Untitled | Chinthai Vongs (11)

They told me the first Law of Alchemy is “Equivalent Exchange.” That everything has a cost. In exchange for something, something of equal value must be given up in exchange. But it has its own stipulations. With its “Seven Principles” and strict lines of life. With an agreed upon taboo among alchemists is that human transmutation is forbidden. When I ask “why?” They told me that alchemy isn’t strictly a form of magic. It’s a science and an art that must still follow laws of nature. That “no science or even magic could ever bring someone back from the dead” is what they said. That “nothing is ever equal to a life, hence why transmutation wouldn’t work” they said. That “death is a finality in nature and shouldn't be broken.” is what they said. I intend to prove them wrong. I intend to do what they are all brainwashed and scared to do. I intend to break the laws of alchemy and nature. By bringing back my darling from the dead. 

We’re all composed of selective chemicals bonded in a way to make us up. Right here I have them all. My time, intensive research, and gory methods collected among this transmutation circle. We’re 99% major elements like Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus. .85% sulfur, potassium, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium. She has sulfur and sodium. The building blocks of alchemy but there’s no mercury as the third element. Though not the major issue here. I don’t know what will suffice as memory or DNA for her. Principle of vibration constitutes that everyone and everything has a unique vibration. Would a strand of hair be enough? Maybe her blood? Then I understand what I must do. Her bones have a unique vibration and follow all principles. They’ll be perfect.

Pitch black in the middle of the night is when I must go. Usual time for grave robbers and thieves to travel. So my trusty revolver may follow suit. These men desecrated corpses for few and far coins. Safe to say murder of a rich alchemist wouldn’t bother them much. These men go low enough to. It must be truly despicable in the eyes of God. So when I march up the gravel road it feels wrong. I’m here to dig up the bones of my wife. For a second I ask “Am I better than them?” Then disregard it. I’m here to save my wife and bring her home. Taking a sharp turn and walking into the grass until I reach a tombstone. “Ophelia May” it reads. So I started shoveling. Only 6 feet of mere dirt separate me and my wife. I keep going and going. Unrelenting in my efforts. A solid thud hits as I strike my shovel down. I dig around her casket. Eventually being able to dredge up her casket onto grass again. I hoist it on my back tied with chains from the laboratory. Then making the grueling walk home.

  “You're so close to home now” I say. I drop her casket and rustling bones onto the floor we once danced on. Picking her up and dragging her into the basement. Putting her in the middle of my transmutation circle. I grab all the ingredients and vials needed. Carefully placing them on the casket in neat rows. “We’re so close, honey. So close to you being back to me.” I stretch out my hands. Exerting my energy into the ritual. Slowly some of the liquid and flasks of elements seep slowly through the cracks into the casket. The air starts to swirl around the circle. “It's really working for us.” I say. The many vials and flasks shatter into pieces sending its content flying into the casket but its many sharp glass panes all around. After a couple of seconds I stopped. Even if I exert more energy nothing in there is combining anymore. I lift a side of the casket up to stand it up. A solid thud hits the ground as I lift it. As I thought to myself “She’s back.” 

I can’t wait anymore. It has been so long since I've seen her. So I open it up and I see her. “Blasphemy” I whisper. It was and wasn’t my wife. I see her luscious blonde hair now blood stained. Her dark brown eyes bulged and filled with blood. Her physique and posture distorted and bent. Her jaw mangled and barely held on. Her soft tones and joyful voice turned into a hollow shriek. I see her muscle torn before my eyes. Some of her bones poked through her skin. She’s leaking blood everywhere. Dripping from the bottom of her casket onto the floor. Staining the floor and my boots in a deep sanguine red. As if she knew, I saw her eyes filled with tears look around then look at me. Raising her arm towards me with her palm stretched and fingers spread. I reach out my left hand and interlock fingers with her. “What have I done to you?” as her warm blood travels down my palm. Her cries and shrieks quiet down and I hear 2 things said. “Kiiii…eeee.” My own wife is suffering at my own hands and begging to die. Unholstering my revolver is pointing it towards her as her eyes close. 2 shots drill into her head as immediately her arm falls limp. “They were right. She was right. Nothing is equal to a human life.” As I brandished the hot iron pistol for one more shot.