Dark Fables: Whispers of the Abyss

Ominous Experiment (part 1)

I was given only two choices 

. 

. 

Survive or Die 

. 

. 

My name is Rylan Wales 

And 

This is a story about human experimentation gone wrong 

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At the facility "H. G. E. F"  

A Human Genome Experimentation Facility (Private and Hidden)  

A pair of barely audible steps echoed in a dark long corridor. The floor was as clean as a crystal ball, marbled, and showed the figure’s inky reflection. Upon reaching the electronic door, a hand swiped the card and entered some digited password to a locked room.

In the hushed surrounding, the lock vibrated and clicked open.  

With a slightly annoying beep, the door slid and the unknown person entered the testing room.

With small faint steps, the person went towards the station where a body lay flat. In a white patient's gown,  

that body's breathing was shallow, it seemed to be unconscious and oddly still.  

The room was rather small, well air-conditioned, and fully lit with enormous sharp white lights, heavily equipped with experimental instruments along with huge electronic machines hovering over the limp body.

Tilting its head, the figure gazed at the one-way mirror which connected to the observation room, a small red light flickering on the cameras.  

Taking out a small testing tube from their pocket, the figure threw it on the floor. It made an obscure cracking noise releasing an eye-blinding smoke that blocked the view of the one-way mirror, it also hazed the security cameras. 

In a haste, the figure took out another testing tube and squeezed the liquid into the injection. Approaching the limp body, that person injected the serum containing a yellow-white fluid and slowly emptied the contents into the body’s arm.  

"This is my only chance to prove." The voice trembled as it whispered, both with fear and excitement. 

As the figure slowly backed away, the smoke was absorbed by the filters. The silence was gone only to be replaced by heavy breathing and crackling sounds.

Gloom filled the air and slowly spread in every corner as it killed the serenity that was once inside the room.  

........................................................................ 

For Loren, it was the casual, normal routine. Went to the laboratories she worked in and handed in the reports, documents, and files for the tests that were performed. 

As per usual, she was going to greet her lab head with some amazing reports in her hands, softly humming along the way, saying a bunch of good mornings to other workers as well.

It was a busy day. 

After a long walk from the corridor to the elevator, she quickly pressed the 6th floor. The door opened to a less rushing place and finally, she stood in front of the lab, grinning at the top label on the door.

It had her favorite quote written in italics and bold; 

"Dum Spiro, Spero" 

Translated into 

While I breathe, I hope 

Name: Loren Heist  

Age: 25 

Species: Human (Female)  

Occupation: Researcher at H.G.E.F 

The task at hand: Information exchange for Special Ward Researches and Trial Experiments 

She opened the door with enthusiasm but it was shattered into million pieces when she faced a deadly, cold, and confusing scene. 

"What's with this... situation!?" she gasped and looked horrified at the scene. Almost dropping the files in her hands she leaned on the door to stable herself.

There were two, assumingly, lifeless people with their heads on the table. Not a single muscle moved and that gave Loren a headache.

She scanned the whole area, messy cups were on the table, and glass tubes bubbling with who knows what on the burner. Unwashed, sample Petri dishes were placed all over.  

She sighed, softly massaging her temples, and spotted a third person who was sitting in his chair, eyes glued to the microscope, with no care in the world for his surroundings. 

Tumbling over the crumbled pages on the floor and a few pens, she made her way towards him, "Professor Rylan, I'm waiting for an explanation." she raised an eyebrow while putting down the documents on the table. 

No answer.  

"Sir?" she asked again.

Still, no answer... only a small clicking and moving of the microscope lenses could be heard. 

That ticked Loren... she grabbed one of the heavy documents and hit the top of this person's head. 

Letting out a big ouch he pulled his head back and rubbed his eyes, the hit broke him out of his long, screeching train of thoughts and he glanced at the darer who hit him. 

“What?” he mumbled and squinted. 

Name: Rylan Wales  

Age: 26 

Species: Human (Male)  

Occupation: Researcher on human genes in H. G. E. F  

The task at hand: "Stop Aging" Research and Experimentations. 

"I said, What the hell is wrong with this room!? Give me an explanation! Why do Trisha and Owen look like dead zombies? Why this room is such a mess!?" frantically trying to get a hang of this scene, she demanded an answer.

Rylan simply aah-ed, "No need for an explanation, we ran out of coffee." He said tiredly not even trying to look at the anxious female. 

