Gemotions

The flickering fluorescent lights of the deserted lab seemed to buzz with a malevolent energy, mirroring the feeling churning in Elias’s stomach. He clutched the prototype tighter, its smooth surface cold against his clammy palms. He’d poured everything into this, every late night, every missed social gathering. Now, staring at the presentation slides projected on the wall, the same diagrams, the same code, he felt a crushing weight settle on his chest. It was like someone had reached inside him and ripped out his heart, then showed it to him.

"Interesting," a voice drawled from the doorway. Elias didn't look up, his fingers still tracing the outline of the device.

He recognized the tone immediately, the practiced, polished self-assurance of Dr. Chen. Elias forced himself to speak, his voice a mere whisper, “You… you’ve been working on this too?”

A laugh, sharp and brittle, cut through the silence. "Seems so."