Whumpay Day 18: Falling Out
T/W: Falling out, references of experimentation, lab-setting, betrayal
“Viktor?”
“Oh, there you are. I thought you’d already started making preparations without me.”
My colleague peers over his shoulder as he addresses me, as distracted as always. “Did you need something?” “Actually yes,” I answer standing a little straighter, “I was wondering if I could have a quick word with you.”
“What about?” he asks, still occupied with rifling through the project files in his hands, “Did something happen with one of the subjects?”
“No…not yet anyway.”
That succeeds in getting his attention.
“...I know how hard it is when things go wrong,” he speaks solemnly, “but ultimately, our work will be worth it. We are working towards something revolutionary, something that could save so many lives for the greater good – and the E572 Trials will eventually—”
“We have to stop.”
Viktor’s eyes grow wide behind his glasses. His entire posture stiffens. The hope in his eyes quickly evaporates, replaced by initial disbelief. Then…
“...what are you talking about, Fern?”
His voice sounds…cold. Colder than I’ve ever heard it. Tension collects in my own muscles, but I stand my ground, squaring myself.
“...the trials,” I reply as calmly as I can, “They have to stop. What we’re doing to those subjects – to those children – there’s no excuse for it, Viktor. None at all.”
I stare straight back at him. I can feel my eyes blazing from behind my glasses. “You say it’s for the greater good, but at what cost? Their lives? Their sanity? Their chance to actually be kids?”
“...with great reward comes great sacrifice.”
His fingers clench tightly as his voice seemingly drops an octave. “You know that better than anyone. You accepted that when you agreed to lead this project with me—”
“That was before it got to this stage. I thought we were doing the right thing, but now…all I see is their suffering. I see the terror in their eyes. I hear them crying from the nightmares—”
“And that is exactly why we do not allow ourselves to get attached—”
“They’re children, Viktor!”
His eyes narrow as I raise my voice at me. Now I glare at him, shaking my head so hard that my brunette braid whips against my shoulder. “What if it was your boy who was on the table? Could you really stand back and act like it was nothing?”
“...part of the reason we are doing this is for him.”
Viktor glares back at me, gritting his teeth tightly. “This could be his only hope. As a parent, I must do everything – everything – to give my child a chance. I promised him I would and I promised her I would—”
“She wouldn’t want this—”
“Enough!”
The barked command quickly silences me. Anger begins to fill his face. “You have no right to say what she would want! I knew her better than anyone and she would understand—”
“Understand that we are torturing innocent children in the name of a so-called greater good?”
Viktor doesn’t respond. I take that as my cue to continue. “Viktor, it’s not too late. You’re a good friend and I respect you – but I can’t keep on doing this. You don’t have to either. We can find another way to help—”
“This is the only way,” he argues, “I am not giving up on everything we’ve worked for and A.5.H is the best proven way to—”
“He's not just a three figure code, Viktor - he's a boy!"
My friend says nothing.
“...like I said. The consequences of getting too attached.”
I ball my fists in my pockets. My hand tightens around the tiny remote in my coat pocket as he stares at me with…something akin to betrayal. “I really thought you were different, Fern – that we were in this together—”
“We are! I want to help you, Viktor. Believe me, I do! All I'm asking is that you at least think about—”
“Nothing will ever persuade me to terminate these trials. No matter what it takes, or what I have to sacrifice, it will be worth it!”
Finally, he is exposing his true colours. Slowly, the hope and respect between us trickles away. The former friendship we had...begins to fall apart.
“...and I thought you might actually listen to me, Viktor. …I guess we’ve both changed then.”
“Indeed we have – and if you’ve become too weak to see our work through, then I strongly suggest you relocate yourself to a different project, Dr Reed.”
That last part is what finally does it. It’s what forms that final rift, the one that keeps us on opposite sides. There’s no changing his mind. Not now, not ever.
“...believe me, Viktor. I intend to.”
I turn on my heel and quickly leave the room before he can say another word. Then, without any hesitation, I press down on the remote in my pocket. The signal carries through to the outside – the signal that it’s time to put an end to this madness – and I will put an end to it.
With or without him.