Okay, here's an idea. Let's "create" our own "Urban Artist" and create "his chronicles one post at a time with the following posters adding on the the tale with their creativeness. How's that?

RULES: you can't post two posts back to back. post that you are the next person adding to the story and then edit that post with your addition. That way, two or more posters won't be adding on to the same part of the story and it will be less confusing.

- Feisty

story thus far:
I'll start.

*ahem*

This morning I awoke to the sound of the driving rain panging off the fire escape outside. Rubbing my overtired bloodshot eyes, still feeling hazy from the night before, I sit up on my cot and stare out into the cold blackness of the predawn city and prepare myself for the day ahead and all it entails.

The emptiness of my studio apartment is momentarily lit in the glow of my lighter as I hold it to my morning cigarette. So empty, so much to do; and it won't be long until the wolf comes knocking again. I exhale a cloud of smoke and rise on aching legs, stumbling towards the window to suck in the smell of the wet asphalt below and feel the dampness upon my skin.

They will not defeat me; I will not give in.

I close my eyes. Slowly resting my forhead on the cold hard glass of the window. As hurried footsteps from the street below reach my ears i cup my balls, yearning to sink back into the warm folds of my bed which is quickly growing cold without me.
I turn to stare at the poster of Bridget Nielsen from 1988 on my wall. She looks like did in the film "Cobra". Tight jeans, and a big browny ginger afro. In the dark she looks a bit like a thin man. Maybe one of the Jackson 5. My dick doesnt respond to a squeeze. And rightly so.

I must get rid of that poster. But not now.
Now i should put some pants on.

I look around the hazy room for the pants that I wore last night. There are shadows of debris across the floor. I sigh and rub my bald head with my hand. A battle for another time. **** the pants, I need to piss. I give Bridget one last glance before heading to bathroom. I don’t bother turning on the light. On automatic pilot, I maneuver through the apartment. I step on half eaten take-out containers and dirt clothes, but I don’t notice. The bathroom floor feels cool under my feet. I piss for what seems an eternity. The glowing ember from my cigarette begins to fade. I take one last drag and drop the butt unceremoniously into the commode. I don't bother looking in the mirror. My legs are feeling more sturdy as I walk to the kitchen. I grab one of the half empty styrofoam containers of coffee from the kitchen counter and take a generous gulp, then another and another. As the fog begins to clear in my head, I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

Today was the day. I'd taken the day off work, and the boss was unhappy; as usual. He was a tight bastard anyway, so I didn't give a ****. My mouth's cotton had been cured by the cold, muscus-like coffee that i'd so
grugingly sipped. Yet still, I had to peel my tongue from my mouths roof just to let out a depressed sigh. Yes; today was the day I went for my brainscan. For weeks I'd been worrying, dreading this moment. Now I seemed like I was trapped in an enternal void, stuck in mid time. The results of the next few hours could determine how I live my life forever. Or don't as the case may be. I glanced up...

...and began recounting the past few months and how life had seemed to spiral out of control like a wayward leaf caught in torrential autumn thunderstorm; blown aimlessly from one updraft to another until gravity finally forces it to mother earth. Well, gravity had me now; my feet have never felt so heavy. Still, the headaches could just be stress, at least that's what I keep telling myself.

I walk over to the window once again, leaning on the sill, sucking in the damp, dark air. So quiet. Nothing but the sound of the rain ricocheting off the bricks and steel and panging off the dumpsters below. Why couldn't the whole day be as peaceful as right now? Empty and Full at the same time? The world is never cleaner than during an early morning rain while it's inhabitants are still asleep.

Stretching long and groaning loud, I turn to find my cleanest dirty shirt and head for the door...

.... I turned the dry, cold knob, went through, and closed and locked the door behind me. I breathed in the air of the hall, it smelt, and tasted disinfected. Clean..sterile. But not in such a good way. My feet patted outside the lines of sloppily painted front doors. Each of the doors merged themselves into people; glaring menancingly, burning holes through me, like witnesses at an execution. That's what it felt like. Like walking that one.. long path to the chair.
I clicked my fingers, each noise popped off the walls and bounced back to me, I walked to the stairs and went down them, with such anger and violence, that it seemed like I was throwing myelf.

I glanced at my watch: 6:45. My appointment was at 7:00. I sighed and shook my head in disgust. Why the **** did they schedule the MRI so ****ing early? Maybe I could reschedule. The rain hitting my head echoed like cannons in my head. The headache was back, with a vengence. A war was raging in my head and I was losing. I wiped the water from my face and hailed a cab.

I gave the driver the address and leaned my head against the window and closed my eyes. The cool damp window felt good against my skin. The sound of the tires on wet asphalt was hypnotic. I felt the tension slowly leave my head and shoulders. My mind drifted back to last night at the art show...

.... oh yes. The art show, all those reds, deep, crisp, bold... and that was just the wine I thought to myself, letting out a little snuff of a laugh. I swallowed, it hurt. Yes, I was tired last night, it seemed like a dream in itself. So many critics, knawing at my brain, with their droning, repetitive, aloft HIGH BROWED ****ING VOICES. They angered me. All of them. ****s. The only compliment I got the whole night was being compared to an early picasso. But that was washed away with some snide comment. Washed away, just like the grime on the cab's window, by the pouring rain. Just like the grime of my life, which would be washed away with my...slow pain.


.....the metal table was cold against my back. Whoever came up with the idea for backless hospital gowns ought to be paraded on display down mainstreet in nothing but their birthday skinnies. Never did I think I would be inserted into a metal tube, surrounding by lights, an annoying whrrrr, and occasionally a "Don't move,". This resembles something out of one of those cheesey sci-fi flicks my brother Kirby is so in to. Kirby; I supposed I should have told him I took his advice and came in for an exame. No. It's bad enough when he actually is right; but to admit I actually listened to him and followed his hypochondriac advice would be too much to bare. To see that condescending, all-knowing grin on his smug wholly depressing, life is a death-trap face, ugh. It's bad enough I've been actually considering these headaches are more than just stess, to think it actually could be..

Sitting there, staring at the lime-green walls, hearing the occassional page echo over the intercom, I think of Kirby. I think of how when we were kids he would gloss over the pictures in mom's encyclopedia of communicable diseases. He had our mother almost convinced that he'd contracted Small Pox before Dr. Roth told her it was a physcial impossibility and he was merely suffering from an allergic reaction to dust mites. Dust Mites! Now, he's infected me with his accursed hypochondria. But, what if he's right?

"Clusters" came a voice from over my shoulder. Staring blankly up at the Indian man in the blue paper hospital attire, I dared to blink. "You suffer from cluster headaches. They're extremely painful; but not life-threatening. I'll write up a perscription for you."

"It's not a tumor?" "No, it's not a tumor."

He shook his head and I began to laugh almost uncontrollably as he walked away, partly from relief and partly because I almost hear Arnold Swartzeneggar's voice when he answered. I'm going to have to call Kirby and tell that human quaylude to go stuff himself.

One thing Kirby was right about was Isabella. Isabella, what a stunning creature she is. No man could not love her. She was the perfect woman for any man. The woman of a 1000 faces. It was uncanny how she knew exactly what someone needed, what someone wanted, and perfectly delivered it. Fate had, for once, bestowed upon you, this incredible gift, this perfect woman who loved you. Despite the nagging suspicion that it was all too good to be true, she made you believe it. And you wanted to believe it so badly, that you fell for it; hook, line, and sinker. She was every man's fantasy - when she wanted to be. That was key because she could also be your worst nightmare. For when she no longer desired you or needed you or wanted you, she finished you. You never saw it coming and it hit you like a mack truck. Isabella... She was there last night. There at MY show with HIM.

continued...



HIM... Dammit!
I find myself grinding my teeth every time he enters my head. It took me 2 years to get over him. Now he pops up with my Isabella hanging off him like a pork chop. How could they do this to me!?. Parading around in front of me, twisting the knife deeper into my back at my own show.
Im still numb.
Leeroy and Isabella.....shoving it in my face. I wanted so badly for him to crash and burn after he dumped me for Paulo. But he looked great last night. As did Isabella.
In my mind they shone like movie stars. Yet together it was almost as much as i could take.
I felt sick.
Devastated.
Too weak to turn to rage.
Leeroy and Isabella....They knew what they were doing to me.
They want to destroy me.
I didnt deserve this......did i?

Maybe ive had itr coming for a long time. My past is catching up with me. Ive done some terrible things. Like the first night me and Leeroy made love...

It never should have happend; but you can't point fingers and place blame when passing around party favors. I'd never done acid before, to say nothing of having sexual relations with a man; but, surprisingly, I still don't feel ashamed of the affair. At first I was disgusted with myself; but I fought off my mother's close-minded attitude and pursued more encounters with increased vigor as if trying to prove something to myself: that I truly was a free spirt, I suppose, not bound by conventional thinking....a man of the future, not tied by yesterday's chains. Leeroy didn't take the news well when I decided to end things.

Then, to have him show up last night with Isabel...it was too much for me to bear. I don't know what I had expected to come from my relationship with Isabel; but however it was supposed to end, this had to have been the cruelest scenario. I can still hear them snickering as I walked by. No wonder my head exploded with bursts of pain and flashing lights blurred my vision, further driving my paranoia of impending death. Too long have I lived without care of consequence. The devil came to collect his bill last night. I can't say I didn't have it coming.

Standing amidst the growing crowd, I hailed another cab to take me downtown. If ever a man needed a cold brew, it was me.

As I entered O'Reillys Tavern my mind was engulfed with images I wanted to forget, Leeroy had a talent for causing pain and he had just shot a dagger to my soul.
As I downed my fifth brew and thought about Kirby, Isabella and Leeroy over and over like a repeating nightmare my head felt like it was about to explode, **** these headaches!
As I got up to leave I was drawn to a couple who had just come in out of the rain, they sat down in one of the booths and beckoned the bartender.
The guy looked unfamiliar but the blond girl....who was she, my mind raced with memories like an old film reel, putting pieces together into parts of a movie but nothing.
I stumbled confused out into the rain, the cars in the streets are too damn loud, their lights hurt, really hurt, I can hear myself breathing and feel myself falling but its too late, the last thing I remember is the smell of her, she wipes the rain from my face, then I sleep.

I knew I was in the hospital before I opened my eyes. The smell and sound were a dead give-away. Hey, at least I wasn't dead. I opened my eyes. I pushed the call button for the nurse. A middle-aged, heavy-set nurse with a smile plastered to her face hurried in. In an overfriendly, southern twang, she informed me that I had a panic attack and had passed out. A panic attack? Bull****! I don't panic and I sure as hell don't have panic attacks. "It wasn't a pain attack," I informed her. With a look of concern, she held my hand in hers and asked if I was stressed. Was I stressed? Ha! I was stress personified, but I wasn't going to tell HER that. A doctor came in, checked my chart and my vitals. Then quickly went over my discharge papers. He handed me a prescription for Prozac. ****ing doctors. I left the hospital. The rain had stopped, but the air was still damp. As I hailed a cab, I suddenly remembered a scent. I recall leaving the pub, feeling dizzy, falling, then a woman. She touched me. I could not see her, but that smell. I remember the smell. The cab pulled up and I give my thoughts a break. I ask the driver to take me to the nearest pharmacy. I hand the pharmacist the prescription for my "headache" medicine. I walk outside for a cigarette. After I take a long, much needed drag, I pull out the Prozac prescription and slowly crumple it in my hand. I toss it in the trash bin like a basketball. ****ing doctors.



Isabel trained as a nurse. Christ! I wanted to laugh hesterically or cry like a baby. What a ****ing day!
The sky was starting to clear. A ray of sunshine set the wet pavement alight. My eyes couldnt take it. I walked blindly, in a daze. Head down, a blank zombie. My mind was a muddle of thoughts and images. Leeroys red shoes, Bridget Neilsons afro, the powdery taste of prozac, the smell of perfume....
I needed to sit, and think. My throat craved water.

A man held open the coffee shop toliet door for me without making eye contact. I walked to the sink, open the tap fully and bent over, wetting my dry mouth and sweaty brow. As i stood up i was comfronted with a shocking reflection. I was so pale. Ashen. I didnt recognise myself. It was the shock that i actually looked worse than i felt. I rubbed my head, still mesmerized by the person staring back at me. As my hands slipped down to my neck a sharp pain made me flinch, breaking my gaze.
Was i cut? I must have hurt myself wen i collapsed. I slowly, hesitently leaned closer to the mirror. Turned my head, trying to examine my neck. What the hell is that!?
There were three tiny pin holes. A perfect triangle.
I touched it again and the sharp pain struck back.
I felt somthing behind me.
In the reflection i could see the door to the cubicle was ajar.
I was not alone. Somone was watching me...


I spun around just as the stall door closed. "You got a problem, buddy?" I yelled at the closed door. I waited, but there was no reply. I bent down and peeked under the door. I could see four legs. Each pair was facing the other. Pants were around the ankles of one pair. I straightened back up and smiled in relief. Clearly the men had wanted some privacy. Damn! Why was I being so paranoid? But the marks on my neck...What could those be from? I bent close to the mirror for another look. Maybe they gave me something at the hospital? It was probably nothing, I tried to tell myself as I left the restroom. It was hard to think. It had been a long, confusing day. I was unable to make sense of anything that had happened today. I felt like **** warmed over. And all I knew was that I needed some sleep.

I also needed a piss.
Maybe a sandwich also. I hadnt eaten a thing all day, and my head had a dull painful rattle to it, as if my brain was shrivelled like the last raisin in a tin.
I wanted to get the hell away from the kinky morons in the cubicle but was bursting.
The relief of pissing was the best thing to happen to me all day, i wanted to relax but was still uncomfortable with the shuffling that came from the cubicle. I couldnt see what was going on.
I was on edge.
They suddenly came out and walked quickly away, i dare not turn round.
I was just happy to be alone.
I sighed loudly, shrugging the tension out of my sholders. I tried not to breath in the urine soaked air, but couldnt help it.
There was somthing odd.
I held my breath in disbelief.
I smelt perfume.
It couldnt be.....
Whomever had left wore the same perfume as the woman who was there wen i collapsed earlier!
Fumbling with my zipper i rushed out of the toilet giving chase....

I ran out into the street and caught a glimpse of her as she climbed into a cab.
My heart was thudding against my chest as I approached the car although I didn't know why.
I pulled open the rear passenger door and looked inside, there she sat, she was gorgeous and familiar although I still couldn't place why, she smiled and gave me package, I looked at her and tried to ask her anything but for some reason the words wouldn't come out.
The cab driver muttered something about rush hour and pushed down on his horn, I took a step back and the car sped away.

For some reason my gut told me not to open the package in the street so I hailed my own cab and headed home.

As I got to my front door and fumbled for my keys something happened with the package, it moved, no it shook.
Part of me said '****ing run' but I was intrigued, so I opened my door and walked into my apartment.
I took my coat off and shot Bridgette a lustful glance. I placed the package on my table and started to remove the wrapping.

I ran out into the street and caught a glimpse of her as she climbed into a cab.
My heart was thudding against my chest as I approached the car although I didn't know why.
I pulled open the rear passenger door and looked inside, there she sat, she was gorgeous and familiar although I still couldn't place why, she smiled and gave me package, I looked at her and tried to ask her anything but for some reason the words wouldn't come out.
The cab driver muttered something about rush hour and pushed down on his horn, I took a step back and the car sped away.

For some reason my gut told me not to open the package in the street so I hailed my own cab and headed home.

As I got to my front door and fumbled for my keys something happened with the package, it moved, no it shook.
Part of me said '****ing run' but I was intrigued, so I opened my door and walked into my apartment.
I took my coat off and shot Bridgette a lustful glance. I placed the package on my table and started to remove the wrapping.

i got the next one.

i had it almost all written and my computer turned off due to low battery!!!
grrrrrrrr! :mad:

I ran out into the street and caught a glimpse of her as she climbed into a cab.
My heart was thudding against my chest as I approached the car although I didn't know why.
I pulled open the rear passenger door and looked inside, there she sat, she was gorgeous and familiar although I still couldn't place why, she smiled and gave me package, I looked at her and tried to ask her anything but for some reason the words wouldn't come out.
The cab driver muttered something about rush hour and pushed down on his horn, I took a step back and the car sped away.

For some reason my gut told me not to open the package in the street so I hailed my own cab and headed home.

As I got to my front door and fumbled for my keys something happened with the package, it moved, no it shook.
Part of me said '****ing run' but I was intrigued, so I opened my door and walked into my apartment.
I took my coat off and shot Bridgette a lustful glance. I placed the package on my table and started to remove the wrapping.

I stopped unwrapping the package. The contents of the package had stopped moving. WHat the hell did THAT mean? I envisioned there been a vibrator with a note stuck to it that read, "You're ****ed, Billy boy." Then the bomb would go off or something like that. I let out a little snuff of laughter. I was being paranoid again. I don't think the woman wanted me dead. She seemed like she had wanted to tell me somethign but that she couldn't. She had looked concerned for me. I took a deep breath and peeled off the rest of the wrapping. Then, I removed the top of the box. I peered down into its contents. What the hell? It was a miniature motorized kinetic art ball machine sculpture. It had 2 steel balls that get lifted by a drive chain conveyor system. The balls have 3 tracks to follow that are changed each time by 2 switches. Strange. It was an exact miniature duplicate of one of my moving sculptures. I examined it more closely. It looked exactly like a sculpture that I had been commissioned to make last year. I put it down on the table. Nothing made sense today.

