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Wednesday - September 15

The phone continues to ring, until Henry pushes the talk button. Henry stares at Raymond and says to the caller, "Yes, all five are present." Raymond tries to listen as best he can. He hears Henry say, "I believe everything's going according to plan." Raymond leans forward in his wheelchair, so he can hear as much as possible.

"It's all ready, nothing to worry about," muffles Henry into the phone.

Raymond notices Henry becomes jittery.

"Okay, tomorrow night, then." Henry disconnects the call, turns around to face Raymond, and stuffs the phone back into his breast pocket.

Erecting his back straight, Raymond questionably looks at Henry, asking, "Well? What did he say?"

Henry leans over to pick up the decanter and takes a sip of wine. He wipes his fist across his chin from where a drop fell, and sits on the arm of the chair. Taking a deep breath, he takes another sip, and having barely swallowed what he just inhaled, says, "It's definitely on, Raymond. It's definitely on."

Raymond continues to look at Henry as he finishes off the decanter. He turns his head, and once again sees his affliction being reflected in the empty, dark television screen. As Raymond gazes deeper into himself, he shuts his eyes, wishing that his discovery from forty-five years ago had never happened. He knew then that what he found would be used against humankind, instead of helping. If only he and test subject number three had not performed the research, then none of this unnecessary dying would be occurring. All the deaths of innocent people are now on Raymond's hands. He looks at his hands, and lets them drop onto his lap carelessly. He shuts his eyes, grunts to himself, "Damn you, Gerald! Damn you, Daniel! Rest a sure, God will damn us all."

Raymond opens his eyes when he hears a thump noise. Henry's drinking binge caused him to fall back into the chair, kicking the empty decanter, making it fall on its side as it drops to the floor. In his state of unconsciousness, Henry looks as if he, too, is weighing the world on his shoulders. Raymond puts his wheelchair into forward motion and goes to Henry. He reaches down and stands the empty decanter upright. Then he looks at Henry, and says, "Sleep well, Henry."

Raymond grabs the velvet bag and turns his wheelchair around. With his left hand, he grabs the mobile minibar, and steadily steers through the door, exiting into the hallway. Once the transportation is in harmony, Raymond stops to take another look at Henry before he closes the door, allowing Henry to enjoy his slumber.

Steering his wheelchair, with his minibar in tow, Raymond reaches his bedroom door. Thinking he hears something, he stops, turns his head, and peers down the hallway. While the hallway has one light on, Raymond finds it difficult to see clearly. He yells out, "Henry, is that you?" Waiting for a reply, he hears nothing. When he opens his bedroom door, Raymond hears a noise again. He pushes the door open, thrusts the minibar into his room, puts his wheelchair in forward motion, and quickly slams the door shut, locking it.

Scared, and sitting in the dark, Raymond commands the lights to turn on, but they don't. He repeats the command and still no response. Breathing heavily, Raymond pulls out his .357 Magnum that he hides in a holster underneath his seat. He grabs a flashlight from the side pocket of his wheelchair, turns it on, and starts to shine the light around his bedroom. He stops when he notices a figure standing in the corner. He shines the flashlight directly onto the intruder's face. After seeing who it is, Raymond says in relief, "Oh, it's you. What's with the hide and seek? You could've let me know you were coming, instead of concealing yourself like a scared animal," says Raymond over his shoulder, as he turns his wheelchair around, setting his gun on the minibar.

"Would you like a drink?" Hearing no response, Raymond notices a bottle of Jim Beam spouting its liquid gold onto the floor. Raymond turns his wheelchair around, and exhales, "Thank you," and quietly slumps in his chair, dropping the flashlight onto the floor.