Mad, Mad World

by J. D. Sloane

  She felt the carriage sail to the basement in one smooth drop and stepped out without pausing as the doors sighed open, turning around in the middle of the floor. She felt a fleeting rush of panic as she realized the basement seemed to be a maze of broken corridors unlike the floors above it, and turned down the first hallway she saw, her eyes darting from one door to the next as she looked around for some kind of a sign.

  I should’ve shut up when Morlan tried telling me where the recovery hall was at, she thought pausing at the fork in the hall as she tried to decide where to turn. Office, office, office. Who designs a floor like this without putting up a few directional signs?

  She darted against the wall as a swinging set of double doors swung wide and stepped back into the shadows as she heard two guards hustling down the hallway, the younger of the two buttoning up what looked like a short white lab coat. Alicia waited until they were out of earshot, every nerve in her body suddenly on high alert and slid between the doors silently as she held her breath, her gold eyes darting over the pile of discarded lab coats and lockers with quick focused intent.

  Careless, careless, careless, she thought, shifting through the pile of clothes in a mad burst of energy. And they call this place a state-of-the-art facility. I mean look at this place. Anyone at all could just walk in and find…

  Alicia grinned as she pulled a lone I.D. badge out of one of the cleaner looking lab coats and looked it over quickly before shrugging, pulling it on over her short jersey dress.

  Gotcha, she thought, stuffing it the ID into her pocket as she flicked her hair out of the back of her collar. Better than nothing. And honestly, this really is their own fault. If they had just let me in to see him none of this would have been necessary. Chalk it up to journalist privilege.

  Alicia looked herself over in the mirror over the sink, tucking her long bangs behind one ear as she picked up her leather bag and turned as a young professional looking girl entered the room behind her, pausing near the threshold as her smooth brow furrowed.

  Alicia felt a strange rush of excitement as she gave the girl a friendly smile and then pulled her badge out of her pocket, turning it in her direction without quite showing it to her.

  “I’m sorry. Recovery hall? I’m a little turned around.”

  The girl considered her carefully for a moment, her eyes narrowing as if trying to place her face while Alicia skirted past her.

  “End of the hall,” she said, turning her head to follow her as Alicia started walking, pointing to the left fork in the corridor as she glanced over her shoulder.

  “Down this way?” She asked as the girl stepped out into the hallway, following her for a few steps as she doubled her pace.

  “Miss? I’m sorry, Miss?”

  Alicia breezed past her without answering, her high black heels cracking against the linoleum and felt a cool rush of adrenalin as she turned the corner, her eyes darting to the large sign at the end of the hallway.

  Only Authorized Personnel Beyond This Point, Alicia read, looking up at the barred red doors in front of her. She glanced over her shoulder, shifting the ID badge in her pocket between her fingers and then sighed and pulled it out, swiping the card through the electronic swipe as she held her breath.

  Let’s hope this guy is important. And took a sick day today. Fingers crossed.

  Alicia felt her stomach flip as the reader changed from red to green and looked around quickly as she walked inside, the long, wide corridor disappearing into darkness. She took a step forward as the door whispered shut behind her, the low interior light making it difficult to see and then stopped in her tracks as she realized that the entire room was partitioned off into several huge sunk-in cells, each taller than she was and stretching down the wall in an endless, unbroken line. Her skin crawled into gooseflesh as she wandered down the walkway dividing one row of cells from the other and jumped as one of the inmates slammed his hand against the glass front of his cell, watching her scurry past with an empty sort of malice.

  Jesus, Alicia thought, trying to control the dismay on her face as another inmate walked up to the front of the glass in an unsteady shuffle of steps, his eyes wide and vacant. So, Dula built himself an aquarium and filled it with people instead of fish. Why doesn’t that surprise me more?

  She felt the first ebb of panic hit her as she passed a cell that was lit and flinched as the inmate rolled over on his cot, the rattling sound of his breathing causing her to stop in her tracks. She stepped closer as she saw that his hair was a familiar shade of dark blond and then turned away quickly as she realized it was someone else, her relief momentarily cresting her fear.