I went to the kitchen to scrounge up something to eat. My headache was returning. I had not eaten anything all day. I found some barely moldy bread and some cheese. As I sat eating my cheese sandwich, I thought about the woman. I stopped in mid-chew. That woman. It wasn't her that I had recognized, it was her smell. I knew that smell, but from where? When I tried to recall the exact scent, my headache returned tenfold. I popped one of the prescription pills for the cluster headaches and closed my eyes. Passing out, the marks on my neck, that perfume scent, and now this sculpture. What did it all mean?

I grabbed a rag from the edge of the sink and ran some ice cold water over it long enough to get it good and cool. Drapping it over my forehead, eyes, and nose I colapsed backwards and sank into my well-worn couch. What the hell is going on here? Who was she and why did she give me this damn thing?!

The cold damp rag felt good on my face and seemed to speed the medication's effect. I could feel the throbbing begin to recess into whatever pocket of pain it had come from. Carefully exploring the forgotten corners of my mind, I tried recounting who had commissioned me to put together a similar contraption to the one now in my posession. Who was it? Where were they from? And.....did I do it?! My God, I can't even remember if I accepted the commission!

"Wait a minute. Wait, just wait," I tell myself. There's no need in getting worked up over such a thing. I drag the wet cloth slowly down my face until I can see the blurred tiles on the ceiling and take a deep long breath. "Now think. Did I do that particular piece? .........Yes. Yes I did. It was my last."

I remember promising myself I was going to focus more on paints and canvas and my beloved Surrealism after that one last job. I couldn't say no to the money I had been offered; not at that time. But afterwards, I was able to concentrate on what I wanted to do, ME and MY calling, MY Vision.

I was relieved to have placed this piece of the damn puzzle on the board; but still couldn't remember who commissioned me. I must have some record or receipt laying around here somewhere.

I grabbed a rag from the edge of the sink and ran some ice cold water over it long enough to get it good and cool. Drapping it over my forehead, eyes, and nose I colapsed backwards and sank into my well-worn couch. What the hell is going on here? Who was she and why did she give me this damn thing?!

The cold damp rag felt good on my face and seemed to speed the medication's effect. I could feel the throbbing begin to recess into whatever pocket of pain it had come from. Carefully exploring the forgotten corners of my mind, I tried recounting who had commissioned me to put together a similar contraption to the one now in my posession. Who was it? Where were they from? And.....did I do it?! My God, I can't even remember if I accepted the commission!

"Wait a minute. Wait, just wait," I tell myself. There's no need in getting worked up over such a thing. I drag the wet cloth slowly down my face until I can see the blurred tiles on the ceiling and take a deep long breath. "Now think. Did I do that particular piece? .........Yes. Yes I did. It was my last."

I remember promising myself I was going to focus more on paints and canvas and my beloved Surrealism after that one last job. I couldn't say no to the money I had been offered; not at that time. But afterwards, I was able to concentrate on what I wanted to do, ME and MY calling, MY Vision.

I was relieved to have placed this piece of the damn puzzle on the board; but still couldn't remember who commissioned me. I must have some record or receipt laying around here somewhere.
After combing through my mess of a home for what seemed like the downside of two hours, I decided I had done enough thinking for one days work, and grabbed a brush, some canvas and drifted away into the abyss I call my imagination.


I wake up from what seemed like a dream, and look at the piece in front of me...did I paint this? I remember asking myself in a confused way. looking closer, it didn’t even look like my usual melancholic style. but I had to have painted this, it must be those damned headache pills getting to me, I reassure myself. I take a quick glance at the clock on my wall as it sits slanted to one side and realize that its almost midnight. for a moment I just sit there in a chagrined state of mind wondering if im going crazy, or just over the hill already. and then it hits me, a headache so piercing that I literally fall to my feet in tears. that smell, I remember thinking to myself in hopes to just drift away to another dimension away from the reality that was my headache, where the hell do I know that smell from? And then it all falls into place...

[B]After combing through my mess of a home for what seemed like the downside of two hours, I decided I had done enough thinking for one days work, and grabbed a brush, some canvas and drifted away into the abyss I call my imagination.


I wake up from what seemed like a dream, and look at the piece in front of me...did I paint this? I remember asking myself in a confused way. looking closer, it didn’t even look like my usual melancholic style. but I had to have painted this, it must be those damned headache pills getting to me, I reassure myself. I take a quick glance at the clock on my wall as it sits slanted to one side and realize that its almost midnight. for a moment I just sit there in a chagrined state of mind wondering if im going crazy, or just over the hill already. and then it hits me, a headache so piercing that I literally fall to my feet in tears. that smell, I remember thinking to myself in hopes to just drift away to another dimension away from the reality that was my headache, where the hell do I know that smell from? And then it all falls into place...

It was from last night, at the show....

.....i had just caught sight of Leeroy and Isabel through the crowd. I was stunned. I went cold. My heart dropped. I took a couple of huge gulps of wine from my glass, emptying it. I couldnt take my eyes off them.
I tried to disguise my broken spirit, taking another glass without hesitating, and talking to somone..... It was her!
The woman who handed me the box today!
We spoke at the show. I remember her only by her perfume. She wore a dark red ruby necklace, the same as she had on in that taxi earlier.
What the hell did we speak about?
What did she say?
What did i answer??
It was all a ****ing blank!
She stood close to me. Leaning in. Sometimes talking softly into my ear. I remember wanting to fall into her and ask her to take me home. I was on autopilot. Nodding, pretending to listen.
She was very attractive. My eyes must have looked glazed over. As she spoke into my ear as i stared at a large painting in front of me.
I remember getting lost in a deep crimson red.
The red outside walls of a house in the painting. A red house at night with the door slightly open, light beaming out.
Yes. That i can remember vivdly.
The painting hung on the wall opposite to my wall.
A figure peered out from behind the door. Silhouetted agaisnt the brightness.
It was a woman.
Her face too dark to make out.
Only a gleaming red ruby necklace was clear.....

Holy ****! It was her!
She must have been the model for the painting.
I couldnt wait till morning. I needed to see that painting right now!

It was from last night, at the show....

.....i had just caught sight of Leeroy and Isabel through the crowd. I was stunned. I went cold. My heart dropped. I took a couple of huge gulps of wine from my glass, emptying it. I couldnt take my eyes off them.
I tried to disguise my broken spirit, taking another glass without hesitating, and talking to somone..... It was her!
The woman who handed me the box today!
We spoke at the show. I remember her only by her perfume. She wore a dark red ruby necklace, the same as she had on in that taxi earlier.
What the hell did we speak about?
What did she say?
What did i answer??
It was all a ****ing blank!
She stood close to me. Leaning in. Sometimes talking softly into my ear. I remember wanting to fall into her and ask her to take me home. I was on autopilot. Nodding, pretending to listen.
She was very attractive. My eyes must have looked glazed over. As she spoke into my ear as i stared at a large painting in front of me.
I remember getting lost in a deep crimson red.
The red outside walls of a house in the painting. A red house at night with the door slightly open, light beaming out.
Yes. That i can remember vivdly.
The painting hung on the wall opposite to my wall.
A figure peered out from behind the door. Silhouetted agaisnt the brightness.
It was a woman.
Her face too dark to make out.
Only a gleaming red ruby necklace was clear.....

Holy ****! It was her!
She must have been the model for the painting.
I couldnt wait till morning. I needed to see that painting right now!


i'll try to pick it up from here. nicely done bobby :)

It was from last night, at the show....

.....i had just caught sight of Leeroy and Isabel through the crowd. I was stunned. I went cold. My heart dropped. I took a couple of huge gulps of wine from my glass, emptying it. I couldnt take my eyes off them.
I tried to disguise my broken spirit, taking another glass without hesitating, and talking to somone..... It was her!
The woman who handed me the box today!
We spoke at the show. I remember her only by her perfume. She wore a dark red ruby necklace, the same as she had on in that taxi earlier.
What the hell did we speak about?
What did she say?
What did i answer??
It was all a ****ing blank!
She stood close to me. Leaning in. Sometimes talking softly into my ear. I remember wanting to fall into her and ask her to take me home. I was on autopilot. Nodding, pretending to listen.
She was very attractive. My eyes must have looked glazed over. As she spoke into my ear as i stared at a large painting in front of me.
I remember getting lost in a deep crimson red.
The red outside walls of a house in the painting. A red house at night with the door slightly open, light beaming out.
Yes. That i can remember vivdly.
The painting hung on the wall opposite to my wall.
A figure peered out from behind the door. Silhouetted agaisnt the brightness.
It was a woman.
Her face too dark to make out.
Only a gleaming red ruby necklace was clear.....

Holy ****! It was her!
She must have been the model for the painting.
I couldnt wait till morning. I needed to see that painting right now!

I grabbed my cell and called Jules.
"This had better be important!" she said groggily into the phone.
"Hey Jules! It's Billy. I nee-"
She cut me off.
"Do you know what time it is?"
"Uh...late?"
"Listen, Jules, I really need to get in to the gallery."
"Fine. We are open at-"
"I really need to get in there now!"
"Why?"
"It's complicated, but you know I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important."
There was silence, then she finally responded.
"I expect a full explanation, Billy. I mean it."
"You'll get it. Hell, maybe you could even help me sort all this **** out."
"Wha-"
"Later, Jules. Later."
"Okay. I'll meet you there in 45 minutes."
"You're the best, Jules."
"Yeah, you keep telling me that."

I snapped my cell shut. I knew Jules would come through. She was always there for me. She was the kind of girl that I should fall for, but never did.

I debated whether I should bring the mini-sculpture that the mystery woman gave me. I decided against it and left it where it was on the coffee table. I grabbed my keys and left my loft.

I grabbed my cell and called Jules.
"This had better be important!" she said groggily into the phone.
"Hey Jules! It's Billy. I nee-"
She cut me off.
"Do you know what time it is?"
"Uh...late?"
"Listen, Jules, I really need to get in to the gallery."
"Fine. We are open at-"
"I really need to get in there now!"
"Why?"
"It's complicated, but you know I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important."
There was silence, then she finally responded.
"I expect a full explanation, Billy. I mean it."
"You'll get it. Hell, maybe you could even help me sort all this **** out."
"Wha-"
"Later, Jules. Later."
"Okay. I'll meet you there in 45 minutes."
"You're the best, Jules."
"Yeah, you keep telling me that."

I snapped my cell shut. I knew Jules would come through. She was always there for me. She was the kind of girl that I should fall for, but never did.

I debated whether I should bring the mini-sculpture that the mystery woman gave me. I decided against it and left it where it was on the coffee table. I grabbed my keys and left my loft.
im gonna try and give this one a shot.

I grabbed my cell and called Jules.
"This had better be important!" she said groggily into the phone.
"Hey Jules! It's Billy. I nee-"
She cut me off.
"Do you know what time it is?"
"Uh...late?"
"Listen, Jules, I really need to get in to the gallery."
"Fine. We are open at-"
"I really need to get in there now!"
"Why?"
"It's complicated, but you know I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important."
There was silence, then she finally responded.
"I expect a full explanation, Billy. I mean it."
"You'll get it. Hell, maybe you could even help me sort all this **** out."
"Wha-"
"Later, Jules. Later."
"Okay. I'll meet you there in 45 minutes."
"You're the best, Jules."
"Yeah, you keep telling me that."

I snapped my cell shut. I knew Jules would come through. She was always there for me. She was the kind of girl that I should fall for, but never did.

I debated whether I should bring the mini-sculpture that the mystery woman gave me. I decided against it and left it where it was on the coffee table. I grabbed my keys and left my loft.
i headed out the door with hopes to hail a cab pretty soon. I looked and looked, but there we're none to be seen, which didnt surprise me at all, given the fact that it was around 3:30 am on a gloomy night. So i started walking, i had just pased 43rd, and the gallery was in between 12th and 13th, I hang my head in sorrow, for i knew it would'nt be a quick trip. The asphault is still wet from the storm, and i slosh through puddles like they are nonexistant, which is the best way to describe myself right now. The stress, the wonder, the sense of insecurity, none of them matter,for i am a zombie, a mindless corpse with one goal and one goal only. minutes pass and in amazement, i am already almost there, i keep my stride fluent and focus on getting there as soon as possible. wait, i see something out of the corner of my eye, a sparkle, a flash, an answerless question tugging at my shoelaces. i stop to see what exactly my mind would not let me pass, in attempt to further understand my complex train of thought that has lately been running my brain off the tracks.
i bend down to pick up a coin, a coin i had never seen before, and looks like no other. i closely examine it, and my heart seems to skip a few beats, i see the same triangular symbol on it that was so perplexing earlier, the same symbol that could be found just by looking at my neck, the same symbol that i knew jack **** about. As of now, i begin to think i am beign watched, and that my every move is being documented. i act as if nothing bothered me and keep my nervous pace as i near the gallery. I cant wait to get inside so i can enlighten Jules with my spider-web of a day. i near the building and sprint up the steps as if i were being chased by a dog, i slowly turn the handle, and then every single bit of fear and paranoia in my body hit me like a sledgehammer, The lock is broken...

i headed out the door with hopes to hail a cab pretty soon. I looked and looked, but there we're none to be seen, which didnt surprise me at all, given the fact that it was around 3:30 am on a gloomy night. So i started walking, i had just pased 43rd, and the gallery was in between 12th and 13th, I hang my head in sorrow, for i knew it would'nt be a quick trip. The asphault is still wet from the storm, and i slosh through puddles like they are nonexistant, which is the best way to describe myself right now. The stress, the wonder, the sense of insecurity, none of them matter,for i am a zombie, a mindless corpse with one goal and one goal only. minutes pass and in amazement, i am already almost there, i keep my stride fluent and focus on getting there as soon as possible. wait, i see something out of the corner of my eye, a sparkle, a flash, an answerless question tugging at my shoelaces. i stop to see what exactly my mind would not let me pass, in attempt to further understand my complex train of thought that has lately been running my brain off the tracks.
i bend down to pick up a coin, a coin i had never seen before, and looks like no other. i closely examine it, and my heart seems to skip a few beats, i see the same triangular symbol on it that was so perplexing earlier, the same symbol that could be found just by looking at my neck, the same symbol that i knew jack **** about. As of now, i begin to think i am beign watched, and that my every move is being documented. i act as if nothing bothered me and keep my nervous pace as i near the gallery. I cant wait to get inside so i can enlighten Jules with my spider-web of a day. i near the building and sprint up the steps as if i were being chased by a dog, i slowly turn the handle, and then every single bit of fear and paranoia in my body hit me like a sledgehammer, The lock is broken...

since i have nothing better do to, i'll pick up the story from here. :o

i headed out the door with hopes to hail a cab pretty soon. I looked and looked, but there we're none to be seen, which didnt surprise me at all, given the fact that it was around 3:30 am on a gloomy night. So i started walking, i had just pased 43rd, and the gallery was in between 12th and 13th, I hang my head in sorrow, for i knew it would'nt be a quick trip. The asphault is still wet from the storm, and i slosh through puddles like they are nonexistant, which is the best way to describe myself right now. The stress, the wonder, the sense of insecurity, none of them matter,for i am a zombie, a mindless corpse with one goal and one goal only. minutes pass and in amazement, i am already almost there, i keep my stride fluent and focus on getting there as soon as possible. wait, i see something out of the corner of my eye, a sparkle, a flash, an answerless question tugging at my shoelaces. i stop to see what exactly my mind would not let me pass, in attempt to further understand my complex train of thought that has lately been running my brain off the tracks.
i bend down to pick up a coin, a coin i had never seen before, and looks like no other. i closely examine it, and my heart seems to skip a few beats, i see the same triangular symbol on it that was so perplexing earlier, the same symbol that could be found just by looking at my neck, the same symbol that i knew jack **** about. As of now, i begin to think i am beign watched, and that my every move is being documented. i act as if nothing bothered me and keep my nervous pace as i near the gallery. I cant wait to get inside so i can enlighten Jules with my spider-web of a day. i near the building and sprint up the steps as if i were being chased by a dog, i slowly turn the handle, and then every single bit of fear and paranoia in my body hit me like a sledgehammer, The lock is broken...

I rush inside. I don't hear anyone, but the lights are off. I know this place very well by now, so I know where the light switch is. I flick on the lights and give my eyes a few moments to adjust. I quickly scan the gallery. No sign of anyone. I waste no time walking over to where I had seen the painting of the woman. I turned the corner and froze. I wasn't surprised, really. I had expected it the moment that I had seen the broken lock. I just stood there staring at the void where the painting had previously been.

I hear someone coming up behind me and spin around.
"****, Billy. What happened to the lock?"
It was Jules.
"Someone broke in."
"Are you serious?" she said as she moved in closer to me instinctively.
"Did you check the whole place out to see if anyone is still here?" she whispered.
"No. I don't think anyone is here. They got what they came for."
I stepped aside and Jules saw the void in the gallery wall.
"Why would anyone want to steal that particular painting? It isn't as valuable as many of the other paintings in the gallery. It just doesn't make sense. Will you please tell me what is going on, Billy?"

We walk back to her office as I recount the bizarre happenings of the last 24 hours. I leave nothing out. I think I do this more so I can get things straight in my own head as well. She asks the same questions that I have asked myself but have no answers to.

When I am done, we sit in silence for a moment and I let her absorb everything I have said. Suddenly, her eyes brighten.
"Billy! The painting may be gone, but I have a digital picture of it. I take pictures of every piece of art in this gallery. I also have information on the artist."

