Fragments Of Us

Victor and Kieran sat in the rooftop café, the sprawling lights of Horizon City stretching out like a glittering ocean before them. Victor leaned back in his chair; his gaze distant as he flicked ash from his cigarette.

"So, we're the rulers of the kingdom now, huh?" Victor's voice was casual, but the edge in his tone hinted at the weight behind the words. He rose from his seat, walking to the railing as the cool night wind tousled his blonde hair.

Kieran remained seated; his posture composed as he sipped from his coffee. "Rulers or prisoners to the throne? Hard to tell these days."

Victor smirked, taking a slow drag before tossing the half-burnt cigarette to the ground. "Let's check on your little bacteria. I want to see our handiwork up close."

Without waiting for a reply, Victor strode to the elevator, pressing the button for the underground levels. Kieran followed, his expression unreadable. As the elevator descended, the faint hum of machinery grew louder, and the polished metal walls reflected their silhouettes like ghostly doubles.

When the doors slid open at B3, a stark, sterile corridor stretched before them. The air was cooler here, the faint scent of disinfectant lingering. They walked in silence to the end of the hallway, stopping at a door labeled "Horizon Biotech - Lab 76."

Inside, the lab buzzed with quiet efficiency. Over a hundred researchers moved between stations, their focus unwavering. The hum of monitors and soft beeps of equipment created a rhythmic backdrop. As Victor and Kieran entered, a ripple of unease passed through the room—researchers glanced their way before quickly returning to their tasks.

Dr. Ethan, his lab coat slightly crumpled, approached with a clipboard in hand. His ginger hair was a chaotic mess, and his glasses perched precariously on his nose. "Ah, Dr. Kieran, Victor," he greeted, a nervous energy in his voice. "You'll want to see this."

Ethan led them through a secure door into a smaller, more controlled lab. In the center of the room stood a reinforced glass containment unit, illuminated by harsh white light. Inside lay what remained of Magnus Wren's body—or what used to be his body. The flesh had been almost entirely eaten away, exposing grotesquely degraded bones. Once the hallmark of his existence, was unraveling into oblivion.

Victor stepped closer, his reflection merging with the scene inside the glass. "Looks like he didn't live up to his god complex after all," he murmured, a faint smile curling at his lips.

Ethan handed Kieran a report, his voice tinged with a mix of pride and unease. "The bacteria worked even better than anticipated. In just six days, it's completely broken down his tissue, bones, and even genetic markers. By this time next week, there will be nothing left of Magnus Wren. And the self-replication mechanism is flawless—each bacterium lives only eight hours, but it creates an offspring before releasing an enzyme that destroys its host body."

"Elegant," Kieran said, flipping through the report. He glanced at Victor, who nodded, his satisfaction evident.

"Keep monitoring it," Kieran instructed. "We'll be back to review the next phase."

They returned to the main lab, where the lead researcher, Dr. Noah, waited for them. He looked tired but determined, standing amid a sea of data projections. "We're still analyzing the pandemic from sixty years ago," he reported. "Progress has been slow, but we're piecing it together bit by bit."

"No rush," Kieran replied smoothly. "Just make sure it's thorough. The last thing we need is loose ends."

As they exited the lab and walked back through the gleaming corridor, Victor spoke, his tone laced with dark amusement. "So, when do we let the world know that Magnus Wren is dead?"

Kieran adjusted his tie, his expression cool. "Next week will be the best time. Let them wonder for now."

Victor chuckled, the sound low and mirthless. "A fitting end for a man who thought he was untouchable. Let's see how the world reacts to a god's demise..."