I found a secret dark room in my husband, Dr. Julian Thorne’s, study. Inside, dozens of glass jars held specimens of my body parts. From a fingernail he’d snipped when we first held hands, to a strand of hair he’d collected after our intimacy last night. And in the center of the room, a recording device looped my own voice. “Help me, Julian, please, no, it hurts…” It was the recording of my pleas from the operating room when I had my unexpected miscarriage last month. Just as I was about to flee, a cold touch grazed the back of my neck. “Elara, you finally found it.” “Every time you cry, I want to turn you into the most perfect specimen.” My blood ran cold. Suddenly, another woman’s seductive laugh cut into the recording: “Julian, when will you get me your wife’s vocal cord specimen?” I spun around. Dr. Julian Thorne stood at the dark room’s entrance, a scalpel in his hand. “You… you’ve been collecting these all this time?” My voice trembled. “Since our wedding day.” He took a step forward, his movements silent on the floor. “You said you loved all of me, including my professional habits, remember?” I was a medical student, and he was the youngest forensic professor. Our union had once been called a match made in heaven. But now, I just felt sick to my stomach. “What about that recording?” I pointed at the device in the center of the room. “The recording from the day of my miscarriage, why is Serena Bellwether’s voice on it?” Serena Bellwether was his ex-girlfriend. She had returned from overseas three months ago and started working at the same hospital. Julian stopped, the tip of the scalpel resting against his fingertip. “Serena is just interested in my research.” He said it nonchalantly. “She wanted a complete vocal cord specimen for a teaching model. I thought yours would be perfect.” “Perfect?” I almost laughed through my tears. “Julian, I’m your wife!” “So?” He tilted his head, a dismissive smile playing on his lips. “Elara, you’re too emotional. Science requires sacrifice.” He took another step closer. I instinctively recoiled, my lower back hitting the cabinet displaying finger specimens. That little finger in the jar still had my favorite nude pink nail polish on it. It was from a cut I’d accidentally gotten while cooking last month. “You want to turn me into a specimen? Like those corpses?” Julian smiled. But now, I just felt a chill run down my spine. “You’re different from them.” He spoke softly. “You’re a living work of art, and I will make you my most perfect masterpiece.” His hand reached for me. I screamed, shoved him away, and rushed for the dark room door. But it was locked. “Let me go!” I pounded frantically on the door. “Julian, you’re insane! This is illegal!” He hugged me from behind, his lips against my ear. “The law only protects the living.” “And here, to me, you’re already a beautiful corpse awaiting dissection.” I struggled violently, my nails scratching his hand. Beads of blood surfaced, and he actually lowered his head to lick them away, his eyes filled with a disturbing fascination. “Even your struggle is beautiful.” He sighed. “Unfortunately, time’s up.” Before I could ask, I felt a sharp sting on my neck. A needle pierced my skin. A cold liquid pushed into my veins, and my limbs began to go numb. Before my vision blurred, I saw the dark room slowly open. Serena walked in, wearing a nurse’s uniform and pushing a cart of surgical instruments. She leaned over me, her smile cruel. “Elara, don’t worry, Julian’s technique is excellent, it won’t hurt.” “Once you’re a specimen, you can stay by his side forever.” Julian took the scalpel she offered, its blade resting against my throat. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. In my final moments, I heard him say: “In your next life, don’t be my wife again.” “What’s too easily obtained is always tempting to destroy.”
