The Iso-Stasis Experiment (The Experiments)

by Jacqueline Druga

  Picking up the remote control he said, “I guess it’s time to let all of you enjoy the event and see your horses.” He flicked on the monitors and each screen lit up, some showing empty rooms, some filled. “May I say may the best man win?”

  Aldo shook his head, distracting everyone’s attention as they tried to see who they had. “You didn’t mention what the Catch is this experiment.”

  “I apologize.” Dr. Jefferson stepped closer to the screens. “The Catch is the heart of the experiment. In the past it has usually been ours. Not this time. One of you has The Catch.” Dr. Jefferson pointed to the screen. “One of these eight people is a homicidal maniac. We, for experiment purposes, paid for his release. This participant thrives on the kill. We won’t reveal who it is, but he is brilliant.” Dr. Jefferson smiled impressed with himself. “Keep in mind that looks, gender and history may be deceiving.”

  Aldo and Ivan stepped closer to the monitor as they each looked for their person. “A homicidal maniac? Shit, this will make for an interesting inside bet with the investors, don’t you think?” Aldo commented thoughtfully.

  “Oh, most definitely.” Ivan leaned forward, carefully scanning the monitors. “But which one is it?”

  ^^^^

  The slow motion video tape played on all twelve monitors. Each of the investors was shown scenes from the previous week highlighting their ‘horse’ as they called them. They were on the last one, the best one, as Dr. Jefferson put it. Aldo stood the closest to the monitor. He held a short glass filled with ice, the scotch whiskey barely covering it. He sipped the scotch slowly and watched.

  It played in slow motion, twice because everyone seemed to get a kick out of it. The clip showed Jake standing up in defense of Cal, who was obviously in no need of his protection, storming over and slugging John Montgomery, knocking him to the floor.

  “Again,” Aldo called out as he watched closely.

  “No, not again,” Dr. Jefferson said. “It’s time to watch what they are doing now.” He turned off the recordings and let the live scenes play.

  “I’ll be damned.” Aldo stared at the single monitor where Cal stood preparing her meal. “I’ll be damned. That’s my girl.” The large diamond ring on his forefinger sparkled as he tapped on the screen. “Cute little thing, isn’t she?”

  “Very much so, yes she is,” Dr. Jefferson said and stepped closer to the table. “If I could, I’d like to have everyone’s attention for one last moment.” When he knew he had everyone’s attention, he reached in his pocket and held up a gold coin. The mental phase is to begin in one week.” He showed everyone the coin. “This is how we determine who will be pushed. Which four it will be? Ivan, you call it.”

  Ivan looked for a moment at the name ‘Rickie’ printed on his card. “Since my horse is seven, heads will be even.”

  Dr. Jefferson tossed the coin in the air. It flipped several times landing in the palm of his hand. He slammed it on the back of his other hand and covered it. He peeked under his hand and then held up the shiny gold coin. “Heads it is.” Smiling, he began to walk to the back of the room, paused, and clasping the coin tightly in his fisted hand said, “Two, four, six or eight. This early on . . . which one will break?” Placing his hand holding the coin in his pocket, Dr. Jefferson opened the doors to the full viewing area. “Let the game begin.”

  MIND TRIP

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  I-S.E. Twelve - Seal River Complex, Manitoba, Canada

  August 18 - 12:05 A.M.

  Dressed in black baseball caps and all black clothing, they faded into the darkness of the elevator shaft where they stood. Carl and Hawk, the Caldwell site controllers, headphones on stood quietly waiting. They appeared as twins in every way aside from the way they dressed. Both were in their early thirties, had the same medium build and buzzed brown hair.

  Lowering his infrared goggles, Carl brought the microphone of his headset closer to his mouth, he whispered, “Stan, come on. What’s going on?” He covered the microphone and looked to Hawk. “This is ridiculous.”

  “I say we go for it.” Hawk shrugged.

  “Stan,” Carl tried again. “Let’s go. What’s going on?”

  Caldwell Research Institute, Atlanta, GA

  August 18 - 12:05 A.M.

  With his arms folded, Lyle stepped back from the monitors. “Stan, tell them to go on. The barflies are pretty much hammered.”

