Clang!

The sound of shattering glass struck a chord once more within the laboratory, and a liquid gushed onto my body, engulfing my head, back, and face.

Aaaaagh! Aaaaggggggghhh!

I made a futile effort to cover my head with my hands. My body felt like it was in a blaze, and then I was in severe pain.

As liquid poured down from my head to my eyes, my vision became foggy, and because of the excruciating pain, I could not take a single step.

An odor of burning flesh covered the entire laboratory. My clothes began to melt, and scorching scars emerged all over my body.

"Fuck! The glass tube he hurled at me was loaded with potent acid. And the same acid is melting my clothes and scorching my body. I must leave this place at any cost. Please, Austin... run, run at any cost, or this will be the end for you and your dreams." I reverberated internally, and by suppressing all of my pain, I took one stride forward, then the next, and then another...

"Dear Austin Ainsworth, you are one of the most remarkable students I have ever encountered.

I admire you, Austin; I admire you as a student and as a fellow scientist. Your tenacity and capacity for inventive work are admirable.

In some ways, we are both the same. I was raised alone in an orphanage without my parents, just like you. I had the same worldly curiosity as you had. My curiosity led me here and turned me into a scientist. And because of how much you resemble me, I let you use my private laboratory. I didn't expect you to make any significant discoveries.

But in contrast to you, I'm greedy—I want to leave my name in the annals of history. Everyone disregarded me while I was an orphan, and ever since, everything I've done has been to attract attention from others. As a result, I've become widely known to everyone. But if my name is engraved in history, then this world will never forget me. Even after thousands of centuries, they will remember me.

You should curse your misfortune. If you had any family or close friends, then I would never have taken this step. But, as with no family or friends, even if you go missing, no one will notice. Next life, if you get a chance, then make genuine friends because in this world you can do anything but not everything."

What the hell is he talking about? The more I listened, the more enraged I became. This is not the time to get angry or argue. One more step, and the last one... now, if I just walked outside, with cameras on the road and traffic, he wouldn't be able to kill me...

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Beep!

"Mr. Austin, the door has been unlocked," Alexa, you are the best. Now I just need to walk outside.

Puchi!

A sharp stinging sensation covered my back like a snakebite, and I spun around to gaze back with fuzzy eyesight. Prof. Dr. Grey was injecting something inside me.

"Sorry, Dear Austin, I had no other choice. I promise, as long as I'm alive, I'll never forget you."

I attempted to take a step outside the door... but before I could, my body became numb, and I crashed to the floor with a thump. "I think I'm doomed." That's the last thought I had before my consciousness faded.

.

.

.

I can feel pain all over my body. It's good. At the very least, I'm still alive. How long has it been since I went unconscious?

I opened my eyes with blurry vision and dizzy consciousness. Everything around me turned into a bright blur, forcing me to shut my eyes.

My eyes are partially burned because of the acid. I can't see damn with them. But I could sense my surroundings. I was partially submerged in a liquid inside some sort of container.

"My dear Austin, you are finally awake. I'll finish up your research for you. You're going to assist me with that, too.

Given that your simulation was completely successful, I have decided to move right along to a human experiment. And you will be the first person to experience artificial evolution. You'll also become a part of the history that I'll create.

And you look ready. Good. Then let's begin."

"Initializing Experiment stage in 3 2 1. Experiment stage has been initialized."

Aaagghhhh...

As soon as Alexa's voice rang and the experimental stage began, a shock of high voltage went through my body, almost frying it. A robotic arm injected a plethora of drugs inside my body.

When did I integrate electricity into my experiments? Is he altering my method in order to simply kill me? And that damn Alexa, can't she identify that I'm in pain?... I was the one who purchased you. The future of AI seems as dark as it can be.

The ache in my body grew more intense with each passing second. Every portion of my body was in excruciating pain, as if I were being devoured inside out by insects.

Is this for me? Is this how Austin Ainsworth's life will end? The Professor will make sure that I never see another sunrise, even if I somehow manage to survive these experiments.

Where did this life go wrong?

I was born into poverty, yet I was pleased and content with it. But when the pandemic struck, I lost my two precious wings. And with that, I lost my hope and my only support.

No one helped my parents during the pandemic, and that's the first time I hated my poor status. Money is the second god. He can even save lives.

After the pandemic, I worked all hours during the day and night just to feed myself. Leaving and sleeping on my own. Whether it was a hot and humid summer night, a snowy winter night, or a rainy or stormy night, I was alone in that small, confined room, hoping to just pass these solitary nights.

After that, my life took a turn for the better because of Mr. Thomas. Books became my companion and helped me get out of my loneliness, at least externally.

And as a result, I came very close to making history. But everything slipped right out of my grasp...

And in the process, I sacrificed my social life. Well, I wanted to make friends, go out with them, talk, laugh, and quarrel with them. Enjoy my youth, go to parties, and most importantly, have a cute girlfriend.

I've never had a chance, and I doubt I'll ever have another.

I could feel my body changing from within as time went on. As the agony escalated, I couldn't endure it any longer, and I lost consciousness.