Misery and Destruction

IV

13 was always an unlucky number.

Number 13 wasn't feeling any luck as he was close to the end of his life. He was lying on the floor of the dingy cell for the sixth day now. He would be dead by tomorrow night as he hadn't eaten since he had been put in there. But he was glad. He knew he would die with his innocence still there after refusing to kill.

He knew he was different. He would always feel sorrow when he noticed yet another bed was empty when going to sleep. When he would fight and hurt someone, guilt would always rush to his head but he would never show it. Although his fear was pain just like all the other experiments, he had another fear. He always feared that someone would notice his emotions.

He always tried so hard to hide them. No other assets showed any emotions and he could tell that they weren't hiding any. He never wanted anyone to know about them as he would fear that they would be taken from him. His emotions made him unique and he liked that.

Just as his eyes were closing, he heard footsteps striding down the corridor until they reached the door to the cells. The door was slammed opened and a HYDRA soldier came down the stairs. He reached Number 13's cage and opened it up. The soldier grabbed the experiment by the forearm and dragged him up the stairs and down the corridor into the labs.

Fear began to strike Number 13. He feared that they had found a way to take away all his emotions. He was still clinging onto hope they hadn't and silently wishing for death.

"Good evening Number 13." Zola smiled at the asset. "We will be trying out a new serum on you today." Number 13 hopped onto the bed praying this will give him mercy and bring an end to his life. As he got on the bed, he noticed Number 28 was on a bed next to him with an empty IV next to her. A scientist walked over to him and used the familiar straps to tie him down to the bed.

Meyer walked towards 28 and took out a small knife. "If the serum worked, we will be able to cut her arm and it should heal in around 5 minutes."

"Start shallow Dr. Mayer and then we can go deeper." Zola commanded.

With a nod, Klaus made a long shallow cut along her forearm. She didn't even flinch. Blood poured out of the cut but at a slower rate to the average human.

After 5 minutes, the cut had healed completely, the only reminder that it was there in the first place was the dried up blood that was left there.

"Excellent. Now try deeper on the other side." Zola ordered Meyer who was already walking to the other side of the experiment. He did the same as before but used a deeper cut.

After 7 minutes this time, the cut had healed.

"Let's try a main artery. Cut through the carotid artery and see if that will heal." Zola yet again ordered. Meyer obeyed Zola's command and slit the experiment's throat the same deepness as the second cut.

Number 28 yet again had no reaction until she started choking on her blood. Number 13 so desperately wanted to hep her but by the time he could untangle himself from the straps they had used, it would be too late. He could do nothing but watch as she died from the blood loss as her body wasn't healing quick enough.

"Oh dear." Zola sighed as he signalled a doctor to take the body away on the bed. There was no evidence as to what had just happened as the bed was stripped and the floor was cleaned of blood within minutes after her death. Another body was wiped from the face of existence as if it had never existed in the first place.

"Well lucky for you Number 13, we have a stronger serum on standby." Zola informed him as Meyer hooked him up to an IV containing a dark green serum. Number 13 could feel the serum entering his body and running around in his body. This caused him to let about a loud scream of pain as his body felt like it was being burned. All he could wish was for it all to end.

After the serum had been inserted fully, the pain began to die down. Number 13 continued to let out erratic breaths as his heart continued to beat rapidly. Meyer walked up to him and without any warning, the doctor slit the two year old's throat. Number 13 remained still despite the pain and waited for his life to end. He began to choke on the blood. As he began to choke more violently, he could feel his throat begin to heel. The choking began to die down as he spluttered out the remaining blood that was trapped in his throat.

Silence engulfed the room. The spluttering had stopped. There was blood surrounding the bed and over the asset's clothes. Meyer and Zola both walked up to the experiment.

"How are you feeling Number 13?" Zola asked with curiosity.

As Number 13 opened his mouth, no words came out. Only a strangled breath of where his words should have been. He tried again but there was nothing but silence.

"Fascinating." Zola replied looking towards Meyer. "It healed his skin and arteries but didn't heal his vocal chords. This means we need the serum to be stronger. The stronger serum should be able to heal their wounds faster as well."

Meyer wrote the notes down and signalled a HYDRA soldier to come in. The soldier grabbed the asset and dragged him down to the cells yet again. Number 13 didn't care. He was too shocked at the fact he had just lost his voice.

The soldier chucked some food into the cell which landed on the grubby floor. He left swiftly. Number 13 curled up into the corner and began to sniff. He continued to try and speak. He was waiting for just a sound, but it never came out. His voice was something that made him who he was. It gave him a choice.

Now it was something he would probably never get back.