the middle of the school year, people already saw him as an outcast. Not only was he new to a town where everybody knew everyone, along with the fact that these kids have already known each other for half the year, there was nobody there that wanted to be associated with him. The stares he got only worsened when they learnt that he was a Munson, nothing more than trailer trash or the new Eddie “the freak” Munson to replace him because he left. By the end of the day [M/N] was worn out from the lack of interaction and the constant teasing the other middle schoolers gave him, Eddie came over with a giant grin on his face and before he could make any words out [M/N] was already on him.

“[M-M/N]?” he stuttered out, looking down at the younger boy, who had wrapped his arms around his torso and was hiding his face into his chest.

“I-I wanna go home.” he mumbled softly, lip quivering as his body trembled. Eddie’s hands were hovering over his body before they slowly wrapped around his body, soothing the crying boy.

“It’s alright. Thing’s will get better, I promise.”

“Really?” Eddie gave a scoff.

“Yeah, you don’t think people treated me badly either? You just gotta stand your ground. They’re relentless, sure, but you gotta prove you’re someone not to be messed with.” Venom let out an impressed noise.

“That’s something I can agree on. We are someone not to be messed with.”

It took a bad incident for it to get better for [M/N]. The bullies were people that strived off the reactions they got out of people, the anger, the sadness, anything, that’s why it pissed them that [M/N] gave them none of that. From tearing up his stuff, to dumping their food on him to even getting him in trouble, though the teachers never really gave him shit because he didn’t seem like the type of person to do that kind of bad behaviour, it paid off being the quiet kid that kept to himself. [M/N] suffered three years of torture being torn apart by adults that viewed him as nothing more than a guinea pig, he found it nearly adorable that this was these kids version of torture. Perhaps he should show them what true torment is, goodness, now he’s starting to sound like Venom.

But now, it wasn’t sounding so bad.

“I heard he’s sensitive to food.”

“What? What does that mean?”

“He throws up anything he eats.”

“Ew, that’s gross.”

“I wanna see it though. I wanna see if it’s true.” and that’s where he found himself being held down as the ringleader of this group of assholes was forcing food into his mouth, he could easily throw these punks off but his mind was in a different place. His mind was thinking back to the time he was trapped in that goddamn white room, his mind was thinking back to the time when those scientists were forcing him to eat raw meat when he refused to eat to feed Venom. He was started to get his disorder in check, he no longer scarfed down food like a starved man or threw up the food he consumed, but all that progress went down the drain right that instance. The kid on top of him was thrown off him and he turned onto his stomach, pushing himself onto his knees to throw up the food that was forced into his stomach and anything else he consumed that day.

“Wow, it was true!”

“That’s gross, hahaha!”

“Do it again!” he was heaving as he stared down at the puddle of his vomit, sweat forming all over his body as his mind continued to believe that he was still in the laboratory. He saw blood mix with his vomit, he saw chunks of human remains and torn clothes swim in his vomit, he felt disgusting. He could hear Venom speaking to him but he couldn’t process the words properly, he could feel the boy from before approaching him once more and the moment he felt a hand on his shoulder was when he snapped.

Eddie let out a sigh, placing his hands on his hips as he looked side to side in search for [M/N]. School had ended a couple minutes ago and he still saw no sign of the young boy, he was never late, either arriving on time or he was the one waiting for Eddie to appear. He was going to give [M/N] a couple minutes but when it turned into a half an hour was when he decided to give up waiting for him and went searching for him on his own, and since he attended the middle school as the little delinquent he still is, he knew all the little hidey holes [M/N] could possibly be in. He didn’t think he’d find him at the back of the school but before he did he saw the massacre that was left of the rally of bullies, he grimaced at the sight crying and groveling middle schoolers covered in blood and bruises, he saw a puddle of vomit on the floor and he couldn’t tell if it was from the children crying bloody murder or… oh, god. He quickly looked for [M/N] in the pile of bruises children but saw no sign of the young boy so he turned a corner and there he found him, curled up in a ball trembling as he rocked back and toward with his knuckles dyed in blood with some splattered over his face.

“[M-M/N]…” he spoke out softly, his hand reaching out before it was violently smacked away.

“D-Don’t touch me!” Eddie flinched at the amount of animosity coming from him, holding his hand by the wrist that was slightly stinging from how hard [M/N] slapped his hand away. God, [M/N] looked worse than he did on that night he had his panic attack. Weak sounds of whimpers escaped his lips while his bloodshot eyes looked around in alarm, it was as if he was searching for someone to pop out of nowhere. Eddie’s shoulders drooped when he saw that [M/N] wasn’t going to calm down any time soon so he pressed his back against the wall he was leaning against and dropped to the floor but kept his distance in case he lashed out again, he eyes would occasionally looked down at him before closing.

“So… wanna talk about it?” Eddie swallowed thickly when he didn’t earn a response, a weak sob just left his lips “No, no, that’s cool. We don’t gotta talk about it, it’s just the fact that I left a bunch of middle schoolers crying back there and I’m afraid if someone sees me they’re gonna pin the blame on me, so…” he takes a sharp inhale as he shrugs his shoulders, he peeks back down at [M/N] and saw his bottom lip was trembling as he pouted.

“I-I didn’t mean too…” he spoke so softly that he almost didn’t catch it, his eyes looked down at his hands and he gasped softly at the sight of blood so he quickly hid his hands “T-They were just— I-I was just—“ he gave up and just buried his face into his knees, Eddie could guess what happened… kind of, but he didn’t expect [M/N] to be capable of such a feat. Whatever this kid went through before his uncle picked him up off the side of the road, he must have went through something horrible.

“Can I touch you?” he waits for [M/N] to respond and when he gets that short nod his hand all but rests gently on top of his head, it’s almost a ghost like touch since he isn’t putting to much weight into it but [M/N] can just feel warmth from his hand as they sat side by side each other “Do you wanna talk about it later?”

“… I’d rather not talk about it, honestly.” Eddie nods.

“That’s fine too, but like Wayne says, you shouldn’t keep everything all locked up. You’ll feel much better when you let it all out.”

“He is correct. Didn’t you feel better when you let us out? It was refreshing, yes?” Eddie’s chuckling softly so he misses the way [M/N] grits his teeth, because he did feel better. He felt great because it was fucking exhilarating beating the shit out of those fucking bastards like the punching bags they were, he felt immense joy shudder throughout his body when he felt the crunch of their bones under the pressure of his fists, he knew he had a giant grin spread across his lips when their blood splattered onto his face.

He felt disgusting.

It was like nothing changed.

He was still a monster.

A wolf in sheep’s clothing.

It was hours after that incident and Wayne was given the night off because the plant was needing repairs, the people in charge didn’t want to have to pay a hefty check to anyone that got hurt so they just let them take the night off to save a couple thousand dollars. Eddie was off with his hand so he let [M/N] crash in his room after what happened earlier that day, of course he told Wayne what happened, he wasn’t going to keep that to himself when he knows his uncle can help the young boy better than he could. They both knew [M/N] found more comfort in Wayne and trusted him more, Eddie took no offence to that and was happy his uncle could be trusted, so he left the trailer without a worry in mind.

“[M/N]?” he called out softly, standing right outside of Eddie’s room and knocking softly on the door “Hey buddy, it’s me. Eddie told me what happened at school and, well, though I don’t really condone the attacks you took, I can understand why you did what you did.” he waited for a response but sighed softly when he was met with silence, goodness, it was reminding him of the days when Eddie was still in middle school “I won’t force you to talk it out with me, but I want you to know there isn’t a need to hide. You can tell me anything, and I promise I won’t reaction negatively.” he calls out his name one more time as he pushed gently on the door, leaning back when the door opened and he had failed to realise that door wasn’t completely closed. He entered the room and felt a shudder go down his spine as the cool autumn air enveloped the room, he looked around and noticed that [M/N] was nowhere to be seen, not even on the bed, but instead Eddie’s window was wide open, letting in a draft. He cursed under his breath when he realised that this whole time [M/N] wasn’t even in the room so he quickly rushed out of the trailer, grabbing his coat on the way out, and went searching for the young boy.

It wasn’t too late into the night but the sun was already down and it was dark out so he couldn’t really shout out for his name and risk an angry neighbour coming up to his doorstep all because of his shouting so he just resorted into whisper shouting out his name, his already bad vision wasn’t helping him in this predicament either. He was especially worried because he’s heard from the neighbours and Eddie alike that there was some wild animal out there eating raccoons and possums alike, even the occasional deer or the common house pet. Whatever was eating them never finished its meal and left its unfortunate carcass barely alive somewhere in the woods, wishing someone could put it out of its misery. He was so worried because even though there have been no reports about it hurting a person, doesn’t mean it’s entirely impossible. His heart dropped into his stomach when he heard soft whimpering, it didn’t sound like [M/N]’s but instead a dog’s whining, no wonder the night was a little too quiet. He quickly but quietly rushed over to the woods and tried to be mindful of his steps as to not alert whatever could be lurking in the dark, when the sounds got louder he was greeted with the sight of a fellow trailer owner their pet labrador nearly in pieces and was still alive.

He recoiled back at the sight of the dog, his foot stepping right on top of a twig and it snapping under his weight. The sound was enough to alert the other thing that Wayne failed to notice while his gaze was on the whimpering animal, the figure that was tearing into the dogs hind leg froze when they realised they weren’t alone. Despite the dark hindering his vision and despite the initial fear that was starting to overwhelm his sense, his eyes were already adjusting to the darkness of the woods and the small amount of moon light that was shining down through the leaves and branches he was able to see what exactly has been leaving half eaten animals all over the woods. There, in his disbelief, was [M/N] with blood dripping from his hands and mouth as his teeth were still digging into the flesh on the doors leg.

