Dorothy: Book 3 Chapter 3

## Verse 1

That was **three days ago**.

The day she learned her bank account was **frozen** was the day she was **banned** from the scientific community.

She glared at the letter in her hand and spoke with helpless defiance.

"Th-They never understood my work anyway. Hah!

No more theories... I'll **prove** I'm right! My priority is completing the machine!"

Humming to her own madcap tune, she ripped the letter to shreds.

 I managed to get the parts I was looking for.

 I was sure I checked the control program.

 I completed the tests...

 Or at least... I thought I did.

## Verse 2

"Are you all right... mentally?"

a professor once asked.

"I could ask you the same thing!" That was my last day on campus.

## Verse 3

Even scientific forums and

social media groups ignore me!

They treat me like I don't exist.

## Verse 4

I guess it's to be expected...

Genius is rarely recognized in its own time.

My research is beyond their feeble minds!

## Verse 5

To hell with that crackpot school lab!

All they do there is hold each other back!

The brightest get their fires snuffed out

while ghostwriter hacks win praise!

## Verse 6

I want to do my own research!

I want to put my theories into practice!

And if anyone gets in my way...

they'll make a perfect test subject!

## Verse 7

I called for a male companion in the night.

Perhaps expecting a special service of some kind,

a middle-aged man came obliviously to my door.

I threw him in the machine and sent him through time.

## Verse 8

He returned,

charred to a crisp.

The bitter smell of burnt hair

wafted across the lab,

forcing me to use an air freshener.

## Verse 9

My beloved machine is nearly complete.

I just need to perform a few more tests.

But who would be my next lucky subject?

## Verse 10

*Before*

"The bespectacled woman marched down the street, inspecting each person she saw.

Some were met with a **scrutinizing** gaze. Others, with amusement.

"I need someone who is **alone**. Someone no one will miss... Someone with no **ties**."

As she looked down an alley, she remembered something.

"Ah, yes... **The girl** I met a few days ago. She would be perfect!"

She licked her lips, moistening them with **lust**.

 I'm happy as long as I have my samples.

 Okay, everyone. Into my lab...

 Let's celebrate its completion!

*After*

Over the course of these past few days, how many people must have gone **missing**, mysteriously?

In a single room of the apartment building, a woman could be heard humming cheerfully.

"That's enough testing for now. Just a couple more adjustments, and... There. Now I can try it myself!"

Sleepless nights and unbridled passion had turned her eyes a fiery red. She hadn't slept for days, but she didn't feel remotely fatigued.

Whatever **humanity** or **morality** she once held was **lost** long ago.

## Discordant Poem

Geniuses are always misunderstood.

That's just how society works.

But when a genius is pushed too far...

I've worked out the theory,

now I just need to test it!

That's what scientists do, after all.

So no one had better try to stop me!

She was a genius gone mad.

Her obsession was unstoppable.

Common sense was lost on her.

All that remained inside her heart was...

eagerness toward her research.