“Mirror neurons are how we feel empathy.” Caldwell hands me the syringe. “You see someone in pain, your mirror neurons fire, you feel pain too.”

“You’ll feel what I feel?”

“If it works.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

He winks. “Guess we’ll find out.”

My stomach burns with jealousy. Caldwell’s empathy drug will be a cure for cruelty, the key to world peace. It’ll make him rich.

I inject Caldwell. The neurons activate; his stare darkens. It isn’t empathy I see reflected back at me. It’s disdain. Loathing. Hatred.

Everything I feel for him.

Then his hands close around my neck.

---

Looking for more? Check out all the free stories, drabbles, and podcasts. And be sure to follow @warrenbenedetto on Twitter and Instagram.

---