“[M-M/N]…” he looked like a wild animal as he stared up at the older man but when he realised just who exactly was in front of him he saw the realisation settle in his eyes as he dropped the leg to the ground, slowly standing up and backing away.

“Wayne…” he breathed out, fear was struck in [M/N]’s eyes the longer he stared at the man who refused to move. He didn’t know if he was afraid of moving that the small boy would jump at him or flee, he didn’t know which option was worse. Tears soon started to glisten in his eyes before finally running down his face and mixing with the blood still dripping down his chin and onto his neck, [M/N] let out a gasp and took another step back when Wayne raised his hands slowly.

“[M/N], I need you to calm down.” he spoke softly in that same tone that could calm [M/N], it nearly worked but he was so overwhelmed with fear that he couldn’t comprehend what was being said to him.

“Way— Wayne, I-I—“

“We’ve been caught, [M/N]. We have got to go.” [M/N] nods his head.

“Yes, yes… we must go.” he mutters under his breath and takes another step back to get away, he turns around and goes to break out into a sprint when Wayne spoke again.

“Was it the men in white?” his words caused [M/N] to pause, he slowly turned back around to look back at Wayne “Is it because of them that you’ve… you’re sensitive to food?” he nervously peeked down at the groveling dog, sweating a little when [M/N] just stared at him.

“… yes.” he spoke softly, he takes another step back when Wayne took a step forward.

“What does he know, [M/N]? He knows nothing. Let us leave before it is too late. We have nothing here now.” he was beginning to cry at the thought of losing everything all because he was careless, all because he couldn’t control his anger and Venom’s hunger. He backed up into a tree but instead of running away he instead slowly fell to the ground and started to cry, his hands were trying to wipe them away but some of the blood was mixing in with the tears and so he was smearing it all over his face. He only started crying harder as he thought back to the lab all over again, every time they forced him to eat something and when it was over they wouldn’t even let him clean himself up and so he’d continue with the experiments and training with blood all over him. He just continued to cry and cry and Wayne just sat across from him, not taking his eyes off the weeping child that just couldn’t get himself to calm down for the longest time. He didn’t know how much time had past but it was long enough for [M/N] to soften his cries into soft sobbing, hiccupping every few seconds while sniffling “You are acting like a child. You are a loser.”

“I am a child…” he didn’t seem to care that he was talking out loud, Wayne would properly think he’s ever crazier to be talking to himself but what the hell, he already saw him eating a dog that was still alive and just twitching at this point “I just wanted a normal life…!” he wailed out.

“I…” he flinched when Wayne spoke, his eyes darting over to where the older man sat “I really don’t know anything about you.”

“You don’t.” he then opened his arms and gestured to himself “This… is me. A cannibal. A monster.”

“A lost child.” [M/N] flinched, looking down at the ground as his arms dropped to his side, the tears freely falling from his eyes and onto his legs and feet “You’ve been hiding so much.”

“You think? I-It’s not the first thing I’d bring up in a conversation.” he said rather bitterly “Well, you know now. What are you gonna do? Hand me over to the police?” Wayne shook his head.

“No.”

“No? Why? You just saw what I’m capable of doing. Eddie must have told you what I did to those middle school kids! I’m a freak! A monster! I can hurt you; I can kill you and your nephew! You should just throw me away before I get out of hand!” he gasped when he felt Wayne put his hand on his head, he curled in on himself and trembled violently, waiting for what has to come and yet… there was nothing.

“What you need is not me throwing you away, I believe it would make you worse. As bad as it sounds, I think you need someone by your side than isolating and hiding yourself away. You were getting better with time, [M/N], and I still think that that is possible.” he warily looked down at the dog then back up at him “We can work around this eating condition of yours, I promise.”

“… w-why would you do that, Wayne? I just don’t understand you.”

“You, young man, are a child and need to be treated like so. Whoever robbed you of your childhood; whoever made you the way that you are now, they are the monster, not you. You deserve to act the age that you are now and not that of a recovering war veteran suffering from PTSD.” his hand ruffles through [M/N]’s hair and he offers and nervous but sincere smile “This may not be in the job description on raising a child, but I’ll help you every step of the way. I told you that I’ll take responsibly of you, didn’t I? I plan on sticking to it.” the tears that he managed to stop burst out of his eyes once more and he was crying again, but this time he threw himself at Wayne and hugged him as he cried.

“Thank you!” he sobbed out, burying himself into his neck as he wrapped his arms around his, a pang of guilt in his gut open realising that he was smearing the blood and his tears onto Wayne’s flannel shirt as he hugged “T-This means a lo— lot to us…!” Wayne nodded softly as he brought his arms up to embrace the young boy, a moment of silence was shared between them but a thought came to his head.

“Us…?”

“He means me.” Wayne jumped at the new voice, a gasp escaping his lips at the sight of Venom appearing from out of [M/N]’s back and grinning at the sight of the startled man “We are a packaged deal, human man. If you accept him, you accept me.” he nods his head slowly.

“Oh… okay?”

“Which also means he is eating for two. Why else do you think he eats a lot? I have a huge appetite, so if you’ll excuse me.” Venom lingered away while [M/N] kept himself attached to Wayne like a koala to a tree, his fingers digging into Wayne’s back as he heard Venom devouring the dog. He felt a sense of comfort when Wayne held him closer, going so far as to covering his ears as best as he could as Venom ate. The adrenaline finally died down and replaced itself with nausea, Wayne was patting his back as he emptied his stomach for the nth time that day while Venom licked his lips “That was delicious.”

“I… hate you.”

“You do not.” Wayne was kind enough to wipe [M/N]’s face that was covered in blood, tears and now vomit. He felt disgusting as he let him clean his face, ultimately taking his flannel off before picking [M/N] up when Venom retreated back into his body and carried the young boy back to the trailer so he could rest after such an exhausting day. Wayne let [M/N] take a bath to clean himself of the blood and dirt on his body as he waited in the living room, or rather the room where they both sleep, he was nice enough to pull out their beds and set them out so when [M/N] came out he could either tell him what he wanted to share or just crash for the night and they leave that conversation for another day. But [M/N] him a few things, only bits and pieces, not everything. He told him that he was homeless from the age of nine before he was picked up by the scientists and was experimented on for the past three years, how Venom was forced into his body and now the two of them were inseparable now and forever. He said how thankful; how grateful he was to Wayne because he basically saved his life by hitting him by his truck because he practically picked him up and gave him a place to call home despite how damaged and beyond repair he was. He was forever indebted to that man that showed him nothing but kindness from the very beginning.

[time skip: a couple months later]

Wayne’s new adjustment to [M/N]’s parasite, Venom as he called himself, took a bit of time because the thing would pop out whenever it wanted. Wayne thought it would be best not to tell Eddie about the newest head living under their roof, he believes that his nephew would take the news well but Eddie is Eddie, the last thing [M/N] needs is Eddie freaking out or blowing things out of proportion so they would tell him sometime later… hopefully. Anyways, Venom was an interesting case because he could quite literally eat anything and everything but his favorite thing to eat was brains. Whether it may be human brains, animals brains or whatever, brains seems to be very delectable to him and he managed to find a substitute so [M/N] could have a break from eating to much. Chocolate! He remembered reading something in the newspaper about how chocolate contained something called phenethylamine, a compound that positively affected [M/N]’s mood and something sweet for them both to munch on. Eddie noticed [M/N]’s positive mood the day after the shit show happened, it made him happy to see that whatever Wayne did made a good improvement on the young boy, they looked even closer than they did before and [M/N] looked brighter than before. He wasn’t flinching away when either of them touched him and he even started leaning into their gestures of affections, sometimes even initiating it, even if they were short and brief, at least he was trying now.

Now back to the matter at hand, [M/N]’s return to school the following week was quite uneventful, mainly because those bullies had quit being, well, bullies. The moment that group of morons set eyes on him they quickly averted their eyes and avoided him like the plague, it took him awhile the notice but the usual hooligans that harassed him were nowhere to be seen and he only learnt what happened was when the teacher informed them that the group had gotten into an accident and were being treated at the hospital to care for their injuries. Learning this, Eddie gave him a high five and a pat on the back. Now that he was free from the relentless bullying and his new found confidence, he was able to make a couple friends, and though they weren’t many, they were people that he could actually have a conversation with. So for the next couple of months, he was actually have the time of his life attending school because he was getting to learn new stuff while having fun with his friends. Though he excelled in many subjects, his favorite and the class he did the best in thanks to Venom, was P.E.

“You’ve got quite the arm there, Munson.” [M/N] perked up at the compliment, arm raised as he was getting ready to throw a dodgeball at the opposing team.

“O-Oh, thank you coach.” the coach whistles softly as he watched [M/N] reel his arm back, letting out a grunt as he threw the ball at great speed across the gym and hitting a student so hard that he actually winded the poor kid.

“Have you ever thought of trying out for the baseball team?” the coach was impressed once again when he noticed [M/N] look up at him, completely unaware of the fact that a ball was hurdling its way over to him until he raised his arm and caught the ball before it could hit him in the chest “With reflexes like yours, I think you’d make the team.” a soft flush spreads across his cheeks as he rolls the ball in between his hands and torso.

“Y-You think so? I don’t know if I’ll be good in a team.”

“I don’t know about that. From what I’ve heard from the other students, you’ve become quite popular and very likeable.” his already pink face turned red, a dopey grin appearing on his face.

“Really?”

“Yeah, I heard you’re a bit of a heart throb amongst the female population.” the coach missed a look of confusion flashing on [M/N]’s face, who turned away and cupped his cheek.

“Heart throb? You? Please, you’re a headache.”

“Quiet you.”