When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in our master bedroom. My body felt no numbness. I sat up abruptly and rushed to the mirror. My neck was intact, no knife marks. “Elara?” Julian’s voice came from the bedroom doorway. I flinched. He was holding a breakfast tray, his eyes filled with gentle concern. “Had a nightmare?” He put down the tray and walked over, reaching to touch my forehead. I instinctively recoiled. His hand froze mid-air, his eyes darkening slightly. “What’s wrong?” “N-nothing.” I forced myself to calm down. “Just dreamt something bad.” “What did you dream about?” Julian sat on the edge of the bed and took my hand. “I dreamt you killed me.” I stared into his eyes, saying each word deliberately. Julian paused, then laughed. “Don’t be silly. How could I ever hurt you?” “You’re my wife, the person I love most.” His eyes were sincere when he said this, even showing a hint of doting affection. Before, I would have thrown myself into his arms. But now, I just wanted to vomit. “Where’s Serena?” I suddenly asked. “Was she here last night?” Julian’s expression froze instantly. He frowned. “She was on duty at the hospital last night. Why would she be here? You’re overthinking things again.” “I heard her voice.” I insisted. “In your study.” “My study?” Julian stood up and walked towards the door. “I’ll go check. Maybe you had a night terror and imagined things.” He left the bedroom, and I immediately followed him. Julian pushed open the study door. It was neat as usual. I walked to where he had stood earlier, carefully examining the bookshelf. In my memory, the dark room was behind the third shelf. I reached out to push it, but it wouldn’t budge. Julian hugged me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder. “What’s really going on with you? Do you want to go to the hospital for a check-up?” My body stiffened. “Maybe I really am just too tired.” I forced myself to relax. “I have class today, I’ll go get ready.” On the way to school, I was completely on edge. “Elara!” Someone tapped my shoulder from behind. I nearly jumped out of my skin. I turned to see my friend, Chloe. “What’s wrong with you? You look awful.” She looked at me worriedly. “I heard you had a miscarriage last week. Haven’t you recovered yet?” I froze. “Miscarriage? Last week?” “Yeah, last Wednesday.” Chloe looked at me strangely. “Dr. Thorne even took time off to be with you. We were all so jealous.” I grabbed her hand. “What’s the date today?” “April 18th. Why?” In my memory, yesterday was April 25th. I had gone back a week. I couldn’t focus in class all day. My mind was filled with those glass jars and Julian with the scalpel. When the bell rang for dismissal, my phone vibrated. It was a message from Julian: “Serena is treating us to dinner tonight to celebrate her promotion to attending physician. Remember to come.” I stared at my phone screen, my fingers cold. If my memory was real, this dinner was a trap. If I didn’t go, Julian would get suspicious. After a long hesitation, I replied with an “Okay.”
When I arrived at the restaurant, they were already there. They sat by the window, heads bowed, looking at the same phone. Serena was shaking with laughter, and a smile played on Julian’s lips too. The sight stung my eyes. “Elara’s here.” Serena saw me first and waved enthusiastically. “Come quickly, sit down!” “Have you been waiting long?” I sat down next to Julian. “No, we just got here too.” Julian naturally wrapped his arm around my waist and kissed my forehead. “Why do you still look unwell? Didn’t you get enough rest?” His actions were gentle and intimate. But I felt his hand linger a little too long on my waist. Like he was measuring me. “Maybe the medication hasn’t worn off yet.” I said blandly, staring into his eyes. Julian’s smile froze for a moment. “What medication?” Serena interjected, her eyes probing. “Post-miscarriage recovery meds.” I shifted my gaze. “Julian prescribed them. He said they were good for my body.” The truth was mixed. Julian had indeed prescribed the medicine, but I knew its real effect. It made me drowsy; it was probably more than just for recovery. “Dr. Thorne is so thoughtful.” Serena propped her chin on her hand, her gaze lingering on Julian’s face. “Whoever marries you will be incredibly happy.” Julian didn’t refute her, just smiled. During dinner, Serena kept talking about amusing hospital stories. Julian listened intently, the atmosphere so harmonious it was as if *they* were the couple. Serena suddenly turned to me. “I heard you’re preparing for your forensic certification exam? If you need materials, I can give them to you. Julian helped me compile a complete set back then.” “No, thanks.” I said calmly. “Julian already prepared them for me.” “Mine are different though.” Serena blinked. “Mine have Julian’s handwritten notes, lots of exclusive insights!” She was provoking me. I looked at Julian, but he was just cutting his steak, not even looking up. “Those are old materials. Elara can just use the new ones.” Halfway through the meal, Serena said she needed to use the restroom. As she stood up, she knocked over a red wine glass, spilling all the wine onto my dress. “Oh, I’m so sorry!” She exclaimed, “I didn’t mean to! Elara, are you okay?” Julian immediately helped me wipe it off. But his movements suddenly paused, his gaze fixed on my calf. I looked down. There was a faint scar there, from a fall when I was a child. In my memory from last night, the skin in this spot should have already been made into a specimen. “What’s wrong?” Julian snapped back to attention, his eyes complex. “Nothing, just remembered that scar of yours. It’s quite unique.” His finger traced the scar. The touch was gentle, but it sent shivers down my spine. “I’ll go clean up.” I pushed Julian’s hand away and walked towards the restroom. “Elara.” Serena’s voice came from behind. I looked up, seeing her leaning against the doorframe in the mirror. “Yes?” “Just wanted to remind you.” She smiled at me. “Some things aren’t yours, and it’s pointless to force them.” “Like what?” I turned around, facing her directly. “Like Julian.” Serena took two steps closer, lowering her voice. “Why do you think he married you? Because you look like me, your voice sounds like mine, even the way you cry is like mine.” “He’s using you as my stand-in, silly girl.” Her words were like daggers, piercing my deepest fears. Instead of breaking down, I smiled. “Is that so? Then why didn’t he just marry you directly?” Serena’s expression twisted for a moment. She leaned into my ear, her breath chilling. “Because he couldn’t bear to turn me into a specimen and display me in his dark room.”