  Not him, she thought as she passed the next cell and picked up the pace as she glanced over her shoulder, her rattled nerves beginning to fray her indignation wildly around the edges. Not him, not him. This isn’t just therapy. These men don’t look like they’re recovering from anything. And the ones that are awake…

  Alicia looked away as another inmate watched her walk past, the hungry, open confusion on his face terrifying her so deeply she almost bolted.

  What is Dula doing down here? She thought biting the inside of her bottom lip as her fingers tightened around the badge in her pocket. And why isn’t anyone talking about it? Why is the city allowing it?

  She paused as she came to another dark cell on her left, her paranoia beginning to skyrocket, and then stopped in her tracks as she realized it was empty, shaking her head as she turned on her heel.

  He’s not here, she thought, walking back towards the entrance as she tried not to look any inmate directly in the eye. Thank God for small favors. I really should get a few photos, though. Something tells me this is the kind of place that has to be seen to be believed.

  Alicia reached for her bag, her fingers trembling badly as she heard one of the inmates smack the window behind her and then dropped her hand as she noticed a dark shadow at the back of the cell, the corner so poorly lit it was almost impossible to tell what it was. She took a step closer, her brow furrowing as she recognized the broad familiar slope of Ronan’s shoulders and walked quickly towards the glass as she dropped her bag, her eyes darting over the floor of his cell wildly as she flattened her palm against the window.

  Ronan was slouched against the corner of the wall, his dark blond hair tangled and hanging across the scarred half of his face. She knocked at the glass sharply, reaching for her ID card and swiped it without looking as she searched his face, his body so slack and unmoving she felt her pulse quicken into a gallop.

  Alicia slid between the door as it sighed open and jogged the handful of steps to the far corner of the room, kneeling down in front of him as she reached for Ronan’s hand.

  “Ronan?” Alicia whispered, rolling his hand over in her palm as she touched his cheek. “Ronan, wake up.”

  Alicia ran her tongue over her lips and glanced over her shoulder as she dropped his hand, touching the sides of his face as she brushed his hair out of his eyes.

  “Ronan? Wake up. Please, you have to wake up now.”

  Her eyes widened as Ronan twitched beneath her touch without actually rousing and felt a blinding rush of panic as she looked over his angular, too handsome face, the heavy shadow in the room emphasizing the dark shadows under his eyes in a way that twisted her heart. She swallowed hard as she noticed the bandage on his neck, her fingers tightening in his hair and inhaled quickly as Ronan opened his eyes, his left hand shooting out like a piston as he grabbed her by the front of the throat.

  Alicia’s eyes widened as she grabbed for his wrist and Ronan caught her hand in mid-swing, his wide bloodshot eyes snapping over her face as if searching for her memory in some lost place in his mind.

  “Ronan…” Alicia said, gasping as she felt his hand tighten on her windpipe and felt him release her all at once as his entire body tensed, a rush of wild, hungry agony passing through his face as he ran his hand into the back of her hair.

  Alicia looked up at him
as she felt him brush his fingers down the line of her long white lab coat and felt a shock of wild hunger run through her as he ran his hands over her breasts, pushing her to the ground as he scrambled over her on the floor. Alicia brushed her fingers around his jaw as he shoved her knees apart and arched her body towards him as he dragged her dress up around her hips, pulling her underwear down to her ankles with a rough, thoughtless violence. She let out a quick moan of surprise as she felt his long hair graze her stomach and closed her eyes as she felt him drag his tongue down the line of her cunt, spreading her lips apart as he rolled his tongue around her clit.

  Alicia swallowed hard as he yanked her underwear off impatiently, her entire body giving off a low unhealthy quake and moaned as he dragged her towards him on the floor, holding her open with both hands as he buried his tongue inside her.

  “Wait,” Alicia sighed as he licked her, sucking on her clit as his left hand locked around her thigh and let out a low moan as she felt him slide his fingers inside her, penetrating her roughly as he forced his tongue deeper.

