Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56"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's routines and learning every nuance of her life. His employers demanded precision, and he intended to deliver.
As Dr. Turner took a break, she reached for her phone to check messages. Little did she know that her every move was being watched. The assassin maintained a safe distance, his eyes locked onto her every action. The scientist, unaware of the predator lurking, exchanged casual messages with a friend, discussing the mundane details of life.
With the scientist momentarily distracted, the assassin seized the opportunity to slip into the house undetected. He moved with an eerie silence, weaving through the corridors like a ghost. The tension escalated as he closed in on his target, his hand tightening around the hilt of a concealed blade.
Just as he prepared to strike, a sudden ringtone echoed through the house. Dr. Turner's phone illuminated, displaying an incoming call. She picked up, engaging in a conversation that unwittingly prolonged her life. The assassin, frustrated but disciplined, retreated back into the shadows, waiting for another opening.
The call concluded, and Dr. Turner returned to her work, oblivious to the danger that lurked so close. The assassin recalibrated, adapting to the unpredictable rhythm of his prey. Time seemed to stretch as he followed her through the house, navigating the labyrinth of hallways with a deadly patience.
"it's not the thrill of the kill; it's the thrill of the hunt.", he reasoned. Move too fast, and the prey scrambles away.
In Nature's plan, there is no such thing as a good or bad animal. There are only those animals that kill to eat (predators) and those that are killed and eaten (prey). It is unfair for us to judge their natural survival actions by our own ideas of what is good and bad or to decide that all predators are villains. Today, the assasin was just a predator. The lion do not feel pity for the deer. Even as the assasin closed in, he silently prayed for forgiveness, begging the Almighty to accept the soul of the deer, The soul of Dr. Emily Turner.
Eventually, Dr. Turner gathered her belongings and prepared to leave for the laboratory complex. The assassin, now a silent wraith, trailed her as she stepped out into the cool night. The scientist hailed a cab, her thoughts consumed by the upcoming presentation at the laboratory.
The assassin slipped into the back seat of a shadowy sedan, tailing the cab with precision. Inside the cab, Dr. Turner chatted with the driver about the weather and the challenges of city life. The assassin remained hidden, his focus unwavering as they neared the laboratory complex.
When the coyote chases, catches, kills, and eats the cute, furry rabbit, it is not being intentionally cruel. It is only meeting its physical need for food with whatever is available at the time. Its meal could just as easily have been a mouse, rat, or other small creature if one of these other animals had been closer or easier to catch. Today a bigger creature was within reach, and the coyote was closing slowly closing in.
Arriving at the complex, Dr. Turner was greeted by security personnel. The assassin observed from a distance, evaluating the security measures in place. He knew he had to strike when vulnerability presented itself, exploiting the weaknesses in the seemingly impenetrable fortress.
"It is the thrill of the hunt", he reminded himself.
As Dr. Turner entered the laboratory, the assassin melted into the crowd of passersby, blending in seamlessly. He maneuvered through the bustling complex, always keeping the scientist in sight. The atmosphere buzzed with scientific fervor, oblivious to the deadly dance unfolding within its midst.
The scientist engaged in discussions with colleagues, exchanging ideas and insights. The assassin, like a phantom, observed from the periphery, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The complex web of interactions provided cover for his movements, allowing him to inch closer to his target.
As the day progressed, Dr. Turner immersed herself in her work, unaware that the shadow of death loomed ever closer. The assassin, a patient and calculating predator, continued to stalk his prey, navigating the intricate web of the laboratory complex with lethal intent.
The tension escalated with each passing moment, creating a palpable sense of impending doom. The scientist, driven by her passion for discovery, remained oblivious to the invisible threat closing in. The assassin, a master of his craft, poised for the final act in this deadly ballet, ready to extinguish the spark of scientific brilliance.