“You should think it over, I think you’ll like it very much. And unlike your cousin, you seem to enjoy sports and is actually talented in the subject.” [M/N] made a face, forgetting that under the Munson name he was Wayne’s son and technically Eddie’s cousin. He also made a face because it was a little true about Eddie’s giant disdain over anything physical, remembering the last time he and Eddie went for a run or something and the older boy was panting heavily from exhaustion, maybe he had the scientists and Venom to thank for his increased stamina and endurance, but come on now. So now he found himself on the track field watching the Hawkins Middle School Baseball Team, another student that was recommended for the team let out a breath and spared a glance at [M/N] who was standing next to him, he flinched when he noticed the panicked look on his face.

“You good there?”

“Y-Yeah, it’s just my first time joining a sport.”

“I see, there’s a first for everything, you know? But once you get used to it, there’s nothing to be nervous about it at all!” [M/N] nodded his head softly.

“I-I guess so.” the student beside him let out a laugh and slapped a hand against his back, however, he let out a grunt at how hard and broad [M/N]’s back was that his hand was stinging a little.

“Well, since the team has already been established it is sort of scary and we’re joining halfway into the season, they need to sort us into where we specialise. What made you decide to join baseball? I heard that you were good a physical activities, never thought you’d actually join a team with how shy you are.” he chuckled nervously, raising an arm to rub the back of his neck.

“Well, my P.E teacher said that I’ve got a good arm and thought I’d make a good addition to the baseball team despite how late I am from joining.” the student laughed, hands on his hips while nodding his head.

“I get it, I get it. The more the merrier.”

Exactly what [M/N] said, with how late he was in joining the team the coaches were reluctant in allowing him to join since tryouts were technically over but since he was recommended by a fellow coach of the basketball team, they accepted to see how well he’d so on the team. Much to their surprise, he surpassed many of their expectations and they greatly underestimated him because his performance was superb. Like the coach said, his arm was like a godsend because when he was asked to pitch against the opposing team he threw the ball at great speed that even the catcher was struggling to catch the ball and sometimes it’d swerve right past the catcher and sent flying behind him. The student that [M/N] was chatting to earlier whistled as he watched [M/N], sitting on the bench since he was on the opposing team and waiting his turn to pitch.

“Son of a bitch, we’ve got ourselves a new pitcher!” one of the coaches cheered “I’ve never seen a middle school pitch as fast as he can before! He’s almost as good as the professionals!”

“You’re being overdramatic.”

“Well, can you pitch as fast as him?” they all look at [M/N] once again, tipping his hat as he eyed the next batter. He took a deep breathing before turning his body and lifting his leg, he slams his foot on the ground as he sucked in a breath and threw the ball towards the batter. He swung his bat and he was one of the lucky few that managed to get his bat to connect with the ball, however, they were all brought to shock when the moment the ball came into contact with the bat it shattered and broke the bat completely.

…

…

“Holy shit.”

[later]

“So you joined the baseball team?”

“Yes.”

“Because you pitched a ball so fast and hard that the ball shattered a bat?”

“Yes.”

“… that’s pretty metal.”

Sure, Eddie was impressed by the feat [M/N] achieved, proud even, but he’s a little nervous that his little dude was turning into a jock. Unlike the jocks in high school that is constantly harassing him and his group of outcasts, he doesn’t see [M/N] as the type of person to become like them and bully people like him because he used to get bullied by people like them, but he was nervous that he might start to hang out with jocks like them and they could possibly twist his personality and he’ll turn into somebody they’ll despise and—

“You’re thinking about something unnecessary, aren’t you?”

“No.”

“Really?”

“Totally, yeah.”

“Mm. So then you won’t mind that I’ll be staying at school a little later than usual because of practice? I can find a way back home if it inconveniences you.” he waves his hand to dismiss his thoughts, a big grin emerging on his face.

“Don’t even worry about it, dude! I might be busy a couple times, maybe late because I’ve got my own shit, but I’ll try to make it on time to pick you up. Love to hear the stories how you’ll become the next star player.” Eddie smiles when he sees the way [M/N]’s face lights up.

“Then I can’t wait to see you become a rockstar.” Eddie chuckles.

“I appreciate it, little dude.” he laughs and ruffles his head then throws it back. As the sports fan he is, Wayne was more than happy to learn that [M/N] took up baseball and was happy to play a few rounds of catch, Eddie even joining in a few times but when they saw how good [M/N]’s arm was they couldn’t help but be thoroughly impressed. The distance he was able to throw the ball was almost freaky, they were sure if he put enough pressure into the ball he’d crush it completely. [M/N] taking up baseball was perfect for Eddie because now he could stay later with his club Hellfire, a Dungeons and Dragons club for him and his friends to play the various campaigns he orchestrated. Usually the two of them finished up their clubs around the same time but sometimes Eddie’s would finish a little earlier and he would find himself out on the track field sitting on the bleachers and waiting for [M/N] to finish up, these were also the times where he got to see [M/N] properly in his element. The young boy was hunched over, hands on his knees with sweat dripping from his forehead while his eyes were dead set on the ball as he stood on the outer field.

“That’s your cousin, right?” one of Eddie’s friends, Jeff, asked.

“Yeah, why?”

“I heard how the coaches are dead set on him joining the High School’s baseball team, saying how he’s going to bring it back from the dead.” another way nodded their head, snapping their fingers and pointing at them.

“Our team does suck, plus, your cousin is really good. I’ve only seen him a few times in the passing, but he’s like a genius.”

“He’s just really good at throwing a ball, don’t see how that makes you a genius.” Eddie gives them a look before clearing his throat, when he got their attention he pointed over to the field where they heard the crack of the bat hitting the ball and sending the ball flying. They watch as the players scatter to try and catch the ball, it lands on the ground and bounces a couple times but [M/N] was the first to slide down and catch it in his glove before proceeding to throw it towards first base and take out the same batter. His team immediately cheer and a few other spectators awed in surprise, how couldn’t they, with the distance he was standing at to the first base, that was quite the distance that no one else could possibly pull off.

“Still think he’s just good at throwing a ball?” Eddie asked rather cockily, snickering when he saw their mouth agape.

“Jesus, what the fuck are you guys feeding him? That was insane.”

“We really aren’t feeding him much.” which is the truth, Eddie and [M/N] basically eat the same things, but that doesn’t stop Eddie from noticing that [M/N] is building up muscles faster than him. He was much stronger than him and more physically fit, his body deflates a little of the drastic difference between him and [M/N], and sure it was understandable because they genuinely weren’t related so maybe it’s in [M/N] genetics why his body is just so crazy.

“Did you see me, Eddie?” he jolted out of his thoughts when he heard a voice, looking up, he was surprised to see [M/N] looking up at him from where he stood with a bright yet sweaty face “Did I look cool?”

“Yea— Yeah, dude! You were great.” his smile brightens.

“Thanks! Sorry for making you wait so long, coach wanted us to finish the game.” he hears someone call his name so he turned his head, face lighting up at the sight of the friend he made on his first day of baseball “See you later, dude!”

“Same! Have a good rest of your afternoon!”

“You too!” that was another thing that Eddie noticed, now that [M/N] wasn’t as shy or reserved as he was before, he was actually very charismatic and was easy to make friends with. Sure, his bashful personality still remained in tact but he was pretty outgoing and a lot of people swarmed around him, he was well liked by many of his peers “Eddie, you good?”

“Huh?”

“I’m asking if you’re alright, you look like you’re spacing out.” Eddie blinks a little but laughs it off.

“I’m all good, don’t worry about it. Let’s get going, huh? Wayne would love to hear all about your practice.” Eddie’s friends laughed softly when they saw the absolute excitement on his face, Eddie joined them when [M/N] grabbed his hand and started to tug on it to get him to his feet quickly “I’m coming, I’m coming!”

[M/N] was happy, he was really happy and he didn’t think he’d ever be this happy in a long time. Being locked away for three years and when he was free, he lived the first couple of months in fear that he would be thrown out or captured by the same people that kidnapped him when he was young. He was happy that he was found by a kind old man that brought him into his home with open arms, didn’t question his origin or force him to share his story, just let him come out of his shell on his own. He was gifted with a new home and people that he could call family, he never thought he’d be given the chance to start over and actually live a normal life. He truly felt blessed, and he was definitely not going to take this second chance for granted.

[renatoferreiradasilva]

Coupled Modeling of Surface Deformation in Liquid Mass After an Atmospheric Thermonuclear Explosion: Functional Integration, Transient Atmospheric Pressure, and Experimental Validation

Author: Renato Ferreira da Silva

Abstract

We model the hydrodynamic response of a liquid surface exposed to an atmospheric thermonuclear explosion, using a coupled system based on Boussinesq equations with atmospheric forcing derived from Taylor’s theory. We reformulate the pressure model to incorporate the Friedlander profile and integrate kinetic energy, dissipation, and suggestions for migration to cylindrical coordinates. Preliminary results are validated against data from Operation Crossroads. The article also discusses challenges in implementing AMR, thermodynamic coupling, and proposes strategic directions for future multidisciplinary expansions.

1. Introduction

Thermonuclear explosions in aquatic environments generate intense couplings between compressible air and liquid surfaces. This article presents a functionally derived model that evolves into a nonlinear coupled system with explosive atmospheric pressure based on Taylor’s theory and the Friedlander profile. Additionally, we propose solutions to structural limitations identified in previous versions, including mechanisms for quantitative validation and multidisciplinary considerations. A critical literature review on hydrodynamic explosion modeling is included, highlighting gaps in thermo-electromagnetic couplings [Korovin, 2020].

2. Methodology

2.1. Realistic Initial Profile

η(x,0)=P0ρge−(x/R)2,P0=EblastR3

2.2. Coupled System with Explosive Pressure

ηt+[(h0+η)u]x=0ut+uux+gηx=−1ρPx(x,t)

with:P(x,t)=P0(1−tθ)e−t/θ,θ=Rcson

2.3. Total Energy

Etotal=∫(12ρgη2+12ρh0u2)dx

2.4. Numerical Refinement

Discretization using MacCormack method (2nd order in space/time);

Resolution: dx≤0.1 m

Time: CFL consistent with dt∝dx/gh0

AMR triggered when ∣∇P∣>103 Pa/m or ∣∇η∣>0.5 m/m

3. Results and Validation

3.1. Corrected Propagation

Crests occur for t>0 with dome formation and wave fronts receding coherently.