Cool!

Who's next? C'mon i wana know wat happens!

Cool!

Who's next? C'mon i wana know wat happens!

you're not that tired, you little ****! you could have added on. :spank:

I rush inside. I don't hear anyone, but the lights are off. I know this place very well by now, so I know where the light switch is. I flick on the lights and give my eyes a few moments to adjust. I quickly scan the gallery. No sign of anyone. I waste no time walking over to where I had seen the painting of the woman. I turned the corner and froze. I wasn't surprised, really. I had expected it the moment that I had seen the broken lock. I just stood there staring at the void where the painting had previously been.

I hear someone coming up behind me and spin around.
"****, Billy. What happened to the lock?"
It was Jules.
"Someone broke in."
"Are you serious?" she said as she moved in closer to me instinctively.
"Did you check the whole place out to see if anyone is still here?" she whispered.
"No. I don't think anyone is here. They got what they came for."
I stepped aside and Jules saw the void in the gallery wall.
"Why would anyone want to steal that particular painting? It isn't as valuable as many of the other paintings in the gallery. It just doesn't make sense. Will you please tell me what is going on, Billy?"

We walk back to her office as I recount the bizarre happenings of the last 24 hours. I leave nothing out. I think I do this more so I can get things straight in my own head as well. She asks the same questions that I have asked myself but have no answers to.

When I am done, we sit in silence for a moment and I let her absorb everything I have said. Suddenly, her eyes brighten.
"Billy! The painting may be gone, but I have a digital picture of it. I take pictures of every piece of art in this gallery. I also have information on the artist."

as soon as i hear that, my heart starts to pound, i think to myself, this is it billy, you're finally going to find a piece to the puzzle. Jules walks across the office to a filing cabinet, and begins searching through drawers. At least now i am starting to feel a bit more relaxed, but my headache is still running wild. i open my pill bottle and pop some down in attempt to feel normal again. After a minute of her searching through the files she turns around with a look of awe on her face. i question her as to what is wrong, but i get no reply, just a worried gaze.
I rush to her side like a paramedic to a crash victim, and i grab the manila envelope out of her hand, no reciepts, no paperwork, nothing at all. I look at her facial expression and notice it's like none i have ever seen on her. She looks shocked, but even more so, she looks terrified. i grab her hand and drag her to the desk, open the top drawer to find the camera, but it's gone. I shout out in desperation, ****, who are you goddamit, who are you? i drop to my knees and a salty tear trickles down my left cheek, Jules stoops down to console me and accidently kicks something my way, i look down only to find...

as soon as i hear that, my heart starts to pound, i think to myself, this is it billy, you're finally going to find a piece to the puzzle. Jules walks across the office to a filing cabinet, and begins searching through drawers. At least now i am starting to feel a bit more relaxed, but my headache is still running wild. i open my pill bottle and pop some down in attempt to feel normal again. After a minute of her searching through the files she turns around with a look of awe on her face. i question her as to what is wrong, but i get no reply, just a worried gaze.
I rush to her side like a paramedic to a crash victim, and i grab the manila envelope out of her hand, no reciepts, no paperwork, nothing at all. I look at her facial expression and notice it's like none i have ever seen on her. She looks shocked, but even more so, she looks terrified. i grab her hand and drag her to the desk, open the top drawer to find the camera, but it's gone. I shout out in desperation, ****, who are you goddamit, who are you? i drop to my knees and a salty tear trickles down my left cheek, Jules stoops down to console me and accidently kicks something my way, i look down only to find...

a small dark red ruby. The ruby was the same shape and cut as the rubies on the mystery woman's necklace. It had to be hers. It couldn't be a coincidence. I showed it to Jules and told her who I thought it belonged to.

We talked for a bit, then decided to call the police. We had agreed on a cover story: I had been coming home from a club and had noticed the door was slightly ajar when I walked past. Jules and I were friends, so it makes sense that I would call her first. She came here to see if anything had been stolen and indeed there had been. We felt that it was pointless to tell the the truth about our motives, the bizarre things that had happened today, or about the ruby.

After answering the police's questions, I took a taxi home. I was expected to be at my day job in two hours. A great start to another day. I was exhausted and starving, and I just couldn't wrap my head around the events of today. I needed some answers...desperately. Although I wanted to follow my next lead, the coin, I knew I couldn't afford to lose my day job. Money was tight right now and I was already a few months behind on the rent. I needed this job. The coin would have to wait.

I quickly showered and got dressed. I glanced over at the coffee table and saw the my only clues to this madness sitting there: the mini-sculpture, the coin, and the ruby. I put the ruby and coin in my pocket. Then, I sat down on the couch and started playing with the moving kinetic ball sculpture. I just needed to get through work, then I could follow-up on the coin, maybe take it to a coin dealer, I thought. I absentmindedly switched the balls back and forth on the two tracks as I was thinking. All of a sudden, a small piece of rolled paper popped out of the bottom of the sculpture. What the hell? I pulled it out and quickly unfolded it. The now familiar smell immediately filled my nostrils. A short message was written in red, in perfect calligraphy...

You must remember what you have been made to forget.

Under the short message was the triangle symbol that was on my neck and on the coin.

I re-read the message a few times aloud. In a way, it made sense. I felt like I had partial amnesia. It was difficult for me to remember specific things. I had felt so groggy when I woke up yesterday morning, as if I had been drugged. Whenever I tried to recall certain images or events, the headache came back full force.

I got up and walked into the bathroom to take a look at my neck. I craned my neck to get a better look, but the marks were gone.

come on, somebody, u really got me hanging here

come on, somebody, u really got me hanging here

you're the writer, you could help us out ;)

you're the writer, you could help us out ;)

i haven't slept for two days, right now i feel like i'm awake but not really there.

i don't think that would help the story much, besides, i don't really know who billy is, or why he hasn't hooked up with any ladies yet. maybe the case could get solved quicker if there was a shapely pair of legs peeking out from under a short skirt, immediately his eyes went down to her toned white calves with freckles all over them and shiny ****ed heels with the red polish of her toes looking almost like dried blood under the lamp on the corner of the desk

i haven't slept for two days, right now i feel like i'm awake but not really there.

i don't think that would help the story much, besides, i don't really know who billy is, or why he hasn't hooked up with any ladies yet. maybe the case could get solved quicker if there was a shapely pair of legs peeking out from under a short skirt, immediately his eyes went down to her toned white calves with freckles all over them and shiny ****ed heels with the red polish of her toes looking almost like dried blood under the lamp on the corner of the desk

lol! you're a trip!
i was bored so i added to my "chapter"

a small dark red ruby. The ruby was the same shape and cut as the rubies on the mystery woman's necklace. It had to be hers. It couldn't be a coincidence. I showed it to Jules and told her who I thought it belonged to.

We talked for a bit, then decided to call the police. We had agreed on a cover story: I had been coming home from a club and had noticed the door was slightly ajar when I walked past. Jules and I were friends, so it makes sense that I would call her first. She came here to see if anything had been stolen and indeed there had been. We felt that it was pointless to tell the the truth about our motives, the bizarre things that had happened today, or about the ruby.

After answering the police's questions, I took a taxi home. I was expected to be at my day job in two hours. A great start to another day. I was exhausted and starving, and I just couldn't wrap my head around the events of today. I needed some answers...desperately. Although I wanted to follow my next lead, the coin, I knew I couldn't afford to lose my day job. Money was tight right now and I was already a few months behind on the rent. I needed this job. The coin would have to wait.

I quickly showered and got dressed. I glanced over at the coffee table and saw the my only clues to this madness sitting there: the mini-sculpture, the coin, and the ruby. I put the ruby and coin in my pocket. Then, I sat down on the couch and started playing with the moving kinetic ball sculpture. I just needed to get through work, then I could follow-up on the coin, maybe take it to a coin dealer, I thought. I absentmindedly switched the balls back and forth on the two tracks as I was thinking. All of a sudden, a small piece of rolled paper popped out of the bottom of the sculpture. What the hell? I pulled it out and quickly unfolded it. The now familiar smell immediately filled my nostrils. A short message was written in red, in perfect calligraphy...

You must remember what you have been made to forget.

Under the short message was the triangle symbol that was on my neck and on the coin.

I reread the message a few times aloud. In a way, it made sense. I felt like I had partial amnesia. It was difficult for me to remember specific things. I had felt so groggy when I woke up yesterday morning, as if I had been drugged. Whenever I tried to recall certain images or events, the headache came back full force.

I got up and walked into the bathroom to take a look at my neck. I craned my neck to get a better look, but the marks were gone.

.............

Ok, im gonna have a go.

Hmmmmm........

a small dark red ruby. The ruby was the same shape and cut as the rubies on the mystery woman's necklace. It had to be hers. It couldn't be a coincidence. I showed it to Jules and told her who I thought it belonged to.

We talked for a bit, then decided to call the police. We had agreed on a cover story: I had been coming home from a club and had noticed the door was slightly ajar when I walked past. Jules and I were friends, so it makes sense that I would call her first. She came here to see if anything had been stolen and indeed there had been. We felt that it was pointless to tell the the truth about our motives, the bizarre things that had happened today, or about the ruby.

After answering the police's questions, I took a taxi home. I was expected to be at my day job in two hours. A great start to another day. I was exhausted and starving, and I just couldn't wrap my head around the events of today. I needed some answers...desperately. Although I wanted to follow my next lead, the coin, I knew I couldn't afford to lose my day job. Money was tight right now and I was already a few months behind on the rent. I needed this job. The coin would have to wait.

I quickly showered and got dressed. I glanced over at the coffee table and saw the my only clues to this madness sitting there: the mini-sculpture, the coin, and the ruby. I put the ruby and coin in my pocket. Then, I sat down on the couch and started playing with the moving kinetic ball sculpture. I just needed to get through work, then I could follow-up on the coin, maybe take it to a coin dealer, I thought. I absentmindedly switched the balls back and forth on the two tracks as I was thinking. All of a sudden, a small piece of rolled paper popped out of the bottom of the sculpture. What the hell? I pulled it out and quickly unfolded it. The now familiar smell immediately filled my nostrils. A short message was written in red, in perfect calligraphy...

You must remember what you have been made to forget.

Under the short message was the triangle symbol that was on my neck and on the coin.

I re-read the message a few times aloud. In a way, it made sense. I felt like I had partial amnesia. It was difficult for me to remember specific things. I had felt so groggy when I woke up yesterday morning, as if I had been drugged. Whenever I tried to recall certain images or events, the headache came back full force.

I got up and walked into the bathroom to take a look at my neck. I craned my neck to get a better look, but the marks were gone.


I pressed into the skin and there was no pain either. For a moment i wondered if i imagined seeing the mark.
It was possible.
I didnt trust my own mind. I was exhausted. Emotionally wrecked. Plus somone was playing games with me.
When this mystery woman handed me the box she had a big smile. She was enjoying toying with me. I felt she was reveling in my torment.
I had to go to work. Maybe if i stopped running around in her maze id avoid falling into her traps.

The bookshop where i worked was the other side of town. Id tried to close my eyes on the train, maybe get some rest. I was unable to escape the paranoia or keep my mind away from the puzzle.
I swore i heard my name mentioned several times by different people and saw hidden messages in the mess of graffiti on the walls. I was just as bad at work.
The shop is a small one. Usually quiet with few customers browsing. It could be more like a library or dusty church at times. My boss was a very softly spoken old guy named Ralph. He was very easy going and knew id had a show at the weekend. He wasnt one to chat or pry, but my apperance must have bothered him enough to ask if i were ok. After reasurring him and telling him a bit about the break in and stolen painting things just rolled along as if it were just another day.
I was sipping coffee for most of the morning. Glaring constantly at oblivious customers. with my back to the wall behind the counter. I felt safe there. In control. I could see everyone from a good distance.
A tall balding man flicked through a magazine. A student slowly paced down an isle with a female friend, chatting while they looked. Another middleaged woman was being helped by Ralph with an enquiry. Then i spotted a figure, their baseball cap just visible above the top shelf. I couldnt see any more.
They kept ducking down out of view. I started to sweat, my heart rate picked up rapidly. They thought i couldnt see them. I wanted to see what they were doing but there was now a small queue building up. I miscounted the first customers change, apologising abruptly, still trying to see the baseball cap. A customer asked if we had a specific book they had ordered by phone. I caught sight of the cap again. Still there in the same place. I rushed into our storeroom and found the pre-ordered book. I had taken barely a minute to get back to the counter. It was a young girl wearing the cap. She stood at the counter now with a book in her hands. The door at the far end of the shop had just gently closed and i looked for the customer i was dealing with but only the girl was there. She stepped forward and placed her book on the counter. I was about to tell her i was already dealing with the other person but they had dissapeared.
I looked down at the book....

The cover showed the same symbol as on the coin...

I pressed into the skin and there was no pain either. For a moment i wondered if i imagined seeing the mark.
It was possible.
I didnt trust my own mind. I was exhausted. Emotionally wrecked. Plus somone was playing games with me.
When this mystery woman handed me the box she had a big smile. She was enjoying toying with me. I felt she was reveling in my torment.
I had to go to work. Maybe if i stopped running around in her maze id avoid falling into her traps.

The bookshop where i worked was the other side of town. Id tried to close my eyes on the train, maybe get some rest. I was unable to escape the paranoia or keep my mind away from the puzzle.
I swore i heard my name mentioned several times by different people and saw hidden messages in the mess of graffiti on the walls. I was just as bad at work.
The shop is a small one. Usually quiet with few customers browsing. It could be more like a library or dusty church at times. My boss was a very softly spoken old guy named Ralph. He was very easy going and knew id had a show at the weekend. He wasnt one to chat or pry, but my apperance must have bothered him enough to ask if i were ok. After reasurring him and telling him a bit about the break in and stolen painting things just rolled along as if it were just another day.
I was sipping coffee for most of the morning. Glaring constantly at oblivious customers. with my back to the wall behind the counter. I felt safe there. In control. I could see everyone from a good distance.
A tall balding man flicked through a magazine. A student slowly paced down an isle with a female friend, chatting while they looked. Another middleaged woman was being helped by Ralph with an enquiry. Then i spotted a figure, their baseball cap just visible above the top shelf. I couldnt see any more.
They kept ducking down out of view. I started to sweat, my heart rate picked up rapidly. They thought i couldnt see them. I wanted to see what they were doing but there was now a small queue building up. I miscounted the first customers change, apologising abruptly, still trying to see the baseball cap. A customer asked if we had a specific book they had ordered by phone. I caught sight of the cap again. Still there in the same place. I rushed into our storeroom and found the pre-ordered book. I had taken barely a minute to get back to the counter. It was a young girl wearing the cap. She stood at the counter now with a book in her hands. The door at the far end of the shop had just gently closed and i looked for the customer i was dealing with but only the girl was there. She stepped forward and placed her book on the counter. I was about to tell her i was already dealing with the other person but they had dissapeared.
I looked down at the book....

The cover showed the same symbol as on the coin...

i got the next one :p

I pressed into the skin and there was no pain either. For a moment i wondered if i imagined seeing the mark.
It was possible.
I didnt trust my own mind. I was exhausted. Emotionally wrecked. Plus somone was playing games with me.
When this mystery woman handed me the box she had a big smile. She was enjoying toying with me. I felt she was reveling in my torment.
I had to go to work. Maybe if i stopped running around in her maze id avoid falling into her traps.

The bookshop where i worked was the other side of town. Id tried to close my eyes on the train, maybe get some rest. I was unable to escape the paranoia or keep my mind away from the puzzle.
I swore i heard my name mentioned several times by different people and saw hidden messages in the mess of graffiti on the walls. I was just as bad at work.
The shop is a small one. Usually quiet with few customers browsing. It could be more like a library or dusty church at times. My boss was a very softly spoken old guy named Ralph. He was very easy going and knew id had a show at the weekend. He wasnt one to chat or pry, but my apperance must have bothered him enough to ask if i were ok. After reasurring him and telling him a bit about the break in and stolen painting things just rolled along as if it were just another day.
I was sipping coffee for most of the morning. Glaring constantly at oblivious customers. with my back to the wall behind the counter. I felt safe there. In control. I could see everyone from a good distance.
A tall balding man flicked through a magazine. A student slowly paced down an isle with a female friend, chatting while they looked. Another middleaged woman was being helped by Ralph with an enquiry. Then i spotted a figure, their baseball cap just visible above the top shelf. I couldnt see any more.
They kept ducking down out of view. I started to sweat, my heart rate picked up rapidly. They thought i couldnt see them. I wanted to see what they were doing but there was now a small queue building up. I miscounted the first customers change, apologising abruptly, still trying to see the baseball cap. A customer asked if we had a specific book they had ordered by phone. I caught sight of the cap again. Still there in the same place. I rushed into our storeroom and found the pre-ordered book. I had taken barely a minute to get back to the counter. It was a young girl wearing the cap. She stood at the counter now with a book in her hands. The door at the far end of the shop had just gently closed and i looked for the customer i was dealing with but only the girl was there. She stepped forward and placed her book on the counter. I was about to tell her i was already dealing with the other person but they had dissapeared.
I looked down at the book....

The cover showed the same symbol as on the coin...

I stared befuddled at the book the missing customer had ordered. I ran my finger over the symbol. The girl became impatient. "I'm ready to buy my book now," she said in a snotty tone. I completed the sale transaction quickly and returned my attention to the book. I glanced around the store. Ralph was still helping the same woman, otherwise the store was empty.

