Entanglement
victor martinez
Real inventors and scientists take risks. Anyone else is just holding us back.
The blue fluorescent light engulfs me like snow. If I was blind, I would think I was in bed. How can such a small creature do that? I lean closer to see the specimen. Lifeless eyes, slow movements, and a funny face. I tap the glass but the fish is indifferent to it.
I hear a voice call out, “Neurosis”.
To my dismay, I have to respond, “yeah?”
“Don’t mess with the fish.”
I turned to see Alphin. Of course he doesn’t even remember the name of the Seraphim. Can you believe it? According to my boss, he’s supposed to be my superior, but I barely consider him a scientist.
“The Seraphim were found isolated in the arctic, it has no predators.” I tap the glass harder, the Seraphim still indifferent.
“Thats about all we know, just make sure to use one for the trials,” responds Alphin.
I salute him and say “Yes, sir.”
Alphin clicks his tongue and walks out. I've heard that noise about five times this week. How melodic. I grab gloves and a simple mask, but notice a cut along my right forearm, likely from when I brought out the tools earlier. Reaching into the aquarium, the seraphim practically waltzes over to hand. I gently grasp it, taking it out and laying it on my surgical station. I would say that I hate to do this, but my curiosity won’t let me. The seraphim thrashes around slightly, but not like any other common fish; it’s too calm. The seraphim suddenly stops but produces a bigger glow than before, although not blinding.
I feel a tingling sensation in my right forearm. As I look, my cut fully closes with a small sizzle of steam.
Intriguing.
I reach for another clean scalpel and cut across my forearm, shielding it from light. Blood slowly dribbles out, as expected. I put the cut next to the seraphim, the tingling returns, only stronger. Was it due to the bigger cut? Was it the blood exposure affecting it? Steam surrounds my wound, in a few seconds, it closes up. Any leftover blood evaporated.
Fascinating.
The Seraphim’s light slowly dwindles but doesn't completely vanish. I grab a scalpel and begin cutting into its underside, which immediately spews out a blue liquid. Scratch that, it’s more cyan and is it…sparkling?
Peculiar.
I look at its underside fin but the sound of my phone interrupts me. I put down my tools and walk over to my desk, I just hope it’s not the boss. Oh…it’s mom, why is she calling?
Peculiar.
I pick up. “Hello?” I say cautiously.
My mom’s screams shoot out. “Nathan! I have some really bad news!”
Is she crying?
Unusual.
“What’s going on? Is it the dogs?” It’s the only thing I could think of, I mean she lives pretty mundanely.
“No, I went to the doctor. I’m so sorry to tell you but I won’t make it to Christmas.”
That’s what I understood at least, her sobs definitely don’t help.
“Oh, I see”, what else am I supposed to say? I just got this dropped on me. “I’ll clear my schedule to visit as soon as possible.”
I've never hung up so quickly, even on Alphin.
I put the phone back on the desk and go to the fish- I mean the seraphim. I move back to the surgical desk and what the hell? The seraphim completely fine? How? On the table are small traces of the cyan blood, so does the scalpel. I inspect the seraphim further, no cut and no scarring.
Impressive.
I grab the scalpel again, this time, I cut along its backside. Its blood spews out again, I watch for a minute until the fish starts sealing its own cut in the same way it did to me. I grab the seraphim and as I’m about to drop it into the aquarium, I look at it. Despite it being out of the water for over five minutes, it continues to breathe. Is it suffering right now? Would it be thrashing around? Maybe it’s in so much pain it's paralyzed, forced to draw breath against its will. I walk over to my coffee cup, my favorite one with the lid and throw out the coffee while refilling it with water. I drop the seraphim inside and place it back where it was. I sit at the desk and begin writing my report.
As I write, I mention all of my findings, but once I finish, I add to it.
“The subject did not survive, be cautious of letting it be out of water for too long.”
Seems about right.
As I submit it through the computer, I feel a pain in my chest. I almost drop to my knees as my breathing gets shallow.
