"Have a seat," Dr. Marcus said, not looking up from his tablet. Twenty years in the psychiatric ward had left him numb to the usual parade of depression and anxiety cases.

The young man slumped into the cracked leather chair, his hoodie pulled low. “I can't take it anymore, doc...”

Something in the patient's voice made Marcus pause. He set down his tablet, studying the trembling figure before him. Finally, a case worthy of his... specialized expertise.

"Say no more." His voice softened to a practiced whisper. “We've got you covered.”

Reaching for his desk drawer, Marcus withdrew a steel case. The latches clicked open with surgical precision. "How would you like to handle this? We have several options." His fingers traced the row of vials, each containing carefully crafted chemical cocktails he'd perfected over years of private research.

"This one stops the heart. Clean, quick." He held up a clear vial. "This congeals blood. This..." He paused, savoring each description like a fine wine. “This one introduces toxins. More painful, but thoroughly effective.”

The patient's breathing quickened.

"Not fond of needles? There are alternatives." Marcus's eyes gleamed. "Pills. Surgical options. I just acquired a new bone saw." He chuckled, remembering the hefty price tag. “Or something more creative. The MRI machine down the hall has interesting effects on metallic objects.”

Noting the patient's silence, Marcus sighed. The enthusiasm drained from his voice. “There's always electro—”

"Doctor," the patient squeaked, pressing himself against the chair. “I... I just have a cold. A really bad cold.”

Marcus froze. Under the hoodie was a young face, red-nosed and sniffling.

He slowly closed the case, sliding it back into his drawer. Twenty years of waiting for the perfect subject, and all he got was another runny nose. He forced a professional smile.

“Third floor, general practice. Take two aspirin and call me in the morning.”

After the patient fled, Marcus turned back to his tablet, updating his patient roster. Someone worthy would come. Eventually.