I flipped open the book and scanned the pages. Damn! It was written in another language! It looked like Latin, but I wasn't sure. I felt paranoid, like I was being watched. I grabbed a bag and placed the book inside. Then I folded the bad around the book, making a tight bundle. I placed it carefully out of sight on a shelf that was never used.

My cell phone rang. It was my brother, Kirby.
"So, how did it go?" he asked.
"How did what go?"
"The MRI! Was it a tumor?"

The MRI, it seemed like it had been days since I had it done, but it had only been yesterday.

"It was fine. I just have cluster headaches."
"Are they sure?"
"Yes, Kirby."
"Did you get a second opinion?"
"Kirby, I talked to the technician and the specialist. They both concur with the diagnosis."

It was hard to believe that Kirby was a medical examiner given his constant preoccupation and paranoia with illnesses. Then again, maybe that is why he got into that field.

For a moment, I considered telling him about everything, but decided against it.

"Don't forget we are due over mom's for dinner tomorrow night. You HAVE to be there."
I sighed. ****! I had forgotten all about it.
"I'll be there," I said flatly.

come on, somebody, u really got me hanging here

yeah, people, don't leave us hanging...

OK. I've got the next one!

Just wanted to come on and say YOU GUYS ARE GREAT!! :D

This story is developing so nicely. Who's the best Lounge?!


Keep it rollin' guys. This is going fantastically. :fing02:

Just wanted to come on and say YOU GUYS ARE GREAT!! :D

This story is developing so nicely. Who's the best Lounge?!


Keep it rollin' guys. This is going fantastically. :fing02:

please come back soon and add to it.
i keep hoping to see an addition from you. :o

I stared befuddled at the book the missing customer had ordered. I ran my finger over the symbol. The girl became impatient. "I'm ready to buy my book now," she said in a snotty tone. I completed the sale transaction quickly and returned my attention to the book. I glanced around the store. Ralph was still helping the same woman, otherwise the store was empty.

I flipped open the book and scanned the pages. Damn! It was written in another language! It looked like Latin, but I wasn't sure. I felt paranoid, like I was being watched. I grabbed a bag and placed the book inside. Then I folded the bad around the book, making a tight bundle. I placed it carefully out of sight on a shelf that was never used.

My cell phone rang. It was my brother, Kirby.
"So, how did it go?" he asked.
"How did what go?"
"The MRI! Was it a tumor?"

The MRI, it seemed like it had been days since I had it done, but it had only been yesterday.

"It was fine. I just have cluster headaches."
"Are they sure?"
"Yes, Kirby."
"Did you get a second opinion?"
"Kirby, I talked to the technician and the specialist. They both concur with the diagnosis."

It was hard to believe that Kirby was a medical examiner given his constant preoccupation and paranoia with illnesses. Then again, maybe that is why he got into that field.

For a moment, I considered telling him about everything, but decided against it.

"Don't forget we are due over mom's for dinner tomorrow night. You HAVE to be there."
I sighed. ****! I had forgotten all about it.
"I'll be there," I said flatly.

I could hardly contain my excitement and fear as I moved along the street, package in hand looking for a secluded spot to examine it further.
I couldn't help feeling that I must have died during my hospital visit or that I was in some form of drug induced coma causing me to live out this insane nightmare as a crossed the road and spotted the old district library.
As I approached the doors I recalled the time when this building was part of the Lady of Lourdes Convent. Perched on the corner in an ageing rocking chair used to sit Sister May Rose, she used to slap mine and Kirby's legs in the summer with an long piece of birch and tell us we were going to hell for our sins, our sins being copping the odd feel of Lucy Freedens breasts and spitting on the sidewalk to the obvious disgust of the Sister.
I tried to shake off any thoughts other than those at hand and pushed my way through the double doors into the old library.
After finding a quiet corner I began to examine the book further, at first nothing but the symbol indicated anything out of place and I began to think I was attempting to live out some sort of Mickey Spillane novel when I noticed a small piece of purple ribbon sticking out of the top of the book cover, after giving it a gentle tug I realised that this had been placed in the cover for a reason.
Just as I had worked up the courage to tear down on the ribbon I was approached by a rather attractive librarian who informed that the building was about to close.
Quickly I tore down on the ribbon, the seam seemed to split on the book to reveal a small leather pouch, on looking inside I found a strange looking object in the shape of a double ended crucifix in bronze and what looked like an address.
I headed out of the door........

I could hardly contain my excitement and fear as I moved along the street, package in hand looking for a secluded spot to examine it further.
I couldn't help feeling that I must have died during my hospital visit or that I was in some form of drug induced coma causing me to live out this insane nightmare as a crossed the road and spotted the old district library.
As I approached the doors I recalled the time when this building was part of the Lady of Lourdes Convent. Perched on the corner in an ageing rocking chair used to sit Sister May Rose, she used to slap mine and Kirby's legs in the summer with an long piece of birch and tell us we were going to hell for our sins, our sins being copping the odd feel of Lucy Freedens breasts and spitting on the sidewalk to the obvious disgust of the Sister.
I tried to shake off any thoughts other than those at hand and pushed my way through the double doors into the old library.
After finding a quiet corner I began to examine the book further, at first nothing but the symbol indicated anything out of place and I began to think I was attempting to live out some sort of Mickey Spillane novel when I noticed a small piece of purple ribbon sticking out of the top of the book cover, after giving it a gentle tug I realised that this had been placed in the cover for a reason.
Just as I had worked up the courage to tear down on the ribbon I was approached by a rather attractive librarian who informed that the building was about to close.
Quickly I tore down on the ribbon, the seam seemed to split on the book to reveal a small leather pouch, on looking inside I found a strange looking object in the shape of a double ended crucifix in bronze and what looked like an address.
I headed out of the door........

thanks micky, for taking a little time out of your day to contribute, i know you are busy.

plus, i was thinking library next too - so great minds think alike. lol!

k-dogg, you want to take a stab?

thanks micky, for taking a little time out of your day to contribute, i know you are busy.

No, no probs, just this week Fiesty, covered around 5,000 miles between meetings etc.

Weekends are my own!

Thanks for the thought, especially as you are always busy with two very young kids.......my wife never lets me forget!:ugh:

please come back soon and add to it.
i keep hoping to see an addition from you. :o

Thanks Rogue. If I can't contribute today, I will tomorrow; but you guys are awesome. ;)

k-dogg, you want to take a stab?

It's kind of hard for me to put together something at the moment. I'm only able to glance at the site occasionally. Sorry. :puppy_dog

It's kind of hard for me to put together something at the moment. I'm only able to glance at the site occasionally. Sorry. :puppy_dog

no problem....

I could hardly contain my excitement and fear as I moved along the street, package in hand looking for a secluded spot to examine it further.
I couldn't help feeling that I must have died during my hospital visit or that I was in some form of drug induced coma causing me to live out this insane nightmare as a crossed the road and spotted the old district library.
As I approached the doors I recalled the time when this building was part of the Lady of Lourdes Convent. Perched on the corner in an ageing rocking chair used to sit Sister May Rose, she used to slap mine and Kirby's legs in the summer with an long piece of birch and tell us we were going to hell for our sins, our sins being copping the odd feel of Lucy Freedens breasts and spitting on the sidewalk to the obvious disgust of the Sister.
I tried to shake off any thoughts other than those at hand and pushed my way through the double doors into the old library.
After finding a quiet corner I began to examine the book further, at first nothing but the symbol indicated anything out of place and I began to think I was attempting to live out some sort of Mickey Spillane novel when I noticed a small piece of purple ribbon sticking out of the top of the book cover, after giving it a gentle tug I realised that this had been placed in the cover for a reason.
Just as I had worked up the courage to tear down on the ribbon I was approached by a rather attractive librarian who informed that the building was about to close.
Quickly I tore down on the ribbon, the seam seemed to split on the book to reveal a small leather pouch, on looking inside I found a strange looking object in the shape of a double ended crucifix in bronze and what looked like an address.
I headed out of the door........

very nice micky, i like the erotic language and the part about the nuns - i had a very similar experience to this when i was a kid

i guess i will go next

I could hardly contain my excitement and fear as I moved along the street, package in hand looking for a secluded spot to examine it further.
I couldn't help feeling that I must have died during my hospital visit or that I was in some form of drug induced coma causing me to live out this insane nightmare as a crossed the road and spotted the old district library.
As I approached the doors I recalled the time when this building was part of the Lady of Lourdes Convent. Perched on the corner in an ageing rocking chair used to sit Sister May Rose, she used to slap mine and Kirby's legs in the summer with an long piece of birch and tell us we were going to hell for our sins, our sins being copping the odd feel of Lucy Freedens breasts and spitting on the sidewalk to the obvious disgust of the Sister.
I tried to shake off any thoughts other than those at hand and pushed my way through the double doors into the old library.
After finding a quiet corner I began to examine the book further, at first nothing but the symbol indicated anything out of place and I began to think I was attempting to live out some sort of Mickey Spillane novel when I noticed a small piece of purple ribbon sticking out of the top of the book cover, after giving it a gentle tug I realised that this had been placed in the cover for a reason.
Just as I had worked up the courage to tear down on the ribbon I was approached by a rather attractive librarian who informed that the building was about to close.
Quickly I tore down on the ribbon, the seam seemed to split on the book to reveal a small leather pouch, on looking inside I found a strange looking object in the shape of a double ended crucifix in bronze and what looked like an address.
I headed out of the door........

I stopped when I got out to the street. What the **** was I doing? I didn't know what this was all about. Was the mystery woman toying with me again? What if I was being set-up? What did she or whoever want with me? I had no idea.

I ran my fingers over the crucufix. What the hell was this all about. I twirled it between my fingers abentmindedly. It dropped from my fingers and pinged against the pavement several times. ****! It had broken. I bent over to retrieve the pieces and realized that one piece was actually an old-fashioned key. The top of the key had that same damn symbol on it.

My cell phone rang. It was Jules. I filled her in on this most recent development. "You can't just go there," she insisted.
"I know that it's risky, but I need some answers."
"Well, I'm coming with you. I have a stun gun, in case someone tries something."
I laughed at the thought. It felt good to laugh again.
"I'm serious," she said, trying to sound offended.
"I don't want to get you further involved in this, Jules."
"I'm coming, Billy. They stole MY property and I want it back. Plus, I have been thinking about this craziness all day. I want to know what is going on, just like you."

I felt drained- my body, my emotions, and my brain. I could use the help making sense of all this. Plus, she was really nice to look at. Actually, Jules was beautiful and had an incredible body, but she was a little too naive. A little too nice. She was an optimist. She saw the good things in people. "Okay," I told her. "You can come."
"Good! I'll come pick you up. Oh, and grab a coffee and a pastry or something across the street while you wait. I know you probably haven't eaten all day."

I hung up and smiled. Yup, that's Jules. Never misses an opportunity to take care of someone. I headed across the street.

I stopped when I got out to the street. What the **** was I doing? I didn't know what this was all about. Was the mystery woman toying with me again? What if I was being set-up? What did she or whoever want with me? I had no idea.

I ran my fingers over the crucufix. What the hell was this all about. I twirled it between my fingers abentmindedly. It dropped from my fingers and pinged against the pavement several times. ****! It had broken. I bent over to retrieve the pieces and realized that one piece was actually an old-fashioned key. The top of the key had that same damn symbol on it.

My cell phone rang. It was Jules. I filled her in on this most recent development. "You can't just go there," she insisted.
"I know that it's risky, but I need some answers."
"Well, I'm coming with you. I have a stun gun, in case someone tries something."
I laughed at the thought. It felt good to laugh again.
"I'm serious," she said, trying to sound offended.
"I don't want to get you further involved in this, Jules."
"I'm coming, Billy. They stole MY property and I want it back. Plus, I have been thinking about this craziness all day. I want to know what is going on, just like you."

I felt drained- my body, my emotions, and my brain. I could use the help making sense of all this. Plus, she was really nice to look at. Actually, Jules was beautiful and had an incredible body, but she was a little too naive. A little too nice. She was an optimist. She saw the good things in people. "Okay," I told her. "You can come."
"Good! I'll come pick you up. Oh, and grab a coffee and a pastry or something across the street while you wait. I know you probably haven't eaten all day."

I hung up and smiled. Yup, that's Jules. Never misses an opportunity to take care of someone. I headed across the street.

nice... now you're starting to see things my way

I stopped when I got out to the street. What the **** was I doing? I didn't know what this was all about. Was the mystery woman toying with me again? What if I was being set-up? What did she or whoever want with me? I had no idea.

I ran my fingers over the crucufix. What the hell was this all about. I twirled it between my fingers abentmindedly. It dropped from my fingers and pinged against the pavement several times. ****! It had broken. I bent over to retrieve the pieces and realized that one piece was actually an old-fashioned key. The top of the key had that same damn symbol on it.

My cell phone rang. It was Jules. I filled her in on this most recent development. "You can't just go there," she insisted.
"I know that it's risky, but I need some answers."
"Well, I'm coming with you. I have a stun gun, in case someone tries something."
I laughed at the thought. It felt good to laugh again.
"I'm serious," she said, trying to sound offended.
"I don't want to get you further involved in this, Jules."
"I'm coming, Billy. They stole MY property and I want it back. Plus, I have been thinking about this craziness all day. I want to know what is going on, just like you."

I felt drained- my body, my emotions, and my brain. I could use the help making sense of all this. Plus, she was really nice to look at. Actually, Jules was beautiful and had an incredible body, but she was a little too naive. A little too nice. She was an optimist. She saw the good things in people. "Okay," I told her. "You can come."
"Good! I'll come pick you up. Oh, and grab a coffee and a pastry or something across the street while you wait. I know you probably haven't eaten all day."

I hung up and smiled. Yup, that's Jules. Never misses an opportunity to take care of someone. I headed across the street.

I'll pick it up again.

nice... now you're starting to see things my way

i foresee jules dying a tragic death or having incredible steamy shower sex with billy :dunno: :D

(at some point in the future) lol!

I'll pick it up again.

good man...

I stopped when I got out to the street. What the **** was I doing? I didn't know what this was all about. Was the mystery woman toying with me again? What if I was being set-up? What did she or whoever want with me? I had no idea.

I ran my fingers over the crucufix. What the hell was this all about. I twirled it between my fingers abentmindedly. It dropped from my fingers and pinged against the pavement several times. ****! It had broken. I bent over to retrieve the pieces and realized that one piece was actually an old-fashioned key. The top of the key had that same damn symbol on it.

My cell phone rang. It was Jules. I filled her in on this most recent development. "You can't just go there," she insisted.
"I know that it's risky, but I need some answers."
"Well, I'm coming with you. I have a stun gun, in case someone tries something."
I laughed at the thought. It felt good to laugh again.
"I'm serious," she said, trying to sound offended.
"I don't want to get you further involved in this, Jules."
"I'm coming, Billy. They stole MY property and I want it back. Plus, I have been thinking about this craziness all day. I want to know what is going on, just like you."

I felt drained- my body, my emotions, and my brain. I could use the help making sense of all this. Plus, she was really nice to look at. Actually, Jules was beautiful and had an incredible body, but she was a little too naive. A little too nice. She was an optimist. She saw the good things in people. "Okay," I told her. "You can come."
"Good! I'll come pick you up. Oh, and grab a coffee and a pastry or something across the street while you wait. I know you probably haven't eaten all day."

I hung up and smiled. Yup, that's Jules. Never misses an opportunity to take care of someone. I headed across the street.

As I started to sip my second coffee Jules came into view as she crossed the street, she looked stunning, she had a thigh length skirt on that lifted in the wind, knee length boots and a flimsy blouse open to reveal her full cleavage, This was not the time I know but I felt like forgetting about everything but taking her home and enjoying her for the rest of the night.
I met her at the door and we jumped into her car, again I caught myself glancing across at a flash of her inner thigh a she climbed into the seat, I had to check myself and focus on the what was at hand.
I typed the address from the book into the SatNav and Jules took us on her way.
"Billy you look like crap baby, you need some sleep"
"I know but my heads all over the place, what with you and....this woman and her bag of tricks"
"We need to talk, seriously"
"Yeah, not now Jules, lets get focused, do you still carry that 9mm in your glove box?"
"I've got it sure but it has come to that has it?"
"I hope not"
The less than sexy voice from the SatNav reported that we had arrived at our destination, I took a moment to look around, we had arrived in an industrial area of the city, amongst the warehouse and office complexes stood a group of town houses, the light was beginning to fade and the buildings looked less than impressive, this certainly didn't live up to my fantasy.
Jules and I got out, we looked for 331a and quickly found it, the building was an old house placed further back from the others away from the road. The windows has modern steel shutters and the house looked empty almost dead.
We walked slowly and cautiously around to the rear but nothing stood out, Jules walked up to the front door but strangely it didn't have a lock or even a handle.
I noticed stone steps going down to another steel shutter to the right side of the house and made my way down them, as I examined the area I noticed a small hole near the bottom of the shutter, my heart missed a beat as I realised that this is probably a keyhole.
Jules by this time had joined me, she brushed her hand across my neck and again I felt a stir down below and a hot flush to my cheeks, ****ing focus Billy.
The door looked rusty and unused but the key entered and turned flawlessly, I lifted up the shutter to be confronted by a silver door with a tiny window at the top, below the window was a modern card type reader, the type you may see in hospitals, I shot Jules a worried glance, she pulled the Beretta out and half ****ed it. I placed the symbol from the crucifix against the reader, there was an audible beep then clunk as the door opened an inch.
I gently pushed on the door and looked in, it was dark and smelled musty, I ventured in further followed by Jules. I could vaguely make out a corridor, we stepped foot by foot along, feeling the walls as we went, as I fingered the edge of the wall I suddenly had the feeling that there was someone else in here, before I could tell Jules I felt the large hand of a man.
I screamed more out of shock than fear, then I felt something go over my mouth then nothing.....as I drift away I smell that same perfume.

i foresee jules dying a tragic death or having incredible steamy shower sex with billy :dunno: :D

(at some point in the future) lol!

hopefully she dies after the steamy shower sex, i think u should let me write this part - i already have some ideas

anyone can contribute to the story. you just have to jump in and let people know you are going to pick up the story where the last poster left off.

