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27| MOUSE TRAP

At the pinnacle of humanity's reign, when the planet teetered on the edge of ruin, a new science emerged, seeking to replace the faith that had long been lost. Science had always existed, but in this era, its power knew no bounds. It became a beacon, a guiding light amidst the chaos that reigned supreme.

The blazing fluorescent lights shone down on the empty biosafety cabinet, casting an unsettling reflection on the metal bench. After flipping the hood switch, he waited a few seconds for the fan to start, slowly at first, then building pace to run with a non-stop roar.

The mechanical sound provided some solace, but it would have to suffice for the time being. A madman and his experiments were concealed under the Harvard Laboratories' ostensibly secure walls.

Making the outcome and aims of his experiments known, he was about to risk all for what seemed like a dream. Except for the maintenance crew, the lab was generally vacant at this hour of the night, but there was one little desk lamp flickering away in the dim offices.

The solitary scientist remained working away on his computer as soft clicking sounds resounded through the silent corridors.

Sejin, who may have been around twenty-five, appeared rather young to be a skilled scientist. As he attempted to dry his now-watery eyes, his lips parted slightly to let out a tired sigh.

"I need a break," he grumbled as he peered over at the edge of his desk and read the nametag that rested there, 'Flint, Research co-ordinator.' He gazed at the gleaming metal plate, his thoughts racing with the want to chuck it across the room.

"Sure sir, would you like some coffee?"

Flint was the head of the team assigned to him, which Sejin obviously had denied a lot of times.

Nodding his head in affirmation, he watched the man stroll down the corridor, his light dimming into the murk. Having a little helping hand was good, always.

The metal bodies had found a home in the bland, soundproof room. Sejin had been working for the past ten days, relentlessly locked up in the basement laboratory.
The experiment was government funded, but it looked more like a structure of a madman's fancy. The foundation itself seemed to be sinking into the swamp, and there were new wings and sections added on, seemingly at random.

The mice that lay silently over the tablecloth were pathetic, their paws curled up against their chests, feet outstretched as though making a final push out of their execution chamber. Sejin bent his elbows and picked one up, separating it from the rest; it took up just a fourth of his hand. The fur was damp and sanitised for the experiment with a single spray from his isopropanol bottle.

It had been the first experimentee of the paradox. The mouse had been artificially inseminated with twins, bred, and the twins were artificially introduced into the whole scenario. One twin was locked up in a torture chamber, the chamber playing the earth, and the other was put inside the revolving little replica spaceship.

The weirder fact was the timeclock. The time space inside the walls of the spaceship and the chamber was faster. In a span of one hundred and twenty minutes, the experiment had given away its results.

The mouse inside the spaceship was still a baby, but dead. The one in the chamber had aged up and died.

The whole Harvard community had immensely congratulated him, and he was beyond ecstatic, but there were flaws.

"But the mouse died, Professor Kim. What do you have to say in that regard?" It had been thrown off the sponsor of this whole experiment.

"Well, we have noted our faults, if you ask me. We had given no food, no anti-gravity mechanism inside the spaceship. Moreover, the mouse wasn't trained. In the practical case of experiment, the twin will be provided with food, shall be trained and in cases of serious stimulation, our comatose state would help."
Confident, yet a loophole.

"Comatose?" The question was very much anticipated.

Sejin had explained how the comatose inducing drug, Ativeneye used in huge cases of accidents would be induced and the experimentee through the whole ride will be in a state of sleep until it reached back earth.

It insinuated a roar of applause around the world.
Nobody doubted anything else.

"Sir, your coffee." Flint had seared through the trail of his thoughts, making him shudder at the sudden interference.
Sejin chuckled, pulling off his gloves and accepting the cup, "You should get going now Flint. I will manage."

Flint whereas was a generous man, "No sir, let me help. If we can process the data by tonight, we can push forward the spaceship launch by a day. That will help you."

"Sorry," Sejin was suddenly taken aback. Help him?

"Sir, I meant to say, your brother's marriage is the day after tomorrow, right? So, you could use that time."

If not for his reputation, Sejin would have barged his head into the incinerator and burned him alive. He absolutely had no will to attend Jin's marriage, rather he had planned the destruction better.
Instead of saying it out loud, he managed to sound rather grateful, "Thank you so much Flint."

