In the dimly lit office, the man in black savoured his meal. The soft clink of silverware against porcelain punctuated the room's silence.
He lifted a forkful of tender ground lamb to his lips, infused with curry powder, turmeric, and cinnamon. A burst of sweet and savoury flavour's filled his mouth, with dried raisins in the mix. The man in black chewed thoughtfully, a hum of satisfaction escaping his throat.
Devin's frustration mounted with every bout of mmm and ahh from the man's lips. Scratching his palm, his patience wore thin. Ticked off, he couldn't contain himself any longer.
'I didn't come here to watch a grown man eat! This is the last damn day, and Darcey must be heading out by now. I need to end this!' Devin thought, his anger barely contained.
"Hey—" The man in black raised his finger, cutting Devin off.
He went back to his meal, turning to the savoury yellow rice. On top of that, the rich, custard-like topping, made from a mixture of eggs and milk, added a creamy and tangy texture to the man's mouth. His fingers danced across the plate, scooping up the last remnants of his meal with deliberate, appreciative motions. The final bite was met with a contented sigh.
"My shadows, you are dismissed," the man in black addressed the two shadows. With a gentle bow, they turned around and left the room.
He then leaned back on his chair, a sigh escaping his lips. "I swear, for living in this awful country, the food makes it worth it."
Devin's patience finally snapped.
"Enough!" He exploded. "I don't have time for this." He reached into his pocket and slammed the cash on the table. "I have R9600 on the table. Mr. H said that this should be enough. So get me those pills, please!"
"Devin Draik." The man in black leaned forward. "Son to Cole and Dana Draik." He stood up. "Brother to Darcey Draik."
'How does he know all of that!?' Devin stood stunned. He recalled back, but prior to getting here. At no point did he mention his, or any of his family's names to anyone. His heart pounded in his chest, and his mind raced to piece together how this man knew so much about him.
The man in black smiled, the shadows obscuring his face. "Be at ease, Mr. Draik. We of Project Freedom know everything."
The man in black rounded the table, his steps deliberate, as he made his way to Devin. "Such as how Mr. Cole Draik suffered through a vicious car accident, injuring both his hands. Which led all of you to move to South Town. Such an insufferable place." He sighed, as if recalling a distant memory.
Being over six feet tall, the man loomed over Devin's five-foot-five frame. Dressed entirely in black, Devin still couldn't make out his face. With a composed yet curt tone, he continued, "I've been informed as to why you are here, and yes, we can help you."
He turned and walked to the door. "Now, let me show you around our facility."
"I don't have time for that!" Devin roared at his back.
The man in black stopped and turned back to Devin. "If your ire draws from Ms. Darcey Draik's situation, then you need not worry. She is being taken care of."
"Taken care of!? What's that supposed to mean!?" Devin went ballistic, taking deliberate steps toward the man in black.
"She is being escorted home as we speak. Now calm yourself, Mr. Draik, we have a tour to complete." He walked to the door and opened it for Devin.
Devin sighed, realizing how counterproductive outbursts were. His shoulders slumped as he took a deep breath. A wave of exhaustion washing over him. He realised he needed to stay calm to get what he wanted. Darcey's life was on the line after all.
'For Darcey's sake.' He nodded to himself and walked through the door.
…
"We of Project Freedom are at the forefront of the future. Imagine it, Devin, a world free of illness. Where no disease can do harm. Where even the effects of aging can be reversed on a cellular level. That is where our chemical compound comes in: compound D. We have engineered a way to…" The man in black went on about how he created compound D.
Devin trailed behind him, each step feeling heavier than the last. The pristine, sterile environment felt innately wrong, almost suffocating. He could barely focus on the man's words, his mind overwhelmed by the unsettling atmosphere of the place.
It was a maze of stark and sterile corridors. The ceiling, a glaring expanse of white, had bright lights embedded at every section. To make matters worse, men in white suits stood still as statues along the corridors, their backs pressed against the white stone walls. Their cold, unnerving eyes stared right at him, giving Devin goosebumps. The marble floors beneath them betrayed no sound of their footsteps as Devin followed this mad scientist.
Soon, they reached a door labelled "Compound D Trials."
"Here is where the magic happens," the man in black said, turning to Devin before opening the door.
Inside, scientists in lab coats actively observed a transparent pod at the center of the room. They parted for the man in black as he approached the pod, Devin trailing behind.
Within the pod lay a man in his forties, draped in a hospital gown and strapped to a bed. His right arm was missing, leaving an unrestrained stump at the elbow.
"Progress report," the man in black ordered.
A spectacled scientist appeared beside him, clipboard in hand. He read the report aloud, "Sir, the 4th trial for blastema formation is ready. A concentration reduction of 10% has been made to the compound, and the undifferentiated cells have been altered based on the last trial's findings. Awaiting your approval, sir."
"Granted," the man in black responded before turning to Devin. "Come on, Devin, it's time for you to witness something spectacular!" He enthusiastically brought Devin to his side.
Devin watched as the spectacled scientist entered the pod from the side. He held a syringe containing a thick black substance, the concentrated compound D. Injecting the compound into the man's stump, the scientist hurriedly walked away, leaving the man alone in the pod.
"Imagine it, Devin…" The man in black spoke with exuberant glee.
In the pod, from the man's stump, flesh erupted, rapidly expanding into a grotesque outline of a forearm.
"A world free of disabilities."
Muscle sinews wound tightly around forming bones, twisting and writhing as veins and arteries snaked through the growing mass.
"Where not even the loss of a limb could affect you."
Nerves threaded through the new tissue with eerie precision, reconnecting to ensure sensation and control.
"This, Devin, is a great leap for mankind!"
The man's skin, pale and smooth, sealed his newly acquired arm. Fingernails emerged at the tips, sharp and gleaming. Much to the man's awe, joy, and relief.
"It's back! My arm! It's back! It's back! It's-" The man suddenly shuddered as his newly acquired arm viciously twitched. He reeled back.
"Aargh! My arm! What's going on!?" he screamed in pain.
The man in black sighed, and Devin witnessed what happened next in horror.
End of Chapter 11