As I started to sip my second coffee Jules came into view as she crossed the street, she looked stunning, she had a thigh length skirt on that lifted in the wind, knee length boots and a flimsy blouse open to reveal her full cleavage, This was not the time I know but I felt like forgetting about everything but taking her home and enjoying her for the rest of the night.
I met her at the door and we jumped into her car, again I caught myself glancing across at a flash of her inner thigh a she climbed into the seat, I had to check myself and focus on the what was at hand.
I typed the address from the book into the SatNav and Jules took us on her way.
"Billy you look like crap baby, you need some sleep"
"I know but my heads all over the place, what with you and....this woman and her bag of tricks"
"We need to talk, seriously"
"Yeah, not now Jules, lets get focused, do you still carry that 9mm in your glove box?"
"I've got it sure but it has come to that has it?"
"I hope not"
The less than sexy voice from the SatNav reported that we had arrived at our destination, I took a moment to look around, we had arrived in an industrial area of the city, amongst the warehouse and office complexes stood a group of town houses, the light was beginning to fade and the buildings looked less than impressive, this certainly didn't live up to my fantasy.
Jules and I got out, we looked for 331a and quickly found it, the building was an old house placed further back from the others away from the road. The windows has modern steel shutters and the house looked empty almost dead.
We walked slowly and cautiously around to the rear but nothing stood out, Jules walked up to the front door but strangely it didn't have a lock or even a handle.
I noticed stone steps going down to another steel shutter to the right side of the house and made my way down them, as I examined the area I noticed a small hole near the bottom of the shutter, my heart missed a beat as I realised that this is probably a keyhole.
Jules by this time had joined me, she brushed her hand across my neck and again I felt a stir down below and a hot flush to my cheeks, ****ing focus Billy.
The door looked rusty and unused but the key entered and turned flawlessly, I lifted up the shutter to be confronted by a silver door with a tiny window at the top, below the window was a modern card type reader, the type you may see in hospitals, I shot Jules a worried glance, she pulled the Beretta out and half ****ed it. I placed the symbol from the crucifix against the reader, there was an audible beep then clunk as the door opened an inch.
I gently pushed on the door and looked in, it was dark and smelled musty, I ventured in further followed by Jules. I could vaguely make out a corridor, we stepped foot by foot along, feeling the walls as we went, as I fingered the edge of the wall I suddenly had the feeling that there was someone else in here, before I could tell Jules I felt the large hand of a man.
I screamed more out of shock than fear, then I felt something go over my mouth then nothing.....as I drift away I smell that same perfume.

i will attempt to pick up the story from here. Yikes! :omfg:

i will attempt to pick up the story from here. Yikes! :omfg:

Its getting scary.






And sexy! :flirt:

As I started to sip my second coffee Jules came into view as she crossed the street, she looked stunning, she had a thigh length skirt on that lifted in the wind, knee length boots and a flimsy blouse open to reveal her full cleavage, This was not the time I know but I felt like forgetting about everything but taking her home and enjoying her for the rest of the night.
I met her at the door and we jumped into her car, again I caught myself glancing across at a flash of her inner thigh a she climbed into the seat, I had to check myself and focus on the what was at hand.
I typed the address from the book into the SatNav and Jules took us on her way.
"Billy you look like crap baby, you need some sleep"
"I know but my heads all over the place, what with you and....this woman and her bag of tricks"
"We need to talk, seriously"
"Yeah, not now Jules, lets get focused, do you still carry that 9mm in your glove box?"
"I've got it sure but it has come to that has it?"
"I hope not"
The less than sexy voice from the SatNav reported that we had arrived at our destination, I took a moment to look around, we had arrived in an industrial area of the city, amongst the warehouse and office complexes stood a group of town houses, the light was beginning to fade and the buildings looked less than impressive, this certainly didn't live up to my fantasy.
Jules and I got out, we looked for 331a and quickly found it, the building was an old house placed further back from the others away from the road. The windows has modern steel shutters and the house looked empty almost dead.
We walked slowly and cautiously around to the rear but nothing stood out, Jules walked up to the front door but strangely it didn't have a lock or even a handle.
I noticed stone steps going down to another steel shutter to the right side of the house and made my way down them, as I examined the area I noticed a small hole near the bottom of the shutter, my heart missed a beat as I realised that this is probably a keyhole.
Jules by this time had joined me, she brushed her hand across my neck and again I felt a stir down below and a hot flush to my cheeks, ****ing focus Billy.
The door looked rusty and unused but the key entered and turned flawlessly, I lifted up the shutter to be confronted by a silver door with a tiny window at the top, below the window was a modern card type reader, the type you may see in hospitals, I shot Jules a worried glance, she pulled the Beretta out and half ****ed it. I placed the symbol from the crucifix against the reader, there was an audible beep then clunk as the door opened an inch.
I gently pushed on the door and looked in, it was dark and smelled musty, I ventured in further followed by Jules. I could vaguely make out a corridor, we stepped foot by foot along, feeling the walls as we went, as I fingered the edge of the wall I suddenly had the feeling that there was someone else in here, before I could tell Jules I felt the large hand of a man.
I screamed more out of shock than fear, then I felt something go over my mouth then nothing.....as I drift away I smell that same perfume.

I slowly started to come out of the dark fog. I heard voices - angry voices. I felt nauseous and light-headed. I had a horrible taste in my mouth that caused my mouth to salivate. My spit slipped from the corner of my mouth, down my chin and neck. I couldn't move my arms, legs, or head. I felt things stuck to my temples and neck. I was reclined in some sort of dentist's chair.

I remembered entering this old house with Jules. We had begun to creep down the long corridor, and then lights out. ****! Jules! Where the hell was Jules? I made no noise, but slowly opened my left eye just enough to see. My vision was blurry but good enough to know if I saw Jules. I scanned the room as much as I could without moving my head. I saw a woman on the floor in front of me with blood oozing from her mouth and head. For a moment I thought it was Jules, and panicked. Then my eye caught the crimson jewels around her neck. It was the mystery woman. I had been so sure that she was behind all of this. Could she have been trying to warn me?

I looked over to the left, trying to find Jules. I found her tied to a chair. She looked unconscious. She was drooling. They had probably drugged her too. At least she was okay.

I closed my eye and forced myself to think. Keep it together, Billy. Jules is okay, for now. I needed a plan. The voices were still arguing. I could hear them, but their voices were muffled, so I couldn't make out what they were saying. I partially opened my right eye and glanced to the right. I saw a room, with partial glass walls. There was a room just like this when I had my MRI. The doctor and technician were in that room, controlling the MRI machine from there and talking to me through a loudspeaker. I couldn't see anyone in the room, but they were in there... somewhere. I wanted to turn my head to get a better look, but I couldn't chance it.

I opened my left eye just a bit and looked at Jules again. "Jules!" I whispered loudly. "Jules! Wake up!"

I'll take a stab at the next part..

I slowly started to come out of the dark fog. I heard voices - angry voices. I felt nauseous and light-headed. I had a horrible taste in my mouth that caused my mouth to salivate. My spit slipped from the corner of my mouth, down my chin and neck. I couldn't move my arms, legs, or head. I felt things stuck to my temples and neck. I was reclined in some sort of dentist's chair.

I remembered entering this old house with Jules. We had begun to creep down the long corridor, and then lights out. ****! Jules! Where the hell was Jules? I made no noise, but slowly opened my left eye just enough to see. My vision was blurry but good enough to know if I saw Jules. I scanned the room as much as I could without moving my head. I saw a woman on the floor in front of me with blood oozing from her mouth and head. For a moment I thought it was Jules, and panicked. Then my eye caught the crimson jewels around her neck. It was the mystery woman. I had been so sure that she was behind all of this. Could she have been trying to warn me?

I looked over to the left, trying to find Jules. I found her tied to a chair. She looked unconscious. She was drooling. They had probably drugged her too. At least she was okay.

I closed my eye and forced myself to think. Keep it together, Billy. Jules is okay, for now. I needed a plan. The voices were still arguing. I could hear them, but their voices were muffled, so I couldn't make out what they were saying. I partially opened my right eye and glanced to the right. I saw a room, with partial glass walls. There was a room just like this when I had my MRI. The doctor and technician were in that room, controlling the MRI machine from there and talking to me through a loudspeaker.

I opened my left eye just a bit and looked at Jules again. "Jules!" I whispered loudly. "Jules! Wake up!"


Through the drug induced haze clouding my vision, I see her eyelid flutter. I called her name again in a loud whisper, "JULES!!" Slowly, sleepily she brought here right eye to half-mast. I could tell she was seeing the same topsy-turvy view of the world as myself, unsure as to whether this were reality or some ill-convaluded dream. "Jules!! Wake UP!!" I hoarsely called again.

This time there was a dreamy awareness in her eyes which, as her vision cleared soon gave way to pure unadulterated horror. "No!! Shhhhh!!" I hushed her. She tightened her lips, clamping them shut to hold back the scream which was all but escaping from her mind. Jules focused her eyes on mine awaiting my instruction, as if I had any. Studying her, I noticed that the nylon rope used to secure her to the wooden office chair was not as tight at it could have been. "Can you get loose? Can you free yourself?"

Following my suggestion, Jules began to wriggle in evey conceivable fashion, which drew my attention to her sumptious bossom...."Jesus!! Get a hold of yourself, MAN!!" I scream within the cofines of my consciouness. "Now is NOT the time!" After shaking my head to rid myself of the image of the exposed portion of Jules's breasts jiggling between the V in her blouse, I notice that the rope binding her to the chair had even more slack than before.

Through the drug induced haze clouding my vision, I see her eyelid flutter. I called her name again in a loud whisper, "JULES!!" Slowly, sleepily she brought here right eye to half-mast. I could tell she was seeing the same topsy-turvy view of the world as myself, unsure as to whether this were reality or some ill-convaluded dream. "Jules!! Wake UP!!" I hoarsely called again.

This time there was a dreamy awareness in her eyes which, as her vision cleared soon gave way to pure unadulterated horror. "No!! Shhhhh!!" I hushed her. She tightened her lips, clamping them shut to hold back the scream which was all but escaping from her mind. Jules focused her eyes on mine awaiting my instruction, as if I had any. Studying her, I noticed that the nylon rope used to secure her to the wooden office chair was not as tight at it could have been. "Can you get loose? Can you free yourself?"

Following my suggestion, Jules began to wriggle in evey conceivable fashion, which drew my attention to her sumptious bossom...."Jesus!! Get a hold of yourself, MAN!!" I scream within the cofines of my consciouness. "Now is NOT the time!" After shaking my head to rid myself of the image of the exposed portion of Jules's breasts jiggling between the V in her blouse, I notice that the rope binding her to the chair had even more slack than before.

i'll go next...........

Through the drug induced haze clouding my vision, I see her eyelid flutter. I called her name again in a loud whisper, "JULES!!" Slowly, sleepily she brought here right eye to half-mast. I could tell she was seeing the same topsy-turvy view of the world as myself, unsure as to whether this were reality or some ill-convaluded dream. "Jules!! Wake UP!!" I hoarsely called again.

This time there was a dreamy awareness in her eyes which, as her vision cleared soon gave way to pure unadulterated horror. "No!! Shhhhh!!" I hushed her. She tightened her lips, clamping them shut to hold back the scream which was all but escaping from her mind. Jules focused her eyes on mine awaiting my instruction, as if I had any. Studying her, I noticed that the nylon rope used to secure her to the wooden office chair was not as tight at it could have been. "Can you get loose? Can you free yourself?"

Following my suggestion, Jules began to wriggle in evey conceivable fashion, which drew my attention to her sumptious bossom...."Jesus!! Get a hold of yourself, MAN!!" I scream within the cofines of my consciouness. "Now is NOT the time!" After shaking my head to rid myself of the image of the exposed portion of Jules's breasts jiggling between the V in her blouse, I notice that the rope binding her to the chair had even more slack than before.


"Hurry, Jules! Hurry!" I whispered frantically. Willing her to break free any second. I was startled by a loud ruckus comiong from the control room. I couldn't see what was happening, since the majority of the room was out of my line of sight, but it sounded like there was a struggle going on. All of a sudden, it went dark in our room and I could hear the argument louder, and more importantly, clearer. The lights were still on in the control room, but only the colored lights from the various machinery lit up our room. I turned my head as far as I could in hopes of seeing something, now that I was basically invisible.

I could see 2 men. One looked like a doctor. He was dressed in a white lab coat. The other man wore a very expensive business suit. The man had the doctor by his throat, pushing him back against the control panel. "Pull yourself together, Howard. This changes nothing. You will continue with your experiments. The organization has always paid you well. You have everything you could ever want. It would be a shame if we made it all disappear. Even that little Barbie doll wife of yours."

"But, you told me the subjects had volunteered! That they were HOMELESS! You lied to me! That man in there did not consent to the procedures. Does he even know what we have done to him? And you killed Angela!... My God! What have you people gotten me involved in."

The man smiled down at the doctor with a crazed smile. "I can see that you are not going to change your mind, Howard. What a shame. Luckily you can be replaced." Then the man shot the doctor in the forehead. The gun must have had a silencer on it because it barely made a sound when the doctor's blood sprayed across the glass wall.

I quickly glanced in Jules' direction, she was just about free. "Is your stun gun still on you?" I whispered, then quickly closed my eyes. The man was coming my way. Hopefully, Jules had heard me

Well...I was hoping someone else would jump in; but since no one has, I'll go ahead and take the next one.

"Hurry, Jules! Hurry!" I whispered frantically. Willing her to break free any second. I was startled by a loud ruckus comiong from the control room. I couldn't see what was happening, since the majority of the room was out of my line of sight, but it sounded like there was a struggle going on. All of a sudden, it went dark in our room and I could hear the argument louder, and more importantly, clearer. The lights were still on in the control room, but only the colored lights from the various machinery lit up our room. I turned my head as far as I could in hopes of seeing something, now that I was basically invisible.

I could see 2 men. One looked like a doctor. He was dressed in a white lab coat. The other man wore a very expensive business suit. The man had the doctor by his throat, pushing him back against the control panel. "Pull yourself together, Howard. This changes nothing. You will continue with your experiments. The organization has always paid you well. You have everything you could ever want. It would be a shame if we made it all disappear. Even that little Barbie doll wife of yours."

"But, you told me the subjects had volunteered! That they were HOMELESS! You lied to me! That man in there did not consent to the procedures. Does he even know what we have done to him? And you killed Angela!... My God! What have you people gotten me involved in."

The man smiled down at the doctor with a crazed smile. "I can see that you are not going to change your mind, Howard. What a shame. Luckily you can be replaced." Then the man shot the doctor in the forehead. The gun must have had a silencer on it because it barely made a sound when the doctor's blood sprayed across the glass wall.

I quickly glanced in Jules' direction, she was just about free. "Is your stun gun still on you?" I whispered, then quickly closed my eyes. The man was coming my way. Hopefully, Jules had heard me


I could hear his footsteps falling heavily upon the tile floor as the mystery man approached me. He was standing over me now, as I felt the cuff of his pantslegs brush against mine. Somehow I managed to remain motionless as he disconnected the probes that were stuck to my temples. How I was able to keep from shaking with this massive murderer hovering over me I have no idea; survival instincts, perhaps.

What was this all about? Why me? It didn't make any sense. If I had been somebody of importance or prone to dealing with the wrong people, then maybe; but I'm just an artist. Is he mafia? CIA? WHAT IS HE DOING?!

I fought off the urge to open my eyes as the shadowy figure shuffled in my vacinity. Was he still looking at me? Jesus, I don't want to die!

"AAARRRGGHHH!!!!!!!"

My eyes jolted open to see the suited figure collapsing into and sliding off of Jules who stood there, tears of fear in her eyes as she held her stun gun erect at a 90 degree angle from her body into the mystery man's mid-section as if her arm were frozen in place. It was only after our captor crashed into the tile with a loud thud that Jules began shaking uncontrollably, dropping the stunner on the floor with a clank.

I could hear his footsteps falling heavily upon the tile floor as the mystery man approached me. He was standing over me now, as I felt the cuff of his pantslegs brush against mine. Somehow I managed to remain motionless as he disconnected the probes that were stuck to my temples. How I was able to keep from shaking with this massive murderer hovering over me I have no idea; survival instincts, perhaps.

What was this all about? Why me? It didn't make any sense. If I had been somebody of importance or prone to dealing with the wrong people, then maybe; but I'm just an artist. Is he mafia? CIA? WHAT IS HE DOING?!

I fought off the urge to open my eyes as the shadowy figure shuffled in my vacinity. Was he still looking at me? Jesus, I don't want to die!

"AAARRRGGHHH!!!!!!!"