Oh, is this a heart attack…stroke? No…
I stare blankly at the screen as I calm my breathing.
I feel a discomfort near my eyes, it’s secreting water…Oh…it’s like that.
Why does she have to die?
Disturbing…
As I walk home with the coffee cup, I notice the seraphim still emitting a small glow. It’s like a star captured into a coffee cup. As I unlock the front door, I put everything down on the kitchen counter. I put my laboratory coat on the couch and sit beside it. I pull up my phone and order a small square aquarium online. Maybe a filter, too, but would the seraphim even require one? No…but maybe it won’t suffer as much with one.
As I put my phone down, I realized that I forgot to turn on the lights.
There's no way this is affecting me this much. I stare into the glow coming from the seraphim, oh right.
I need airplane tickets to see mom.
A deafening alarm rings in my ear.
Repulsive.
Oh, it’s morning, did I sleep on the couch?
My eyes feel so sore and there's a small stain where my face was… Repulsive.
I check my phone to see that the tickets were bought for today.
I look around but there's no sight of a bottle, how did this happen?
Alphin is going to chew me out for this. That makes the third time this month...? Why does his tone carry such arrogance! If it wasn’t for me, he wouldn’t be above me.
IT SHOULD BE ME!
A small thump alerts me to the kitchen. It's the coffee mug with the fish spilled out. I should’ve given you a proper space. How moronic of me. I get my phone and call the boss.
“Neurosis, how lovely for you to call. Why aren’t you here?” he said passive aggressively, sarcastic for sure.
Wait, it’s past noon already? I really need to find that bottle.
“I apologize, there was a family emergency and I won’t be in for a few days.”
I haven’t used this excuse myself but I’ve heard from others that it works well.
“This could’ve been mentioned much sooner. You’re slipping Neurosis. If you keep this up, you're out!” and he hung up…Ordinary.
Question is, how am I getting an exotic fish across the airlines?
I search around my home workshop and gather a few tools, anything could work.
As I bring the seraphim, my eyes draw to the small wooden board and pins. I use a small cutting tool to make the wood look much more decorative with intricate designs. Truly one of my best.
I move the board and place the seraphim at the center. I stare at the seraphim’s eyes.
“I’m sincerely apologetic.”
Walking back to my childhood home is strange. Even despite all the changes in the world, this place refuses to change.
Repulsive.
Reaching the door is easy but, what should I tell her? It’ll be okay? Maybe-
The door swings open.
It’s mom, but is it really?
She hugs me immediately. I almost drop my suitcase.
“I’m so glad you're home,” she says quietly.
“You’re the one usually visiting. I was thinking about changing things up.”
We both go inside. The beige paint still looks the same. Even all of the framed pictures look untouched.
Even the trophies…
I walk up the small alter-like display. It has all of my trophies from the science fair. Even the ribbons. Pictures too, the one from eighth grade, high school and even…the one from my first day at the job.
Alphin is in all of them with me, always below top three but he never knew when to stop. He used to be so much more laid back.
Maybe I’ve been too harsh, he did work his way from the bottom.
The sound of my mother coughing and glass breaking draws me back.
I find her on the floor as she struggles to breathe and I quickly run to her side.
Is she even breathing? Seems so, her coughs are deep and slow. I’ll call an ambulance.
The ambulance siren blares. Paramedics won’t let me go with her. Inadequate.
Darkness, why?
Oh, how long was I out for? Looking at my phone, it’s almost midnight. Starting into space again?
Unusual.
I walk up the steps of the house until I reach my old bedroom.
My old workshop table, made of the best metals and spotless as the day I left it.
Spectacular.
Oh…Seraphim.
I should take him out.
As I remove the pins off of it, it thrashes around.
It was definitely in pain the whole way.
As I place him on the table, his blood spews but gathers into the vents of my workshop’s liquid retainer.
Interesting.
I look to my left and find all of my prototype inventions untouched.
