The Breaking Wheel

Chapter 68: Goodbye, Everyone

The pain. It was mounting, getting worse with every day that passed. Her body ached from her not taking care of herself. She felt weak all the time. Naga's words rang in her ears. Nightmares plagued her sleep, forcing her awake. She felt hollow inside. She had no feelings, no emotions, no nothing except for the pain and the guilt. There was no thought or passion in anything she did, she was just going through the motions.

She checked in and slowly limped through the corridors, heading to work.

Forget it. I can't handle this anymore.

She stopped and turned, heading to her office. Once she was inside, she trudged over to her desk and pulled open one of the drawers, retrieving a handgun she kept for self-defense. Despite that, she could never bring herself to use it on another human being.

Mr. Moore looked around. "Where's Collingwood?"

Dr. Buck shrugged. "Probably still making her way to work. Considering how mangled her leg is, I'm surprised that she can still walk."

John tilted his head back slightly, a confused looked on his face. "She's... in her office?"

Dr. Buck raised an eyebrow. "That is... strange. John, come with me."

Dr. Collingwood slowly loaded the gun, then raised it and aimed it at her temple.

No one will miss me anyways. I've done too much damage to heal. Goodbye, everyone.

Dr. Buck opened the door to Dr. Collingwood's office... then dropped her keycard and gasped in shock when she saw the researcher pointing a gun at her own head.

John shouted "NO!" and leaped across the room, seizing the gun in his large hands and ripping it away from her. Dr. Collingwood seemed to snap out of whatever had gotten her to nearly commit suicide and stood frozen still for a few seconds, then bolted out the door.

When they'd both caught up to her, she'd gone to work and ignored them the entire day.