The sigh of serenity was soon entrapped by the dripping droplets. Rain. It had to be. It sounded like it. What else could it be? The pitter patter on the fresh concrete walls could be heard in the basement. Granted it was muffled but they could tell it was raining outside. Rain as they say made people sad.

For already sad people, it only added more to their melancholy. But that sound somehow brought a grin to his lips as he eyed his vibrating phone, Jin, the name flashing on the screen. His smile broadened when he read through the call.

...

Seojin lay on the bed in the room, his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. Thoughts swirled in his mind, but he pushed them away, craving the solace of isolation. He had skipped dinner and turned in early, too exhausted to face the world outside.

Of late, Seojin had been avoiding everything around him. The weight of his emotions had become too much to bear, and he yearned for the comfort of solitude.
He so desperately wanted to be left alone, to lock himself away from the prying eyes and concerned voices that threatened to invade his fragile sanctuary.

He felt disturbed by the proximity of others. For the man, everything was too much. His one and only family was missed.
His twin.

He just didn't share his face with him, he was the only one he ever had. Sejin was his diary, always. All his worries, sorrows, and anguishes could be buried deep within him without any doubts, any judgments. Sejin was more than a companion; he was a source of solace and understanding.

But he hadn't seen him in the past few days, and Tobias had filled him in that the man was busy working on some weird theory. And being the kindest soul, he decided not to trouble the elder anymore.

Just stopping himself from yelling out and acting out his delusion was taking all of his resolve. But he was unsuccessful in his attempt to sleep off this inescapable melancholy. The weight of his despair pressed upon his chest, making it hard to breathe. It felt as though every breath was a struggle against an invisible force, suffocating him from the inside out.

But this mood of self-absorption wasn't enough. Instead of continuing to bottle up his emotions, he decided to let go of all his inhibitions. With a trembling hand, he picked up his phone and dialled his brother's number. It was an act of desperate vulnerability, a plea for help amidst the abyss of his own mind.

His breakdown had reached a nadir.

The ghost rings took a minute before he heard a scuffle and the voice came floating.

"Hey Mister groom!"

"Dump your hey down the drain.
I am getting married in two days, and I haven't seen you in like five years.
What do you want me to do? Die?" Jin was fuming.

A long sigh was followed by a fit of giggles.
"Sorry, sorry. I promise I will be there even before your marriage.
Don't be so angry. It will ruin your handsome face."

"Whatever! I just called in to say that I have sent you and your team of madmen some dinner.
Tobias helped. So, feed your brain and tummies.
Bye Sejinnie. Take care."

"Hello, Jin, H-"

He had already disconnected the call without letting his brother complete. And yet again, he couldn't be selfish.
The meltdown was decomposing as sat up following the billows fidgeting on the other side of the door.

"Please open the door Jinnie, please."
Her heavy voice mirroring through the dispersed despondency.

Feelings of unease permeated through his uncovered skin as the soft carpet underfoot failed to provide solace; instead of calming his anxiety, the comfortable surroundings heightened its intensity.

As he cautiously stepped onto it, the darkness that met him withered at him mockingly, as though it were mocking his suffering.
A feeble attempt to steady himself against the wall was met with a stinging throbbing, as if reprimanding him for daring to cast his gaze upon it.

His mind was unable to control his feet as they carried him forward, bringing him steadily closer to the place he no longer desired to be.

Sliding down the door, he sat spread on the floor. His head pillowed upon the door, heart filled with undue pain. His form on the floor, curled head-to-knees on the side. Blanketed in cuts, gashes, bruises.

"Please Jinnie..." Her voice still clenching at his heart.

"Leave me alone Ahyun, at least for tonight, please, please, please," he begged profusely tracing his fingers along the wooden door.

"I didn't want to do it, please..."

But how could the man believe her again when his eyes altered her vision in between the blooming roses all along the expanse of her body and neck, off all those treasured places he would often numb with the edges of his pink fathomable lips, mark her his own.

How could he trust his own hand that had tried to strangle him?

__________

I hope the story has been a fun read till now.

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