The Beginning of Fear
It was a rough day for Atlas lab after their best scientist went rogue while trying to create substances that can make humans live forever. Before he went rogue, on the Eve of New Year he presented his ideas to the board of directors, and in a clear argument, he gave them instances of why humans should live forever and not taste death. The chairman of the board Dr. McQueen overruled the ideas of Jamison.
After much debate and argument, Jamison pointed out to Dr. McQueen that he should be the first to accept his ideas and not reject them. “You are almost aging slowly,” Jamison said. “You need this to live forever, we all do,” Jamison narrates as he walked up to where Dr. McQueen was sitting and said, “Sir, let humanity feel the power of life, not death. We should work together in eradicating death and saying yes to life as we live forever.” Unable to stand the verbal argument of Jamison, Dr. McQueen could not withhold his anger as he punched Jamison on his jaw saying: “To hell with you trying to tamper with the law of nature." The board of directors marveled at the actions of Dr. McQueen. He was not known as a violent man.
As they are all starring at him in disappointment, Jamison who has been punched laughed his ass out. “Wow what a faded punch? Is that all you can do?” Jamison asked as he lifted his right hand and said, “Let humanity burn if I don’t create the substance that can change our nightmares.” Dr. McQueen walked out of the conference room in anger as his secretary Miss Kim followed him.
Inside the office of Dr. McQueen, Miss Kim who has witnessed the success of Jamison in the past few years was so curious to find out from her boss Dr. McQueen, what his next steps were since Atlas lab can’t lose the services of Jamison. “I thought this meeting was to communicate the New Year plans and not a talk of changing the law of nature?” Miss Kim asked. “I see no reason to live forever and be experiencing depression because of my failed relationships,” Miss Kim added.
Dr. McQueen gave her a sad look as he was about speaking, Miss Kim interrupted him as she apologies for bringing her feelings into their conversation. “Is alright,” Dr. McQueen answered without hesitation. “So what should we do concerning this matter since we can’t afford to lose Jamison,” he asked, starring at Miss Kim. But she presumed that to be a rhetorical question. Dr. McQueen also looking directly into Miss Kim’s eyes expecting a reply but none was given. “Seems like we are all kicked hard this time,” he said. “Even the genius can’t figure this out and we can’t fire him. He is like a son to me and I have come to love him so much. I can’t let him put himself in danger,” said Dr. McQueen. “You mind going to his office and ask him to see me?” He requested. “Sure sir. I think that’s a great idea” Miss Kim responded as she smiles at her boss and walks out so happy. “Thank goodness I am out of his office. I wouldn’t imagine myself being part of this rival from these two geniuses,” Miss Kim speaks to herself as she walks through the hallway. Interrupted by Prof Styles, “Who are you talking to?” he asked Miss Kim. “Just another depression trying to come my way,” she replied. “What depression? Was there even a first depression before now?” Prof Styles asked jokingly as both laughs.
“I am on my way to meet Jamison as instructed by the boss man, he was to talk to him as a son,” said Miss Kim. As she was about to say more, Prof Styles interrupted her, “that reminds me, it has been long I saw your son. Where is he?” With smiles on her face, she was happy Prof Styles was the only one that noticed the absence of his son, Jackson. As Prof Styles, has often invited Miss Kim for dinner with his son. “I am happy you noticed. It has not been easy as a single mom handling Job and a 15-year-old kid. So I sent him to stay with his auntie”. “Sorry, I have to rush now to Jamison, let’s continue our conversation over a cup of coffee” she added. “Alright dear, be breezy,” Prof Styles replied as both walks in their separate directions.
At Jamison's office, he was fast clearing his desk and he planned to tender a resignation letter to Dr. McQueen’s office. As he was packing up some of his research files into an empty box, he heard a knock. For some seconds he paused, paying attention if he would hear the knock again. Indeed there was another knock at his office door and this time around it was louder. As he wanted to rush to open the door, one of his research papers fell under his desk. Not minding the paper he rushed to the door, opening it halfway and waging it with his leg, he saw Miss Kim standing next to his door.
With a beautiful smile, Miss Kim said: “Dr. McQueen would like to meet you in his office”. “Oh is that so?” Jamison replied without hesitation. “So he wants to give me another punch or to fire me huh?” As he was about saying more, Miss Kim interrupted, “oh no don’t say that, please. He wants to talk.” “Now he wants to talk huh?” What happened to his talk when he first punched me?” Jamison asked. “Anyway am glad you are here as you will help me deliver my resignation letter to him.” Immediately Jamison stepped back, picking the letter from his desk, and handed it over to Miss Kim. Peeping through the opening door, Miss Kim saw an empty desk and the office filled with some boxes. As she was about throwing questions at him, Jamison shut his office door and went back to his packing and picking up his file under the desk.
