Mysme-Fictober Day 8 AND Day 4 of Jumin Han Week
October 8th 2019
Mad Scientist (Resilience/Comfort) (Jaehee) *TW death*
“Assistant Kang, did you find everything on my list?” Jumin asked as Jaehee walked into his apartment.
“Uh, yes Mr. Han, but, what do you need this for? Are…are you sure you shouldn’t be taking more time for yourself? After…” her voice died away, he didn’t need her to remind him of his wife’s death. He was too well put together, even for him. He loved Lillie so much, he should be an emotional wreck, especially since they’d only been married for less than a year when the accident happened.
“I don’t need you to be my therapist Assistant Kang, I have one already. Please, bring the items here.” He wore a dark blue polo shirt and grey trousers. His dark hair was neat, and he appeared to still be taking care of himself. He stopped at the kitchen counter, his back to her.
“Of course sir, I didn’t mean to imply…”
“It’s fine, don’t worry about it.” Jumin dismissed her apology and waited eagerly, his storm grey eyes on the package in her hands. She walked next to him and placed the box on the counter. “You may leave now.” His voice was raspy, and she knew it was probably because he’d been crying, even though his eyes appeared dry now.
“I could stay. If you want to talk. Or I can just sit with you…Mr. Han…” she tried to be as empathetic as possible.
“I’m fine Assistant Kang, you may leave.” He repeated again. She sighed but nodded and left.
Jumin waited until he heard the door close. He had already let his security chief know that he did not want to be bothered once his assistant left. He opened the box and gazed at the items. Perfect. Closing the lid he grabbed it and went out the back way. He made his way down the narrow stairs until he reached the bottom floor. He crossed the floor, past the door that led to the lobby. He pulled out a key and unlocked the door just beyond. Walking through it he locked it again behind him. There were more stairs and he calmly descended. The bottom step opened up to a large room. He flicked the switch and turned on the fluorescent overhead light. He stood still and took a big breath before approaching the body on the bed in the center of the room.
Lillie lay on the bed, a simple white sheet over her naked body. He pulled her hand from under it and held the cold dead flesh, remembering how warm and soft it had once been. There was little damage to her body, so this crazy idea could work. It had to!
After the accident V had been a constant companion, refusing to leave him alone. One night he had brought over a multitude of movies and let Jumin choose which ones to watch. Flipping through them he had come across Frankenstein and the idea had taken root. It was crazy and desperate, but what if? He had then begun to research resuscitation, electricity, and anything that was remotely connected. He was a quick study and had a plan ready in no time. The hardest part had been getting his wife’s body down here without being noticed. He’d paid off his helpers and was confident they would stay silent.
Her hair was still shiny. The reddish-brown waves framing her beautiful face. He ran his fingers across her forehead and leaned down to kiss her brow.
“You’ll be back to me in no time my love.” He moved to the machine at the foot of her bed, the large bank of switches, dials, buttons, and lights was cold and silent. He took the items from the box and began to integrate them. Once he was done, he made sure the leads were well connected to the device and were in good shape. The current had to be sent to each part of her body simultaneously and any flaw in the leads could cause them to fail. Satisfied, he moved to place pads on specific areas of Lillie’s body. On her temples, her shoulders, the inner part of her arm at the bend, bellow her breasts, on her hips, her inner thighs, the outside of her knees, and her ankles. He clipped the leads onto the pads and returned to the device to turn it on.
It whirled to life and his heart began to beat faster. He had done everything he could think of to make this work. It had to. It just had to. He couldn’t live without her. He scanned the device and made sure everything was as it should be. The voltage was what he needed. All he had to do now was press a button. He looked up at his wife, his hands sweaty, suddenly unsure. Was this the right thing to do? What if the woman who came back to him was not the same? What if she lived the rest of her life in pain? What if he pulled her away from heaven and placed her in hell?
His resolve dissipated and he fell to his knees. He was being selfish. Thinking about himself and not her. She was at peace. He should leave her there. He sobbed and hugged himself, unable to make a real decision one way or the other. So what if he was being selfish? Didn’t he have the right to be? And what if she came back and was herself completely? What if they could carry on as a couple and live into old age? What if what if what if???
His arm reached upwards towards the button and in one swift motion, he pressed it. The lights flashed, dimmed, then went out. The hum of the electrical current was oppressive and palpable. He felt as if he was being squeezed by an invisible force. There was noise from the bed as if the body was jerking around. His heart skipped a beat. Was that breath he heard? His eyes blinked; the only light left in the room was a faint red one from the device. It gave off an eerie aura around him.
He could see nothing concrete and was too afraid to rise. There was smoke that stung his eyes and the smell of ozone assaulting his nose. Scratching came from the bed, as of fingernails on vinyl. He swallowed and rose slowly. Whatever he was about to find, his wife alive and vibrant, or dead and cold, he would accept, and survive.