  With a nod Stan brought the phone to his ear. “Go for it. Lyle says they’re oblivious.” Hanging up, Stan stood up and walked over to where Lyle peered at the monitors showing Cal’s and Jake’s rooms. “You know, it’s bad enough that Cal and Jake spend every waking moment together. But do they have to stay up so late? They’re killing us.”

  “And boring us,” Lyle said. “They could at least have sex.”

  “Tell me about it,” Stan said perturbed and then his face lit up brightly as he pointed. “Oh, yeah, here we go. Check out monitor eight.”

  Through the monitor of Jennifer’s room the darkness slowly disbursed as a hint of light raised up from the floor from the elevator shaft. The door of the elevator opened silently and Carl and Hawk emerged.

  I-S.E. Twelve - Seal River Complex, Manitoba, Canada

  August 18 - 12:07 A.M.

  Holding the syringe in his black gloved hand, Carl tapped once on the side to remove the bubbles. Standing beside the sleeping Jennifer, Carl motioned his head to Hawk. With a nod, Hawk took a breath and gently held Jennifer’s shoulders against the bed. Leaning down Carl placed the needle to Jennifer’s neck and injected the drug.

  Jennifer’s eyes opened at the pinch of the injection. Just as she was about to scream, Hawk covered her mouth with his hand. Her body thrashed violently as she struggled and then she was still.

  Hawk slowly lifted his hand. “She’s out. Grab her feet.”

  Sticking the syringe back in his pocket, Carl grabbed Jennifer’s feet and lifted Hawk grabbed her shoulders. Grunting, they carried her to the elevator. After hitting the ‘down’ button with his elbow, and giving Hawk a, ‘shit is she heavy look,’ Carl watched the elevator doors close.

  ^^^^

  Jake walked—not as straight as usually did—through the bathroom into Cal’s room. In each hand he held a bottle of beer. Wearing his work out shorts and a tee shirt, he strutted in and plopped down on bedspread she had spread on the floor. Sitting across from her with one leg bent up to his chest, he handed her a bottle. “And this is it. You’re drunk and I’ve had way past my limit.” Jake reached down with his free hand and picked up the empty bottle of Jack Daniels. “We’ve had way too much to drink tonight. That’s all we did.”

  “I am not drunk.” Cal sat up folding her legs. “Please. Besides, what else are we going to do?” She brought the bottle to her mouth.

  Jake watched her, mind drifting, as she wrapped her lips around the ring of the long neck. “Um . . .” he ran his hand over his face trying to wipe the thoughts away. As his hand dropped down, he saw her clock. “God, is that the time? We’ve been sitting here on this floor drinking for over four hours.”

  “That’s not all we’ve done. Of course, it started out as just one drink while we worked on our twig city we’re building…” she pointed vaguely in its direction, “…and it’s coming along. Then we got into how you failed…again…to get Fr. Dan’s book. He’s going to worry about you Jake, what’s that excuse you used three times this week? You wanted to confess?”

  “I tried. However, I’m glad we agreed to hold off on Fr. Dan and go for Jennifer.”

  “Now there’s someone you can distract. All you have to do is sleep with her.” She snickered at his whine. “It’s the only way you’ll be able to do it, Jake. I think you’re losing your edge.”

  “I am not.” Jake was adamant.

  “You are, too. When you first got here you were the big military Ranger guy. Now look at you.”

  “I can still go into that mode. And don’t you forget it.” Jake, holding his bottle, extended h
is index finger toward her. As Cal tried to swipe his point away, he snatched up her hand in his other hand and held it. “I’m just this way around you.” He released her hand and took a drink.

  “Why is that?”

  “Because I like you,” Jake said and leaned back resting his body up on his elbow.

  “Do you like me enough to cover my bed with flowers?”

  With an open smile Jake shook his head. “Don’t . . . I told you I didn’t do that. Now do I look like a sensitive guy? Think about what I do for a living.

  “Speaking of which. . .” Cal set her beer down. “What is Major Graison going to do for a living after he retires?”

  “I don’t plan on retiring for a while. I’m in this for the long run, the whole nine yards. I’m taking it as far as I can.” Jake fiddled with the bottle between his two hands.

  “You mean like, General Graison?”