"Let me guess, you made them work constantly again, didn't you?" Loren raised her brow. 

"Well, they are supposed to work for me so," he trailed off. 

She slammed her hand against the table and almost yelled, "That's not the issue, they are the ones who are gonna age fast this way!" 

Rylan laughed,  

"No way will that happen." 

"Come on, give them a break once in a while." Loren looked worriedly at those two tired, exhausted, burnt muffins.

Sighing Rylan turned his gaze to Loren and examined her angry face. "You are gonna get wrinkles if you continue to scowl like that." 

"And whose fault you think that will be, hmm?" Loren glared back. 

Giving up eye contact he tilted his head to the side, his eyes searching for that one limp body, and shouted, 

"Oi, tall blond genes, wake up, it's time for you to take a break." Resting his arms on the chair Rylan saw the man with blond curly hair twitch at the words.  

Groaning and mumbling incoherent words Owen pushed himself back into his chair,  

"Breakkkk... did I hear it correctly?? A break? Is this the apocalypse??" 

Name: Owen Heller  

Age: 27 

Species: Human (Male)  

Occupation: Researcher at H.G.E.F 

The task at hand: Trial experimenter under professor Rylan's observation. 

Rylan spoke no differently than before, "Umm...No, but certainly, it is a normal level..."  

"Can I have my bath please!!" grumbled Trisha with tears in her eyes, pleading with Rylan with her hands on her temples. 

Name: Trisha Kale  

Age: 26 

Species: Human (Female)  

Occupation: Researcher at H.G.E.F 

The task at hand: Safety experimenter under professor Rylan's observation. 

"Fine, you can..." Rylan turned his head towards the other limp body that stretched and slowly got up. He finally gave permission to his assistants. 

"Oh... and assistant ponytail," 

Trisha stopped and looked at him, confused, she pointed at herself. Her messy ponytail almost gave up hope.

"Yes, you,” Rylan nodded,   

“There is an annoying and rather violent species besides me, mind taking her with you as well?" getting back to his work he said. 

At his remark, Loren crossed her arms and stood still. "I refuse, I just got here!"

"And you shall go back whence you came from." swinging his hands Rylan chanted the words. 

"What am I!? an evil spirit?!" Loren huffed in annoyance. There seemed to be an awkward, uncomfortable air between the two.  

Not listening to them anymore, Trisha jumbled towards the door whining,  

"Waah, I can't take this anymore. I'm getting a long hot bath after two all-nighters!" 

Pushing away his chair Owen straightened his back, cracking a bone or two, "I'm going to go and restock supplies." he declared. What else was he supposed to do about the situation at hand? Except for running away smoothly. 

Before leaving the door, Owen turned his head slightly, "Professor, do you want anything?" as though asking with some empathy. 

Rylan shook his head and answered, "Actually I just had a midnight snack so I'm good." 

A vein popped up on Loren’s forehead, "Right now, it isn't midnight and certainly THAT is not a snack..." Loren felt disgusted referring to the almost inedible food in the questionable testing trays. 

Rylan shrugged not having an ounce of interest in food.

One cup of coffee and its focusing hours but a mysterious amount of coffee...no one bothers with the concept of time and space.

"See ya, Miss Loren! Trisha waved cheerfully, getting her admirable energy back from who knows where. "And Professor.... ehhhh?!" Trisha covered her face as she screamed. 

At that time Rylan stood up to grab a few dishes but suddenly fell down. His knees became wobbly due to extreme sitting and his poor legs gave up on standing.

He crashed into his chair, one hand holding the seat and the other on the floor.  

"I can't feel my lower body." expecting but not surprised, Rylan mumbled as he grabbed the chair to shift his weight properly. 

Everyone let out a mournful sigh and then went on with their new tasks. 

Soon after the two assistants left, Rylan was left with so many questions and was probably mumbling to himself. 

"So, how's the testing going?" Loren asked massaging her temples. 

Without hesitation, Rylan replied, "Human aging is certainly such a unique phenomenon," He glued his eyes to the eyepieces again, "We can't even be sure if it's a disease or just a natural occurrence in every species." 

"Hmm, if it is so natural, then why does every species have different life spans?" Loren raised a question that, of course, piqued his interest. 