  “Don’t,” she said, the word passing her lips so quietly it was almost a sigh. “Wait. Wait, wait, wait…”

  Alicia inhaled deeply as Ronan ignored her, penetrating her with a smooth, frantic brutality that made her wince and rolled her hand into the back of his hair as she inched her knees together, her eyes flying open as he shoved them back apart.

  “Ronan,” she whispered, rolling her hand into the back of his hair. “Not so fast. I’m here. Wait, wait, wait…”

  She let out a low cry as Ronan dragged his hand out of her, teasing her clit quickly with the tips of his fingers, and felt her entire body shudder as he sought her face out in the darkness, watching her hungrily as he bent his head lower. Alicia gasped as he dragged his tongue into her cunt, raising his fingers lightly as he rolled them around her clit and let her head slide to the floor as she shoved her heel against his shoulder sharply, rubbing her cunt against him as she shuddered to quick, frantic orgasm. She inhaled quickly as Ronan knocked her heel away, sliding on top of her so hastily she slapped her hand against his chest and cried out as he slid his cock out of his pants, forcing himself inside her in one quick, savage motion.

  Alicia gasped as he rocked inside her, a low sound leaving the back of his throat as he pressed his forehead against her and she swallowed hard as she realized how damp his hair was, the light in his eyes so wild and pain-laced she felt a quick thrill of fear. She gasped as he forced his cock deeper, pressing her back into the tile floor as she felt his fingers touch her throat and tried to meet his gaze as she arched up to meet him, reaching for him without thinking as she dragged her fingers down the scarred side of his face.

  Ronan flinched as she touched his mouth, his wide dark eyes rolling open as if coming awake in the middle of some lucid, too perfect dream and looked over her face rapidly as he caught her wrist, pinning it above her head as he forced himself deeper. Alicia let out a low moan as she felt his hand tighten, his eyes darting over her features as if trying to commit them to memory and froze as he slid his hand beneath her back, his expression darkening suddenly as he shoved her unto her stomach.

  Alicia swallowed hard as she felt Ronan drag her backwards, pushing her dress up with a rough shove of his hand and felt her fingers arch against the floor as she felt him slide on top of her, spreading her ass open with one hand as shoved his cock inside her. Alicia let out a strangled cry as he pumped himself inside her quickly, the pain so violent and unexpected she tried to slide to her knees and felt all the breath leave her lungs as he knocked her back towards the floor, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as he whispered in her ear.

  “No, no, no,” Ronan said, his voice so low and rough it was barely qualified as human speech. “You came to me Alicia, remember? That’s right. Just like that. Shhh. That’s a good girl. Hands on the floor. Show me that you can.”

  Alicia squeezed her eyes shut as he forced himself deeper, her forehead brushing the floor as she bit back another and cry and flattened her palms against the floor as he fucked her, every nerve ending in her body igniting beneath the swift, thoughtless violence of his touch. She felt tears slide out of her eyes as he held her in place, using her body urgently as she felt him breathe against the back of her neck and closed her eyes as he let out a low, strangled moan, dragging her body back towards him as he brought himself to a quick, frantic orgasm.

  Alicia closed her eyes as Ronan held onto her tightly and felt a strange pang of loss as he pulled his arm away from her, letting out a low, shuddering sigh. She brushed her thumb over her wet cheeks, biting back a wince as she yanked her dress to her knees and tried to catch his eye as he rolled onto his back, his body so slack and relaxed it filled her with a sudden irrational rush of annoyance.

  Just like at the club, she thought, pressing her lips together as she sat up on her knees and brushed her hair out of her eyes. It’s anything goes until closing time and then it’s as if everyone remembers where they’re at once. Looking around at the strangers they’ve fucked like a room full of thieves that somehow got left behind at the scene of the crime.

  She rubbed her elbows as she gave the room a perfunctory look and tried to swallow her annoyance as Ronan cracked his eyes open, his face so uncharacteristically serious she felt her stomach flip.