3.2. Quantitative Validation

ParameterModelExperimental Data (Crossroads)tc (s)12.111.8 ± 0.5ηmax (m)15.316.2 ± 1.0Etotal (J/m)2.0e72.1e7 ± 1.0e6

Figure 1: Wave profile at t = 10s. Solid line: model; dots: Crossroads data (Baker Test).

3.3. Corrected Energy

Reduced due to realistic pressure distribution, inclusion of dissipative terms, and comparison with empirical benchmarks.

4. Physical Expansion and Advanced Modeling

4.1. Thermodynamics and Vaporization

(ρCp)Tt+u⋅∇T=k∇2T+Φvisc With heat source: S(r,t)={kv(T−Tsat)if T>Tsat0otherwise,kv=10−3kg/(m²\cdotps\cdotpK) Initial and boundary conditions: T(x,0)=300 K, ∂T/∂x∣x=±L=0. Note: kv requires future experimental calibration.

4.2. Radial Symmetry and Bathymetry

Cylindrical coordinates: ηt+∇⋅[(h0+η)u]=S(r,t)

Bottom term: −g∇b(x)

4.3. Ionizing Radiation and Electromagnetism

Full coupling is replaced by prescribed forces: J×B≈αe−βt⋅∇P with α=0.1, β=0.5 s−1, calibrated using EM pulse data from [cit:8].

5. Conclusion and Prospects

The reformulated model corrects structural limitations of the previous version and integrates realistic explosive pressure, kinetic energy, experimental validation, and numerical refinement. The next step is to extend to 2D/3D domains with thermodynamic and electromagnetic coupling. We recommend the publication of the validated 1D model as a robust hydrodynamic tool and seek collaboration with centers such as the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to overcome multidisciplinary challenges. Future expansions should be documented in a dedicated complementary article.

References

Glasstone, S., & Dolan, P. (1977). The Effects of Nuclear Weapons.

Taylor, G. (1950). The formation of a blast wave by a very intense explosion. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A.

Shin, S. (2016). Modeling surface impact in shallow water explosions. Phys. Fluids.

Landau, L. D., Lifshitz, E. M. Fluid Mechanics.

Whitham, G. B. Linear and Nonlinear Waves.

U.S. Navy. Operation Crossroads Technical Reports.

Berger, M. J., & Oliger, J. (1984). Adaptive mesh refinement for hyperbolic partial differential equations.

Baum, C. E. et al. (1991). Electromagnetic Effects of Nuclear Explosions.

Korovin, V. V. (2020). Shock wave modeling in hydrodynamic explosion simulations. AIP Conf. Proc.

[snehalshinde65799]

Vitamin Biomarkers Market Analysis Impact of Aging Population and Rising Nutritional Deficiencies

The vitamin biomarkers market is rapidly gaining traction in the healthcare and diagnostics sectors due to increasing awareness about the role of vitamins in overall health and disease prevention. Vitamin biomarkers refer to measurable indicators in biological samples, such as blood or urine, that reflect the status of vitamins in the body. These biomarkers help in assessing nutritional deficiencies, guiding supplementation, and understanding the link between vitamin levels and various diseases.

Importance of Vitamin Biomarkers

Vitamins are essential nutrients required for numerous physiological functions including immune response, metabolism, and cellular repair. Deficiencies or imbalances in vitamins like A, B-complex, C, D, and E can lead to significant health complications ranging from weakened immunity to chronic diseases such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disorders, and neurological impairments.

Traditional methods of diagnosing vitamin deficiencies primarily relied on clinical symptoms and dietary intake analysis, which are often subjective and inaccurate. The advent of vitamin biomarkers has revolutionized this field by providing objective, quantifiable data that enables early diagnosis and personalized treatment strategies.

Market Drivers

Several factors are driving the growth of the vitamin biomarkers market globally:

Rising Prevalence of Nutritional Deficiencies: Malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies continue to be a global health challenge, especially in developing countries. The increasing burden of diseases related to vitamin deficiencies is prompting healthcare providers to invest in more precise diagnostic tools.

Growing Geriatric Population: Older adults are more prone to vitamin deficiencies due to altered metabolism and dietary habits. This demographic trend increases the demand for vitamin biomarker testing to monitor and manage health proactively.

Advancements in Analytical Technologies: Innovations in techniques such as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and other high-throughput platforms have enhanced the sensitivity and accuracy of vitamin biomarker detection.

Rising Awareness and Preventive Healthcare: Increasing consumer awareness about health and wellness, coupled with government initiatives promoting nutritional health, is boosting the adoption of vitamin biomarker testing.

Personalized Nutrition and Supplementation: The trend towards personalized medicine is influencing nutrition as well, with vitamin biomarkers playing a crucial role in tailoring vitamin supplementation according to individual needs.

Market Segmentation

The vitamin biomarkers market can be segmented based on type, application, end-user, and region.

By Type: The market includes biomarkers for vitamins A, B-complex (B1, B2, B6, B12), C, D, E, and K. Among these, vitamin D biomarkers are the most commonly tested due to widespread vitamin D deficiency and its association with bone health and immune function.

By Application: Vitamin biomarker testing is used in clinical diagnostics, research and development, food and nutrition monitoring, and preventive health programs.

By End-User: Hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, research institutes, and pharmaceutical companies constitute the primary users of vitamin biomarker testing.

By Region: North America and Europe currently lead the market owing to advanced healthcare infrastructure and higher awareness levels. However, Asia Pacific is expected to register the fastest growth due to rising healthcare expenditure and improving diagnostic facilities.

Challenges in the Market

Despite the promising outlook, the vitamin biomarkers market faces certain challenges:

High Cost of Testing: Advanced biomarker detection methods can be expensive, limiting accessibility, especially in low-income regions.

Lack of Standardization: Variability in testing protocols and biomarker reference ranges can complicate diagnosis and treatment decisions.

Limited Awareness in Some Regions: In many developing countries, awareness about the importance of vitamin biomarker testing remains low.

Regulatory Hurdles: Navigating regulatory approvals for diagnostic kits and technologies can slow market entry for new products.

Future Trends

The future of the vitamin biomarkers market looks bright with several exciting trends emerging:

Integration with Digital Health: Combining biomarker testing with digital health platforms and wearable devices could enable real-time monitoring of vitamin levels.

Point-of-Care Testing: Development of rapid, portable vitamin biomarker assays can facilitate testing outside traditional laboratories, increasing accessibility.

Multiplex Testing: Advances that allow simultaneous measurement of multiple vitamin biomarkers will improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Research in Novel Biomarkers: Scientists are exploring new vitamin biomarkers that can provide more precise insights into vitamin metabolism and related disease mechanisms.

Collaboration and Partnerships: Industry collaborations are expected to foster innovation and expansion in the vitamin biomarkers market.

Conclusion

The vitamin biomarkers market is positioned for significant growth driven by technological advancements, increasing disease burden related to vitamin deficiencies, and rising consumer health consciousness. As personalized nutrition and preventive healthcare become mainstream, the demand for accurate and reliable vitamin biomarker testing will continue to surge. Addressing current challenges such as cost and standardization will be crucial for unlocking the market’s full potential and ensuring broader adoption worldwide.

[keanchee]

A Complete Guide to Buying Lab Analysis Equipment in Malaysia

Purchasing lab analysis equipment in Malaysia requires careful planning and a deep understanding of your laboratory’s specific needs. Whether you're setting up a new lab or upgrading existing equipment, making the right choice ensures accuracy, efficiency, and compliance with industry standards. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about buying lab analysis equipment in Malaysia—from understanding types of equipment to selecting a trusted supplier.

1. Understand Your Lab's Requirements

Before diving into product catalogs, it’s essential to clearly define what your lab needs. Consider:

Type of analysis: Are you conducting chemical, biological, or physical analysis? Each type requires different equipment.

Volume of testing: High-throughput labs need automated systems, while small labs may manage with manual or semi-automated tools.

Compliance standards: Laboratories in Malaysia may need to adhere to ISO, GMP, GLP, or MOH regulations depending on their industry.

Create a checklist of required functions, technical specifications, and preferred brands or technologies.

2. Types of Lab Analysis Equipment

Here are some common categories of lab analysis equipment found in Malaysian labs:

a. Analytical Balances

Used for precise weight measurements, especially in pharmaceutical and chemical labs. Look for balances with high sensitivity and internal calibration features.

b. Spectrophotometers

Used in chemical and biological analysis to measure light absorbance. Available in UV-Vis, IR, and atomic absorption variants.

c. Chromatography Systems

Gas chromatography (GC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) systems are essential for separating and analyzing complex mixtures.

d. Centrifuges

Used for separating substances based on density, common in clinical, molecular biology, and food testing labs.

e. pH Meters and Electrochemical Analyzers

Used to test acidity, ion concentration, and conductivity in water and other solutions.

f. Microscopes

From basic optical microscopes to high-end electron microscopes, these are fundamental in biology, medical, and materials research labs.

g. Water Purification Systems

Crucial for preparing reagent-grade water, especially in molecular and analytical labs.

h. Fume Hoods and Safety Cabinets

Provide protection against hazardous fumes and biological agents, ensuring lab safety and compliance.

3. Choose the Right Supplier

In Malaysia, numerous suppliers cater to lab analysis needs, offering both local and international brands. When evaluating a supplier:

Check reputation and reviews: Look for testimonials, online reviews, and case studies.

Evaluate technical support: Ensure they provide installation, calibration, maintenance, and training services.

Verify product authenticity: Choose authorized distributors of reputed brands like Thermo Fisher, Shimadzu, Agilent, or Sartorius.

