Nation 27

CH 8: This Is How The World Ends

*Beep… Beep… Beep…*

‘I just need to focus on my heart rate...’

*Scritch-scratch… Scritch-scratch… Scritch-scratch…*

“Mr. Lee-” a man’s voice was heard.

‘Block it all out.’

“The rest of you can leave. I’ll-” the man commanded before there was a thud of a door closing.

‘I need to get through this. I just need to-’

“Ahem… Mr. Jared Lee, if you’d be so kind as to open your eyes.”

Taking a deep breath, Jared hesitantly opened his eyes.

“Hello, Doctor Heine…” Jared mumbled as calmly as possible as he stifled a sigh.

Jared was back in a room that was covered with mint green tiles. Every couple of weeks, he was required to have a counseling session with Doctor Heine in his office- which happened to be the very same green-tiled room.

“How have you been feeling the last couple of weeks?” Doctor Heine asked.

Jared blinked rapidly and glanced at the polygraph machine that was linked to the heart monitor machine- both of which were then connected to him with electromyography sensors. 

‘Okay, calm down. Pretend you’re talking to a friend…’

“...Better.”

*BEEP*

Jared flinched when the heart monitor shrilled.

“Oh my. I’d assumed that you’d learned your lesson with the previous sessions we had…” Doctor Heine adjusted his rectangular spectacles in a serious yet mocking manner, “One mustn’t lie.”

The blood pressure cuff felt uncomfortably tight as the polygraph machine it was attached to caused the few needles to scritch vigorously on the chart recorder.

“However, I am a reasonable man. You simply didn’t wish to spoil my day and told a white lie. I do appreciate the gesture but there will be repercussions if you continue to provide me with… misinformation… ahem, for the remaining of our session.”

Doctor Heine then slide a little to the side which gave Jared the full view of another machine that was placed in a far-end corner behind the doctor. 

“No…”

“Dear boy, you don’t have to worry if you’re truthful with me… Of course, that is also under the assumption that the program has worked for you. Besides, electroconvulsive therapy isn’t some kind of torture device as you’d imagine. It is going to help cure you.”

Jared paled as his hands gripped tightly at the side of his chair.

“I wonder why you’re always so fearful and apprehensive of the machine when it has only helped your situation. Anyway, shouldn’t you be already accustomed to it seeing that you’ve used it countless times? Perhaps having our little session fortnightly isn’t sufficient enough in your case…”

“No, don’t…”

“Think about your poor, lovely mother. Did you know that she is constantly talking about you? That you’re all she ever talks about even if she is in the company of others? It’s as if you’re the only person in her world that everyone else is just worthless-” the doctor abruptly stopped and looked as if he had just jolted up from a daze, “Ahem… I’ve digressed. I do apologize for that. Let’s continue with our session.”

Doctor Heine then flipped through his notebook with a pen in hand, “Now, where was I? Hm… Ah, yes… Mr. Lee, have you been experiencing any migraines lately?”

“No, I haven’t had that for a little more than a week straight…”

“Good. Any particular cravings?”

“Not really. At least, I don’t think so…”

“How about vivid nightmares?”

Jared gulped and glanced at the machine before replying.

“...Nothing like that.”

“Interesting…” the doctor commented as he raised his head from his notes and stared intently at Jared, “How about the one about you being experimented on by those men in white coats?”

Seconds passed as the heart monitor beeped increasingly. Jared’s mouth felt as if it was filled with lead. He knew that he needed to say something but was just unable to do so. Deep down, he knew of the futile situation he was in.

It had been a while since he had seen the men in white coats, but somehow or rather, the doctor was always ready to pinpoint a little flaw in his statement. Regardless of what he did, there was no convincing the doctor.

“Ah, what a shame. I had such high hopes for you. Pity…” the doctor turned towards the door, “Come in.”

“No. Please, I-”

“Yes?” the doctor faced Jared with his face tilted slightly as if in curiosity.

“I…” Jared swallowed hard, “Please… It’s not something…”

“Yes?” the doctor urged in an almost taunting manner. He looked like a predatorial cat that was about to pounce on its prey.

Jared looked down towards the floor, “It’s not something I can control…”

“My dear boy, that’s why I’m here,” the doctor stroked Jared’s hair, “I’m going to make you feel all better. We just need to intensify our treatment and conduct our sessions more frequently.”

“No! Please, don’t do this!” Jared yelled to no avail as two burly-looking male nurses dragged him to the back of the room and strapped him forcefully to a bed.

With a flick of a switch, the electroconvulsive therapy machine began to give a low hum.

“No!” Jared yelled as he fought against his restraints.

