Expired

The gangster, now a criminal in a straitjacket, was securely fastened to a recliner, rendering him almost completely immobile. Occasional drool lingered at the corner of his mouth, and he mumbled incoherently, his eyes vacant.

"Scarecrow?" Jack glanced at Klein, questioning. "What's the significance?"

"For patients deeply affected by hallucinations, their fantasies often revolve around external tormentors, inducing anxiety and unease. In this case, the tormentor is the scarecrow."

"Ah, I see," Jack nodded. "Do you have a scarecrow here?"

"What? No, certainly not," Klein replied, bewildered. "This might be due to a scarecrow he encountered in his childhood. The environment and atmosphere at that time left a significant impact on his psyche. It lay dormant until recently, erupting and leading to his current mental state."

"That's peculiar. I overheard people chanting about the 'Scarecrow' in all the wards I passed," Jack feigned confusion. "Could it be that they all had childhood encounters with the Scarecrow, and it just happened to surface here?"

"Well, anything is possible," Klein said. "Most of them are from the same gang, and perhaps they are from the same hometown with scarecrow legends."

"I've always been skeptical." Jack reached into his suit pocket, withdrawing a needle. "Your previous explanation is plausible, but the likelihood is too slim."

"And... what are you?" Klein struggled to maintain his smile.

"In addition to that factor, there's another possibility. A certain chemical compound could induce a specific mental state in patients. Then, presenting a distinct image would elicit fear. In this altered state, they would experience significant hallucinations, imagining these things as terrifying entities, eventually falling into such a state."

"I didn't expect you to be so invested in this. We've also researched this matter," Klein tensed up.

"Of course, I did some research on you before coming here," Jack admitted. "Besides a psychology doctorate, Dr. Klein also holds a chemistry doctorate. Impressive, I must say..."

"So... are you planning to draw his blood?" Klein's frozen smile betrayed his unease.

Jack acknowledged the destructive effects of hallucinogenic drugs on human physiology, emphasizing the need for timely testing to obtain interesting results from the prisoner. Klein, desperate to delay the process, pointed out the lack of disinfection in Jack's syringe.

Unperturbed, Jack dismissed Klein's concern, stating that drug trafficking criminals were not considered human lives. Klein, baffled by this perspective, decided to take drastic action to prevent Jack from discovering his true intentions.

As Jack turned around to proceed with the blood draw, Klein seized the moment, smashing a bottle containing fear gas to the ground. The gas rapidly dispersed, and Klein, holding his breath, quickly donned a mask, transforming into the Scarecrow.

Taunting Jack in his menacing persona, Klein exploited the hallucinogenic effects of the fear gas, knowing that Jack, unprepared for the sudden exposure, would succumb to terrifying visions. With a hood concealing his identity, Klein unleashed the madness within him, using the fear gas to create a nightmarish experience for Jack.

The situation had taken an unexpected turn, and Klein, now embodying the persona of the Scarecrow, sought to capitalize on Jack's vulnerable state to further his own agenda.

...

From Klein's perspective, he anticipated that Jack would be gripped with fear and trepidation—after all, the typical reaction to his scare tactics.

The prospect of this reversal in roles heightened Klein's excitement.

However, as he repeated his attempts to invoke fear, observing Jack's initially indifferent gaze transform into an unresponsive, clueless expression, Klein began to sense that something was amiss.

How could someone remain so unaffected even after exposure to his potent fear-inducing gas?

"I must say, your performance is quite entertaining, but I can't help but laugh," Jack remarked casually. "Is this the kind of potion you used? The one on those prisoners? The hallucination-inducing potion? I wonder, is it past its expiration date?"

"Expired? Impossible! How could the fear gas expire!" The Scarecrow retorted, his frustration evident.

"Take a look," Jack demonstrated, mimicking an inhalation, then exhaling without a hint of concern. "No effect whatsoever. Did you get a batch of counterfeit goods?"

The Scarecrow, now bewildered, exclaimed, "How is this possible?"

Observing Jack's nonchalant response, the Scarecrow struggled to comprehend the situation. Could it be that the fear gas had truly expired? How else could this be explained?

Seeking a resolution, Klein opted for a constructive approach. He removed his hood and took a puff.

Jack's: "???"

....

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