After-sales service: Reliable customer support and readily available spare parts are critical for long-term equipment performance.

Popular suppliers in Malaysia include Chemopharm, Medigene, Crest Systems, and Fisher Scientific Malaysia.

4. Consider Budget and Financing Options

Lab analysis equipment can be a significant investment. While budget constraints are real, it’s important not to compromise on quality. Here are some tips:

Get multiple quotations: Compare prices and value-added services.

Ask about warranties: Ensure the equipment has a warranty and service agreement.

Explore leasing or financing options: Some suppliers offer installment plans or leasing for large equipment purchases.

Also, consider the total cost of ownership, which includes maintenance, calibration, consumables, and energy usage.

5. Ensure Regulatory Compliance

In Malaysia, labs operating in pharmaceuticals, food, water, and environmental testing must follow specific regulatory requirements:

National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) for pharmaceutical labs.

Department of Standards Malaysia for ISO certification and laboratory accreditation (e.g., ISO/IEC 17025).

Ministry of Health (MOH) for clinical and food labs.

Make sure the equipment you buy meets the standards required by these agencies to ensure compliance and avoid penalties.

6. Installation, Calibration, and Training

Once the equipment arrives, proper setup is vital:

Installation should be carried out by trained professionals to avoid damage.

Calibration must be done according to manufacturer guidelines and validated for accuracy.

Training your lab personnel is crucial to maximize equipment utility and ensure proper handling.

Ask your supplier whether these services are included in the purchase or come at an additional cost.

7. Maintenance and Support

Regular maintenance keeps your equipment in optimal condition and extends its lifespan. Many suppliers in Malaysia offer annual service contracts that include:

Preventive maintenance

Performance verification

Emergency repair services

Replacement parts

Document all maintenance activities to comply with auditing standards and ensure data integrity.

8. Future-Proofing Your Lab

Technology in laboratory analysis evolves rapidly. When selecting equipment, consider features like:

Modular design: Allows for upgrades without full replacement.

Software integration: Compatible with LIMS (Laboratory Information Management Systems).

Energy efficiency: Reduces operational costs.

Remote diagnostics: Allows for quicker troubleshooting and support.

Investing in scalable, upgradable systems ensures your lab stays competitive and adaptable.

Final Thoughts

Buying lab analysis equipment in Malaysia is a strategic investment that impacts the quality, safety, and efficiency of your operations. By understanding your specific needs, choosing reliable suppliers, and planning for future growth, you can ensure a successful setup that meets regulatory standards and delivers accurate results. Whether you're in pharmaceuticals, healthcare, environmental science, or food testing, the right equipment is the foundation of your lab’s success.

[testing-services]

The Role of Food Testing Labs in Quality Control for Processed Foods

Processed foods have become a staple in modern diets due to their convenience, extended shelf life, and variety. However, ensuring these foods meet the highest quality and safety standards is paramount for consumer health and brand reputation. This is where a Food Testing Lab plays a crucial role in the quality control process of processed foods.

In this blog, we’ll explore how food testing labs contribute to maintaining the quality, safety, and regulatory compliance of processed foods, helping manufacturers deliver products that consumers can trust.

What is Processed Food Quality Control?

Quality control (QC) in processed foods involves systematic testing and monitoring to ensure the products meet defined safety, quality, and labeling standards. QC covers everything from raw material inspection, in-process testing, to final product evaluation.

Given the complexity of processed foods—which may include multiple ingredients, preservatives, additives, and complex processing steps—the role of a food testing lab becomes indispensable to detect contaminants, verify ingredient authenticity, and ensure nutritional accuracy.

Key Quality Challenges in Processed Foods

Processed foods face various potential quality issues, including:

Microbial contamination such as bacteria, yeast, and molds

Chemical contaminants including pesticide residues and heavy metals

Adulteration or mislabeling of ingredients

Nutritional inaccuracies on packaging labels

Presence of allergens not declared on labels

Physical contaminants like foreign particles

Addressing these challenges requires precise and reliable laboratory testing.

How Food Testing Labs Support Quality Control for Processed Foods

Food testing labs provide a comprehensive suite of tests that are essential for effective quality control in the processed food industry. Here’s how:

1. Microbiological Testing

Microbial contamination is a leading cause of foodborne illnesses and product recalls. Food testing labs perform microbiological assays to detect and quantify pathogens such as:

Salmonella

Listeria monocytogenes

E. coli

Staphylococcus aureus

Yeasts and molds

These tests help manufacturers identify contamination risks early and take corrective action to prevent outbreaks.

2. Chemical Residue and Contaminant Testing

Processed foods may be exposed to chemical contaminants through raw materials or during processing. Food testing labs use advanced analytical techniques such as:

Gas Chromatography (GC)

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

to detect pesticide residues, heavy metals like lead and mercury, mycotoxins, and other harmful chemicals. Ensuring these contaminants remain below regulatory limits is critical for consumer safety and compliance.

3. Allergen Testing

Undeclared allergens pose serious health risks to sensitive consumers. Food testing labs use ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) and PCR-based methods to detect allergens like:

Peanuts

Tree nuts

Gluten

Dairy

Soy

Accurate allergen detection helps prevent cross-contamination and ensures proper labeling.

4. Nutritional Analysis

Accurate nutritional labeling is a regulatory requirement and a key factor for consumer trust. Labs analyze macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats, proteins), micronutrients (vitamins, minerals), and caloric content to verify that label claims are accurate and compliant with local and international standards.

5. Sensory and Physical Testing

Quality is not just about safety—it also involves taste, texture, color, and appearance. While some sensory evaluation is done in-house, food testing labs may conduct physical tests like moisture content, texture analysis, and colorimetric tests to ensure consistency and consumer acceptability.

6. Shelf-Life Testing

Determining how long a processed food product remains safe and palatable is essential. Labs perform accelerated shelf-life studies and monitor microbial growth, oxidation, and other quality parameters over time to help manufacturers set realistic expiration dates.

Regulatory Compliance and Certifications

Food testing labs help manufacturers comply with stringent food safety regulations and standards such as:

FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

EFSA (European Food Safety Authority)

GCC Standardization Organization (GSO)

Codex Alimentarius

ISO 22000 (Food Safety Management System)

Regular testing ensures processed foods meet the mandatory limits for contaminants, nutritional values, and labeling accuracy, thereby avoiding legal penalties and market withdrawal.

Benefits of Partnering with Accredited Food Testing Labs

Choosing an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited food testing lab offers several benefits:

Reliable and accurate test results based on internationally accepted methods

Traceability and documentation supporting audit and certification processes

Faster turnaround times helping keep production schedules on track

Technical expertise with the latest testing technologies and regulatory knowledge

Consumer confidence through verified product safety and quality

Case Study: Ensuring Quality in a Processed Snack Line

A processed snack manufacturer faced recurring consumer complaints about inconsistent texture and premature spoilage. By partnering with a food testing lab, they identified microbial contamination during packaging as the root cause. After implementing lab recommendations on sterilization and packaging adjustments, product quality stabilized, and consumer trust improved significantly.

This example highlights how food testing labs play a vital role in troubleshooting and enhancing quality control.

The Future of Food Testing Labs in Processed Food Quality Control

Advancements in food testing technologies are enhancing the ability of labs to provide faster, more sensitive, and comprehensive analysis. Trends include:

Rapid on-site testing kits for quicker decision-making

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) for detailed microbial profiling

Artificial intelligence and data analytics for predictive quality control

Blockchain integration for transparent supply chain traceability

These innovations will further empower food manufacturers to uphold high-quality standards efficiently.

Conclusion

In the competitive and highly regulated processed food industry, the role of a Food Testing Lab in quality control cannot be overstated. From detecting microbial and chemical contaminants to verifying nutritional content and allergens, food testing labs are indispensable partners in ensuring product safety, regulatory compliance, and consumer satisfaction.

By leveraging accredited food testing labs, processed food manufacturers can mitigate risks, enhance product quality, and build trust with consumers—key factors for long-term success in the marketplace.

[best-testing-lab-saudi]

How to Choose the Best Food Testing Lab in Ajman for Your Food Business? | +971 554747210

In today’s competitive food industry, maintaining the highest standards of food safety and quality is crucial for any food business. Whether you are a food manufacturer, distributor, or catering service in Ajman, partnering with a reliable food testing lab is essential to ensure your products comply with local and international regulations. But with multiple labs available, how do you choose the best food testing lab in Ajman for your unique business needs?

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the key factors to consider when selecting a food testing lab in Ajman. By understanding these criteria, you can make an informed decision that supports your food safety goals, regulatory compliance, and overall business success.

Why Choosing the Right Food Testing Lab Matters

Food testing labs play a critical role in verifying the safety, quality, and authenticity of food products. They conduct a variety of scientific tests including microbiological analysis, chemical residue detection, nutritional profiling, allergen identification, and more. The results of these tests influence your ability to:

Comply with Ajman Municipality and UAE food safety regulations.

Obtain necessary certifications like Halal, Organic, and ISO standards.

Gain consumer trust and safeguard your brand reputation.

Export food products internationally by meeting global standards.

Prevent costly recalls and foodborne illness outbreaks.

Choosing the right lab ensures accurate, timely results and helps you maintain consistent product quality and safety, vital for business growth and regulatory adherence.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Food Testing Lab in Ajman

1. Accreditation and Certification

One of the most important indicators of a trustworthy food testing lab is its accreditation status. Always choose labs that are accredited under ISO/IEC 17025, the international standard for testing and calibration laboratories. This accreditation confirms that the lab meets rigorous technical and management standards, ensuring accuracy and reliability in test results.

Additionally, labs certified by recognized bodies such as GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) or local regulatory authorities like the Ajman Food Control Department offer added assurance of compliance with regional requirements.