He looked at her with a smug face, "That's why I'm doing research on these aging genes in every species," 

He further explained while crossing his arms, "At the beginning Cancer was also thought to be a natural way of death for people until the oncogenes were discovered as the cause of genetic cancer." 

That was still one of the factors of cancer but related to genes.

"Right, so what does that have to do with aging?" She asked somewhat digging deeper into his idea. 

Rylan chuckled softly, "Well, for starters, there was this thought; what if we take out the aging genes, like oncogenes, and just delete them? Or we can insert anti-aging genes on the chromosomes, let them code by themselves and then see what happens." 

Loren, now passing him the documents she got asked, "And? What did you get from all those trial experiments?"

His face was now stern as he spoke bluntly, "The mitochondrial DNA got damaged in many of the species while trying to stop the aging process. If we stopped aging, the phenomenon of apoptosis was also hindered. The cells accumulated too much energy and started to self-destruct with mutation as a defective product. We also tried to slow down the process of aging." 

He paused for a moment for Loren to keep up with the report writing, when she nodded, only then he continued, "There is a theory of epigenetic regulation that; reduced cellular function can alter the DNA structure without changing its sequence and not by mutation." 

"Wait, but then that means..." Loren was quite excited. 

He smiled at her but it soon faded.  

"We can reverse the aging process through cellular reprogramming. That when a cell reaches its limits, it will reset all functions." He sighed.  

"Or that's what we are trying to do here by performing all these experiments." 

Loren sensed depressiveness in his mood. "Is there something wrong professor?" she asked while writing. 

Rylan shook his head, "Well... we did find some satisfactory results in some plant species but it's still not completely ready. Definitely not enough to reach the human trials, that's still so far away.

To deliberately reset or delay aging in human genes. The drugs are not much effective either. But I'm sure we are close to the answer."

"I see, it looks like you have a lot of work then," she said calmly and gave a reassuring smile. 

He blinked a few times and then shyly went back to his work without uttering another word. 

Silence accompanied them for a little longer. Rylan leaned back to talk to Loren again but... 

That's when they heard a loud alarm, the lights went out and an emergency dim red spectrum lit up in the room. 

"It's the evacuation alarm?!" Loren stood up in a panic. 

On the speaker, there was a loud booming electronic voice, “Attention all workers, this is not a false alarm. Everyone is advised to leave their perimeters and head for the emergency exits. I repeat...” The voice kept on repeating.

"But that's the alarm for extreme mishaps, leave everything behind and run out of the facility. What's going on?" He was clutching the chair as he perked up. 

Without any delay, Loren spoke, "Professor, we need to get out of here, there seems to be a fire outburst in one of the containers." pointing at the inside monitor that showed the map beside the door.

Loren checked all the areas and their situations; she saw a red cross over one of the containers.

He looked at her in disbelief, "I can't just leave everything like this... not now, not when I'm so deep into the work!" 

"If you die, then everything will mean nothing! We have to go, now." she snapped at him. 

Thinking hard he looked everywhere, grabbed some recent sample tubes, closed them in the metal case, and shoved it into his pants pocket.

Throwing the files into a safe, he desperately wanted to take them with him but alas. 

"If we lock this lab, it might survive the fire," he whispered to himself. 

“Professor!” Loren shouted impatiently. Even though the room was a mess, it was full of useful information and Rylan anxiously ran over them. 

When they went out of the door, Loren saw everyone running in a rush.  

"What happened?" She asked frantically,  

but none stopped to answer.  

The outside monitor kept beeping continuously which made Loren panic, "Professor hurry up, it's spreading!" she watched Rylan as he closed the door. 

"Just a sec." tapping fast onto the board he was putting up a security code for safety. With a small beep, the lab locked itself. 

Lights in the hallway flickered and a loud siren could be heard.

"Professor!!" Loren abruptly stopped talking and covered her ears when she heard a loud scream. 

Rylan looked in the direction where it came from, eyes widening with bewilderment, and his breath hitched. "This isn't a fire."  

With a deafening screech, they shut both their ears and eyes tightly but it pierced through and collided badly with their eardrums. 

He saw Loren collapse in front of him. With horror filling his heart, Rylan slowly staggered towards her but his own senses were failing him and his consciousness was slowly fading.  

He clutched his head as the fleeting words left his mouth, "N-no... Lor-en..."  

His body fell to the ground with a harsh thump. 

Everything went quiet and stationary. 

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