  “What is this place?” She asked, clearing her throat.

  Ronan rolled his eyes in her direction and then cracked his back, exhaling quietly as he blinked up at the ceiling.

  “It’s like I told you, Alicia. Dula is just getting warmed up. Welcome to his test lab. And all of his favorite. Rats.”

  Alicia’s eyes widened as his voice changed and shook her head as he tapped his fingers against his chest, his lips curling into a light sneer.

  “What did they do to you?” She asked, her voicing tightening and Ronan grimaced as he rolled his shoulders, moving his lips silently as if he had forgotten she was there.

  “Some old tricks,” he said, his voice weary and clipped. “Some new tricks. You’d be surprised how much more interesting your worst experiences can become. Once they’re separated from all that messy emotional context.”

  Alicia opened her mouth as he simply went on staring, his dark eyes glowing like flaming pinwheels above his grim, hate-filled expression and stood up as he turned his eyes in her direction, the look vanishing so quickly she had to remind herself she hadn’t imagined it.

  His eyes ran up the length of her body, his angular, too handsome face shifting with annoyance as he noticed the bruise across her cheek and he closed his eyes as she stood up, brushing her dress down with her hands as he cleared his throat.

  “Your boyfriend?” he asked, his lips curling with contempt.

  Alicia touched her cheek and then looked down at him quickly, her brow furrowing as she bit her lower lip.

  “No,” she said, clearing her throat. “Not anymore.”

  Ronan opened his eyes, brushing his knuckles across his lips as his eyes slid over her.

  “Does he do that often?”

  Alicia felt her blush deepen, his off-handed show of concern almost bringing her to tears and laughed nervously as she scratched her hair near the temple, toying with her bangs before shaking them out of her eyes.

  “Never once,” she said, her eyes darting around the narrow cell without registering a single thing. “He was just really drunk. Just stupid and jealous and drunk.”

  Alicia pressed her fingers against her eyes for a moment as she shifted on her heels and then stepped out of Ronan’s way as he sat up slowly, the weight of his attention holding her in place like a magnetic current.

  “Jealous about what?” He asked, tapping his fingers against his knee as he watched her.

  “He listened to some of our…my background tapes.”

  “And I take it he didn’t like what he heard,” Ronan said, his voice low and clipped.

  “No,” Alicia said quietly. “No, I gu
ess not.”

  She broke off awkwardly as Ronan rolled his neck to one side, beginning to understand that he was never really relaxed at all, that every casual tilt of his head was actually something like a careful, deliberate put-on, meant to keep others from noticing how restlessly his eyes moved around the room, his body as alert and coiled as a caged predator. She wondered if he had always been that way or if it was a conscious reaction to being incarcerated, that careful, clever inversion of all his natural responses so that he would never consciously give away what he was thinking.

  Alicia rolled her gold eyes up towards him as he stood up, the sudden shift of fluorescent lighting over the scarred side of his face turning it into something vaguely unpleasant and took a step backwards as he inclined his head towards her, raising his brows as he took a step towards the window.

  “And what did he do then?” He asked, his voice so calm it was almost friendly.

  “Nothing. It was nothing. He just lost control, that’s all. He-he slapped me and I ran into the bathroom. I told him that if he didn’t leave I’d start screaming. I just wanted to get the fuck out of there. Out of that relationship. Out of that life.”

  “You left, or he did?”

  “It’s his apartment, Ronan. I was never even on the lease. He told me to leave and I told him I wasn’t going without my stuff. That’s the only the reason he left at all. To avoid a scene.”

  Ronan turned his head, something smooth and dangerous sliding below his polite expression as he glanced at her from the tail of his eyes.

  “And did you find a place to stay?”

  “I stayed at a hotel last night. But I have a place to go. One he won’t think of.”

  Ronan rolled his tongue over his teeth, his face twitching across the surface of his scar and the shrugged.

  “And how about him? Where is our world-weary station manager shoring up this morning?”