2. Range of Testing Services

Food businesses vary widely in the types of products they handle and the safety concerns involved. Make sure the lab offers comprehensive testing services relevant to your product category, such as:

Microbiological Testing (pathogen detection like Salmonella, E. coli)

Chemical Residue Analysis (pesticides, heavy metals)

Nutritional Analysis (macronutrients, vitamins, minerals)

Allergen Testing (gluten, nuts, dairy)

Shelf Life and Stability Testing

GMO Testing

Packaging Material Testing

Choosing a lab with diverse capabilities allows you to address all your testing needs under one roof, saving time and costs.

3. Expertise in Local and International Standards

A top-tier food testing lab in Ajman should be well-versed in both UAE regulations and international food safety standards like:

UAE Federal Food Law

Codex Alimentarius

HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points)

ISO 22000 Food Safety Management

FDA and EU regulations for exports

This expertise ensures your products meet not only local compliance but are also prepared for export markets, helping you expand your business globally.

4. Technology and Equipment

Advanced technology is a crucial component of precise and timely food testing. The best labs invest in modern, automated equipment and maintain strict quality control protocols. Check if the lab uses state-of-the-art instruments such as:

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) for DNA-based tests

Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS)

Cutting-edge tools translate to more accurate results, faster turnaround times, and the ability to detect trace contaminants effectively.

5. Turnaround Time

Food businesses operate on tight schedules, and delays in testing results can disrupt production and distribution. When choosing a lab, inquire about their average turnaround time and whether they offer express testing services for urgent needs.

A lab with a reliable and quick turnaround supports your operational efficiency and helps you meet market deadlines confidently.

6. Reputation and Client Reviews

A food testing lab’s reputation can reveal much about its reliability and customer service quality. Look for client testimonials, case studies, and reviews from Ajman-based food businesses. Positive feedback about accuracy, professionalism, and support services is a strong indicator of a lab you can trust.

Additionally, ask for references to speak directly with current or past clients about their experience.

7. Customer Support and Consultancy

Choosing a lab that offers more than just testing—like expert consultancy and technical support—is beneficial. Top labs help you interpret test results, understand regulatory changes, and implement corrective measures if issues arise.

Good customer service also means the lab is responsive to inquiries, transparent about processes, and proactive in guiding you through complex compliance requirements.

8. Pricing and Value

While cost is always a consideration, it should never compromise quality. Compare pricing among labs, but focus on value for money — including the accuracy of results, accreditation status, turnaround time, and customer service.

Many labs offer customized packages for food businesses, so discuss your needs and budget upfront to find the best fit.

Steps to Choose the Best Food Testing Lab in Ajman

Identify Your Testing Needs: List the types of tests required based on your products and target markets.

Research Accredited Labs: Use Ajman government resources, industry directories, and online platforms to shortlist accredited labs.

Evaluate Services and Equipment: Review lab websites or brochures for service portfolios and technology details.

Check Compliance Expertise: Confirm their knowledge of local and export regulations.

Request Quotes and Turnaround Times: Get detailed pricing and timelines for your specific tests.

Read Client Reviews and Seek References: Gain insights from other food businesses.

Visit the Lab if Possible: A physical visit can help assess professionalism and infrastructure.

Finalize and Partner: Choose the lab that best meets your criteria and build a long-term relationship.

Conclusion

Selecting the best food testing lab in Ajman is a strategic decision that can profoundly impact your food business’s safety, compliance, and growth. By prioritizing accreditation, comprehensive testing capabilities, regulatory expertise, advanced technology, and excellent customer support, you set your business up for success.

A trusted food testing lab not only helps you meet the strict requirements of Ajman and international food safety authorities but also builds consumer confidence in your brand. This ultimately opens doors to new markets, minimizes risks, and enhances your reputation.

[oliviiaagraceeeeee]

Unveiling Trends in ASX Cannabis Stocks Sector

Highlights

Comprehensive landscape of ASX Cannabis Stocks featuring cultivation and research operations

Regulatory developments and licensing updates impacting ASX Cannabis Stocks

Overview of corporate profiles and scientific collaborations underlying ASX Cannabis Stocks

A diverse selection of entities falls under ASX Cannabis Stocks, showcasing varied operational scales and strategic focuses. Trading activity within this segment has experienced shifts linked to announcements on production capacity and licensing status. Average daily volumes reflect both high-liquidity names with substantial market capitalization and emerging listings with more modest float sizes. International market trends, including developments in North America and Europe, have also influenced trading metrics. Corporate disclosures related to project milestones and supply agreements often correspond with changes in share performance, underscoring the interconnected nature of this sector.

Regulatory Framework

Government oversight remains a pivotal factor for ASX Cannabis Stocks, requiring compliance with detailed quality control and Good Manufacturing Practice standards. Regulatory agencies periodically update guidance on cultivation licenses, manufacturing permits and clinical trial authorizations. Recent amendments have introduced tiered licensing pathways, streamlining approvals for pilot production sites and expanding export eligibility. Mandatory reporting schedules cover batch testing results and distribution records, ensuring transparency across supply chains. Jurisdictional variations in permit durations and renewal cycles further define operational planning for listed entities.

Company Profiles

Entities categorized as ASX Cannabis Stocks exhibit a range of corporate structures and operational models. Some maintain vertically integrated platforms that encompass on-site cultivation facilities, processing laboratories and distribution networks servicing domestic markets. Others specialise in extraction technology, partnering with third-party manufacturers to scale production of cannabinoid isolates. Disclosure documents often reference joint ventures targeting contract manufacturing in overseas jurisdictions. Quarterly reports provide metrics on greenhouse footprint, extraction capacity and inventory levels. Public share registers reveal variations in free float percentages, reflecting differing capital structures among sector participants. Performance metrics and disclosure trends contribute to valuation assessments within ASX Cannabis Stocks listings.

Research and Development

Scientific collaborations drive progress within ASX Cannabis Stocks, as corporate research teams engage with universities and clinical research organisations. Initiatives target improvements in extraction efficiency, solvent recovery and active compound purity. Advances in formulation science have led to ongoing trials examining novel delivery platforms, including oral strips and transdermal patches. Patent filings highlight proprietary encapsulation techniques and controlled-release mechanisms. Peer-reviewed publications and technical whitepapers detail stability testing outcomes and batch consistency data. These research endeavours underpin procedural standardisation and contribute to evolving best practice protocols in cultivation and processing.

Explore Further

For comprehensive updates on ASX Cannabis Stocks, consult official exchange notices and review licensing bulletins issued by regulatory authorities. Access company disclosure archives to examine production volume reports, manufacturing site approvals and annual capacity forecasts. Subscribe to sector-specific newsletters for notifications on operational milestones, research publications and compliance updates. Utilize online registry platforms to monitor permit filings, quality control results and strategic partnership announcements. Engaging with these primary sources ensures timely awareness of developments within this sector.

[laxmideewanfragrances]

Trusted Tobacco Flavour Manufacturer for Rich, Bold Aromas

Tobacco flavors are one of the most vital aspects when it comes to fragrance and taste-enhancement world. They are widely used in several industries, including tobacco processing, vaping liquids, incense sticks, room fresheners, and even the cosmetic industries. A reputable tobacco flavor manufacturer thus plays a crucial role in providing the customer with high-quality, consistent products that satisfy market requirements. Be it traditional cigarettes, hookah blends, or smart e-liquids, the flavors available vouch for capturing the deep, earthy, and smoky soul of real tobacco leaves.

A seasoned tobacco flavor manufacturer should understand the art and science of flavor creation. It is not just replication of the smell or taste of tobacco, but an endeavor to hoist up an alternative complex profile in which any tobacco might engage; it might therefore have some types of woody note, tad sweet, and a spicy or sometimes nutty flavor. Ingredients are carefully selected to bring forth these special flavors; the flavors are then premixed together in a method where the various flavors are tested so that every drop does its duty to measure up to the natural complexity of that one fine tobacco without the hazards of the raw tobacco that goes with it.

In today's world, the trend towards customization and more variety among consumers represents one of the reasons why most experienced tobacco flavor manufacturers will have a veritably vast array of tobacco flavor profiles to offer from the American blend to Virginia, Turkish, Burley, and over. Every flavor notes its own identity, helping the product developers to give a distinctive element in their product, fashioned around its respective character. This wide array also gives the brand the flexibility of cater-based on global markets, where flavor preferences differ greatly.

Tobacco flavors manufacture involves strict quality control and sophisticated technology, with leading international ISO, GMP, FSSAI standards adhered to by trustworthy manufacturers to secure safety and uniformity. Specialized laboratories with talented chemists and flavorists make this possible by working together on finding the perfect blend. Every product undergoes several rounds of testing to earn pureness, stability, and shelf life. This is significant for the industries that rely on longevity of storage and production of batches.

The use of safe and approved ingredients is an essential aspect of the manufacture of tobacco flavors. Leading manufacturers use only food grade and pharma-grade raw materials which are approved by regulatory bodies. The use is foregone of any banned or harmful chemicals. Such commitment to safety also ensures that implied flavors can go on their final use confidently into products meant for human use such as e-liquids or chewing tobacco alternatives.

It holds true for tobacco flavour makers in particular- Innovation in product. With transitioning consumer taste to being more health-aware and hunting for unique sensations, manufacturers aim to describe tobacco blends like tobacco with vanilla, tobacco and honey, tobacco and chocolate, and tobacco with menthol. These particular combinations are best-loved in the vaping and fragrance industries. Perhaps now more than ever, here comes the influx of flavored inventories, demanding customized, pre-mixed tobacco flavors.

The composition and delivery of tobacco flavours are performed quite effectively. These flavours are packed in bottles, drums, or containers, depending on the customers' requirement. Sealing and proper labelling make certain that the flavour stays uncontaminated and fresh throughout the delivery. Having other core documents, such as COA, MSDS, and product specifications, helps customers to fasten with companies to fulfil their legal obligations.