Back at Dr. McQueen’s office, his secretary Miss Kim handed Jamison’s resignation letter to his boss. “What took you long?” Dr. Mc Queen yelled out of anger. “Did you wait for him to type the letter or what?” With her face downcast, Miss Kim apologizes. After going through the letter, Dr. McQueen rushed out of the office. On his way to Jamison’s office, unknown to him, Jamison has left the office leaving the office open. Dr. McQueen felt sorry for his actions. “I wouldn’t have punched him,” he said. Immediately he reaches out his cell phone still standing in front of Jamison’s office. He called Jamison but his line went straight to voice mail.
At Jamison’s apartment, he was with a colleague from college, who he has convinced to join his plan. He was sharing with him how Mr. White, a wealthy billionaire, has provided lab equipment across the street. The story went on as he also narrated how discrete they must be as instructed by Mr. White. “Mr. White has assigned soldiers who will watch the research and give information to him as we are not to communicate him directly to avoid implications,” Jamison said. “Our research is now complete and all the requirements are in place. As soon as it’s midnight we will head to the lab next street” he added as his college friend cheered him.
At the coffee shop down the street of Miss Kim, she sat with Prof Styles as they discussed and laughed together. It was a hectic day at the office and everyone is doing their best trying to get over their bad day in the office. Each person has been tasked to convince Jamison not to leave. No one knows how best to do that. As Miss Kim was discussing with Prof Styles about his son, immediately she switched to the scenario played out by Jamison and Dr. McQueen in the board meeting today. “So tell me, since you are the first tasked to convince Jamison to stay, how do you intend to do that?” Prof Styles asked. “I have been trying to get hold of him since he left but I can’t reach his line” Miss Kim replied. “Too bad!” Prof Styles exclaimed. “He was the best, I don’t know his plans and what has gotten into him,” Prof Styles added. “Well since you are here, why don’t you drive me to his house,” Miss Kim requested. “With all pleasure” Prof Styles replied. As they drove ten poles from the coffee shop, they encountered heavy traffic ahead. Before Prof Styles could reverse to take another route, a long lorry was already behind him and he could not reverse. They were stuck in that traffic for an hour and a half.
Back in Jamison’s apartment, they were already making their way to the new lab provided by Mr. White. Reaching the lab the guard opened the main gate as they provided their access code. In the lab, everything was set. The light was immediately turned on and some test subjects were in place. Some of these test subjects were prostitutes whom Mr. White sent his soldiers to abduct.
Back at the traffic, the police were able to clear the traffic and Prof Styles and Miss Kim made their way to Jamison’s apartment. While still some kilometers away from Jamison’s apartment, they were wondering if they should turn back, or proceed since it’s already past midnight. Not too long as they pondered and gently debate on the matter, they arrived at Jamison’s apartment. Letting themselves inside the compound they started knocking and it seems no one was home. As Miss Kim headed towards the backyard to peep through the windows, it seems that the back door was open. She gently walked back and called Prof Styles. At first, they were afraid to enter to avoid being accused of breaking in. Meanwhile, Miss Kim who is the secretary of Dr. Mc Queen walked in through the back door as Prof Styles followed.
Back in the lab, the first test subject has been sedated for some minutes as they keep working on the substance that would make humans live forever. As soon as Jamison wanted to move over to the next phase, he figured out one of the final pieces of the research was still on his desk back home. He called two of the soldiers to escort him home to get the final piece. Jamison instructed his colleague not to carry any tests until he returns. As he left with the soldiers, his best friend from college ignorantly convince other scientists to begin the work. They injected the substance into the first test subject’s neck. The file in Jamison’s apartment contains the instructions to be carried out before injecting the substance. As soon as the substance runs through her veins she was losing her breath until she gave up.
Jamison reached his apartment and noticed his light was on. He signaled the two soldiers as they tactically entered his house and found Miss Kim and Prof Styles going through his files. “What are you two doing here huh?” As he yelled he walked towards Prof Styles and pulled out his reading glass and smashes it underfoot. Then he instructed the soldiers to take them back to the lab as test subjects. He grabs the files and walked out following the soldiers. They all entered the jeep and drove back to the lab.
In the lab, as Jamison’s colleagues were trying to revive their test subject her eyes opened and it turned red.