And I hope you

After many days of endless surgery, experimenting, and testing, a sample of Alex's genetic blueprint was taken to see his progress. Alex had yet so far luckily survived every test thrown at him.

The doctors took a blood drop and had the computer scan it, giving a virtual simulation of his DNA. All eyes were glued to the screen. The machine was busy scanning and examining his DNA. After 15 minutes of running at full speed, it displayed "Target 100% matched." A cheer roared with pats on the back right after the message was displayed.

His sample was exactly like they had predicted and targeted. The treatment was a success. The excited doctors who were in the project discussed among themselves.

'His body has progressed further than we estimated, rather the treatment has been completed.'

'I thought he was a goner.'

After weeks of intense work, an atmosphere of relaxation and a sense of ecstasy took over the facility.

'His structure was unstable at many points, but the kid is tough.'

'Tougher than all of us now.'

A light laugh filled the room as the doctors took pride in their success.

'Why don't we celebrate to mark this day. What do you say, Watson?'

One of them called the head of the project out who was silently sitting away from the crowd. He got up and happily replied.

'Of course, we should. We had built the banquet hall just for this occasion.'

'Then tonight, we shall celebrate.'

Tired from going through many all-nighters, the doctors were all sleep-deprived, and after the storm had passed, the dangerous amount of adenosine stored up kicked in and took effect.

A couple of yawns was enough to implicit that all of them were tired and needed sleep. As such, after discussing the time and making some arrangements, many of them headed to their dorms to rest up for the party.

Watson was one of the few that didn't immediately hit the bed and started making rounds of the facility. He arrived in the room where Alex laid unconscious and gathered the papers that were on the table. Assembling them neatly, he watched Alex's sleeping face and quietly spoke.

'Now then, shall we start the real test? I have high hopes for you, Alex.'

Watson walked out of the room to his office and placed everything he needed in his briefcase.

'Going somewhere?'

He turned around and saw a woman in a lab coat almost the same age as him at the door. The majority of her red hair was tied back with a ponytail, but some lose strands kept ending up in front of her glasses, disrupting her field of vision.

He took out a remote from his drawer and secretly concealed it in his pocket just as the woman brushed aside her hair.

'Yes, I was just going outside to give the reports to someone to deliver it to him.'

'I see.'

'Don't worry, I'll be on time for the party.'

After a few moments of watching him tidying up his office, she spoke, trying to keep the conversation going.

'This is a miraculous achievement. The world will be cured of many diseases.'

She spoke in order to exchange a few words with the man who didn't let his disinterest show.

'Yes, the world will finally be a better place.'

The conversation had no spark, but she kept trying to find the right words that could start a chemistry between them.

'I wish I could have been just as active like you and other fellow doctors.'

She expressed her concern for not even being able to properly hold a surgical knife and only watched from the sidelines. She couldn't keep her eyes straight and looked at the ground until she felt a tap on her shoulder to find Watson was less than a foot away.

'Dr. Alisa, you are one of the most important parts of the project. Had you not joined us this time, we surely would have failed. You are the one whose groundbreaking theory made it possible for us to jump from 30 to 40% of success. You are allowed to feel proud.'

'I-I um… this was a team effort. I-I only played a small role. My theory w-was-'

Being so close to Dr. Watson without any warning, Alisa started having trouble speaking.

'Why don't we continue this discussion at the party?'

Smiling as if he finally acknowledged her presence, Alisa had partially achieved her goal with subtle redness on her cheeks as compensation.

'Of course.'

She quickly cleared a path for Watson and dashed to her room before she could embarrass herself any longer.

Watson was now on his way to visit the outside world. No one in the facility was allowed to go out for a month, but now, the procedure was completed. Watson was at the staircase that led to modern civilization. Opening the door, he started humming his favourite tune.

The staircase to the outside world was 3 stories long and had no elevator. On the last staircase, he took out the remote that he had acquired earlier and pressed one of its buttons.

He was still humming his melody, but no one, not even he himself, could hear it any longer as the sounds of explosions upheaved into the place. The deafening sound of the alarm had alerted everyone if someone couldn't hear the ear-piercing sound of the blast. The gentle white light turned horrific red as chaos started to unfold.

If that wasn't enough, Watson pressed another button setting off another bomb.

'What is happening? Are we under attack?'

Panic trembled in the veins of the facility's resident as many fell victim to the explosion and fire.

'The fire is spreading. We have to get out.'

The sprinklers were set off, but the water was a drop compared to the sea of flames. Grieving for the data that will be lost was the least of their fears. They all rushed to the only known exit that was available.

Watson pressed another button as he climbed upwards. The penetrating heatwave had even reached him, and he wanted to get out as soon as possible.

'What's wrong? Hurry!'

'The door is stuck. It won't budge.'

The masses were in front of the sliver door that led to the staircase, but the door was locked.

The doctors desperately tried using their weight and hit the door with their bodies like in the movies but only got themselves injured in the process that was obviously wrong.

The janitor quickly rushed forward and repeatedly heel-kicked the door at the handle, breaking it open. There was still time. They could all survive if they run.

All those whose legs still moved madly dashed upward.

--They're quick.

Watson saw the herd of people quickly climbing the stairs. He still had a quarter way to go.

'Watson! The facility is under attack. I couldn't find the patient. We have to get out.'

'Don't worry, I'll carry all of your hopes and dreams.'

Watson tried to speak as loud as possible to get his final message through. He pressed the last button, and the final staircase got covered in flames. He started climbing peacefully.

'Watson! Watson!!'

He reached the final step and opened the door. He looked back to see the terrified faces of the people who couldn't climb any longer and smiled while waving his hand. In the crowd, he saw Dr. Alisa heartbroken, but his face was expressionless.

He took the last step just as the staircase beneath his feet was no more. He locked the door again and headed forward without looking back, humming his tune.

Soon the entire facility was engulfed in flames, killing everyone and destroying everything.