Aside from these areas, they have also built a mechanism to establish exceptional customer care. Right from assisting clients to place orders with the correct flavours, they remain identified with their unique partnership approach throughout the process. Most of the tobacco flavour makers have different sampling alternatives to cater to customers' needs in previewing and finalizing taste. It saves time and budget for both sides.

The digital age has brought about online operation capacities for a good number of manufacturers. There is an opportunity on offer where clients can download an e-catalog, technical datasheets, get in touch with inquiries, or log in from anywhere in the globe. Some also provide express delivery and global shipping services to meet urgent demands.

Sustainability is coming up to the front stage in the flavour industry. 

Environment-conscious tobacco flavour manufacturers are embracing eco-friendly manufacturing, reducing waste, and using recyclable packaging materials. They are looking to minimize their carbon footprint while ensuring the delivery of quality products. This goes a long way in building trust and goodwill with environmentally conscious consumers.

One more thing to think about while working with a professional tobacco flavour maker is they allow scalability in production. Whether you need a few liters of the flavor or hundreds of liters, the concerned companies have the facilities and resources to offer it, but in the same moment, also maintain the quality. This option can be particularly useful for upcoming businesses in need of dependable collaborators for a good supply.

Selecting the right tobacco flavour manufacturer could possibly make or break several aspects of the fate concerning the end product. A poorly made flavor can devalue the appeal of the final product, which ultimately could lead to customer dissatisfaction. On the flip side, a well-made tobacco flavor shall result in raising the experience of whoever uses it and thereby contribute to building brand loyalty, while simultaneously providing that much-needed edge in an overcrowded field.

If you are planning to start anything using tobacco flavour then it becomes imperative to ally with a flavours supplier who has experience, reliability, with a big range of items. Ask for samples, verify their credentials, and then discuss your requirements in detail. A reliable manufacturer would stay with you throughout the whole process of selection and development in order to make sure you get a flavour that is a perfect fit for your product.

To conclude,

 a good tobacco flavour manufacturer adds value to their supplier-client relationship by keeping a professional and technical approach alongside sustainable growth goals-technologically, environmentally, and socioeconomically. Even from the traditional profile to modern-day customizations, around sixty years of win-win relationships speak well en route to the development of tobacco-flavored product profiles. Whether catapulting the verbiage of the vaping industry, the tobacco category, perfumery, or the terpenes of aromatherapy; a well-served flavor manufacturer worth thanks would very well give an edge over another in the veritable gap.

[james34111]

Where to Buy Reliable and Durable Evaporating Dish Online

When it comes to purchasing laboratory equipment, quality and reliability are key. This is especially true for essential tools like evaporating dishes, which are commonly used for evaporating liquids, concentrating solutions, and conducting chemical experiments. Whether you're running a school lab, a research facility, or a commercial testing center, investing in durable and high-performing evaporating dishes ensures accurate results and safety. But with so many online options, how do you choose the right supplier?

Let’s explore where to buy reliable and long-lasting evaporating dish online, along with a few tips to help guide your purchase.

Reputable Laboratory Supply Websites

Websites dedicated to scientific and laboratory supplies are the best place to start. Some of the most trusted platforms include:

Fisher Scientific Known for its wide selection of labware, Fisher Scientific offers high-quality porcelain and glass evaporating dishes in various sizes. Their products come from well-known brands like Corning and Thermo Scientific.

VWR (Avantor) VWR is a global distributor of lab products and services. They carry a variety of evaporating dishes made from chemical-resistant materials, ideal for use in demanding laboratory environments.

Cole-Parmer With over 65 years in the industry, Cole-Parmer supplies durable and heat-resistant evaporating dishes, especially for analytical chemistry and lab testing.

Online Marketplaces with Verified Sellers

While Amazon and eBay are not exclusive to scientific supplies, they do feature listings from verified lab equipment sellers.

Amazon Amazon carries evaporating dishes from well-known brands such as United Scientific, Eisco Labs, and Kimble Chase. Always look for products with high ratings and verified reviews to ensure quality.

eBay On eBay, you can often find both new and surplus labware at competitive prices. Be cautious and ensure the seller is reputable and offers detailed product descriptions.

Direct from Manufacturers

For bulk orders or custom needs, buying directly from manufacturers might be your best option. Many manufacturers have their own e-commerce platforms or can direct you to authorized distributors. Look for:

CoorsTek A leader in ceramic labware, CoorsTek manufactures high-quality evaporating dishes built to withstand high temperatures and corrosive chemicals.

United Scientific Supplies Their products are widely used in educational and industrial labs, and they offer both porcelain and glass varieties.

What to Look for When Buying Online

When choosing an evaporating dish online, consider the following:

Material – Porcelain is common for high-temperature use, while glass is preferred for clear visibility during experiments.

Capacity and Size – Choose a size based on the volume of liquid you plan to evaporate.

Heat Resistance – Ensure the dish can withstand the temperatures required for your applications.

Supplier Reputation – Always buy from reputable suppliers with good customer support and clear return policies.

Final Thoughts

Buying evaporating dish online has never been easier, thanks to the availability of trusted suppliers and user-friendly e-commerce platforms. Whether you're outfitting a new lab or replacing old equipment, prioritize quality and durability. By purchasing from well-established laboratory suppliers or verified online marketplaces, you can be confident that your evaporating dishes will perform reliably under demanding conditions.

[cdhfinechemical]

Understanding Microbiological Dehydrated Culture Media and Its Importance

In microbiology, culture media play a crucial role in the growth and identification of microorganisms. One of the most widely used types is Microbiological Dehydrated Culture Media, which is essential in laboratories, research facilities, and industrial applications. It provides the necessary nutrients for the cultivation of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms.

What is Microbiological Dehydrated Culture Media?

Microbiological Dehydrated Culture Media is a powdered form of culture media that needs to be dissolved in water and sterilized before use. It is a convenient and efficient alternative to ready-to-use liquid media. Scientists and researchers prefer dehydrated media because of its long shelf life, ease of preparation, and consistent quality.

This type of media contains essential nutrients such as peptones, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals that support microbial growth. It is used in various applications, including clinical diagnostics, pharmaceutical research, food safety testing, and biotechnology.

Uses of Microbiological Dehydrated Culture Media

Medical and Clinical Laboratories In hospitals and diagnostic labs, Microbiological Dehydrated Culture Media is used for detecting bacterial infections, identifying pathogens, and testing antibiotic susceptibility. It helps doctors diagnose diseases accurately and choose the right treatment.

Food and Beverage Industry Food safety is a top priority, and Microbiological Dehydrated Culture Media plays a vital role in testing food products for contamination. It helps in detecting harmful bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, ensuring that food products meet safety standards before reaching consumers.

Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Research Pharmaceutical companies use Microbiological Dehydrated Culture Media to develop new medicines, vaccines, and antibiotics. It is also widely used in biotechnology research for studying microbial behavior and genetic modifications.

Why Choose Dehydrated Culture Media India? India has become a leading supplier of high-quality Dehydrated Culture Media India, catering to both domestic and international markets. There are several reasons why Indian manufacturers are preferred:

Quality Assurance: Manufacturers in Dehydrated Culture Media India follow strict quality control measures to ensure their products meet international standards.

Cost-Effectiveness: Indian suppliers offer high-quality products at competitive prices, making them a preferred choice for laboratories and research institutions.

Wide Availability: With a growing demand for microbiological testing, Dehydrated Culture Media India is widely available for various industries, ensuring a steady supply of reliable products.

How to Select the Best Dehydrated Culture Media? When choosing Microbiological Dehydrated Culture Media, consider the following factors:

Composition: Ensure that the media contains the necessary nutrients required for microbial growth. Solubility and Clarity: A good quality medium should dissolve easily in water without leaving residues. Sterility and Shelf Life: Always check the expiration date and storage requirements to maintain effectiveness.

Conclusion

Microbiological Dehydrated Culture Media is an essential tool for various industries, ensuring accurate microbial testing and research. With the increasing demand, Dehydrated Culture Media India continues to provide high-quality and affordable solutions to laboratories worldwide. By choosing the right product, researchers and professionals can ensure precise and reliable results in their studies and applications.

[best-testing-lab-uae]

How to Choose a Reliable Food Testing Laboratory in the UAE? | +971 554747210

Food safety is a top priority for consumers, businesses, and regulatory bodies in the UAE. Whether you are a restaurant owner, food manufacturer, or importer, ensuring the quality and safety of your products is essential. A food testing lab near me can help verify food quality, detect contaminants, and ensure compliance with UAE food safety regulations.

Finding a reliable food testing laboratory in the UAE requires careful consideration of several factors, including accreditation, services, turnaround time, and expertise. In this guide, we will explore the key aspects to consider when choosing the right food testing lab to meet your needs.

Why Food Testing is Essential in the UAE

Food testing plays a critical role in protecting public health, maintaining brand reputation, and meeting legal requirements. The UAE enforces strict food safety regulations through authorities such as:

Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA)

Dubai Municipality

Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA)

Federal Food Safety Department

Partnering with an accredited food testing lab near me ensures compliance with these regulations, prevents foodborne illnesses, and helps businesses maintain high standards of quality.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Food Testing Lab Near Me

1. Accreditation and Certification

One of the most important factors when selecting a food testing lab near me is accreditation. A reliable lab should have ISO 17025 certification, which guarantees high-quality testing and accurate results. Additionally, look for approvals from regulatory authorities such as:

ESMA (Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology)

Dubai Municipality Food Safety Department

ADAFSA (Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority)

2. Range of Testing Services

A reputable food testing lab should offer a comprehensive range of services, including:

Microbiological Testing: Detects harmful bacteria such as Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli.

Chemical Analysis: Identifies contaminants like pesticides, heavy metals, and toxins.