  “Sure.” He kept his head down and just raised his eyes to meet hers.

  “I can see that.” Cal nodded. “I can definitely see that.”

  “Yeah, me, too,” Jake said and lowered his eyes. “I should be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel after we get back. But . . .” Jake shook his head and finished his beer, setting the bottle off to the side. “. . . I know I’m doing this for myself right? But . . . I guess it would be nice to have someone be proud of you. Do you realize you’re the first person I told about that promotion?”

  “Then I certainly hope I’m the first person you call when it happens. In fact, I’ll come down and share in your moment. I’ll be proud of you.” She reached across, grabbed his wrist tightly and held it.

  Jake lifted himself a bit from the floor. “You really mean that?”

  “Oh, I absolutely do. Imagine how close we are going to be in six months.” Cal gave him a reassuring look. “I consider you my friend. And take that as a compliment. I don’t consider anyone a friend.”

  “God, that’s scary.” Jake rubbed his tired eyes. “I could have said the same thing. Know that I consider you a friend, too, Cal.”

  “Good.” Cal smiled and leaned her head back against the side of her bed. “Because you know everyone else hates us.”

  “You aren’t kidding. Maybe if they liked us we could be trusted enough to go steal their books.” He saw Cal laugh and nearly choke on her beer. “But . . . ask me if I care.”

  “Do you care?” She set her beer back down.

  “I could give a fuck. I worry about me.” He pointed to his chest. “And I worry about you.” He placed his index finger on her chest. “That’s it. And I hope that’s the way it is with you.”

  “Most definitely. We’re friends right?”

  “Right.” Jake edged a bit closer to her. “And as your friend…” He paused as he felt her bended knee against his stomach and reached for her hair. “What is this thing on the top of your head?”

  “It’s a ponytail.” Cal chuckled.

  “I don’t like it.” Sticking his middle finger in the band that held it, he popped it off releasing her hair. “I like it better down.” The softness of her hair fell upon the back of his hand. He extended his fingers grabbing it, pulling it down. “That’s much better.” His words softened as his hand released her hair and he gently grabbed the back of her neck. Pulling her to him, he parted his lips and brought them close to hers, and then hesitated. His eyes never left hers and he could feel her breath on his.

  “What’s wrong?” Cal asked softly.

  Taking a deep breath, and slowly shaking his head, his eyes half closed, Jake bit his bottom lip. “It’s getting late. We have to be up early to work out.” He scooted back away from her and stood up. “I have to go. I’m getting tired; the alcohol’s getting to me.”

  “Jake?” Cal grabbed his hand before he could get away. “Stay a little longer.”

  “No.” Jake shook his head still biting his lip, still holding her hand. “We’ve been drinking. I know where this is leading.”

  “So what?” Cal tried to pull him back.

  “No-No.” Jake pulled his hand away letting his fingers slip slowly from hers. “Right now I’m in a state I rarely drink myself into. If something is going to happen, I want to be in control of all my faculties and you sober enough to realize exactly what you’re doing.”

  “I may not be as appealing to you when you’re sober.”

  Jake fluttered his lips, throwing his head back. “Doubtful.” He crouched down to the floor to her in a squat. “You can never look unappealing to me.” He ran his hand down her face. “But, uh . . . I’ll tell you what.” He rubbed his lips together to moisten them. “When you are completely sober, let me know when it’s all right to hit on you, because I’d love to have that opportunity.” Jake smiled as he stood up, holding out his hand, he grabbed Cal’s and pulled her to her feet. “Get some sleep.”

  “I will. Goodnight, Major Graison.”

  With a glossy-eyed smile, Jake stepped back toward the bathroom letting his hand slide from hers. “Goodnight, Ms. Reynolds.”

  Cal waited until he disappeared into his side of the suite and then looked at the mess on the floor. Immediately she began to pick it up. As she did, she realized Jake was right. Her head was heavy and her mind not as clear as it should be and glad she hadn’t pressed Jake. After all, they had killed a bottle of whiskey as well as numerous beers. It was better not take a chance of waking up in the morning feeling like she had made a mistake and wishing she hadn’t gotten her courage from the bottom of a bottle.

