[ WP ] An abnormality in the brain is discovered that leads scientists to predict who will become a serial killer with 90 % accuracy . Everyone is checked on their 18th birthday .

“ State your name. ” 
 
 The boy looked from one set of glasses to the next, trying to gauge their initial expectations. He had been told that although these people were as professional as they come, nobody is immune to prejudice. He scratched at the sides of his wooden chair nervously. 
 
 “ Liam Daniels. ” 
 
 The one with the clipboard scribbled tiredly. The other didn ’ t break her gaze, fixed on Liam. 
 
 “ Do you know why you ’ re here? ” 
 
 Liam nodded. 
 
 “ Everyone comes here on their eighteenth. ” His brow was starting to itch, but he couldn ’ t make himself reach for it. 
 
 “ Do you know what for? ” 
 
 “ Of course I do. Everyone does. ” 
 
 “ Well. I suppose we ’ d better get started then, eh? ” 
 
 Liam ’ s eyes darted between the two women. “ Can I at least know your names? ” 
 
 The one with the clipboard smiled faintly. She had the soft expression of one who genuinely wanted to help people, but had to become a cog like the rest of them. She cast a soft glow of subdued optimism. 
 
 “ I ’ m afraid you can ’ t, for our own protection. Potentially. But if it helps you, you can call me Ms. Alpha and her Ms. Beta. ” 
 
 Liam huffed. He wasn ’ t a particularly proud or entitled person, but he knew when he was being treated like a criminal, or a threat. In his mind, he was perfect. He had done nothing to deserve this. 
 
 “ Well then. Alpha. Beta. Call me Lambda, if we ’ re all going to be Greek here. What do I have to do for this thing? ” 
 
 Ms. Beta chuckled and removed her glasses, wiping at them with a white cloth from her pocket. 
 
 “ Funny thing you should say that. It ’ s all about Delta. ” 
 
 Liam stared at them blankly. Ms. Alpha leaned in closer to explain. 
 
 “ Brain waves. What we ’ ll do is put you into a very brief, deep sleep -- probably the deepest you ’ ve ever experienced -- and monitor your brain activity. Your Delta waves, which are prevalent during sleep, will be our barometer for your… er, disposition. There ’ s a certain distress we search for. ” She seemed at once excited to explain, and incredibly uneasy. 
 
 Ms. Beta lifted a hatbox-sized container from the floor onto the table between them. She removed the lid and produced a contraption that was obviously intended to be worn on the head, but may as well have been a medieval torture device for its intimidating appearance. She cleared her throat. 
 
 “ You ’ ll place this on your head, and we ’ ll put you under. It will take us a couple of hours, but the process will be instantaneous to you. I will warn you, you may have a headache if you wake up. ” 
 
 Liam ’ s eyes nearly popped out of his skull. Ms. Alpha stuck out a hand toward him. 
 
 “ Too soon! If you wake up too soon! If the process is interrupted, it may hurt your head a bit. Nothing too serious, I promise. ” She smiled weakly. 
 
 Liam attempted to undo the full-body tension that was wracking him, but was unsuccessful. He had no control. He gritted his teeth and nodded. 
 
 “ Let ’ s just get it over with. ” 
 
..... 
 
 * “ Are… are we live? This is Mike McCray with Channel 7 News, live at the Ministry of Public Health, where a grisly scene has been unfolding this afternoon. Our details are limited right now, but what we know is that an 18-year-old male who was going through his Adult Capacity Screening has been killing employees indiscriminately for the last several hours. The young man -- whose identity is being withheld -- started by strangling the two screeners who were administering the test when he awoke prematurely. After that, he found the security console and activated a lockdown, then killed power to the entire building. There is no way in or out for anyone at this time, but phone calls from within the building are informing us that at least 17 people have died, and that those still alive are in danger. We will bring you more on this harrowing story as it unfolds. Back to you in the studio. ” *
