Fear Experiment #4:

Simone’s Notes:

In a 2005 Gallup poll (U.S.A.), a national sample of adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 were asked what they feared the most. The question was open-ended and participants were able to say whatever they wanted. The top ten fears were, in order: terrorist attacks, spiders, death, being a failure, war, criminal or gang violence, being alone, the future, and nuclear war. In an estimate of what people fear the most, book author Bill Tancer analyzed the most frequent online queries that involved the phrase, "fear of..." following the assumption that people tend to seek information on the issues that concern them the most. His top ten list of fears published 2008 consisted of flying, heights, clowns, intimacy, death, rejection, people, snakes, failure, and driving. According to surveys, some of the most common fears are of demons and ghosts, the existence of evil powers, cockroaches, spiders, snakes, heights, water, enclosed spaces, tunnels, bridges, needles, social rejection, failure, examinations and public speaking.

Dr. Pierce began another experiment.

Subject: Brian

Day One

Pet awoke in special glass box closed around him. The boy’s eyes darted around his prison. Dr. Pierce stood over him, smirking.

“Good morning, boy,” he purred. “Do you know why you’re here?” The pet couldn’t hear him through the glass. Dr. Pierce smiled.

“Well then, I’ll tell you,” he said. “I heard that because your little brother drowned in a lake on summer camping trip with your family. Because of this, you are afraid of drowning.” The pet narrowed his eyes.

Dr. Pierce snickered. “Here’s what I am going to do,” he said. “I’m going to drown you as many times as I want! We’re going to play a little game. If you die, too bad. But if you stay alive, well… I don’t know.” He flipped on a switch next to him icy cold water began to fill the box. Brian’s eyes widened as he thrashed around in the box. The Good Doctor sat back, smirking.

“It’s no use struggling,” he said. “You’ll end up drinking the water and drowning faster.” The pet lay there in a panic. Dr. Pierce began the experiment with his notes.

Day Two

More water filled the tank and Brian tried to keep his head above in the thin space of air. Dr. Pierce took a drink of wine as he took notes.

Day Three

Another round of water filled the box as the pet tried to breathe in the box as he remembered trying to save his little brother in that giant lake. He felt helpless as he watched the little boy sink under the water. His parents tried to tell him it wasn’t his fault, but Brian couldn’t shake the feeling otherwise.

Day Four

The water gets more intense and the air is scarce. Brian feared of drowning just like his little brother. Am I going to die like this? His parents probably thought that he was dead. His eyes looked so hollow and dead.

The Good Doctor smirked at his progress. Yes, sweat my little pet. I want to see the fear in your eyes. Your panic and despair arouses me! Dr. Pierce licked his lips.

Day Five

One more round of water. Brian doesn’t care anymore. He just accepts his fate and waits for death to finally claim him. After all it would have to be better than this hell after all, right?

Day Six

Dr. Pierce opened the box and looked at the water-boarded pet inside. Brian looked like a corpse, but still breathing. The Good Doctor shrugged. Good enough. He pulled out the pet and dragged him back to the cage.

Experiment #4: Success