The Experiment

(Flashback - 9 years ago)

(Last week of December)

I woke up and my head was throbbing.

I suddenly panicked for not seeing anything. I was blindfolded. I felt that my arms and ankles were chained. Lying on a bed, I could not move my body.

I thought of Aunt Emily. How was she? Was she still alive?

I felt tears were forming in my eyes. My heart was aching thinking about everything that happened. It was all my fault. I failed to keep my promise. And now, Aunt Emily was gone, too.

I tried to move but I really couldn't. It was even hard for me to breathe. I felt suffocated with the blindfold and with the pitch-black darkness.

Was I going to die? That would be easier. How I wished they would kill me now so I wouldn't feel the pain anymore. I wouldn't remember all the hurtful moments I had. Mommy, Daddy, Aunt Emily...

I tried to think of the happy moments instead. When Daddy bought me the bike that I always wanted. When he and her Aunt Emily brought me to the beach. My birthdays...the treehouse built by dad... my first dog, Archie... the first summer vacation on Grandpa's farm...

My thoughts were interrupted by a clanking sound of a door. I heard someone just entered. I felt a presence near my bed. My heart began to race. I waited for another movement.

"It is safe as long as she's blindfolded." A familiar voice of a woman said.

"So, what are you planning to do to her?" It was the voice of a man, low and baritone.

"I will proceed with the experiment." The woman answered.

"What if you fail again?" The man asked again.

"Not this time. I already prepared everything. And besides, this child holds the answer to everything. She is the key to the success of this experiment. I am sure of that." The woman said with conviction.

I felt a slight touch on my blindfold. I felt suddenly cold.

"You have to make sure of that. This time, there is no room for any mistakes. I am done cleaning your shit. This is your last chance." The man said with a dismissive tone.

I heard the clanking noise of a door again.

Just when I thought that they already left, I felt a movement near the headboard of the bed. I suddenly jumped when a cold metal was placed on my temple.

"Oh, you're finally awake now, huh?" It was the same woman. Her face suddenly appeared on my mind. Her chillingly serene face and her white clothes.

"Where is my auntie?" I croaked as I said the words. My lips were dry.

"Don't worry, she's safe in the other room. She will be if you are going to behave yourself." The woman answered me.

I felt relieved. I almost wanted to cry with happiness knowing Aunt Emily was still alive and safe.

"You love your auntie, right? Just behave and I will make sure that she is safe."

"I want to see her..." I pleaded.

"Oh, I will let you see her. But for now, we have to check if your body is healthy."

I felt a string of metals were put on my temples. I almost screamed when I felt a needle stung on my right hand. They plastered a tube on it. They did the same on my left hand. That was when I realized that there were a lot of people inside the room. It was not only the woman who was busy sticking needles and tubes on my body.

I heard a machine turned on.

"Is everything settled now?" I heard the woman asked.

"Yes." Someone answered on my left side.

"Alright. Check her vital signs first. Then we will proceed with her mental process." The woman instructed.

I heard a clicking sound and a soft roar of a machine. I was so nervous. I had no idea what they were doing to me.

"Her vital signs are in good condition." A soft-spoken woman said.

"Alright. Let us now check her brain functions." The woman who seemed in charge of the activity instructed again.

I was just lying helplessly while listening to their unfamiliar conversation. I didn't understand anything and why they were checking on me. I waited. All I could hear was the clicking and soft purring sound of a machine.

"Try the first level. Give her the green fluid." I heard the woman said. Seconds later, I felt a sudden pain in my right hand. Something was building upon my nerves. The pain increased and I let out a soft cry.

"It's okay, Hannah. Everything will be okay..." The woman tried to soothe me and gently massaged my right arm.

I didn't want her calling her name. It made the pain more unbearable. I felt my tears rolled down my face. Gradually, the pain in my right arm subsided.

"Run the first level now." I heard the woman instructed again.

As if on cue, my head jerked at the sudden rush of pain. It felt like electricity coursed down through my brain. I could not explain the pain this time. I screamed so hard and felt like my brain and lungs would explode at any moment. I tried to move my body to escape from the unbearable pain I was feeling. I badly wanted to break off from these chains.

"Doctor?! I think we should stop now. It might kill her!" Someone said out of panic.

"No! Let's just wait." The woman said with determination.

I screamed at the top of my lungs. My chilling voice echoed through the room. It was a deafening sound. I was in so much pain. My brain felt like it would shatter in a minute. My body convulsed crazily.

"Doctor! Look at the screen!"

I just wanted to escape and I didn't want to feel this pain anymore.

"Shit!"

When I felt that I could not bear it any longer, my brain felt numb. Darkness came and was slowly engulfing me. Before I lost my consciousness, I felt a liquid trickled down from my nose. My lips tasted a rusty and salty liquid.

"The machine has shut down!"

"Her nose is bleeding!"

Those were the last words I heard before the blackness fully enveloped me.