My eyes jolted open to see the suited figure collapsing into and sliding off of Jules who stood there, tears of fear in her eyes as she held her stun gun erect at a 90 degree angle from her body into the mystery man's mid-section as if her arm were frozen in place. It was only after our captor crashed into the tile with a loud thud that Jules began shaking uncontrollably, dropping the stunner on the floor with a clank.
"Jules! It's ok, baby. Just untie me. Quickly!" I urged her. She looked at me with pleading eyes for a brief moment, then snapped back into survival mode. She began working at my ropes, and soon I was free from my chair. I pulled Jules close to me, one arm around her waist and the other placed on her head. "It's ok. It's ok..." I said it to myself almost as much as to her. I looked around and I wondered how many times I had been here before now, but I only received a sharp pain inside my head in response.

I turned my attention to the man on the floor. Was he breathing? Upon closer examination, I could just make out the slight rise and fall of his back. I picked up the stun gun and gave it back to Jules. "Hold this and be ready to use it again if needed," I instucted. I rolled the man over onto his back. He was out cold. He was dressed nicely, clean shaven. His hair was a salt and pepper grey, and he had a thin mustache. Who was this damn bastard? I took his gun from the holster and shoved it down the waist of my jeans against my back. I searched his pockets and found his wallet and a cell phone. Inside the wallet was a wad of cash, mostly hundreds, and a business card. The card had the now familiar symbol on one side, and a phone number on the back. That was all, no ID, no credit cards. I continued searching and found another gun strapped to his right ankle. I handed that one to Jules.

I stepped back and contemplated my next move. Should I call the police? Should I call the number? I looked at the cell phone, wondering what to do, when suddenly it rang. It scared the piss out of me, and I dropped it on the floor. Get a hold on yourself, you damn *****! I bent to pick it up. The caller ID flashed "Main Office." I pressed accept. "Hello?"....

"Jules! It's ok, baby. Just untie me. Quickly!" I urged her. She looked at me with pleading eyes for a brief moment, then snapped back into survival mode. She began working at my ropes, and soon I was free from my chair. I pulled Jules close to me, one arm around her waist and the other placed on her head. "It's ok. It's ok..." I said it to myself almost as much as to her. I looked around and I wondered how many times I had been here before now, but I only received a sharp pain inside my head in response.

I turned my attention to the man on the floor. Was he breathing? Upon closer examination, I could just make out the slight rise and fall of his back. I picked up the stun gun and gave it back to Jules. "Hold this and be ready to use it again if needed," I instucted. I rolled the man over onto his back. He was out cold. He was dressed nicely, clean shaven. His hair was a salt and pepper grey, and he had a thin mustache. Who was this damn bastard? I took his gun from the holster and shoved it down the waist of my jeans against my back. I searched his pockets and found his wallet and a cell phone. Inside the wallet was a wad of cash, mostly hundreds, and a business card. The card had the now familiar symbol on one side, and a phone number on the back. That was all, no ID, no credit cards. I continued searching and found another gun strapped to his right ankle. I handed that one to Jules.

I stepped back and contemplated my next move. Should I call the police? Should I call the number? I looked at the cell phone, wondering what to do, when suddenly it rang. It scared the piss out of me, and I dropped it on the floor. Get a hold on yourself, you damn *****! I bent to pick it up. The caller ID flashed "Main Office." I pressed accept. "Hello?"....

very nicely done. but a big "Doh!!!!" to answering the phone. :nonono: lol! :D

all right, i will try to pick it up from here.

"Jules! It's ok, baby. Just untie me. Quickly!" I urged her. She looked at me with pleading eyes for a brief moment, then snapped back into survival mode. She began working at my ropes, and soon I was free from my chair. I pulled Jules close to me, one arm around her waist and the other placed on her head. "It's ok. It's ok..." I said it to myself almost as much as to her. I looked around and I wondered how many times I had been here before now, but I only received a sharp pain inside my head in response.

I turned my attention to the man on the floor. Was he breathing? Upon closer examination, I could just make out the slight rise and fall of his back. I picked up the stun gun and gave it back to Jules. "Hold this and be ready to use it again if needed," I instucted. I rolled the man over onto his back. He was out cold. He was dressed nicely, clean shaven. His hair was a salt and pepper grey, and he had a thin mustache. Who was this damn bastard? I took his gun from the holster and shoved it down the waist of my jeans against my back. I searched his pockets and found his wallet and a cell phone. Inside the wallet was a wad of cash, mostly hundreds, and a business card. The card had the now familiar symbol on one side, and a phone number on the back. That was all, no ID, no credit cards. I continued searching and found another gun strapped to his right ankle. I handed that one to Jules.

I stepped back and contemplated my next move. Should I call the police? Should I call the number? I looked at the cell phone, wondering what to do, when suddenly it rang. It scared the piss out of me, and I dropped it on the floor. Get a hold on yourself, you damn *****! I bent to pick it up. The caller ID flashed "Main Office." I pressed accept. "Hello?"....

"Is the procedure completed?" a man's voice asked. I was going to have to improvise. Hopefully, if I kept my answers brief enough, he wouldn't notice that he was talking to the wrong person. "Yeah," I replied. "And our little problem? Has it been taken care of?" I looked down at the dead woman. "Yeah," I said. "Good. I've sent the cleaning crew over. They should be there in less than 10 minutes. Have everything ready." The phone clicked and went dead in my ear. I closed the cell phone.

I looked at Jules, she look terrified. "What the hell were you thinking answering the phone?" She was practically hysterical. "It's okay, Jules. I don't think he was suspicious, but we have got to get out of here NOW!"

I put the business card and phone in my back pocket. Then, I bent over the dead woman. I removed the ruby necklace from her neck. It was sticky from her blood. I stuffed it into my front pocket. Jules stared at me incredulously. "You are stealing from a dead woman, Billy!" "I'm not a thief! We need to find out who she was. This necklace will help us do that. She was trying to help us and was killed for it."

We ran for the exit but was the door wouldn't open. We needed a card key to unlock the door. "I bet the doctor has one. Wait here." I ran back to the control room and searched the doctor's coat. I've never seen a dead body before and today I had to touch two dead bodies with blood and tissue oozing from open head wounds. I wanted to hurl. I felt bile starting to rise in my throat. Stay calm. Billy boy, I kept telling myself. We had to get out of there quick or we'd be dead too. I stuffed my hands into the pockets of the doctor's lab coat. I pulled two items out of his pocket: a key card and a USB drive. I pocketed the USB and ran back to Jules holding up the key. "Got it!"

We exited the room and entered a long, empty corridor with doors to exam rooms all along both sides. It looked like an underground hospital wing. The corridor was lit, but it was very dull light. "Which way?" Jules asked me as if I knew.

Ok. Sweet.

Il have a pop.

"Is the procedure completed?" a man's voice asked. I was going to have to improvise. Hopefully, if I kept my answers brief enough, he wouldn't notice that he was talking to the wrong person. "Yeah," I replied. "And our little problem? Has it been taken care of?" I looked down at the dead woman. "Yeah," I said. "Good. I've sent the cleaning crew over. They should be there in less than 10 minutes. Have everything ready." The phone clicked and went dead in my ear. I closed the cell phone.

I looked at Jules, she look terrified. "What the hell were you thinking answering the phone?" She was practically hysterical. "It's okay, Jules. I don't think he was suspicious, but we have got to get out of here NOW!"

I put the business card and phone in my back pocket. Then, I bent over the dead woman. I removed the ruby necklace from her neck. It was sticky from her blood. I stuffed it into my front pocket. Jules stared at me incredulously. "You are stealing from a dead woman, Billy!" "I'm not a thief! We need to find out who she was. This necklace will help us do that. She was trying to help us and was killed for it."

We ran for the exit but was the door wouldn't open. We needed a card key to unlock the door. "I bet the doctor has one. Wait here." I ran back to the control room and searched the doctor's coat. I've never seen a dead body before and today I had to touch two dead bodies with blood and tissue oozing from open head wounds. I wanted to hurl. I felt bile starting to rise in my throat. Stay calm. Billy boy, I kept telling myself. We had to get out of there quick or we'd be dead too. I stuffed my hands into the pockets of the doctor's lab coat. I pulled two items out of his pocket: a key card and a USB drive. I pocketed the USB and ran back to Jules holding up the key. "Got it!"

We exited the room and entered a long, empty corridor with doors to exam rooms all along both sides. It looked like an underground hospital wing. The corridor was lit, but it was very dull light. "Which way?" Jules asked me as if I knew.

I wasnt sure if there was anyone else here. But there was no time to care, the cleaners were on their way and these people wouldnt be pleased to see us. The doors were unlocked but dark and empty. One smelt bad and had a couple of mattresses on the floor. I didnt want to enter.
Jules was shivering and quiet. She looked like she was going into shock. Wide eyed and very pale.
Barley audible she murmered "We should have called the police......i dont understand whats happening Billy...".
I held out my hands for her to see, palms up, wet with blood.
"Police?....i dont think so."

The last door on the left was open with the lights on. I held Jules back and stooped down low before slowly looking around the corner.
The far wall was covered in sheets of paper. Some with scribbled words, others seemed liked crude maps and street names. I hesitated, my breathing started to relax slightly as realised this must be the main room. There were two chairs and a desk scattered with more papers, pads and drawings.
I moved into the room towards the wall. Jules tugged me back.
"We need to leave!"
My eyes fixed to the wall as i spoke back.
"We will, just need to know..."
As i neared the desk i could make out times and dates written down. Some names were circled with red pen. Some were crossed out.
Others had lists of what i thought may be medication listed next to them.
One name stood out; Marlon....FIND ASAP.
I wondered if Marlon had escaped them.
As i snatched that and other sheets off of the wall and shoved them in my pocket i noticed photos on the desk. All of them looked like hurried snapshots of people oblivious to the camera. Voyueristic photos like the ones you see in trashy newspapers of celebrites. Most were colour, some taken at night. Many featured the same people over and over again. Each photo i touched i marked with red smudges.

I had stopped looking and begun searching.
I was only looking for one thing.

Then there i was.
I stood holding a glass of wine. I was talking the the mystery woman at my show. I looked like a ghost.
Another captured me walking into a coffee shop.
One even showed me smoking a cigerette at my apartment window naked from the waist up.
My...God...
It all went surreal for a moment. I felt like i was spying on myself.
"Billy....I can hear somthing" Jules touched my arm.
There were loud groans coming from the corridor.

I wasnt sure if there was anyone else here. But there was no time to care, the cleaners were on their way and these people wouldnt be pleased to see us. The doors were unlocked but dark and empty. One smelt bad and had a couple of mattresses on the floor. I didnt want to enter.
Jules was shivering and quiet. She looked like she was going into shock. Wide eyed and very pale.
Barley audible she murmered "We should have called the police......i dont understand whats happening Billy...".
I held out my hands for her to see, palms up, wet with blood.
"Police?....i dont think so."

The last door on the left was open with the lights on. I held Jules back and stooped down low before slowly looking around the corner.
The far wall was covered in sheets of paper. Some with scribbled words, others seemed liked crude maps and street names. I hesitated, my breathing started to relax slightly as realised this must be the main room. There were two chairs and a desk scattered with more papers, pads and drawings.
I moved into the room towards the wall. Jules tugged me back.
"We need to leave!"
My eyes fixed to the wall as i spoke back.
"We will, just need to know..."
As i neared the desk i could make out times and dates written down. Some names were circled with red pen. Some were crossed out.
Others had lists of what i thought may be medication listed next to them.
One name stood out; Marlon....FIND ASAP.
I wondered if Marlon had escaped them.
As i snatched that and other sheets off of the wall and shoved them in my pocket i noticed photos on the desk. All of them looked like hurried snapshots of people oblivious to the camera. Voyueristic photos like the ones you see in trashy newspapers of celebrites. Most were colour, some taken at night. Many featured the same people over and over again. Each photo i touched i marked with red smudges.

I had stopped looking and begun searching.
I was only looking for one thing.

Then there i was.
I stood holding a glass of wine. I was talking the the mystery woman at my show. I looked like a ghost.
Another captured me walking into a coffee shop.
One even showed me smoking a cigerette at my apartment window naked from the waist up.
My...God...
It all went surreal for a moment. I felt like i was spying on myself.
"Billy....I can hear somthing" Jules touched my arm.
There were loud groans coming from the corridor.
"Where the **** are you, you little ****!" It was the murderous business man. He must have recovered from the stun gun. I grabbed Jules's hand, and with the other raised one one finger to my lips. Quiet. I led her to the desk, and motioned for her to duck under it to hide. She sat underneath, knees to her chest, with one arm wrapped around her legs and the other gripping the gun I'd given her. She looked so scared and helpless, even with a deadly weapon in one hand. I felt bad for her, risking her life just to help me.

"You are going to be sorry you ****ed with me, son. I'll have your head for this. You hear me!" He was so angry now, and shuffling from room to room it sounded like. I pulled my own stolen gun out now, and held it shoulder level with both arms. I had never fired a gun before, so I emulated an FBI agent or a spy from the movies. I felt glamorous for a moment, but with each impending shuffle outside, I felt more like pissing my pants.

The door suddenly swung open, and his crazed face appeared, eyes wild, one hand clutching his chest. Then I noticed his other hand held a syringe with a long, sharp needle at the end. He took a step at me and my finger reacted. "Click." Nothing. "Click, click, click..." What was wrong with this piece of ****? Oh ****, the safety...

The murderer quickly closed the distance between us and lunged at me with the needle. I blocked his attempt, but we fell into a tangle on the floor. He landed on top of me, and I threw my hands up in defense. He pushed. Hard. I was struggling to hold him back, the needle inching closer to my neck. After all, I was an artist, not a body builder, and I was somewhat slight of frame. I could barely keep my breath under his weight, and hopelessness began to take over me.

"Bam! Bam! Bam!" I was sprayed with blood, the bitter taste invading my tongue. My attacker went limp, his crazed eyes losing their light. I turned to see Jules there, gun smoking in her grip, a determined look on her face. Damn, she looked so sexy. I rolled the body off me, and wiped the blood from my face with my sleeve. Even though I knew we were not out of danger yet, and time was running out, I couldn't help myself. I pulled Jules in close again, ravishing her mouth, clutching her tightly against me. She returned my desire, and kissed back hard. But our moment was cut far short by the sound of a car door slamming outside...

you are correct, i was just voicing my feelings. lol!

I'll go next guys!

"Where the **** are you, you little ****!" It was the murderous business man. He must have recovered from the stun gun. I grabbed Jules's hand, and with the other raised one one finger to my lips. Quiet. I led her to the desk, and motioned for her to duck under it to hide. She sat underneath, knees to her chest, with one arm wrapped around her legs and the other gripping the gun I'd given her. She looked so scared and helpless, even with a deadly weapon in one hand. I felt bad for her, risking her life just to help me.

"You are going to be sorry you ****ed with me, son. I'll have your head for this. You hear me!" He was so angry now, and shuffling from room to room it sounded like. I pulled my own stolen gun out now, and held it shoulder level with both arms. I had never fired a gun before, so I emulated an FBI agent or a spy from the movies. I felt glamorous for a moment, but with each impending shuffle outside, I felt more like pissing my pants.

The door suddenly swung open, and his crazed face appeared, eyes wild, one hand clutching his chest. Then I noticed his other hand held a syringe with a long, sharp needle at the end. He took a step at me and my finger reacted. "Click." Nothing. "Click, click, click..." What was wrong with this piece of ****? Oh ****, the safety...

The murderer quickly closed the distance between us and lunged at me with the needle. I blocked his attempt, but we fell into a tangle on the floor. He landed on top of me, and I threw my hands up in defense. He pushed. Hard. I was struggling to hold him back, the needle inching closer to my neck. After all, I was an artist, not a body builder, and I was somewhat slight of frame. I could barely keep my breath under his weight, and hopelessness began to take over me.

"Bam! Bam! Bam!" I was sprayed with blood, the bitter taste invading my tongue. My attacker went limp, his crazed eyes losing their light. I turned to see Jules there, gun smoking in her grip, a determined look on her face. Damn, she looked so sexy. I rolled the body off me, and wiped the blood from my face with my sleeve. Even though I knew we were not out of danger yet, and time was running out, I couldn't help myself. I pulled Jules in close again, ravishing her mouth, clutching her tightly against me. She returned my desire, and kissed back hard. But our moment was cut far short by the sound of a car door slamming outside...