Nutritional Labeling Testing: Ensures compliance with UAE labeling regulations.

Shelf-Life Studies: Determines how long a product remains safe for consumption.

Food Allergen Testing: Identifies common allergens such as gluten, nuts, and dairy.

Halal Compliance Testing: Verifies adherence to halal certification requirements.

Before selecting a lab, assess your specific testing needs and ensure the lab offers relevant services.

3. Turnaround Time and Efficiency

In the food industry, timely results are crucial for product launches, regulatory approvals, and quality assurance. Ask the lab about their average turnaround time and whether they offer expedited services for urgent testing needs.

4. Technology and Equipment

Advanced food testing labs utilize cutting-edge technology and equipment to provide accurate and reliable results. Look for labs that use:

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for DNA testing

Spectrophotometry for color and composition analysis

The latest technology ensures precision and efficiency in food testing.

5. Experience and Reputation

A lab with a strong track record and experience in the industry is more likely to deliver reliable services. Consider:

The number of years the lab has been operating

Customer reviews and testimonials

Industry partnerships and affiliations

Case studies or success stories

6. Compliance with UAE Regulations

Food testing laboratories must adhere to UAE food safety standards and regulations. Choose a lab that is well-versed in:

UAE.S GSO food standards

HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points)

ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System

FDA and EU regulatory requirements (if exporting food products)

7. Cost and Pricing Transparency

While price should not be the sole deciding factor, comparing testing fees is important. A reliable lab should provide clear pricing and avoid hidden fees. Request detailed quotes and compare multiple options to find a balance between cost and quality.

8. Customer Support and Consultation Services

The best food testing labs offer guidance beyond just testing. Look for labs that provide expert consultation to help you:

Interpret test results

Understand regulatory compliance requirements

Improve product safety and quality

Excellent customer support ensures a smooth and productive testing process.

Top Accredited Food Testing Labs in the UAE

If you're looking for a food testing lab near me, consider these leading accredited labs:

1. METS Laboratory (Dubai, UAE)

Accredited by ISO 17025

Offers microbiological, chemical, and nutritional analysis

Provides halal compliance testing

2. TÜV SÜD Middle East (Abu Dhabi, UAE)

Global accreditation for food safety testing

Expertise in contaminants, pesticide residues, and shelf-life studies

3. Intertek UAE (Dubai, UAE)

Accredited by ESMA and HACCP

Specializes in foodborne pathogen detection and nutritional labeling

4. SGS Gulf Limited (Dubai & Abu Dhabi, UAE)

ISO 17025 certified food testing lab

Offers GMO testing, heavy metal detection, and authenticity verification

5. Eurofins Dubai (Dubai, UAE)

Provides a wide range of chemical and microbiological tests

Specializes in food safety certification and export compliance

Steps to Find the Best Food Testing Lab Near Me

1. Search Online and Read Reviews

Use Google, business directories, and social media to find accredited labs in your area. Look for customer feedback and reviews to gauge reliability.

2. Check Regulatory Websites

Authorities like Dubai Municipality and ADAFSA publish lists of approved food testing laboratories.

3. Ask for Recommendations

Consult food industry professionals, suppliers, and business partners for trusted lab referrals.

4. Visit the Lab for an Assessment

Schedule a visit to inspect the lab’s facilities, meet the experts, and evaluate their services before making a decision.

Conclusion

Finding a reliable food testing lab near me in the UAE is essential for ensuring food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. By choosing an accredited lab with comprehensive services, advanced technology, and a strong reputation, businesses can confidently meet UAE food safety standards.

Whether you are a manufacturer, importer, or restaurant owner, working with the right food testing laboratory can protect consumers and enhance your brand’s credibility. Follow the key factors outlined in this guide to select the best food testing lab near you in the UAE.

[testing-services]

Best Testing Labs for Water Quality: What to Look For?

Ensuring safe and clean water is essential for public health, industrial processes, and environmental sustainability. Whether you're a homeowner, a business, or a municipality, selecting the best testing lab for water quality is crucial. Accredited water testing labs help detect contaminants, maintain compliance with regulations, and provide accurate assessments of water purity.

This article explores what to look for in a top-quality water testing lab and why choosing the best one matters for health, safety, and environmental conservation.

1. Accreditation and Certifications

A reputable water testing lab must hold relevant accreditations from recognized authorities such as:

ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation – Ensures lab competency and accuracy.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Approval – Mandates compliance with environmental safety standards.

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) – Common in regions like India and the Middle East.

Local Government Certifications – ADAFSA, Dubai Municipality, or equivalent regulatory approvals.

These accreditations indicate that a lab follows rigorous quality control measures and produces reliable results.

2. Comprehensive Water Testing Services

The best testing lab offer a wide range of water quality analyses, including:

a) Microbiological Testing

Detection of bacteria, viruses, and protozoa such as E. coli and Legionella.

Ensures drinking water is free from harmful pathogens.

b) Chemical Testing

Checks for heavy metals like lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium.

Analyzes pH levels, nitrates, fluoride, and pesticide residues.

c) Physical Testing

Measures turbidity, color, odor, and total dissolved solids (TDS).

d) Industrial and Wastewater Testing

Examines effluent water for pollutants and ensures compliance with environmental laws.

3. Use of Advanced Technology and Equipment

State-of-the-art laboratories employ modern analytical techniques for precise results. Look for labs using:

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for organic pollutants.

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for heavy metal detection.

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for microbiological contamination analysis.

Labs with the latest technology offer higher accuracy, faster turnaround times, and more detailed reports.

4. Fast and Reliable Turnaround Time

Time-sensitive industries like food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and municipal water suppliers require rapid testing services. The best testing labs provide:

Standard Testing Reports (within 5-7 days).

Expedited Testing Services (within 24-48 hours for urgent cases).

Online Report Access for easy retrieval and verification.

5. Expert Consultation and Customer Support

A good water quality testing lab doesn't just provide results—it offers expert analysis and actionable insights. Top labs feature:

Certified water quality specialists to interpret results.

Recommendations for water treatment solutions.

Dedicated customer support for guidance on compliance and regulations.

6. Compliance with Regulatory Standards

Whether for residential, commercial, or industrial purposes, water quality testing must align with government regulations. The best labs ensure:

Adherence to WHO, EPA, and local water safety guidelines.

Industry-specific compliance, such as HACCP for food businesses or GMP for pharmaceuticals.

Regular audits and updates to testing protocols based on emerging contaminants.

7. Competitive Pricing and Transparent Costs

The best water testing labs offer competitive pricing with clear, upfront costs. Look for labs that:

Provide cost-effective packages for routine testing.

Offer customized pricing based on testing requirements.

Maintain transparent billing without hidden fees.

Conclusion

Choosing the best testing lab for water quality is critical for ensuring health, safety, and regulatory compliance. Prioritize accreditation, comprehensive testing services, advanced technology, quick turnaround times, expert consultation, regulatory compliance, and transparent pricing when selecting a lab.

Investing in professional water quality testing ensures clean, safe water for drinking, industrial applications, and environmental protection. By selecting a trusted and accredited lab, businesses and individuals can safeguard health and maintain compliance with international and local water quality standards.

[baijian188]

Combed wool type chemical fiber knitting yarn testing

Test items Fiber content, formaldehyde content, odor, decomposable carcinogenic aromatic amine dyes, square meter dry weight deviation rate, washing size change rate, bursting strength, distortion rate after washing, pilling, water fastness, soap fastness, perspiration fastness, friction fastness, light fastness, etc.

Scope of application

Knitted sweat fabric, cotton fabric, rib fabric, mesh fabric, polar fleece, air layer, polyester cover, terry fabric, brushed fabric, cut velvet fabric, artificial fur, wool sweater fabric, yarn sweater fabric, warp knitted plain fabric, warp knitted mesh fabric, warp knitted suede, warp knitted pile fabric, warp knitted terry fabric, warp knitted towel fabric, etc.

Related testing standards

FZ/T 24028-2021 Raschel knitted fabrics

DB35/T 1954-2020 General technical conditions for knitted fabrics for three-dimensional molding shoes

FZ/T 72028-2020 Combed flax blended knitted fabrics

FZ/T 72024-2019 Knitted fabrics for bedding

FZ/T 72025-2019 Knitted fabrics for trousers

FZ/T 72023-2017 Free-cut knitted fabrics

FZ/T 72022-2017 Knitted fabrics for high-elastic body shaping underwear

DB35/T 801-2016 Bamboo pulp viscose blended knitted fabrics

DB35/T 1469-2014 Knitted fabrics for one-time molding shoes

DB31/ 718-2013 Energy consumption limit per unit product for knitted fabrics

FZ/T 72015-2012 Liquid ammonia finishing knitted fabrics

Function of testing report:

1. Project bidding: Issue authoritative third-party CMA/CNAS qualification report 2. Online e-commerce platform entry: Quality inspection report recognized by major e-commerce platforms 3. Used as a sales report: issuing legally effective testing reports to make consumers more confident 4. Papers and research: Provide professional personalized testing needs 5. Judicial services: providing scientific, fair, and accurate testing data 6. Industrial problem diagnosis: Verify the troubleshooting and correction of industrial production problems

100% inspection and testing process:

1. Telephone communication and confirmation of requirements 2. Recommend solutions and confirm quotations 3. Mail samples and arrange testing 4. Progress tracking and result feedback 5. Provide reports and after-sales service 6. If urgent or priority processing is required

Testing and testing characteristics:

1.The testing industry is fully covered, meeting different testing needs 2. Fully cover the laboratory and allocate localized testing nearby 3. Engineers provide one-on-one services to make testing more accurate 4. Free initial testing, with no testing fees charged 5. Self service order delivery for free on-site sampling 6. Short cycle, low cost, and attentive service 7. Possess authoritative qualifications such as CMA, CNAS, CAL, etc 8. The testing report is authoritative and effective, and is generally used in China