Luck of depths

On the sixty-floor of the Mega building, room number 004B. A brunette woman who looked to be in her mid-twenties sat behind a wooden table cross-legged wearing a ruched split black jumpsuit with matching Air Jordan 1 1985 white sneakers. Another half-asleep young woman with pale skin and messy brown hair was sitting across from her looking like she would break down any moment. The brunette looked at the brown head, smiled professionally, and then turned her eyes to the other side signaling someone with a nod. The cameraman in front of them grinned showing his crooked teeth as he set his camera. "Good afternoon everyone watching today's show. Here's your girl Kiara White hosting 'Know your rights' together with my Special guest." she extended her hand for a handshake. "Earla Lee," the brown head shook her hand gracefully. "Miss Earla, we may start the show now," Kiara said Earla nodded. "How's Miss Earla doing?" the host asked. "Trying to be okay," she replied. "Wow," she gasped and continued "What's something in your life that you saw as a real negative but now you see as having launched you into improving your way of living and thinking?" Kiara asked "Killing." Everyone in the room looked shocked at the mention of the word but no one dared say a word and focused on their specific jobs. "I feel like so much of my character was built from my life experience. Ups and downs, problematic, stressful, and depressing," she said. "I feel like my last breakdown, the death of my sister taught me to be resilient, intelligent, and a strong young lady. Smiling even when deep down I'm hurting because no one will ever understand my tears. They judge even when they don't know your story." she continued sounding as if she would break into tears. Kiara gazed at Earla pitifully, nodded her head, and then said "We've got more to share about Miss Earla's life experience. Stay tuned we are coming back after a short break." she declared. Somewhere in the forest, Black Mountain Facility, In a dimly lit room, a handsome young man quietly squeezed his phone to his ear, waiting desperately for the other party to pick up the call. He removed the phone from his ear and stared at its screen before tapping on the unknown number on top. He had dialed that same number more than ten times but all he got was the same lady and the same words. "Sorry, the subscriber you are trying to call cannot be reached, please leave a voice message after the beep," "f*****g b***h, pick up your damned phone." the man shouted furiously as he skimmed at his screen, his whole body trembling as if he was at gunpoint. "I give you one second," A rough cold voice spoke in the same room, swinging the knife in their hands. He re-dialed the number but to no valid. He knew his life was in trouble, the trouble he couldn't get out of. "I knew you were of no use," "I swear to God, she has the thing you want." the man panicked, trying to re-dial the number once more but the phone was snatched away from him and they smashed it right before his eyes. At that moment, he knew he was dead. "Liar," A hint of panic and fear flashed in the man's eyes, watching his only hope being destroyed before him but he quickly calmed down. He looked at the masked person whose gender was unknown due to the voice-changing devices they used. "Maybe we can try with your phone." he trembled with pleading hoping to at least buy himself some time until he received some help from his colleagues. Without saying a word, the masked man gave him a kick in the stomach, sending him flying inches away before he finally kissed the ground. He groaned as he pulled himself to the drawer on the left. "John Duff, 32 years old and the youngest scientist who graduated at the age of 16 from Benford University in City X. You've made yourself a name by creating human weapons (Agents). You have so far made over 500 subjects but only presented 20 subjects to the Government. I wonder where the 480 subjects went." the masked man explained to John as he walked around him. He snapped his fingers and clicked his tongue before continuing "You have a wife and two children but only registered one, claiming that one of the kids died while giving birth to him. One hella of a devil who would do anything to get what you want including kidnapping and killing young boys and girls in the name of giving them a place to live" John gasped in shock at the mention of his wife and kids. He was an innocent and law-bidding citizen who could never do something against the law. "I have never done anything like killing and I don't know anything about the 480 subjects you are talking about. I only know about the bombs you asked for earlier." John fidgeted, trying to convince the man. The masked man pulled out a gun from his back, fixed the silencer, and squatted in front of John. "My daughter is..." Before he could finish his statement, he was shot in the head, forcing blood to come out like a broken tap. The masked person heaved a sigh of relief as they looked at John's lifeless body. "I'm sorry John, I had no choice but to end you for your kid's safety." the masked person stuck a finger into the bullet hole. At the same time, "Mother, why hasn't Dad returned yet? It's five minutes until my birthday ends. Is he going to miss my birthday again?" A young boy with black long hair asked, his brows furrowing with concern for his father who had spent a week without returning home. It was a habit that his father could spend months without returning home but he wished for a change since today was his 8th birthday. Despite his age, the young boy kept himself up with the hope that his father would make it home anytime soon. John had promised Alpha over the phone that he would return home before 7 PM. Alpha and his mother Natalya waited for him wide-eyed with the hope that he would finally make it home before the day ended only to be disappointed as the clock clicked midnight. Natalya had dropped the idea of calling him since no matter how many times she called him, he never picked up her calls, and he never bothered to call back. He was a busy good man at work whom everyone envied and looked up to but the worst husband to his wife and a terrible father to Alpha. Natalya was used to that kind of thing from her husband but how could he do something like that to his son who wished for nothing but to celebrate his 8th birthday with his mother and father by his side? "What a f*****g crazy bastard!" Natalya yelled in her mind. Natalya looked at Alpha with a smile. "You know what sweetheart, we can have a memorable birthday just you and me." she caressed the boy's hair. She was tired of making excuses for John. No matter how busy he was, he could at least spare some good hours in a week to be with his son. With a disappointed look, Alpha nodded half-heartedly because he didn't want to give his mother a tough time. He already knew she was going through a lot despite the smile she wore every time. "My good baby boy." Natalya pinched Alpha's cheeks making him chuckle. (sound of the ringing bell). Alpha's eyes lit up with a smile. He knew his father would make it even though the day had already passed, he was still happy that he showed up before he blew the candles. "I will get the door, sweetheart," Natalya whispered to his son before she stood up from her seat. She walked in the door's direction and turned back giving Alpha an assuring smile before closing the dining room door, making sure it was locked properly. She had a bad feeling. She rushed to the kitchen pulled out a small gun from the cupboard and hid it in her skirt pockets before sauntering to the door. "Who is that?" She asked "The police," a male voice responded "John isn't here," she said, she thought they were here for him. "We are here for you Mrs Duff." Natalya opened the door, one of her hands in the skirt pockets ready to fire the bullet just in case things got complicated. She glanced at the two men standing in front of her house and then moved her eyes as if she were searching for something else. "Just the two of you?" She asked in a cold voice. The policemen nodded. "We are here to inform you something about John." One of the policemen sighed. "Isn't it better to look for him?" Natalya retorted. "John is dead. He was found dead in his office." the policeman with barely any hair on his head broke the news to Natalya