  Shoving everything into a corner where it could wait until the next day, Cal both longed for and dreaded her bed. Her body was tired and yet she knew as soon as she plopped down on the bed the ceiling would start to move. Fortunately, she thought, it wouldn’t be long before she passed out.

  ^^^^

  Jessie’s blonde hair was so shiny in Cal’s dream. Cal loved to play with it, running her fingers through the undamaged softness of it. Jessie giggled as she lay on her stomach, hands propping up her chin, facing her mother lying the same way on the bedroom floor. “Jess, you really should wear your hair shorter.” Cal reached up and touched it. Her hair felt so real, so life like. Cal knew in her mind it was a dream; she had them so often. She loved when they occurred. “I think it would look so cute.”

  “Mom, no, I’d look like a boy.” Jessie playfully smacked away her mother’s hand. “You look happy, Mom.”

  Cal lowered her head, lifting only her smiling eyes. “I feel happy. Jess . . . I met this guy. He makes me forget.” Cal reached her hand out toward her daughter. “He really makes me forget.”

  “Is he cute?”

  “I think so.” Cal nodded. “And he’s strong. He’s so strong he could take it all away. Oh, Jess, you would like him. He’d like you, too.” Cal became saddened.

  “What’s the matter, Mommy, doesn’t he like you?”

  Cal felt her daughter’s small hand on her face. She tilted into it and placed her hand over it. “Oh Jessie, I just miss you so much. I miss you more than . . .”

  “Mommy?”

  A voice? Jessie’s voice? But it wasn’t part of Cal’s dream. She twitched her head away in her dream to look and when she turned back. Jessie was gone.

  “Mommy. Oh, Mommy.”

  Cal’s eyes opened, immediately focusing on the clock. Three AM. Am I dreaming still? The voice still called to her. Cal, lying on her bed, still dressed, still above the covers, struggled to sit up. Her head was still heavy and she was still feeling the effects of the booze. As her blurry vision cleared somewhat, she saw in the corner of the room something that horrified her. It filled her skin with chills and caused her heart to race.

  “Mommy?” Jessie stood there, appearing almost see-through, holding out her hand, waving. She wore the blue dress Cal had bought her for the sixth grade dance.

  Cal rubbed her eyes. “No, I’m still drunk. This is a dream.” Her mind told her that over and over, that it was a dream. “No.” Cal scooted her body up in the bed, bringing her knee
s close to her chest. She wanted with every ounce of her being to turn away, but no matter how unreal it was, there before her was a vision of her daughter.

  “Mommy, why did you let him take me?” Jessie asked. “Why, Mommy? Why did you let him do that to me?” The beautiful sight of Jessie turned horrific as flames burst around her, engulfing her body. She screamed in agony calling out for her mother to help her. Her delicate skin melted from her before Cal’s eyes.

  “No.” Cal covered her ears and buried her head in her knees. “This is a trick, a bad trick.” Rocking back and forth, her head still spinning, the muffled sounds of her daughter’s cries finally stopped. Cal lifted her head and looked around. The room was dark, quiet, normal. She took a deep breath, her hands shaking, and got up from the bed. “It was a dream.” A stem of fear brewed within her, making her just a little frightened to be alone. Without thinking she went to the bathroom and then stopped before she went through to Jake’s side. “I can’t wake him for a nightmare. He’ll think I’m nuts.” She pulled her hand back, wiping the sweat on her bare leg. “What was I thinking?” She walked slowly back to her room. Although difficult, since she was still feeling bewildered from her experience, Cal lay back down, and tried to sleep.

  CHAPTER NINE

  I-S.E. Twelve - Seal River Complex, Manitoba, Canada

  August 18 - 7:20 A.M.

  Cal darted quickly back into her room. She had to because she didn’t want anyone to see her. She had tried to fall back to sleep after her nightmare, but only dozed, snapping herself awake for fear she would dream again. But Cal knew she had her opportunity when she heard Jennifer giggling in the hallway. She was taking her morning walk before breakfast. That would give Cal enough time to get Jennifer’s book, read it with Jake and put it back before she returned. It actually worked out in her favor that Jake didn’t wake her for the morning workout. In fact, Jake was still sleeping, definitely an oddity for him.