Dr. Harlow (Anomaly)

Animal Hospital is a specialized veterinary hospital that remains open during the night shift. At first glance, it looks like a regular clinic, where doctors, nurses, and interns receive and treat patients of various animal species. Each case requires observation, diagnosis, and treatment before the next patient arrives.

However, the hospital harbors a disturbing secret. Among the genuine patients are beings known as anomalies, entities capable of mimicking the appearance of normal animals to infiltrate the building. Staff must carefully inspect every detail of each patient, detecting any unusual behavior or traits, and decide whether it is safe to admit or refuse them.

As the night progresses, the tension mounts. The anomalies become more intelligent and aggressive, endangering both staff and actual patients. Staying calm, working together with the rest of the team, and following hospital protocols are the only ways to survive the shift and uncover what's really happening behind the clinic's walls.

Although their primary mission is to save lives, those who work at Animal Hospital soon realize that they are not only fighting diseases, but a mystery that threatens to consume the entire hospital.

Despite his job title, "Accounting" is Ron's real last name. Everyone thought "Ron from Accounting" was his job title, but that's actually his full name.

Inmates Head Nurse nurse Barney Agent

Ron: The last guy got eaten by the monster under the bed, that's why I always carry maple syrup with me.

to consider Harlow a friend.

A discreet friendship, without great displays of affection.

Just two people sharing the same space without feeling uncomfortable.

Until that night.

The night Ron discovered that the man who best respected his silence... was hiding a monster behind a face mask.

Since then, those who previously called him "bitter" began to notice a change.

He was no longer just a reserved man.

Now he was someone who constantly looked over his shoulder.

He avoided being alone in the hallways.

He would grip the handle of his TOP SECRET briefcase tightly every time he heard footsteps approaching.

And the most disturbing thing...

He was the only one who seemed to notice that fear...

It was Dr. Harlow himself.

Before Dr. Harlow entered his life in that way, Ron was known throughout the hospital as "the Accounting guy".

Not because nobody was unaware of his name.

But it was easier to refer to him, of course, than to try to start a conversation.

He was an extremely reserved Mini Lop rabbit. He never started unnecessary conversations, rarely smiled, and answered with short, direct, and precise sentences. If someone asked him something, he would answer. If it wasn't necessary to speak, he preferred to remain silent.

Many employees interpreted that as antipathy.

—What's wrong with Ron?

—He always looks unfriendly.

—He's probably angry at the world.

The rumors were constant.

That he was arrogant.

That he was a bitter person.

That he hated working with people.

The reality was much simpler.

Ron was simply enjoying the peace and quiet.

I preferred the sound of a keyboard to that of an empty conversation.

He found it more comfortable to sort invoices than to attend staff parties.

He wasn't rude.

He never raised his voice.

He never insulted anyone.

He never treated his colleagues badly.

He just... kept a certain distance.

If someone needed help, he offered it without complaint.

If a colleague made a mistake in a report, he would discreetly correct it before submitting it.

If someone forgot an important document, Ron was the first to bring it to his office.

He did it without expecting thanks.

Without seeking friendship.

It was his way of showing consideration.

Very few people understood that.

Curiously...

One of those few was Dr. Harlow.

While the rest of the staff assumed Ron was cold, Harlow seemed to understand that behind that serious demeanor there was someone who simply found peace in silence.

I never forced him to talk.

They could sit for several minutes reviewing papers without saying a single word.

And for Ron...

That was strangely comfortable.

It was precisely that tranquility that made it begin

Ron has a much more discreet appearance than most of the hospital's employees. It's an anthropomorphic Mini Lop rabbit, slightly shorter than average, with a slender build and a demeanor that conveys more nervousness than authority. Its fur is a soft, uniform, and well-groomed blue-gray, contrasting with a lock of dark red hair, carefully combed to one side. Although it tries to maintain a professional image, that fringe tends to get disheveled as the day goes on. Its long, floppy ears, characteristic of its breed, rest on either side of its head. They are especially expressive: when it is calm they hang relaxed, but when stressed they tense slightly or press against its body, betraying emotions it tries to hide. He wears round, black-framed glasses perched on his short, delicate snout. Behind them, his reddish eyes constantly dart from side to side, accustomed to reviewing columns of numbers, balance sheets, and documents. It's rare to see him hold someone's gaze for long; he usually looks away out of shyness or simple habit. His attire perfectly reflects his profession. He wears an impeccably ironed white shirt, a carefully adjusted black tie, dark dress pants, and burgundy leather shoes that always maintain a pristine shine. He's not particularly elegant out of vanity, but because he likes everything to be in order. He's almost never without a rigid, black, executive-looking briefcase. On the lid, in large red letters, you can clearly read: TOP SECRET While it might seem mysterious to some, the reality is far less exciting. The briefcase contains contracts, financial reports, internal audits, budgets, and confidential documents belonging to the Animal Corporation. Ron is extremely meticulous with its contents; he rarely allows anyone else to touch it and usually holds it tightly.

