Dr. Brookes's Story

Soft notes rang in the office. A lone man looking over his notes in a darkened room as a grandfather clock ticks away in the corner. The room itself reflecting the turmoil within Dr. Brookes as papers fall to the floor, patient notes, schedules, order forms, everything being tossed aside and strewn about the floor. Looking around his solitary office, no light except for a deep blue coming from a lamp next to a set of chemicals. Several vials, concoctions of different shapes and sizes adorned the shelf next to his desk. Each one especially labeled by number as they loomed over. Six thousand eighty two, six thousand eighty four, five thousand sixty three, four thousand twenty nine. These numbers meant nothing, more of a reference for his work. Looking over at the clock Dr. Brookes stood, thinking to himself before flicking the lights on. "Recreation. Almost time to begin experiments." Brookes looked over in his newly illuminated office, collected patient files and a face mask. Soon it would be time. He made one last look around his office, noting the intercom and a record player. A smile came to his face, a small idea formed in his head. Taping the button down, placing a vinyl record in the player, turning the volume up as high as it could go, and stepped out into the hall. Almost as if on cue Beethoven's fifth started to play through the intercom to the whole Institution. Walking down the hall, Brookes passed by several nurses and doctors. Most just stared then averted their eyes, others went about their business as he went through the hall. No one addressed him, not a single person would glance in his direction for long. Brookes paid this no mind. Reaching the recreation room, Brookes looked inside to see several patients inside and isolated from each other. He moved his glance from one person to another, never focusing for long before retreating into the hall again. He made notes and went to the testing area, making preparations for his next experiment.