uh

Silence consumes the room as Nakaru works. Delicate fingers maneuver the needle into the tube and slowly draw. An almost clear liquid with a tint of red fills the syringe. A soft sigh breaks the silence. "I'm sorry.." He injects the serum into a lab rat. He watches as the rats body contorts and pulses, almost as if it's possessed.

snap

"I hope you didn't suffer too much," Nakaru whispers as he holds the rat in his hands, it's head twisted and neck broken. He smooths a label onto the tube, "lethal". The rat and gloves are discarded in a trash bag, headed to an incinerator. Nakaru sits down, head in hands. Frustration builds with every failure, and demand increases with every day. "I don't know how much longer I can do this," he mutters into his hands. He wipes his face and stands up again. He puts on new gloves and moves onto the next tube, the next rat. Death after death, failure after failure. Each attempt they only grow more gruesome and grotesque. Nakaru looks at the clock. Only an hour left before he can go. He looks back at the tube rack, still full as ever. It feels like there will always be more concoctions to test. He sighs again and returns to work. He grabs another rat from the tank, and stops to observe it for a moment. It has green and blue eyes, and a glacial black coat. Nakaru looks around his lab before putting the rat in a small box, pin sized holes eroded in the wood. "I'll keep you safe. I promise." His eyes start to water, but he blinks back the tears. He glanced back up at the clock, only ten minutes left before can leave. Without much hesitation he shuts off the lights and locks his lab for the night. His boots quietly click on the tile floor hallway as he rushes out of the building, rat still with him.

"Nakaru! Why such a hurry?", a deep and cold tone taints the air, sending chills up Nakaru's spine.

"H-hello Mr. Lee. I'm just trying to beat the traffic, I don't want to get caught in it."

"There's no traffic at this time of night..What are you up to?"

"Actually, to be quite honest sir, that is none of your business."

"Oh my, Mr. Reeds. Why the secrets?"

Nakaru lips pull back into a faint snarl, "Don't call me that."

"Oh did I hit a nerve?..Mr. Reeds?.."

An image flashes in Nakaru's head for a brief moment, but he shakes it off. "No, I'm fine. Can I go now?"

Mr. Lee leans in close to Nakaru. His hot breath apparent in Nakaru's ear."Not until you tell me what's going on."

"Nothing."

"Hmph. Fine," he leans in close once more, "make sure to return that rat to the lab."

Nakaru stands there, stoical and blank. A moment of silence proceeds the exchange before he breaks it, "Make sure to repent your sins before you are unable to any longer." The words were spoke with such a cold and monotone, yet booming voice. It sent waves of chills coursing through the hallway. The sound reverberated against the walls, repeating the sentence over and over again. Mr. Lee looked at Nakaru. His brave facade was failing, Nakaru could see the fear in his eyes. Even though Mr. Lee was bigger, in that moment he felt so small. Nakaru towered over him. He just stared at him, lacking any facial expression. His eyes looked empty, like they were made of glass. After what felt like hours, Nakaru turned and continued to walk to the front door, leaving Mr. Lee standing in the hallway rattled and shaken.

The traffic was slow, almost non existent. Nakaru cruises down the highway, lost inside his own mind. He thinks of the rat he brought home..it's colors..his eyes sting as memories flood him. He blinks back the tears and tries to forget. His voluptuous mane sways back and forth gracefully as he shakes his head attempting to stop thinking about it. His eyes turn to the road, and just in time as well. A yellow light flashes to red as Nakaru approaches the traffic stop. He slows down his vehicle before coming to a complete halt. The red light is taken as an opportunity to look around. Orange and red leaves litter the ground around the street. The trees sway lightly as a soft breeze blows through the air, whipping up the leaf litter as well. A particular purple leaf blows in the wind, swirling and moving as the wind does. Beautiful like a ballet dancer, but performed by simple nature. Nakaru soaks in the beauty of his world. Silence is all that is to be heard. There are no other cars around. He is alone out here. The light turns green, but he does not care. He has been down this road many times before, he knows how empty it is at this time of night. Barely any cars come through. He could sit here in that old van all night, and no one would pay any mind. The engine sputters, and Nakaru is pulled out of his mute world. He should be getting home soon. He puts his foot back on the gas pedal and his tires start to push against the pavement. There is not much further to go home, the majority of the way has already been put past him.

Nakaru pulls up in the driveway of a modestly sized house. It's perfect for a small family. The door slams loudly as he climbs out of the van. The driveway and pathway leading to the front door is pathed with bricks. There are small tufts of grass and weeds growing through from in between the crevasses of each brick. His boots click quietly against the path as he walks up to the front door. He slides his key into the lock and unlocks his front door. It creaks loudly, adding to the still and undisturbed world Nakaru lives in. "I'm ho-..." he starts to announce before trailing off, "...nevermind.." He takes off his lab coat and hangs it on the coat rack next to the door. Hushed squeaking can be heard from the pocket. "Oh! I'm sorry little guy. I almost forgot about you," Nakaru breathed, almost inaudible. He took the rat out of the lab coat pocket and opened the box. The rat stood there and looked up at Nakaru, apparent fear in her eyes. "Shhh, don't be scared," he soothed. A loud of clap of thunder struck the air.