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
Monsters of new Earth Evolution
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
Monsters of new Earth Breakthrough
3.The grand auditorium in Paris echoed with the lingering applause as Dr. Emily Turner concluded her presentation. Among the enthralled audience was Dr. Alexis Monroe her long time friend and colleague who was equally versed in the mysteries of genetics. Dr. Alexis had flown out from England to attend this presentation by her friend and partner and she was more than impressed with tonight's presentation.As the audience dispersed, Emily and Alexis found themselves in the bustling corridor, surrounded by the murmur of excited discussions. Alexis, with an eager smile, approached Emily."Emily, that was an extraordinary presentation! You managed to illuminate evolution in a way that's both profound and accessible," Alexis exclaimed."Thank you, Alexis! I'm thrilled that it resonated with everyone," Emily replied, her eyes reflecting a mix of satisfaction and anticipation.The corridor buzzed with the energy of the convention, but Emily motioned for Alexis to join her in a quieter corner
Monsters of new Earth Closing in
“Dr. Turner?”Emily turned around, peeling her eyes from the monocular microscope she had been peering into over the past half hour. That was the voice of her assistant Toby. She gave him a weak smile. Toby had been Emily’s assistant for seven months now, and he had proved himself invaluable to her.Toby who started as a brilliant science intern, had seamlessly blended curiosity with intellect in the lab. His adept problem-solving and innovative approaches caught the attention of the research team. Recognizing his potential, Emily had swiftly recommended him to the board and they had offered him a permanent position. He had the unwritten duty of looking after her lab affairs which most times included telling her when to take a break from lab work.“You have been working too hard these past few weeks”, Toby said. Emily smiled again, but this time the smile was big and cheerful.“I know Toby, but all these will benefit mankind. These findings will be talked about for years to come”, Emi
Monsters of new Earth The predator-prey-relationship
5.The assassin from his black sedan had watched Emily exit her car and head for the entrance of the laboratory complex. He was satisfied that she did not suspect that someone had been trailing her as she had driven down to the lab.“It did not do for the prey to become suspicious too soon before the kill”, he mused to himself. The time frame from when the deer realized that a predator was stalking it to when life was stuffed out of its body in nature was most times too short. But that was the beauty of the hunt. Not that he had expected her to notice. He had taken down bigger predators in the past. Preys who had a heightened sense for danger, sixth sense as was normally referred to, and yet none of them had smelt death till he the predator had closed in. He was an artist that took pride in the process.He frowned at himself. Just moments ago, he had almost used the switch blade in his pocket for the kill. The lion didn’t need a weapon to subdue the deer, the lion itself was the weap
Monsters of new Earth Sacrilege
Thankfully, when the assassin entered the complex Emily was conversing with a colleague. He had been worried that by the time he managed to enter the complex, if he had managed to, Emily would have been out of sight. She began moving as soon as he had entered and he followed her closely. She entered an elevator and he paused, pretending to study the huge poster on the wall which had letters sprawled across it in a very huge font size.SCIENCE IS THE NEW RELIGION“sacrilege”, he thought.“Forgive them lord for they know not what they do.”He looked up at the small led display which indicated the floor the elevator was headed.Third floor.When the light changed to green, he quickly moved in and pushed the open button. He stepped in. As the doors were preparing to shut a young boy who he guessed was an intern rushed in blushing slightly. He eyed the assassin briefly before entering the elevator. The boy pushed the button and the doors hissed to a close.“Third floor ehn?”, he asked, but
Monsters of new Earth Maneuver
Evading the receptionist was a matter of formality. The lounge was structured in a manner that the doors which led into Emily's lab was facing away from the reception stand. As the assassin exited the elevator, he walked up to the reception desk. A number of people were in the lounge presumably waiting for a scientist to come out of one of the huge doors. No one paid him any attention."Hello, waiting to see Dr. Thomas", he said flashing his best smile. The girl nodded absentmindedly as she punched something into a computer.He prayed that some stupid doctors name would be Thomas. He had made up the name at that instant. His prayer was answered when she replied."Wrong floor", she said and began giving him instructions on how to locate the imaginary Dr. Thomas. That was all he needed."Thank you", he replied and moved away. The girl barely looked up from her screen, apparently she was engrossed in some kind of movie playing on her phone. He was certain that she would not recognize his
Monsters of new Earth Tension
