Atom

Prologue

Current objective- salt. I watch the small, circular atoms fuse together, slowly at first but faster and faster. Grinning impishly, I lean back as the atoms work their magic.

"How is the project coming, Martinelli?" Professor Bronkit asks glumly, glancing up from her own atoms. A twinge of annoyance pings in my head, knowing that she thinks the project is a waste of money. I sit forward and stare into my microscope, a fake smile on my face as usual.

"Quite well actually. Never seen them work this hard. I can almost see the grain without a microscope." I say, focusing on the atoms, but become confused when I see an atom vibrating quite harshly. I quickly put it out of my mind, nothing to worry about. I feel my brain slowly go through motions. Check on the right side, the left, the atoms swimming across my vision. Minutes pass, then an hour.

"Randell, Randell. Are you there? Hurry up, the nuclear reactor is in critical condition! We need to leave. Now!" I wake up to Bronkit frantically shaking my shoulder, screaming in my face. I bolt up and blink the sleep out of my groggy eyes. Crimson flashing lights bathe the lab in an eerie glow.

I grab my laptop and messenger bag. Bronkit waits for me and we both run down the hall way, twisting in and out of the labyrinth of corridors. A thought strikes me as the two of us bolt down the neuroscience lab.

"We forgot to put the atoms away!" I shriek, and whip around. Sharp nails dig into my arm as I try to run down the hall.

"Do you want to survive, or do you want to die saving a project that never had a chance?" Bronkit says, staring me straight in the eyes. It takes my mind less than a second to think. I grunt in acceptance and begin to bolt down the hallway. Within seconds, the blinding white light of the outside snow shines down upon us.

Garbled voices surround us, and a chorus of clicks and snaps from cameras greet us. I shade my face from the lights just as security escorts us from the front of the building. The crunching of the snow under-boot, the rough hands guiding us through the thick crowd and lead us to ambulances. A doctor helps us into the ambulance, and put oxygen masks on the both of us.

They soon took interest in our radiation levels. Of course, everyone has a radiation zone, otherwise they wouldn't survive, but this time, it was critical that they knew. Bronkit and I were scanned and prodded, but within a few minutes, we were given a clean bill of health. They gave both of us a stress blanket and left us to our own devices.

"Well, at least we are alive? I guess, though I wonder what had happened to the reactor. Now, we have a week of leisure and relaxing to fulfil." Bronkit says, exhaustion coating her voice. I look over at my coworker, and feel a little bit of pity for the woman.

"Hey, at least you will finally be able to celebrate your daughter's birthday with your daughter. Turning 14, is she?" I ask, attempting to make small talk.

"15, but she is having a friend over, so it will joyful to have actual fun with my daughter. Anyway, I must go. They told me as soon as we check in with the head of department, we may leave. Would you like to come with?" She asks, but walks off as soon as she finishes. I hurry to catch up, but loose her in the crowd. With an annoyed sigh, I go on a hunt for the head of department.

Fifteen minutes later, I sit in my old 2009 Camry, and pull out a pack of cigarettes. I feel the thin plastic break as I pull the small tag from the wrapping. Grasp the cigarette, light the lighter, draw in a long breath, and take a long breath out. I feel my head clear, my muddled thoughts finally going into the drawers that they were intended for.

Finishing my smoke break, I start the old car and back out of the parking spot. As I come up the entrance to the parking lot, I check my mirror and get a quick glance of the yellow light-tinted nuclear reactor.

"Just another normal day in Lucas, Kentucky. December 15, 2019.