“Please st- AH!”

“Ah, it had nearly slipped my mind. I did say that we were going to intensify your treatment,” the doctor said in an almost gleeful tone as he calibrated the machine's voltage.

“No! Don’t! AH!”

“Hm… Not quite there yet…” the doctor increased the voltage again.

“AHHH! URK! AHHHHHH!!!” Jared screamed as his vision darkened. 

Despite the excruciating pain, he felt himself fading away.

*

*

*

"Jared!"

The call came in faint at first, and Jared assumed it to be nothing more than a figment of his imagination- a way to escape the pain.

"Jared!"

He heard again, and the voice sounded more urgent this time. Although feeling weak, he could not help but feel a sense of pull toward the voice.

Then, there was a thump in the very center of his chest that knocked out all of the wind from his lungs. Almost immediately, he felt a rush of energy that coursed rapidly through his body.

“Jared, wake up. You’re dreaming. Wake up!” a feminine voice called out persistently and loudly as Jared felt light tapping at his cheek.

His body felt heavy, and when he opened his eyes, there was only surrounding darkness. Even so, it was not of pitch darkness. The silhouette, along with everything else in the room was outlined by the moonlight that streamed through a window.

He saw a familiar face looming close.

“Samantha…” he croaked as he slowly propped himself up into a sitting position. 

There was a mix of relief and concern on her face.

“Here. Have some water,” Samantha said as she handed Jared a glass.

“Thank you,” Jared said as Samantha took away the empty glass, “How long have I been out of it?”

“It’s the 21st of September… Tuesday…” she replied quietly.

‘That means I’ve been unconscious for two days… It has never been this long after the previous sessions- only a couple of hours at best… Is my body growing weaker?’

“So… would you like to take a stroll with me? You know, to stretch out your muscles,” Samantha asked awkwardly. 

“Oh… Yes,” Jared began to detach the drip that was stuck into his arm.

*

*

*

“Whoa… It’s so quiet tonight…” Jared remarked as he walked along the dimly lit hallway with Samantha.

“Yes, it’s just past midnight, and most of the patients would’ve already been knocked out from the meds they’ve taken.”

“Ah, right…” Jared rubbed the back of his neck, “This is the first time I’ve ever been awake this late in this facility… Do all staff members stay here as well?”

“No, there are just a few of us- mostly the nurses and orderlies… Doctor Alister, the deputy director, stays here though…”

“I see… Hm… Where are we going, by the way?”

“I want to take you to the courtyard. Nothing like some fresh air under the moonlight~”

“Oh? Am I allowed to go there?”

“Hm… It’s actually meant for the successfully rehabilitated patients and staff members, but I believe that you’re of sound mind,” Samantha twirled around and smiled at him as they approached a locked door.

“Haha…” Jared laughed awkwardly.

“Besides, who is going to stop me?” she said as she revealed a set of keys in her hand.

It did not take long for Samantha to open the door. Taking a tentative step outside the door, Jared inhaled deeply. The air was not aromatic or fresh in any sense as the secluded facility was still surrounded by its own chimneys, but it felt like a weight was lifted off Jared’s chest. For the first time in three months, Jared was (technically) outside of the building.

“Hehe. So, shall we?” Samantha asked with her hand gesturing towards the outside world.

“Yes, we-”

“No, you can’t go outside!” someone yelled as both Jared and Samantha were yanked backward before the door was slammed shut.

“Ouch! Why did you do that?!” Samantha hissed.

“Who-” Jared’s eyes widened in surprise, “Louis?”

However, it was not the same mischievous friend who Jared came to know. Instead, there was a terrified yet resolute expression on his friend’s face.

‘He didn’t even correct me for calling him ‘Louis’ instead of ‘Lou’... Something must’ve happened…’

“Key! Where’s the key?!” Louis demanded and snatched the keys from Samantha when he noticed her holding them.

“What has gotten into you?!” Samantha asked as Louis locked the door.

“They’re coming,” Louis replied.

“Who? Who’s coming? What are you talking about?” Samantha asked and gasped when she noticed a silhouette approaching the facility just passed the fence of the courtyard, “Who would be coming here this late?”

As the three continued to watch the silhouette, they noticed that the person was walking in an awkward manner--- half-dragging, and half-limping. Then the light from a nearby lamppost shone onto the silhouette.

“No… This can’t be real…” Jared said as he stared in disbelief.

“Is that man okay? There’s blood all over him…” Samantha trailed off as she backed away from the window next to the locked door.

“Unfortunately, it’s all very real,” Louis replied grimly.

“This is how the world ends.”