AIO 2 • THE EXPERIMENT

CAOLAN HAYDEN

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"Word got out"

My best friend informed me pacing around my office.

I had finalized my experiment about two weeks ago and the only person I informed about it was my most trusted friend; Aiden Hosày Winter.

"How?"

I breathed out. I had this nagging feeling that something like this was going to happen so I reacted rather placidly.

"I don't know brother. But we both know what is going to happen"

He stated finally stopping his pace and standing in front of me.

"They want it don't they?"

I asked looking up at him. He nodded and pulled at his hair.If we weren't in a bad situation currently, I would have laughed at how he acted like he worked his butt off to experiment on it.

"What do I do?"

I asked him getting up and starting my own pace.

"Peacefully give it to them."

He suggested. I expected him to say we should come up with a lie that we have lost it or we should go into hiding or something else except that!

My whole calm demeanor was suddenly eliminated and I marched up to him.

"Are you crazy?! I worked my butt off for eight years to make that experiment and you expect me to just give it away?! Just because of those threatening letters?!"

I yelled at his face while pointing at the scattered letters on my desk, written in red ink and threatening to take away my most valuable possession.

"And you have a six year old child you're putting at stake if you don't. They will come after you! They will find you! They will take it away from you forcefully or calmly and you want to know why? Because they own you! You work under them making you their property! What's yours is theirs!"

He yelled back at me.

I have never, in my thirty-eight years seen Aiden lash out like that.

But I worked too hard for it to just give it away.

"You are a coward Aiden and a loser."

I seethed clenching my fists while he smiled.

He actually smiled.

"And you know one thing about losers brother? They have nothing to loose."

He seethed and with that, he stormed out of my office slamming the door on his way out.

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ALEXANDRIA

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"There is no need for that Mrs Whiskers"

I asserted for the eighth time in approximately, five minutes.

"I'm still yet to find out how you intend on paying me then. I mean, you don't have a job.."

She pointed out causing the corners of my lips to twitch upward.

"I have my ways Mr Whiskers"

I defended pushing the 100 dollar note towards her only for her to do same. She folded her arms and rested her weight on her left leg.

This woman's efforts are highly dogged for a forty-one year old which I consider bothersome. Albeit, they have a good outcome but I simply cannot permit her to ceaselessly proffer me groceries for free.

"Well I'd like to know what 'your ways' are?"

She airquoted and cocked her head to the side.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, already fed up with her pestering me with this prosaic matter.

"You know what Mrs Whiskers? I'll take them. Thank you"

I finally gave in picking up the grocery bag and secretly leaving behind the money.

I walked out of the grocery store as the bells chimmed indicating the opening of the door.

I followed the normal shortcut leading to my apartment. This alley is normally crammed with a few gangsters who usually fight, smoke weed and joints, etcetera.

The logical fact about these gang members are that they tend to mind their own businesses which I also reciprocate in doing.

Albeit, I noticed that a group of them surrounded a young man looking to be in his early twenties.

I noticed the tension in the air. I finally made out the face of the young man. He looked like he was about to shit in his pants.

There was an inhaler on the gravel so I figured this young man was asthmatic.

I stared at the time noting that it was Eight Forty-Six PM and it was already getting dark.

Just like the puppet and the puppeteer, I just need to use the young man to defend himself. Plus, the strings are already quite available.