DNA Research

My internship began when I was in high school, my junior year to be exact.1

I was always fascinated with snakes as a little boy. I would collect them, then when I went to sleep, my father would set them free. It was a never ending saga. My friend Elizabeth’s father, was head of a research facility that specialized in herpetology. I had met Dr. Williams a few times over the years when I was visiting her house. I expressed my desire to Liz, my nickname for her, when we were studying one day. She told me to ask her father about interning after school.2

We were juniors in high school. Liz and I had been very close since the seventh grade. We were both career driven and kind of introverted. We usually spent Friday nights together, so when she invited me for dinner, I thought nothing of it. During the meal, she blurted out “Dad, Steven has something he wants to ask you.”3

Mr. Williams turned to me and asked “Yes Steven, what is it you would like to know?”4

Even though I had been here a million times, I was nervous as hell. I had so much admiration and respect for this man that I felt inadequate. “Well” I began, “I was wondering if you might need an intern at the research facility?” I was sweating bullets.5

He looked at me sternly, then smiled saying “I wondered when you were going to ask me; Of course I can Steven. I would consider it an honor for you to learn by my side.”6

Relaxing a little, I had all kinds of emotions running through my head. From being shocked to excited. That was five years ago; I interned during the summer and after school until I graduated from college. Dr. Williams offered me a full time position joining his research team with the condition I call him Matt. I wholeheartedly accepted his offer. Liz had just completed her degree in Veterinary medicine and was working at the shelter. We had both accomplished our dreams, having specialized in our prospective fields.7

We had been working on a new strand of DNA, trying to splice genes from two species of snakes to make a more resilient one. We were working eighteen hour days, but I loved the challenge. I often slept at the lab. We were about to bridge a new, exciting barrier with our research. 8

One day, about two months into our research, my arm kept itching. Pulling back my sleeve, I noticed a red bump on my bicep. It itched like crazy. Liz came by later that day and I asked her about it.9

“Do you have any idea what this might be from?” I asked.10

She looked at it and shrugged “Looks like a spider or bug bite of some kind! Just don’t scratch it and get some calamine lotion for the itching.” She kissed my cheek and left to find her father. 11

Over the next few months, I was starting to feel completely exhausted.12

My eye site seemed to get blurry at times and the exposure to the sun was causing my skin to burn severely. I must be spending way too much time in the lab, I thought to myself. These symptoms continued to get worse over the next few months and a few more weird things presented themselves. My skin was extremely dry at first, and now, it was peeling off in layers. I had to wear sunglasses outside and cover my skin completely because of the burning. I was always cold. Starting to get concerned, I scheduled an appointment with my doctor. I told Dr. Williams I was going to be late coming in. He asked why and I told him about the appointment. He told me to cancel it and he would give me a check up. When I went in, he checked me over, telling me it was exhaustion and lack of exposure to the outdoors from working too much. He prescribed some of his home grown herbs for vitamins and gave me a shot of antibiotics then told me to go home and rest, which I did willingly.13

I awoke to what I thought was the next day. I turned on the television to catch the news as I made a cup of coffee. I was shocked I had slept all through out yesterday. Holy shit! I had missed a whole day. I hurried, showered, dressed and hopped into my car to get to the lab. I was still feeling a little groggy, but much better then I had been. When I arrived at the lab, the Dr. met me at the door and asked me why I was there.14

“Matt, I slept through all of yesterday” I replied. Then continued “I need to come in and get some work done or we are going to get behind with the project.”15

“Not to worry Steven; We are ahead of schedule. You need to get some more rest” he said. “Draw the shades and drink some of this.” He continued while he handed me some more herbal supplements. “I will stop by later to make sure you are okay and see if you need anything okay?” he asked.16

“Alright” I said weakly. I was in no condition to argue.17

I awoke to a knock at my door. It was dark outside. Matt was at the door with some groceries and his medical bag. “How are you?” he asked.18

“Not too good” I replied weakly as I made my way to sit down. Matt helped me to the chair. He went back to his bag and pulled out a syringe with a vial. ”I think you need another shot of antibiotics” he stated.19

“Matt” I asked “Are you sure that stuff is alright?” I continued “ I seem to feel worse since you started giving it to me. I can barely walk now and my hair is falling out. Something is seriously wrong with me.”20

“I need to go to a hospital” I cried. It was like my body was falling apart. The pain was excruciating. 21

“I’m sorry Steven. I can not allow you to do that!” he said as he gave me the shot. “You are too valuable to our research to let you get away.” His words echoed in my head as I passed out. 22

When I awoke, it was dark. I looked around we were back at the lab. What the hell was going on? Matt was in the corner across the room “What are you doing?” I asked.23

“Preparing your cage for you. Your metamorphosis is almost in its final stages.” He replied.24

“Matt, what the hell are you talking about?” I asked shaking. “You did this to me purposely?”25

“Yes Steven, I did. You were the perfect subject for this experiment. Just think, you will be famous when the study results are released.” He responded while continuing to mess with the large terrarium. 26

“I have been injecting you with genetically altered snake DNA for the last six months! Your mutation has taken a little longer then I thought it would, but that tends to happen sometimes” he continued “Now that you are in the final stages, I will keep you here until the metamorphosis is complete, then I can document the studies that will be conducted on you.” 27

“Matt, you can not do this! It’s inhumane and against the law” I pleaded with him.28

“It’s too late Steven! There is no reversal for this! Keep in mind you are helping mankind. Be proud of your contribution.” He stated bluntly.29

My hands were banded behind my back and he had a chain around my neck. I had to figure away to get out of here. I kept wiggling my hands in the bands; the skin was falling off me in layers. It was easy to loosen them. I waited until he had left that part of the lab. Removing the bands from my hands, then my feet, I began working on the chain around my neck. Moving the chair around, I managed to move myself to the desk. Opening the drawer, I found the keys to remove the neck chain, just as Matt returned. 30

He saw that I had freed myself and ran toward me. I was so weak, but fighting for my life. We began wrestling on the floor. In the process of the fight, one of us knocked over a bunsen burner. A fire broke out in the lab. I knew scientifically, my life was over because of what he had done, but I would be damned if he was going to make a science freak out of me or anyone else. We continued fighting as the fire grew. Picking up a heavy microscope, I smashed it down on his head knocking him out. He was bleeding pretty badly, but I didn’t care. Trying to walk to the door was impossible; the muscles in my legs were jelly. He was right; the metamorphosis was almost complete. Laying there on the floor my only concern was Liz never know what a monster her father really was. It would kill her. I loved her, that she would never know either. My last thoughts were, science had been my life, now it had consumed me, as the flames engulfed the atrocity that I had become. 31