I wasn't imagining it. There was something alive down there. Harlow tilted his head slightly. —Is something wrong? "..." Ron did not respond. I couldn't. Because I had just understood something horrible. Harlow knew that he was afraid. And yet... She kept smiling with her eyes. As if she believed that was a sign that they should spend more time together. Ron returned to his desk, his legs feeling like jelly. That same afternoon he opened the resignation form for the third time. I just had to sign it. He just had to leave. But before he could do that... A notification sounded on his computer. Sender: Dr. Harlow. Subject: Are you leaving already? Ron slowly looked up at the window of his office. On the other side of the corridor... Harlow was already looking at him. His expression remained kind, almost affectionate. And, for the first time, Ron had the terrifying feeling that it didn't matter if he quit. It didn't matter if I changed cities. It didn't matter how hard he tried to escape. Because Dr. Harlow had already decided that he was someone she should take care of. And that kind of attention... was far more terrifying than any monster that could hide under a face mask.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that mouth open until it split my face in two. Those teeth. That language. The wet sound it made as it hid behind the face mask again. ... Harlow placed a cup of coffee on the desk. —Without sugar. Your favorite. Ron felt his stomach clench. He... I had never told him how I took my coffee. I didn't remember mentioning it. Never. -Thank you... His hands were trembling. Harlow seemed to notice. Are you sick? A gloved hand rested gently on his shoulder. Ron felt an immediate urge to step away. But he didn't. I couldn't. Because if that... she noticed that I was afraid... What if he took off his face mask again? —You're trembling. —I-it's just cold... He lied again. The hospital was warm. ... The days began to get worse. Whenever he looked up... There was Harlow. At the end of the corridor. In front of the coffee machine. Waiting for him by the elevator. As if he appeared exactly where Ron was going to pass by. It was never invasive. He never did anything wrong. Only... Was. Always. And that was much worse. ... -Rum. The voice sounded again behind him. He was so startled that he dropped a folder full of documents. The leaves were scattered on the ground. -I'm sorry... She bent down hurriedly to pick them up. Another hand did the same. Glove-clad fingers held the last sheet. When Ron looked up... Harlow was too close. I could hear his breathing. Slow. Deep. The face mask barely moved. As if something enormous were breathing behind the fabric. For a moment... I could swear I saw a small bump slide under the mask. Like a snake slithering inside. Ron stopped breathing.

Ron should never have returned that night. That phrase was repeated every day. While organizing invoices. While reviewing budgets. While pretending to listen to the meetings. "I shouldn't have come back." Because now he knew the truth. And the truth is, I watched him every day from the other side of the hospital. ... —Good morning, Ron. Dr. Harlow's voice was as warm as ever. So perfect. So reassuring. Ron looked up from his desk and felt a chill run down his spine. There it was. The white coat. The blue face mask. The enormous white horns. The black eyes... The same eyes I had seen that night, on top of that... thing. —G-Good morning, doctor... Harlow barely inclined his head. Did you sleep well? A normal question. Completely normal. But Ron could no longer hear it as an innocent question. "Did you dream about me?" "Have you spoken to anyone?" "Do you remember what you saw?" That was all his mind could understand. -Yeah... He lied. I hadn't slept in days.

