Chapter 27 – Iris
When I reached the basement I saw Otto walking with gingerly steps towards my lab.
“Look who’s here!”, I shouted with abrasive irony, and Otto stopped, startled
“Oh hello”, he replied, trying to disguise his nervousness
“You didn’t expect to see me again?”, I asked sardonically
“Why, of course I did”, Otto replied with false candor
“Ah! You did. Of course. I am curious about what happened yesterday night, but perhaps what happened to my samples is an even more interesting topic of conversation”, I laughed acridly
Otto looked at me with simulated surprise.
“Why don’t we go to the lab and talk there”, he told me
“Right, why don’t we?”, I echoed back, walking towards the lab
“You are so shaken, why don’t you sit down and have a drink, a sip of juice maybe. Here, I just purchased a couple of bottles on my way here”, he said, as if he cared
“Keep your drinks for yourself!”, I screamed
“But I want you to have a drink”, he insisted, approaching me with a strange expression
I felt a sudden rush of fear, and droplets of cold sweat coagulated on my skin.
“No…”, I refused, but before I could pull back he began pouring the liquid down my throat. He pulled my head backwards tugging on my hair, pressing his body against mine, immobilizing me as the bitter-sweet fluid chocked me.
I thought I would die. I believe I lost conscience for a moment, but then something happened. One cannot tell how much force one has till the moment comes when one must use it or die. I coughed. I pushed back with all the hatred, the anger, the despair and the pain I had in me, and darkness exploded into light, my bound body became free and I found myself spitting juice on Otto’s body, as he lay on the floor streaked in blood.
I opened the chemical cabinet and took a concentrated solution of mercury cyanide. I tilted Otto’s head backwards and began pouring slowly, so that all the liquid went down his throat and not a single drop spilled on the floor.
When I finished I closed the empty bottle and placed it back in the cabinet. Then I washed my hands and my face, I closed my coat to hide the spots of juice and blood on my shirt, I shut the door and walked away with regular, unhurried steps.