When we left the restaurant, Julian’s car was already parked at the entrance. “Where’s Serena?” “She has her own car.” Julian got into the driver’s seat and leaned over to fasten my seatbelt. “What do you want to do tonight? See a movie or go home and rest?” His fingers brushed my collarbone, lingering for a second. Again, that measuring touch. “Let’s go home, I’m tired.” “Elara, you seem a bit off today.” He suddenly said. “Do I?” I looked out at the fleeting streetlights. “You’ve been avoiding me since this morning.” Julian’s voice was soft, yet it carried an oppressive weight. “Did Serena say something to you?” I turned, looking directly into his eyes: “She said I was her stand-in.” Julian’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. The car braked sharply at a red light. “You believed her?” His voice was low. “I don’t know what to believe, Julian. Do you love me?” I had asked him this question many times. Before, he would always kiss me gently and say, “Of course I do.” But this time, he was silent. The red light turned green, and the cars behind us honked impatiently. Julian restarted the car, and after a long moment, he said: “Yes.” “But there are many kinds of love, Elara.” “My love for you might not be what you’re looking for.” His words were ambiguous, but they confirmed my suspicions. Back home, Julian said he was going to his study to prepare for tomorrow’s class. I watched him pause briefly in front of the bookshelf, then push aside a thick medical dictionary. The bookshelf silently slid open a crack. I dug my nails into my palms, using the pain to stay alert. After he entered the dark room and the bookshelf closed, I quietly crept to the study door. Faintly, I could hear voices from inside. “She’s starting to suspect something.” Serena’s voice. “At the restaurant today, the way she looked at me was off.” “Your provocations were too obvious.” Julian said, his tone cold. “I told you not to tip her off.” “Just a few more days, until I collect the last of the data.” “Are you sure it will work this time? Didn’t it fail last time?” “Last time was an accident.” Julian’s voice suddenly turned cold. “Her pregnancy messed up my plans, all her body data changed. But now she’s back in optimal condition.” “So that’s why you made me provoke her miscarriage?” Serena asked. “You’re really ruthless, Julian. You’d even abandon your own child.” “Science requires sacrifice.” Julian repeated the chilling words. “Besides, we can always have another child later. A perfect specimen, once missed, is gone forever.” I slid down to the floor, leaning against the door, my hands and feet icy cold. Tears streamed silently down my face, but I bit my lip hard, refusing to make a sound. “So when do you plan to make your move?” “Tomorrow night.” Julian’s voice was excited. “I’ll inject her with the modified anesthetic. That way, she can experience the entire process while conscious, but unable to resist.” “The vocal cords are yours. The rest is all mine.” “Deal.” The conversation in the dark room continued, but I couldn’t bear to listen anymore. I rushed into the bathroom and vomited violently into the toilet. Wiping away my tears, I picked up a scalpel with trembling hands, aiming it at my heart. The moment the blade pierced my heart, I showed a twisted smile. “You want my body as a specimen? Then I’ll show you both that the living are far more terrifying than the dead.”
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