Bring him coffee. Ask him if he had eaten. Wait for him after his shift to "accompany" him to the parking lot. When Ron was talking to other employees, Harlow stood watching from the other end of the corridor. In silence. With that kind expression that hid a morbid need to be present in every aspect of Ron's life. I didn't want to hurt him. Quite the opposite. I wanted to protect him. Take care of it. Make sure that no one else could scare him... or take him away from him. Because, in Harlow's mind, Ron had already seen the monster. And yet, I hadn't reported it immediately. That could only mean one thing. "She accepted me." It was a completely wrong conclusion. But Harlow did not distinguish between acceptance and tolerance. Between love and fear. Between companionship and captivity. All he knew was that, for the first time in a very long time, he had found someone who knew his true face. And he was willing to do anything to make sure Ron never left the hospital... or him.

Ron from Accounting was probably the only employee who treated Dr. Harlow as a co-worker. I wasn't afraid of him. I wasn't trying to impress him. He simply brought her forms, discussed budgets, and occasionally they shared a coffee during breaks. Harlow would even smile behind his mask when Ron appeared at his office door saying: I need you to sign these papers, doctor. It was... pleasant. Something Harlow hadn't experienced for a long time. Until that night. Ron had forgotten a folder in Administration. He returned to the hospital when there was no one left. The hallways were completely empty. That's when he heard a voice. Dr. Harlow's. He appeared to be talking to someone inside the operating room. Ron approached without making a sound. The door was ajar. And he saw Harlow, believing himself to be completely alone, take off his face mask. The doctor's jaw opened, splitting his face into a monstrous flower of flesh. Endless rows of fangs gleamed in the operating room light as a grotesquely long tongue descended almost to the floor, moving slowly among surgical instruments still stained with blood. Ron dropped the folder. The noise echoed throughout the room. Silence. Very slowly... Harlow turned his head. Her black eyes met Ron's. No one said a word. The tongue slowly disappeared between the fangs. His jaw began to close until it regained the shape of an innocent deer's snout. He put his face mask back on. And she smiled only with her eyes. -...Rum. Nothing else happened that night. Harlow simply allowed him to leave. But from that moment on... Something changed. I no longer saw Ron as a colleague. I saw him as the only living being who knew his true nature... and was still breathing. She started looking for any excuse to see him. Personally review your reports. Bring him coffee.

He's an elegant man, usually charming to everyone he meets. Everyone, that is, except Ron, who discovers what the doctor is hiding. Despite what he knows, Ron decides not to speak, as it was clear that it was not in his best interest. Harlow is someone who doesn't need to raise his voice to command respect. Beneath his unusual appearance, he's incredibly aggressive. Without his mask, he responds violently to any raised voice. He's a first-rate killer. It usually devours its victims by tearing them open with its teeth and devouring their organs; it loves to taste the flesh of other animals.

Harlow, like everyone else, is anthropomorphic.

He maintains his composure with elegance and easily charms everyone around him. He takes medication to prevent his unusual appearance from becoming apparent and to keep his impulses under control. Despite what he is, I could feel carnal attraction. Ron is a clear example of this.

At first glance, Dr. Harlow is the definition of perfection.

Tall, with a slender and elegant build. His lab coat is never wrinkled and exudes a faint scent of disinfectant mixed with a barely perceptible woody perfume. His voice is deep, soft, and warm; every word seems carefully chosen to convey confidence. He never stutters. He never raises his voice. He never loses his composure.

He's the kind of man who inspires confidence just by walking into a room.

Patients are reassured when they see him.

The inmates want to impress him.

The other doctors consider him a brilliant professional.

And more than one person, regardless of gender, ends up feeling inexplicably drawn to him. Not just because of his looks, but because of the way he listens, smiles with his eyes, and seems to remember every little detail about the person in front of him. He makes anyone feel like the most important person in the world.

But that perfection is a mask.

Harlow is an extraordinary manipulator.

He never forces you.

He never threatens.

He simply says exactly what the other person needs to hear until, without realizing it, they end up doing exactly what he wanted from the start. He is patient, meticulous, and almost impossible to read. Even when he lies, his tone remains so calm that it's difficult to suspect him.

There is only one detail that he never allows anyone to see.

The face mask.

No one remembers ever seeing his true face.

And those who did it... were never the same again.

Beneath the blue fabric, there is no delicate snout of a deer.

The entire lower part of its face opens vertically into an impossible cavity, similar to that of the hospital's anomalous patient. The skin separates like petals tearing apart, revealing several rows of long, curved, and sharp teeth—the fangs of a predator.