I pulled Jules up to her feet and we rushed along the corridor.
As we reached the end and neared the bend I heard a sound behind us, we turned the bend and found a door illuminated by a red neon sign labelled 'Containment and Quarantine', obviously I didn't feel compelled to rush in there but at that moment we were out of available options.
I pushed through the door dragging Jules with me, I caught a glimpse of complete terror in her eyes and followed her stare. To the left and down in a lower glass booth sat hunched in the corner what I can only describe as a creature, it was I assumed a human but there were many things badly wrong with it.
I crept closer and knew we should run but was enticed by curiosity, it looked tall and wiry and had no body hair, the pigmentation had gone out of its skin and it had started to 'grow' what can only be described as scales, it had long spindly limbs and fingers and its ears had become tall, thin and pushed back.
I placed my face close the glass to gain a better view and it suddenly sprung to life, it jumped to its feet and smashed into the glass with such force that the walls at either end shook and dust came from the ceiling, I stumbled back and for a second our eyes met, IT had no definition in its eyes other than a small yellow iris against a black background, it watched me step back and reach for Jules then it hunched up and sprang again, this time Jules screamed and as she reached for the door we came through she grabbed at my face and hair and we fell to the ground.
I managed to drag her away from the 'cage' and into a room facing the booth, instinctively I jammed the door shut with a table and filling cabinet I found in the room and looked around in desperation for another way out.
This room looked like an office designed in the eighties, there was a viewing gallery at the end overlooking the cage and many other similar units all of which I could now see were occupied.
There was a control panel in the centre of the room with what looked like a microphone, telephone and several screens with their own mini control centres attached. I tried the phone but I couldn't dial out, I punched the buttons by the screen and they fizzed to life, each one showing in detail each of the creatures housed just outside the door.
There was a small ventilation shaft in one corner of the room but unlike in the movies there was no way Jules and I could fit through it. No windows, doors or skylights, we were trapped.
Then a loud and deep bang, our friend was making headway in escaping his cell and he looked ****ing angry, he smashed again and again into the glass and the door side wall was starting to give, I checked my pistol and this time made sure the safety was off. My priority was Jules so I pushed her down by the vent and stood near side to the door. The wall suddenly gave way and the glass slipped down but left a gap, just big enough. It came flying out, this time outside of its soundproof cell I could hear it scream and I felt weak with fear. The door rattled as it hit against it time after time before splitting and breaking the lock, it began to push the table and cabinet aside and I took aim, its spindly fingers wrapped around the edge of door then it screamed, not with anger but fear, I looked at the monitor and a group of men in red jumpsuits had come from somewhere and disabled it somehow, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry then I heard "Billy, Billy put your weapons down were coming in"

I pulled Jules up to her feet and we rushed along the corridor.
As we reached the end and neared the bend I heard a sound behind us, we turned the bend and found a door illuminated by a red neon sign labelled 'Containment and Quarantine', obviously I didn't feel compelled to rush in there but at that moment we were out of available options.
I pushed through the door dragging Jules with me, I caught a glimpse of complete terror in her eyes and followed her stare. To the left and down in a lower glass booth sat hunched in the corner what I can only describe as a creature, it was I assumed a human but there were many things badly wrong with it.
I crept closer and knew we should run but was enticed by curiosity, it looked tall and wiry and had no body hair, the pigmentation had gone out of its skin and it had started to 'grow' what can only be described as scales, it had long spindly limbs and fingers and its ears had become tall, thin and pushed back.
I placed my face close the glass to gain a better view and it suddenly sprung to life, it jumped to its feet and smashed into the glass with such force that the walls at either end shook and dust came from the ceiling, I stumbled back and for a second our eyes met, IT had no definition in its eyes other than a small yellow iris against a black background, it watched me step back and reach for Jules then it hunched up and sprang again, this time Jules screamed and as she reached for the door we came through she grabbed at my face and hair and we fell to the ground.
I managed to drag her away from the 'cage' and into a room facing the booth, instinctively I jammed the door shut with a table and filling cabinet I found in the room and looked around in desperation for another way out.
This room looked like an office designed in the eighties, there was a viewing gallery at the end overlooking the cage and many other similar units all of which I could now see were occupied.
There was a control panel in the centre of the room with what looked like a microphone, telephone and several screens with their own mini control centres attached. I tried the phone but I couldn't dial out, I punched the buttons by the screen and they fizzed to life, each one showing in detail each of the creatures housed just outside the door.
There was a small ventilation shaft in one corner of the room but unlike in the movies there was no way Jules and I could fit through it. No windows, doors or skylights, we were trapped.
Then a loud and deep bang, our friend was making headway in escaping his cell and he looked ****ing angry, he smashed again and again into the glass and the door side wall was starting to give, I checked my pistol and this time made sure the safety was off. My priority was Jules so I pushed her down by the vent and stood near side to the door. The wall suddenly gave way and the glass slipped down but left a gap, just big enough. It came flying out, this time outside of its soundproof cell I could hear it scream and I felt weak with fear. The door rattled as it hit against it time after time before splitting and breaking the lock, it began to push the table and cabinet aside and I took aim, its spindly fingers wrapped around the edge of door then it screamed, not with anger but fear, I looked at the monitor and a group of men in red jumpsuits had come from somewhere and disabled it somehow, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry then I heard "Billy, Billy put your weapons down were coming in"
sorry it took so long, K-DOGG! :o
The men in the red jumpsuits suddenly morphed into some hideous werewolf-like creatures. It was like some horrible, bizarre nightmare. I looked over at Jules. "Jules!" She was lying dead on the floor. She looked like the dead mystery woman. Jules had blood oozing from her head and mouth, and she was wearing the ruby necklace. Her dead eyes suddenly opened and she called to me, pleading, "Billy! Billy! Please be okay! Wake up, Billy!" All went dark.

I tried to open my eyes, but it hurt. "That's it, Billy! Wake Up, Baby." It was Jules' voice. I tried to talk, but I couldn't. "Shhhhhhh!" Jules said, trying to be reassuring. She stroked my hair and kissed me on my forehead. I felt the wet of her tears. "Thank God you're not dead! I thought for sure he had killed you!" she said through sobs. I tried to blink away the pain and blurriness. Where the hell was I? What the hell was going on?

She was removing the electrodes from my head and unbuckling the straps that bound my legs and arms as she explained what had happened. "I didn't get to you quick enough, Billy. I am so sorry. That psycho came at you with the syringe, and I just wasn’t quick enough. He stuck you with that needle just before I jolted him with the stun gun. I stunned him several times, just to make sure that he was out. Then, the monitors and machines started beeping and you started convulsing. I didn’t know what to do. You were screaming in pain, but unresponsive to my voice. Your eyes were closed and you were hallucinating or dreaming. I was afraid to unstrap you. Can you move, Billy?”

I tried to sit up, but I could barely move. “Not yet,” I croaked and managed a weak, encouraging smile. Jules frantically surveyed the room. She ran over to the corner and retrieved a wheel chair. She put my arm around her neck and helped me into the chair. She was remarkably strong for such a petite girl, I thought to myself. The girl never stopped amazing me. “What next?” she asked me. I motioned, with my head, to the man on the floor. Jules understood. She ran over to him and searched him. She retrieved two handguns, a wallet, and cell phone. My strength was returning to me very slowly. I lifted my hand and she handed me a gun. “Doctor,” I said in a hoarse whisper. She followed my gaze to the control room. She hurried in to the room and did a quick search. She came back with the doctor’s lab coat, wallet, key card, and BlackBerry. Jules put the lab coat on and stuffed the items in the pockets.

Jules peeked out of the room into the corridor. “It’s empty,” she whispered to me. She wheeled me into the corridor. Just like my nightmare, this place looked like an underground hospital corridor with exam rooms all along each side of the corridor. It was poorly lit. I was experiencing serious deja vue. Perhaps I wasn’t completely unconscious when they brought us in. I closed my eyes and tried to think – tried to remember. Flashes of images filled my mind. It was like watching a movie a frame at a time - every tenth frame, that is. I saw us being dragged from the entrance. I knew how to get out. “This way, I pointed to the left.” I noticed my voice getting stronger as I navigated us out of the maze of corridors. When we finally reached the door that we had entered through, I felt strong enough to stand. We swiped the key card and the door clicked open.

The sunlight was so bright, we were blinded temporarily. Jules threw my arm around her shoulder. We rushed to Jules’ car. It started without incident and Jules sped us away. I tipped the sun visor down and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked as bas as I felt. I turned my head a bit to look at my neck. The familiar symbol was on my neck again. “What do we do now?” Jules asked.

sorry it took so long, K-DOGG! :o
The men in the red jumpsuits suddenly morphed into some hideous werewolf-like creatures. It was like some horrible, bizarre nightmare. I looked over at Jules. "Jules!" She was lying dead on the floor. She looked like the dead mystery woman. Jules had blood oozing from her head and mouth, and she was wearing the ruby necklace. Her dead eyes suddenly opened and she called to me, pleading, "Billy! Billy! Please be okay! Wake up, Billy!" All went dark.

I tried to open my eyes, but it hurt. "That's it, Billy! Wake Up, Baby." It was Jules' voice. I tried to talk, but I couldn't. "Shhhhhhh!" Jules said, trying to be reassuring. She stroked my hair and kissed me on my forehead. I felt the wet of her tears. "Thank God you're not dead! I thought for sure he had killed you!" she said through sobs. I tried to blink away the pain and blurriness. Where the hell was I? What the hell was going on?

She was removing the electrodes from my head and unbuckling the straps that bound my legs and arms as she explained what had happened. "I didn't get to you quick enough, Billy. I am so sorry. That psycho came at you with the syringe, and I just wasn’t quick enough. He stuck you with that needle just before I jolted him with the stun gun. I stunned him several times, just to make sure that he was out. Then, the monitors and machines started beeping and you started convulsing. I didn’t know what to do. You were screaming in pain, but unresponsive to my voice. Your eyes were closed and you were hallucinating or dreaming. I was afraid to unstrap you. Can you move, Billy?”

I tried to sit up, but I could barely move. “Not yet,” I croaked and managed a weak, encouraging smile. Jules frantically surveyed the room. She ran over to the corner and retrieved a wheel chair. She put my arm around her neck and helped me into the chair. She was remarkably strong for such a petite girl, I thought to myself. The girl never stopped amazing me. “What next?” she asked me. I motioned, with my head, to the man on the floor. Jules understood. She ran over to him and searched him. She retrieved two handguns, a wallet, and cell phone. My strength was returning to me very slowly. I lifted my hand and she handed me a gun. “Doctor,” I said in a hoarse whisper. She followed my gaze to the control room. She hurried in to the room and did a quick search. She came back with the doctor’s lab coat, wallet, key card, and BlackBerry. Jules put the lab coat on and stuffed the items in the pockets.

Jules peeked out of the room into the corridor. “It’s empty,” she whispered to me. She wheeled me into the corridor. Just like my nightmare, this place looked like an underground hospital corridor with exam rooms all along each side of the corridor. It was poorly lit. I was experiencing serious deja vue. Perhaps I wasn’t completely unconscious when they brought us in. I closed my eyes and tried to think – tried to remember. Flashes of images filled my mind. It was like watching a movie a frame at a time - every tenth frame, that is. I saw us being dragged from the entrance. I knew how to get out. “This way, I pointed to the left.” I noticed my voice getting stronger as I navigated us out of the maze of corridors. When we finally reached the door that we had entered through, I felt strong enough to stand. We swiped the key card and the door clicked open.

The sunlight was so bright, we were blinded temporarily. Jules threw my arm around her shoulder. We rushed to Jules’ car. It started without incident and Jules sped us away. I tipped the sun visor down and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked as bas as I felt. I turned my head a bit to look at my neck. The familiar symbol was on my neck again. “What do we do now?” Jules asked.



She sounded like she was speaking from the bottom of a 50 gallon drum; her voice was reverberating and almost as if it were coming from a cassette in a tape player with the batteries running too low. Combine the sound of her voice with the way the passing buildings blurred together into some obscure multi-dimensional landscape and I almost felt as if I were on some horrible bad-acid trip.

"Billy! Stay with me!"

My neck muscles responded as if I had no bones, flopping my head over to one side so I could make eye contact with her. God, she was amazing. How the hell can she hold it together so well with all of this cloak-and-dagger **** going on around us?

She held out her right hand to my cheek, steadying my head to where our eyes met in a straight-line gaze. "What do we do now?"

My mind raced almost as fast as the brick buildings outside the window. "Kirby. We have to go see Kirby."

As much as I hated bringing him into this, before he was a medical examiner, he took damn near every medical course you could imagine. He could have been a surgeon; but leave it to Kirby to find the dead more interesting. If anyone could figure out what might have been done to me, it would be him; and he's the only one I feel I can trust at this moment. For all I know, those doctors who gave me the MRI were in on this human-gunea pig study like the one oozing crimson back in that underground lab.

"Kirby? Are you sure? I think we need to go to the cops, Billy. I really do."

"KIWBY!!" I slurred, "We need to go see Kiwby."

Shaking her head in disapproval, Jules put her hand back on the steering wheel. "Fine; but, just so you know, this is ****ing stupid. This is a police matter, Billy. We're lucky to be alive, in case you haven't put that together yet."

"What if those guys wewr wiwth tha govawment?

A thoughtful, slightly panicked look crossed her face as she stared ahead. "Kirby it is, then."

I flopped my head back on the head rest and closed my eyes, hoping car-sickness would not overtake me; but I couldn't stand the psychodelic light show any more. Nausia was creeping in and it took every bit of will power I had not to make a deposit in Jules's floorboard.

I had to snicker slightly to myself. Mr. Sci-fi's gonna love this ****.

The baby is asleep and my toddler is laying next to me on the couch watching Thomas the Tank Engine. Thank God for lap tops. lol!


We had been driving for about 15 minutes. The medical examiner’s office that Kirby worked at was still over an hour away. I was glad to have the time to think and try to come up with some plan. Clearly, this organization, or whatever it was, was not some fly by night operation. Judging by their facility and their equipment, they had access to some serious technology. I had seen enough movies to know that Jules and I were in danger. They were coming for us, no doubt about it. I also knew that they probably had the technology or connections to track our moves through credit card and bank transactions. They already knew what we were driving. ****! I couldn’t believe that I actually had to worry about **** like this! I was a goddamn painter, not some government employee that had stumbled across some illegal technology. This kind of stuff just didn’t happen in real life. Nevertheless, here we were, on the run from some mad scientists doing **** knows what to my body and the bodies of countless others.

“Jules?”
Jules looked over at me, “Yeah?”
“I know this sounds paranoid as hell, but we need to get some cash, lots of cash, and a different car, now before it becomes obvious to THEM where we are going next. I don’t want to leave them a trail. ”
“Jesus, Billy. Can’t we just go to the police?”
“With what evidence, Jules? We have a wallet, a cell phone, a blackberry, and a couple of guns with our finger prints on them. One of which was used to kill that woman. We have no evidence that they have done anything wrong. They would need more proof before they could even get a search warrant. Not to mention that we would be the ones that looked guilty. Moreover, I really want answers, Jules. I want to know what those ****ers did to me. They have done at least two procedures on me that I know of. I want to know who they are and what they did to me and to the others.”
Jules was quiet for a few moments, and then looked at me with misty eyes.
“Okay. You’re right.” She was clearly scared and I was too, but we had no other choice.
I reached over and caressed her cheek.
“It’s going to be okay, Jules. We’ll figure this out and then go to the police. We just need to be invisible for a while.”
We needed to go Northeast to get to Kirby, but I instructed Jules to take the next exit, which took us Northwest. My parents lived out that way. Perhaps THEY would think we went there, considering my mother’s birthday was the next day and I was supposed to be there. Once we got far enough out, we’d withdraw all the cash that we could and buy a car with cash. Then, we’d double back toward Kirby’s.
“We should probably be careful about what we say over the phone in case our friends’ and family’s phones are tapped,” I said matter-of-factly.
Jules sighed and rubbed her temples, “I need a drink. Let’s add that to the list.”

The baby is asleep and my toddler is laying next to me on the couch watching Thomas the Tank Engine. Thank God for lap tops. lol!


We had been driving for about 15 minutes. The medical examiner’s office that Kirby worked at was still over an hour away. I was glad to have the time to think and try to come up with some plan. Clearly, this organization, or whatever it was, was not some fly by night operation. Judging by their facility and their equipment, they had access to some serious technology. I had seen enough movies to know that Jules and I were in danger. They were coming for us, no doubt about it. I also knew that they probably had the technology or connections to track our moves through credit card and bank transactions. They already knew what we were driving. ****! I couldn’t believe that I actually had to worry about **** like this! I was a goddamn painter, not some government employee that had stumbled across some illegal technology. This kind of stuff just didn’t happen in real life. Nevertheless, here we were, on the run from some mad scientists doing **** knows what to my body and the bodies of countless others.

“Jules?”
Jules looked over at me, “Yeah?”
“I know this sounds paranoid as hell, but we need to get some cash, lots of cash, and a different car, now before it becomes obvious to THEM where we are going next. I don’t want to leave them a trail. ”
“Jesus, Billy. Can’t we just go to the police?”
“With what evidence, Jules? We have a wallet, a cell phone, a blackberry, and a couple of guns with our finger prints on them. One of which was used to kill that woman. We have no evidence that they have done anything wrong. They would need more proof before they could even get a search warrant. Not to mention that we would be the ones that looked guilty. Moreover, I really want answers, Jules. I want to know what those ****ers did to me. They have done at least two procedures on me that I know of. I want to know who they are and what they did to me and to the others.”
Jules was quiet for a few moments, and then looked at me with misty eyes.
“Okay. You’re right.” She was clearly scared and I was too, but we had no other choice.
I reached over and caressed her cheek.
“It’s going to be okay, Jules. We’ll figure this out and then go to the police. We just need to be invisible for a while.”
We needed to go Northeast to get to Kirby, but I instructed Jules to take the next exit, which took us Northwest. My parents lived out that way. Perhaps THEY would think we went there, considering my mother’s birthday was the next day and I was supposed to be there. Once we got far enough out, we’d withdraw all the cash that we could and buy a car with cash. Then, we’d double back toward Kirby’s.
“We should probably be careful about what we say over the phone in case our friends’ and family’s phones are tapped,” I said matter-of-factly.
Jules sighed and rubbed her temples, “I need a drink. Let’s add that to the list.”


"Jules? ........Jules?"

