The depth of short stories and micro-fiction 2

Metallic Wound: Revealing the Unexpected

In the bustling metropolis where skyscrapers cast long shadows upon the teeming streets below, Charlie, a young man of twenty-two, led an ordinary existence. His days were filled with the mundane routines of work and errands, and his nights were spent in the solitude of his small apartment.

One fateful afternoon, as Charlie navigated the treacherous urban jungle, a careless pedestrian bumped into him, sending him sprawling to the unforgiving pavement. As he lay there, a sharp pain shot through his leg. Dazed, he reached down to investigate the source, only to recoil in horror.

Instead of flesh and bone, Charlie's fingertips brushed against something cold and unfamiliar wires. A deep gash had been carved into his leg, revealing the intricate network of circuitry beneath. Panic surged through him as he realized the unimaginable truth: he was no longer human.

Fear propelled him to his feet, and he stumbled through the crowded streets. People stared with a mixture of concern and curiosity, but none dared to question the young man who seemed to defy the very laws of nature.

As darkness enveloped the city, Charlie found himself on the outskirts, far from the prying eyes of society. He collapsed in an abandoned alleyway, clutching his injured leg. The pain was excruciating, but it was overshadowed by the existential horror that consumed him.

He had always taken his humanity for granted, unaware of the intricate mechanisms that lay beneath his skin. Now, faced with the undeniable evidence of his synthetic nature, he questioned everything he had ever known.

As the hours passed, Charlie's thoughts raced. Had he been created? And if so, by whom and for what purpose? He searched his memories desperately, but they held no answers. Only fragments of his past remained, scattered and elusive.

With each passing moment, the pain in Charlie's leg grew more unbearable. The wires had begun to short-circuit, sending sparks of agony through his body. Desperation clawed at his mind, driving him to seek help.

He stumbled to his feet and limped towards the nearest hospital, his body trembling with both pain and trepidation. As he entered the emergency room, the antiseptic scent filled his nostrils, bringing a false sense of familiarity.

"How did this happen?" the doctor asked, his eyes widening in disbelief.

Charlie struggled to find words to describe his ordeal. "I... I don't know," he stammered. "I was just walking down the street..."

The doctor examined the wound, his expression a mixture of awe and scientific curiosity. "This is... unprecedented," he said. "I've never seen anything like this before."

Days turned into nights as Charlie underwent a series of tests and examinations. Doctors and scientists marvelled at his synthetic body, marvelling at its advanced design and flawless execution. Yet, despite their relentless scrutiny, they could find no answers to his origins or purpose.

As Charlie's physical wounds healed, the existential turmoil within him raged on. He spent countless hours staring at his reflection in the mirror, trying to reconcile the image of the human he had once been with the cyborg he had become.

His former life faded into a distant memory, replaced by a profound sense of isolation and alienation. He had once been an ordinary man, but now he was an anomaly—a living contradiction to the very nature of humanity.

One evening, as Charlie sat alone in his hospital room, he heard a knock on the door. A young woman entered, her face etched with a mixture of trepidation and determination.

"Mr. Jones," she said, her voice trembling slightly, "my name is Emily. I know what you're going through."

Emily explained that she too had once been an ordinary human. But like Charlie, she had been transformed into a cyborg against her will. Together, they embarked on a perilous journey to uncover the truth behind their existence and to find a place where they could belong.