A while ago, just after Emily had arrived at the complex, the air had buzzed with anticipation as a group of wide-eyed children, backpacks slung over their shoulders, entered the high-tech science research complex. Their excitement was palpable, a vibrant energy that mirrored the sleek, futuristic environment that enveloped them. Led by their enthusiastic teacher, Mr. Anderson, and a knowledgeable guide named Dr. Reynolds, the kids embarked on an excursion into the world of cutting-edge scientific discovery.As the group crossed the threshold into the facility, the children marveled at the sleek glass walls and the hum of machinery that surrounded them. The facility was a labyrinth of innovation, a testament to the boundless possibilities of science. The children's faces lit up with curiosity, their eyes flitting from one marvel to the next."Wow, look at that giant microscope! What can you see with it?" exclaimed Jake, a spirited boy with untamed curls.Dr. Reynolds, a seasoned scien
Monsters of new Earth Goodbyes
A year ago, within the Turner household. Dr. Emily Turner, the brilliant geneticist who was on the verge of a groundbreaking research opportunity, stood in the kitchen in her home, the aroma of fresh coffee mingling with the bittersweet fragrance of impending separation.She had made up her mind that if she was to finish up her research, then he needed to go to a place with a better research facility. This decision had come with the condition that she might have to leave her family behind for at least a year. It had taken a year and half for the facility to approve her proposal and financial grant needed to continue her work.Her husband, James had moved around the room that morning with a sense of quiet purpose, his eyes betraying the heaviness of the moment. Their four-year-old son, Ethan, oblivious to the weight of impending farewells, played with his toy cars on the living room floor, blissfully unaware that his world was about to shift.Emily, was wearing her crisp white lab coat
Latest Chapter
- Monsters of new Earth
No More
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
- Monsters of new Earth
Questions
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
- Monsters of new Earth
Dr. Palmer
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
- Monsters of new Earth
Flowers for Emily?
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,
- Monsters of new Earth
The Emergency
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
- Monsters of new Earth
Confession
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
- Monsters of new Earth
Developments
Officer Philip was looking dejected. In one night, he has made two very costly mistakes. Not one, but two! In the world of security, it was completely unacceptable. How on earth did a seasoned officer like him allow a man pass through him twice in one night.The only redeeming feature about this night was the fact that he had discovered the body of the scientist trapped in her own experimental tank. Whether the strange man was responsible for this, Philip could not tell, although he suspected that the man might be involved somehow.Oh Lord, may she survive, prayed silently. It was very clear that his job depended on that outcome. The police department had swooped in as soon as news of the incidence had gotten out and the chief himself had rushed down to the facility. This was a very high profile mess. A journalist was now walking towards him."Oh, well, can this night not get any worse", he thought within himself. Anything but the pressure of the press was what he needed right now."A
- Monsters of new Earth
Monte Pizzaro
Monte Pizzaro sat on his hotel bed, his eyes glued to the television. He had been praying since he had returned, and now after taking a bath, probably to wash away any stench which he had picked up in the hunt, he sat now waited for the hour news.Surely something of this magnitude could not be swept under the carpet. He turned to the bed side table and lifted out one of the vials carefully, examining its contents.This was what Emily Turner had died for. Science was a gift given to mankind by God, but man had began to misuse such gifts. From guns, to bombs and now this. Fifteen years ago, as Monte could recall his wife and kids had been killed in a bio-terror attack. The attacker, a young scientist had carried in his bag, a modified strain of the Ebola virus; a much more deadlier strain.Apparently, this stupid researcher had thought it wise to move a level four risk virus without adequate protection. There was a leak and every human who was exposed to the deadly virus had died gruso
- Monsters of new Earth
Hybrid
Dr. Alexis Monroe's lab was an intricate dance of stainless steel and humming machinery, a testament to the boundaries she pushed in the realm of genetic engineering. Under the sterile glow of overhead lights, Alexis meticulously worked on her latest creation – a crocodile-snake hybrid, its sleek scales blending seamlessly with the crocodilian armor. From beneath the razor sharp teeth, the two forked reptilian tongue of a snake curled in and out in a hissing fashion.The creature, nestled in a secure enclosure, moving with a sinuous grace that defied the traditional boundaries of the animal kingdom.Her colleague, Dr. Mark Thompson, a fellow genetic engineer, observed the captivating blend between biology and technology from across the lab. Mark's eyes sparkled with a mixture of admiration and curiosity as Alexis adjusted the parameters on a control panel, fine-tuning the genetic composition of the hybrid."Alexis, this is incredible. The intricacy of the genetic splicing is beyond an