Experiment Failed

Mystic Nightshade

The chamber was cold, below freezing. He lay exposed on the metal table top, wrists and ankles strapped down. He could see his breath as he exhaled. His teeth chattered and his body shook. His skin was blue and cold to the touch. He tried not to think about what would happen if he made any sudden movements.

Within minutes, she walked in. Dressed in a long white lab coat, she pulled out a syringe and injected the green liquid into his left forearm. His body shook as he clenched his teeth together. She would not hear him scream. She would not see him cry.

Within a minute, his body stopped shaking. His breathing was shallow as sweat formed around his brow. The woman observed and made mental notes about his current condition before leaving the cold room.

Relieved, he opened his eyes. No hope could be seen. Sold by his own parents, he was used in human experimentation. Every day, he was stripped and strapped to the table. The temperature varied from extremely hot to below freezing. The room itself was bare of anything. No windows to look through. No pictures to give life to the empty space. Just four metal walls and a locked door. A camera in the corner helped the scientists observe him from the outside.

Hours later, two men came and released him from his restraints. He was given a thin gown to cover himself and small glass of water to hydrate him. Then, he was led down a narrow hallway to his cell. There was no mattress to rest on. There was simply a blanket in the corner that he could either sleep on top of or use to keep warm. For dinner, he was given a plain cheese sandwich and another glass of water.

He had grown thin in the months since he first arrived. He could see his rib cage and his muscle was starting to deteriorate. His hair had grown to cover the top of his shoulders. His showers comprised of a metal tub filled with cold water and a small bar of soap for his body.

As he curled up under his thin blanket, he tried to recall memories of his former life. He wondered about his friends, his girlfriend, and his little sister. Would his parents sell her to the same people? Would they spare her from this nightmare? He could only hope. His hope for freedom had left him long ago, but he could still hope for his sister’s future.

In what felt like minutes later, he was kicked in the ribs. Waking up, he was pulled up by the elbow and dragged to the room again. Once he was tied down, they injected him with a blue liquid. This time it didn't hurt. It was thin and flowed smoothly into his blood stream. He felt his eyes get heavy.

Muffled voices reached his ears. He could barely make out the woman’s voice and an unknown voice. He managed to decipher certain words. Death. No choice. Failure. Were they going to kill him? He would gladly welcome Death’s embrace if it meant he would no longer suffer in this hell.

He felt the needle pierce his scarred skin. The liquid was different from anything they had ever injected him with. He could feel his heart slow down. It was stopping. His breaths were getting shallow and slower. His body was shutting down. Before the darkness could swallow him, he recalled his sister’s smiling face and hoped she would never have to suffer like he had. The thought of her happiness made him smile one last time before his heart stopped.