His dull monochromatic vision captured his parents in their most chaotic shouting match yet.
Isn't it about time that the two of you went your separate ways and give everyone else some peace and quiet?
"This isn't working. Putting up with your stupidity has become too taxing for me."
His mom said. "You think I have it in me to deal with your wily scheming
personality?" His dad shot back.
"It's time for us to go our separate ways and be rid of each other." "Finally, we agree on something."
There was a brief silence. Are they already regretting their decision? "What about him?" His breath hitched.
I would have to go with one of them! Would they make this a whole thing?
He looked up at his parents. I don't think so. They don't look like they'd want to fight over me. I guess I'll be dropped off at some orphanage or something.
"Honey, your dad and I are going our separate ways, and we wanted to ask you who you'll want to tag along with?"
…So they asked me. My life won't be any different no matter who I go with. He opened his mouth to answer.
FOURTEEN MONTHS LATER
"The Excavre Chemical Plant is one of the few North American plants that has their own atmospheric hydraulic chamber to test out gases to determine their properties and effects.
This hydraulic chamber is the oldest one in the world, since the invention of such chambers started here."
This is useless data. Harry had already absorbed everything there was to absorb about hydraulic chambers and their modifications for gaseous experiments.
He had no reason to be here. "Anyway, moving on to the next- hey! Wait! Get away from there!"
Hmm? Harry turned and saw his classmate, Boscoe, fiddling with a loose wire on the hatch of the atmospheric hydraulic chamber.
Shit. That thing is active. If he messes with such an old model… He burst into a run.
"Oi Boscoe! Cit that out! Seriously!" Boscoe turned and saw Harry running in his direction.
"It's a cool-ass red wire! You know, the kind you only see in spy movies when they're trying to defuse bombs.
I just wanna mess with it a bit, nothing dangerous. There's nothing in it anyway."
He yanked on the wire. "No!" A single spark was produced, then the chamber exploded.
The last thing Harry heard was Boscoe's screams before the colorless gas that had been released from the chamber made direct contact with his eyes.
Before he could scream however, a shockwave blew through the entire building, throwing him back and knocking him unconscious.
The gas continued to spread, with several of those inhaling dropping dead instantly, and a few falling unconscious like Harry, while the remainder was simply affected by the shockwave, causing non-fatal injuries.
At Excorp's headquarters, a call connected to the C.E.O.'s office. "We have bad news, sir. The gas has leaked, and it's spreading.
The entire plant has been compromised." James Excavre relaxed in his chair.
"Hmm. The world volunteered to be my test subject, then." "What about lawsuits?" The worried voice came across.
"There isn't a single device in the world that can detect the gas in the chamber." James shrugged.
"No one can prove anything." "And what about those who make it out alive?" There was a brief silence. "Quarantine them all, and run tests." "Understood."
Pitch black was all Harry could see since he regained consciousness. Weird. I don't think my eyes are closed. What the hell is going on? Where am I?
Vivian Argent bit her finger outside the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital Harry was admitted into.
That brat better not die. I need him alive to keep milking that useless idiot of his money.
The doctor walked out. "Your son is safe, but I'm afraid he'll be unable to see for the rest of his life."
Works for me. More money to gain from that idiot. Wearing a heartbroken face, she asked when she could see Harry, and when he would be discharged.
"You can see him right now, if you wish, and he'll be discharged soon. However, he won't be going with you. He'll be moved to a quarantine site and tested in isolation.
He has been exposed to a strange gas that has caused mutations in his genes, and Excorp, who is investigating it, has asked for the quarantine of all those who were exposed."
No. That won't fly. I'll need him close to me to keep milking that idiot of his money, at least until he's eighteen.
"Doctor," her voice had become sultry and seductive. She traced along his white coat, and pushed him to the door. I'm keeping him, no matter what.
She inched closer to him, until their bodies were almost touching. She lowered her voice to a husky whisper. "I have a favour to ask."
She leaned forward, nibbling lightly on his ear, and his body involuntarily shivered. "You'll help me, won't you?" The doctor gulped.
"Consider this advance payment." She pushed the door open, with the doctor trying to put space between them.
She chuckled slightly. "Shy of my blind son?" She asked teasingly.
Blind? Is that why I can't see anything even though I'm positive that my eyes are open?
Harry could guess what was happening from the sounds he heard around him. My mother is making out with the doctor in order to get me out of here with her.
Originally, I'm probably supposed to have been quarantined or something, but she wants the money my father sends every month, so she'll try her best to take me with her.
Disgusting. Giving your body away for money. That's practically prostitution. This doctor is just as bad.
Going against orders just to get some free sex. Flashes of Boscoe appeared in his mind.
Another useless idiot. He cost me my eyes. Are all humans this disgusting and useless?
The eight year old Harry lay there, wondering why humans were necessary in the world, amidst the moans of his mother and the doctor.
His hatred for the human race had began to sprout, causing him to disregard them completely.
EIGHT YEARS LATER
Harry glanced at his acceptance letter and sighed in satisfaction. The high school he had applied to had accepted him.
He turned the corner and stopped short. Something was wrong.
Three weeks after he was smuggled out of the hospital, geometric spirals, lines, arcs and grids began to fill his vision in an absurd chaotic manner.
He later realized that he hadn't really lost his sight, but could only see in geometric figures.
After a few weeks of struggling, Harry could use his eyes to operate like a normal person, but decided to keep pretending to be blind around others.
He endeavored to make the best of his eyes, and read books on structural analysis and engineering.
Numbers and letters appeared in his vision just fine, so it was easy for him to read.
And right now, what he was seeing was a female corpse on the second floor on his house.
Blood flowed out from a gash in her abdomen.
He quickly entered the house and dashed up the stairs to the second floor. It was the first time he'd seen a corpse, so he wasn't sure how to react.
Who could have done something like this? He appraised the body.
Killed by a violent slash. Signs of struggle, but no signs of breaking and entering.
A mutant must have done this. In that case, I'm not safe. What do I do? Moans and groans resounded in his mind.
Time to pay Doc a visit.