Excellent.
Robotic armed crane, self-purification water fountain, vacuum arm.
What creative diversity.
That dull job stifles creativity. I make the same inventions repeatedly, expecting a different outcome.
Insanity.
You’ll be of some good use. Dismantling the crane.
Twist its frame, looks like it can hold something now.
The fountain container.
Perfect.
Fits adequately.
Replace filters for the vacuum arm.
Interesting.
Creation prototype complet- aaaand the phone rings…great. No time for basking in my greatness.
Unknown caller?
I answer.
“Mr. Neurosis?”
“Yes?”
“I’m calling from the hospital, in regard to your mom. Her condition has drastically worsened, I’d recommend visiting as soon as possible to say your goodby-” I hung up.
Peculiar.
As I move the contraption, it snags the liquid retainer of the table.
Seraphim’s blood pours out.
Disgustin- No, Fantastic.
No scalpel here, kitchen knife will do. I open the fountain container.
Storage was around three gallons, modifications deduced 0.2 gallons. Plenty.
I cut open the seraphim and allow the blood to pour in.
Inefficient.
I place the container opening near the liquid retainer and leave the cover open.
I cut into the seraphim in several places.
Blood consistently manages to arrive.
Satisfactory.
A blinding light burns my eyes. The sun? It’s already morning.
Unusual.
The container has filled up 80%.
Spectacular.
The seraphim refuses to move. Maybe it's the countless slashes on its body.
They close too quickly.
Pathetic.
…Mom is going to make it.
Huh? Oh, staring off into space again.
The container is overfilled, leaking from the top.
I close the lid.
Seraphim blood on the outside of the container, not direct leakage.
Excellent.
As I walk into the kitchen, one of mom’s dogs hops around.
Forgot those were here.
No food in their bowl. How much time was I in my room?
Interesting.
I head back and grab the prototype, the crane modifications allow me to wear it as a backpack.
Amazing.
The vacuum arm slots well with my right arm.
Genius.
I walk into the kitchen and spray the dog.
It runs.
I accidentally shoot the outlet.
Cyan sparks and fire? Odd odor?
Fascinating.
I go and look for the dog.
It hops around.
I shoot it with blood.
No yelp.
The dog outstretches its paw, putting its full weight on it.
No whining.
Exhilarating.
I think I remember the way to the hospital.
Broke a bone once.
Emergency room number 3.
Mom couldn’t stop crying.
Ridiculous.
Firefighters whiz past me.
Peculiar.
The hospital.
Still the same.
The doors open and I hear a lot of voices.
Odd.
Oh…its people, worry not, I’m here to see my mom.
What was her room?
I don’t know.
I check the first room.
It's a frail old man alone.
I spray him with blood.
A little crudely aimed but I have plenty.
I go into the next room.
It's a kid with his parents.
I spray them.
Who knows, the parents might have something they don’t know about.
Room after room.
How weary.
Oh look, it's her.
Mom.
Huh?
Why is she screaming?
What's wrong?
Oh it's probably the pain.
I spray her.
The screams are silenced.
Intriguing.
I’m pretty sure I cured over 90% of the patients here, I would love an award but recognition will do.
That strange odor is back.
My vision is weird.
Smokey. Oh right the firefighters.
Probably a fire nearby.
Well I need to cure more patients while mom recovers.
Exiting the door.
People running?
More smoke?
Looking down the hall, cyan fire.
Those morons, one probably lit a cigarette and caught ablaze.
Mom’s screams?
Oh, she's on fire too.
Unusual.
I spray her again.
The flames grow greater.
Fascinating.
I feel a warm embrace.
Like clouds hugging me.
Their delicate structure envelops me, whispering to me gently.
I can’t move.
I did good. I made her proud.
I am an inventor.
Splendid.
Author Bio
Victor Martinez writes fiction but also dabbles in graphic illustrations and animation. Currently aspiring to become a published author as well as making his own animated series, with many stories still in the works.
