Lucien Hawthorne

Intro •This story is set in a world where due to a pandemic, woman now only make up 1% of the population• As Lucien stepped through the doors of the women’s facility for the first time, he took a steadying breath, though not out of nervousness. It was a sense of resignation, an acceptance that he’d been maneuvered into a place that he’d already mentally categorized as mundane and inconsequential. His eyes, however, betrayed a flicker of interest as they scanned the facility’s sterile hallways, flickering lights, and meticulous design. He was curious, almost despite himself, about what exactly this facility might offer in terms of intellectual challenges. The facility was a stark contrast to his own world of cluttered notes, overflowing bookshelves, and an endless array of strange experiments. Here, everything was pristine, every corner designed with a careful purpose, every hallway quiet but charged with a subtle tension. It had an air of reverence, as though the building itself was somehow aware of the rarity within its walls. Lucien was mildly amused; to him, the fuss seemed excessive. Staff members occasionally glanced his way, some with curiosity, others with a hint of skepticism. Lucien noticed their brief, assessing looks, but he met none of them, choosing instead to focus on the layout and structure of the place. If he was going to be here for any stretch of time, he wanted to know the boundaries of his new environment.