Gemotions

Liam stared at the closed door, the brass plate gleaming mockingly in the afternoon sun. He’d expected to find Dr. Ramirez hunched over a microscope, his face illuminated by the green glow of the lab. Instead, the door was locked, a faded notice taped to the glass window announcing the closure of the research facility due to "unforeseen circumstances." Unforeseen? Liam’s stomach churned, a knot tightening in his chest.

He felt a sudden, urgent need to understand. He'd poured years into his apprenticeship under the Doctor, his career trajectory carved in his image. He’d planned to ask for guidance on his new project this week. Liam slammed his fist against the door, a frustrated burst of sound in the sudden quiet of the hallway. The metallic clang echoed in his ears, a lonely, unanswered reply.