Earlier that morning, as Rev. Father Marco, who was adorned in immaculate vestments, stood in the confessional booth, which was a sanctum of whispered confessions and hushed absolutions, his mind was heavy.The morning sun filtered through the stained-glass windows of the church, casting kaleidoscopic patterns on the wooden pew. Father Marco felt the weight of a secret gnawing at the sanctity of his thoughts."Is this the will of God?", he thought.The morning mass had just been concluded and Father Marco sat in the confessional, the worn wood beneath him a familiar comfort amidst the turmoil churning within. As he waited, the soft rustle of footsteps approached, and a parishioner entered the adjoining booth, their silhouette obscured by the wooden screen that separated penitent from confessor.The voice that emerged from the other side was tentative, and just beyond a whisper that carried the weight of unspoken sins. "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned," the parishioner began, their
Emily Turner's frantic gasps echoed in the tank, her pulse racing in tandem with the alarming thrum of the needlefish tank's filters. She'd been inadvertently locked in, left isolated among the piscine inhabitants that soon turned aggressors."These fishes are naturally peaceful", she thought as she struggled. "This aggressive behavior have been induced". The Indonesian needlefish, now looking sleek and menacing, darted around her, their silvery bodies catching the glint of the lab's artificial lights.Emily's panicked screams reverberated, but her calls for help remained unheard, swallowed by the sterile walls of the sealed tank in the laboratory.Minutes stretched endlessly, each passing second etching terror deeper into her being. She fought to fend off the relentless assault of needle-like snouts, the piercing bites scoring her skin as she struggled against the relentless onslaught. With every lash of their razor-sharp beaks, pain exploded in waves through her body."God please sa
The person who lay on the hospital bed in the city central hospital when James entered, looked nothing like his wife Emily Turner. Emily who was attacked by multiple modified Indonesian needlefish endured numerous puncture wounds, potentially deeper and more widespread compared to a single normal needlefish attack.On the hospital bed, post operation where Emily lay, she was displayed in a series of stitched and bandaged wounds across her body, especially around her limbs and torso. The overall effect gave off the idea of a badly mutilated rag doll. The kind of thing you might read about or see in a horror movie, but this was no movie, this was the city's central hospital and James was struggling to process the image of the damaged figure he was looking at.Just a few weeks ago, Ethan their son had been excited about the prospect of his mother finally returning home. The house was just not the same without his mother and although his dad performed his fatherly duties to a fault,
Roooooooooooar!!!The animal in chains was tugging dangerously at the extra heavy iron chains that secured it neck and feet. This was 900 pound lion-gorrila hybrid. A gorilla with the head of an African lion. The beast pounded its chest angrily and roared again.Earlier that day, and about seven hours before Monte Pizarro had began stalking Emily Turner, Dr. Palmer had been facing this monster of an animal.This special hydrid had been shipped to England by Alexis Monroe. This was one of the flagship of Alexis research work over the years. The use of genetically engineered animals was nothing new at all. For ten years now, certain animals have been engineered to perform certain functions to near perfection.Certain species of worker bees had been modified to produce pure honey in very large quantities in factories, almost without the interference of humans. In Africa, wall geckos twice their normal size had been modified to feed mostly on mosquitoes. This had eliminated the need for t
Toby was seated on a small chair just outside the security check office, waiting for officer Philip who was still talking to another officer.He wondered why he was still being held in the complex when all he wanted to do was be in the hospital. He had to see Emily and seating here waiting, was making him nervous.The news tonight had exploded like as bomb in his head , much like everyone else. Toby had fixed a date this night with a girl he had met at karaoke a few weeks ago, after several rescheduling due to the gruelling demands of working with Emily Turner."This work will change the course of history", he could still recall Emily saying to him. She had made him, or rather he had sacrificed those date nights in order to help her in the laboratory, and now this?Sometimes Toby wondered if he was in-love with the researcher. For Eight long months he had come into the Lab at awkward hours at the request of Emily. "Toby, I know how much of your life you have given up for me. Not that
Monte Pizzaro wrapped the black rosary gently in his palm and made the sign of the cross. He had been watching the designated window for an hour now. He sucked air into his nostrils in a controlled manner and exhaled after holding for a few seconds.This was a part of his preparation routine. Monte recalled how the events of the night had panned out. Not so bad he reasoned, except the prey had somehow found a way to survive despite the skills of the predator. He pulled his sleeves up and studied the engraving on his watch."If we are not monsters, then we are food"Tonight however, Monte knew he was no food. He remembered the numerous times in his past life when he had been weak. The times when he had been food to the hungry predators of the world."Not tonight", he thought, "Not forever".Science had to go. Science had been responsible for the loss of his young family. Science had made him weak, it had made him vulnerable, but not anymore. He looked around him at the unsuspecting pas
"Death smiles at us all, all a man can do is smile back.” — Marcus Aurelius. 1. In the quiet of the night, shadows clung to the edges of the scientist's house. The assassin, a silhouette of deadly intent, slipped through the darkness with a predatory grace. The air was thick with tension as he approached the target's residence, moving with a cat-like stealth. He had come all the way from Milan to perform this act of penance. "This is God's work", he thought. "I am nothing but the handmaid of the lord" Inside, the renowned scientist, Dr. Emily Turner, suspected nothing. She sat in her study, surrounded by shelves filled with scientific journals and the soft hum of the computer analyzing data from her latest experiment. The only sound was the tapping of keys and occasional murmurs of approval as she reviewed her findings. The assassin, clad in black, observed from the shadows, patiently waiting for the opportune moment. He had meticulously planned this mission, studying Dr. Turner
Twenty four hours earlier, Dr. Emily Turner had spoken at the International Conference On Science Technology And Management. Which was an annual scientific convention, organized by the International Academic of Science Technology Engineering and Management (IASTEM) in France.In the grand auditorium, bathed in the sterile glow of fluorescent lights, Dr. Emily Turner stepped up to the podium. The hum of anticipatory chatter among the attendees gradually hushed as all eyes turned toward the eminent researcher. The stage was set for a discourse that promised to transcend the boundaries of conventional scientific thought.Dr. Emily who was a distinguished figure in the field of evolutionary biology, began by acknowledging the intellectual curiosity that brought the diverse audience together. Her voice, measured and resonant, echoed through the hall, carrying a weight that demanded attention.Emily began, "As we stand on the precipice of an ever-changing future, we must confront the undeni