She still wasn't speaking, just sitting there, arms crossed, staring out the window with a silent scowl. Funny how she was even more attractive with her eyebrows locked in the down posistion, her nose crinkled ever so slightly, and her lips pursed out like that. I wonder why I never really noticed it before. Of course I can't blame her for being pissed. She had every reason to be; but I still can believe what links she has been willing to go to for me so far. Amazing. Could it be that...

"I don't know why we had to sell MY CAR!" she growled.

"Jules, I'm sorry; but my savings was locked out; that was all the money I had and I couldn't access it! They must have flagged my account somehow! Look, I know you didn't have to do it Jules. I owe you big time; but we had to change vehicles. They know what yours looked like."

"Damn Right you ****in' owe me!! BUT WHY A GODDAMN ESCORT?! FOR GOD'S SAKE, BILLY, COULDN'T YOU HAVE GOTTEN SOMETHING WITH LEG ROOM?? OR SOMETHING REMOTELY COMPARABLE TO 'LUCY'? I'D HAD THAT CAR FOR FIVE YEARS! I LOVED THAT CAR!! NOW I'M STUCK WITH THIS TWO-TONE BLUE, FLAKED-PAINT, RUST- SPOT-COVERED PIECE OF ****!!!"

"I'll make it up to you Jules, I swear. We had to get the cheapest car on the lot so we could use the rest of the money for expenses. We had to trade down or we wouldn't have had any cash, which was what we needed as much as we needed a new...well, different set of wheels."

In one motion, Jules snapped her head away from me towards the window and blew her bangs up in a frustrated huff. I couldn't blame her for being furious; but I was thinking about our survival, and was extremely grateful for her compliance, begrudging though it was.

As we neared the Medical Examiner's office, I began imaginging the combination of shock and morbid excitement that would cross Kirby's face when I told him of the events of the last two days. This is the sort of thing he's probably lived out in his fantasy life since we were boys. He was forever burying his nose into Sci-Fi novels and comics as a youth; and as he grew, his attention expanded to medical journals and biological writings.

Kirby was a borderlline genius and had always had his quirks. Mom was constantly pandering to his interests; buying him chemistry sets, driving him to science fairs where he won countless awards and trophies. Of course, she also provided all of my paints and sculpure sets, growing up; but there was always a little more invested in Kirby due to his obvious gifts, which she felt undoubtedly would lead to a Nobel Prize someday. And even though she was disappointed when he elected to pursue his current path, she never noticeably held it against him.

Personally, I never understood the dramatic shift in direction his final few years in medical school; but who was I to question my older brother? It's not as if I had any room to critisize him for his decisions. I was the free spirit in the family, after all; and while both mom and Kirby had made attempts to steer me towards what they saw as a more profitable path, they never steeped unwanted pressure upon me.

"BILLY, STOP!!" Jules screamed. Her sudden reemergence from the silence damn near caused me to wreck as I slammed on the brakes and our tiny box on wheels came to a screaching halt.

"****, JULES!! DON'T DO THAT!!"

Slapping the back of my head with one hand, she pointed with the other. The medical examiner's office, which was now just a couple of blocks away was surrounded by five or six black-whites and a couple of ambulances. Something big had happened; and it looked anything but good.

"Kirby..." I breathed.

Sorry peeps, my wife was very inconsiderate and went into labour!

Looks as if I may be a dad again (4th time) by tomorrow morning!

I'll keep you up to date!

Sorry about the pic (camera phone at my mothers house early this morning), he's 2 weeks early but still 8lb 6oz!, that's three boys and a girl now, my wife is fine (although she is sick of the maternity clothes so my wallet is coming out this weekend for a whole new wardrobe), the fun begins now with the sleepless nights!

BTW hes our last, I may have to bite the bullet and speak to the doc (if you know what I mean)


http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d145/MickyHatton/Baby.jpg

She sounded like she was speaking from the bottom of a 50 gallon drum; her voice was reverberating and almost as if it were coming from a cassette in a tape player with the batteries running too low. Combine the sound of her voice with the way the passing buildings blurred together into some obscure multi-dimensional landscape and I almost felt as if I were on some horrible bad-acid trip.

"Billy! Stay with me!"

My neck muscles responded as if I had no bones, flopping my head over to one side so I could make eye contact with her. God, she was amazing. How the hell can she hold it together so well with all of this cloak-and-dagger **** going on around us?

She held out her right hand to my cheek, steadying my head to where our eyes met in a straight-line gaze. "What do we do now?"

My mind raced almost as fast as the brick buildings outside the window. "Kirby. We have to go see Kirby."

As much as I hated bringing him into this, before he was a medical examiner, he took damn near every medical course you could imagine. He could have been a surgeon; but leave it to Kirby to find the dead more interesting. If anyone could figure out what might have been done to me, it would be him; and he's the only one I feel I can trust at this moment. For all I know, those doctors who gave me the MRI were in on this human-gunea pig study like the one oozing crimson back in that underground lab.

"Kirby? Are you sure? I think we need to go to the cops, Billy. I really do."

"KIWBY!!" I slurred, "We need to go see Kiwby."

Shaking her head in disapproval, Jules put her hand back on the steering wheel. "Fine; but, just so you know, this is ****ing stupid. This is a police matter, Billy. We're lucky to be alive, in case you haven't put that together yet."

"What if those guys wewr wiwth tha govawment?

A thoughtful, slightly panicked look crossed her face as she stared ahead. "Kirby it is, then."

I flopped my head back on the head rest and closed my eyes, hoping car-sickness would not overtake me; but I couldn't stand the psychodelic light show any more. Nausia was creeping in and it took every bit of will power I had not to make a deposit in Jules's floorboard.

I had to snicker slightly to myself. Mr. Sci-fi's gonna love this ****.


We had been driving for about 15 minutes. The medical examiner’s office that Kirby worked at was still over an hour away. I was glad to have the time to think and try to come up with some plan. Clearly, this organization, or whatever it was, was not some fly by night operation. Judging by their facility and their equipment, they had access to some serious technology. I had seen enough movies to know that Jules and I were in danger. They were coming for us, no doubt about it. I also knew that they probably had the technology or connections to track our moves through credit card and bank transactions. They already knew what we were driving. ****! I couldn’t believe that I actually had to worry about **** like this! I was a goddamn painter, not some government employee that had stumbled across some illegal technology. This kind of stuff just didn’t happen in real life. Nevertheless, here we were, on the run from some mad scientists doing **** knows what to my body and the bodies of countless others.

“Jules?”
Jules looked over at me, “Yeah?”
“I know this sounds paranoid as hell, but we need to get some cash, lots of cash, and a different car, now before it becomes obvious to THEM where we are going next. I don’t want to leave them a trail. ”
“Jesus, Billy. Can’t we just go to the police?”
“With what evidence, Jules? We have a wallet, a cell phone, a blackberry, and a couple of guns with our finger prints on them. One of which was used to kill that woman. We have no evidence that they have done anything wrong. They would need more proof before they could even get a search warrant. Not to mention that we would be the ones that looked guilty. Moreover, I really want answers, Jules. I want to know what those ****ers did to me. They have done at least two procedures on me that I know of. I want to know who they are and what they did to me and to the others.”
Jules was quiet for a few moments, and then looked at me with misty eyes.
“Okay. You’re right.” She was clearly scared and I was too, but we had no other choice.
I reached over and caressed her cheek.
“It’s going to be okay, Jules. We’ll figure this out and then go to the police. We just need to be invisible for a while.”
We needed to go Northeast to get to Kirby, but I instructed Jules to take the next exit, which took us Northwest. My parents lived out that way. Perhaps THEY would think we went there, considering my mother’s birthday was the next day and I was supposed to be there. Once we got far enough out, we’d withdraw all the cash that we could and buy a car with cash. Then, we’d double back toward Kirby’s.
“We should probably be careful about what we say over the phone in case our friends’ and family’s phones are tapped,” I said matter-of-factly.
Jules sighed and rubbed her temples, “I need a drink. Let’s add that to the list.”

"Jules? ........Jules?"

She still wasn't speaking, just sitting there, arms crossed, staring out the window with a silent scowl. Funny how she was even more attractive with her eyebrows locked in the down posistion, her nose crinkled ever so slightly, and her lips pursed out like that. I wonder why I never really noticed it before. Of course I can't blame her for being pissed. She had every reason to be; but I still can believe what links she has been willing to go to for me so far. Amazing. Could it be that...

"I don't know why we had to sell MY CAR!" she growled.

"Jules, I'm sorry; but my savings was locked out; that was all the money I had and I couldn't access it! They must have flagged my account somehow! Look, I know you didn't have to do it Jules. I owe you big time; but we had to change vehicles. They know what yours looked like."

"Damn Right you ****in' owe me!! BUT WHY A GODDAMN ESCORT?! FOR GOD'S SAKE, BILLY, COULDN'T YOU HAVE GOTTEN SOMETHING WITH LEG ROOM?? OR SOMETHING REMOTELY COMPARABLE TO 'LUCY'? I'D HAD THAT CAR FOR FIVE YEARS! I LOVED THAT CAR!! NOW I'M STUCK WITH THIS TWO-TONE BLUE, FLAKED-PAINT, RUST- SPOT-COVERED PIECE OF ****!!!"

"I'll make it up to you Jules, I swear. We had to get the cheapest car on the lot so we could use the rest of the money for expenses. We had to trade down or we wouldn't have had any cash, which was what we needed as much as we needed a new...well, different set of wheels."

In one motion, Jules snapped her head away from me towards the window and blew her bangs up in a frustrated huff. I couldn't blame her for being furious; but I was thinking about our survival, and was extremely grateful for her compliance, begrudging though it was.

As we neared the Medical Examiner's office, I began imaginging the combination of shock and morbid excitement that would cross Kirby's face when I told him of the events of the last two days. This is the sort of thing he's probably lived out in his fantasy life since we were boys. He was forever burying his nose into Sci-Fi novels and comics as a youth; and as he grew, his attention expanded to medical journals and biological writings.

Kirby was a borderlline genius and had always had his quirks. Mom was constantly pandering to his interests; buying him chemistry sets, driving him to science fairs where he won countless awards and trophies. Of course, she also provided all of my paints and sculpure sets, growing up; but there was always a little more invested in Kirby due to his obvious gifts, which she felt undoubtedly would lead to a Nobel Prize someday. And even though she was disappointed when he elected to pursue his current path, she never noticeably held it against him.

Personally, I never understood the dramatic shift in direction his final few years in medical school; but who was I to question my older brother? It's not as if I had any room to critisize him for his decisions. I was the free spirit in the family, after all; and while both mom and Kirby had made attempts to steer me towards what they saw as a more profitable path, they never steeped unwanted pressure upon me.

"BILLY, STOP!!" Jules screamed. Her sudden reemergence from the silence damn near caused me to wreck as I slammed on the brakes and our tiny box on wheels came to a screaching halt.

"****, JULES!! DON'T DO THAT!!"

Slapping the back of my head with one hand, she pointed with the other. The medical examiner's office, which was now just a couple of blocks away was surrounded by five or six black-whites and a couple of ambulances. Something big had happened; and it looked anything but good.

"Kirby..." I breathed.

This is where we left off...

"Jules? ........Jules?"

She still wasn't speaking, just sitting there, arms crossed, staring out the window with a silent scowl. Funny how she was even more attractive with her eyebrows locked in the down posistion, her nose crinkled ever so slightly, and her lips pursed out like that. I wonder why I never really noticed it before. Of course I can't blame her for being pissed. She had every reason to be; but I still can believe what links she has been willing to go to for me so far. Amazing. Could it be that...

"I don't know why we had to sell MY CAR!" she growled.

"Jules, I'm sorry; but my savings was locked out; that was all the money I had and I couldn't access it! They must have flagged my account somehow! Look, I know you didn't have to do it Jules. I owe you big time; but we had to change vehicles. They know what yours looked like."

"Damn Right you ****in' owe me!! BUT WHY A GODDAMN ESCORT?! FOR GOD'S SAKE, BILLY, COULDN'T YOU HAVE GOTTEN SOMETHING WITH LEG ROOM?? OR SOMETHING REMOTELY COMPARABLE TO 'LUCY'? I'D HAD THAT CAR FOR FIVE YEARS! I LOVED THAT CAR!! NOW I'M STUCK WITH THIS TWO-TONE BLUE, FLAKED-PAINT, RUST- SPOT-COVERED PIECE OF ****!!!"

"I'll make it up to you Jules, I swear. We had to get the cheapest car on the lot so we could use the rest of the money for expenses. We had to trade down or we wouldn't have had any cash, which was what we needed as much as we needed a new...well, different set of wheels."

In one motion, Jules snapped her head away from me towards the window and blew her bangs up in a frustrated huff. I couldn't blame her for being furious; but I was thinking about our survival, and was extremely grateful for her compliance, begrudging though it was.

As we neared the Medical Examiner's office, I began imaginging the combination of shock and morbid excitement that would cross Kirby's face when I told him of the events of the last two days. This is the sort of thing he's probably lived out in his fantasy life since we were boys. He was forever burying his nose into Sci-Fi novels and comics as a youth; and as he grew, his attention expanded to medical journals and biological writings.

Kirby was a borderlline genius and had always had his quirks. Mom was constantly pandering to his interests; buying him chemistry sets, driving him to science fairs where he won countless awards and trophies. Of course, she also provided all of my paints and sculpure sets, growing up; but there was always a little more invested in Kirby due to his obvious gifts, which she felt undoubtedly would lead to a Nobel Prize someday. And even though she was disappointed when he elected to pursue his current path, she never noticeably held it against him.

Personally, I never understood the dramatic shift in direction his final few years in medical school; but who was I to question my older brother? It's not as if I had any room to critisize him for his decisions. I was the free spirit in the family, after all; and while both mom and Kirby had made attempts to steer me towards what they saw as a more profitable path, they never steeped unwanted pressure upon me.

"BILLY, STOP!!" Jules screamed. Her sudden reemergence from the silence damn near caused me to wreck as I slammed on the brakes and our tiny box on wheels came to a screaching halt.

"****, JULES!! DON'T DO THAT!!"

Slapping the back of my head with one hand, she pointed with the other. The medical examiner's office, which was now just a couple of blocks away was surrounded by five or six black-whites and a couple of ambulances. Something big had happened; and it looked anything but good.

"Kirby..." I breathed.

There was a strip mall plaza just ahead to our right and I instructed Jules to turn in and park.

Jules pulled into a spot at the far end of the lot and turned off her car. She sighed, and then turned her head to face me, but she still had both hands on the steering wheel - 10 and 2. I looked past Jules and took in the scene at the M.E.’s building. The police were erecting crime tape and securing the area. Onlookers were beginning to congregate and news crews were arriving. I felt nauseous. I felt my blood pressure rise and my face flushed. I looked at Jules.

“We need to find out what’s going on at the M.E.’s building. I have to know if Kirby is all right. THEY could be responsible, so I think you should walk up there casually with the other looky-loos and see what you can find out, but be careful. Stay away from the news crews. Do you have a hat or anything?”

“I can do better,” Jules said with a sly smirk.

She got out of the car and retrieved an oversized gym bag. She got in the back seat. “I’ve got just the thing. No peeking,” she teased. I kept an eye on the M.E.’s building, hoping to see Kirby, alive and well. I could hear Jules undressing behind me and I have to admit, it turned me on. She grunted a bit and it was my turn to tease, “You need some help?” “No, I got it!” she assured me.

Jules finished dressing and got back in the driver’s seat. “Think I can blend in?” she asked with a small laugh. Not a chance, sweetheart, I thought to myself and smiled. She had on slim-fitting sweat pants and a fitted tee. She had pulled her hair back into a ponytail, which was pulled through the back of a baseball cap. Damn, she was sexy as hell. Why hadn’t I ever noticed it before? The sun had set and it was getting dark. That would work in our favor. “You look great. Now, be careful, keep your head down, and don’t stay too long.” “Got it, sir,” she said as she saluted me. Jules got out and jogged down to the M.E.’s building.

I watched Jules stay to the back of the crowds. She looked like a hostess mingling at a ****tail party. She wandered from one side of the crowd to the other, talking to bystanders here and there, making her “rounds”. She stayed to the back of the crowd and stayed away from the news crews and police. Good girl, I thought. Jules finished talking to an elderly woman who was clutching a silly-looking little dog like an infant. Then, she ran back to the car.

She flopped into the driver’s seat. She wasn’t even winded. “Kirby is okay. Apparently, a drunk driver killed a woman and her children instantly. The driver was in critical condition and taken to the hospital where he eventually passed away. It turns out that the M.E.’s building houses the grief counseling office. Well, the husband and father of the family killed somehow found out that the drunk driver’s family was there. He shot many of the family members, as well as the grief counselor. Then, he shot himself in the head. The cops are holding everyone in the building there for questioning, so we may not get to Kirby for a while.”

I sat back and leaned my head against the headrest. I was incredibly relieved that Kirby was all right, but it made me question my plan to get him involved. We were running from some unknown dangerous organization. I had already dragged Jules into this and now she was in danger. Did I really want to get Kirby involved? What if it got him killed?

“Yeah, let’s go to Plan B for now,” I said in a resigned tone. “What’s Plan B?” Jules asked. I pulled out the wallet, cell phone, and Blackberry that we had confiscated from THEM. “Let’s see if we can find anything out from this stuff.” “I got just the thing to help us,” Jules announced. Jules retrieved her laptop from her trunk. “It’s wireless. Lots of sandwich shops and coffee houses provide Wi-Fi access. I looked at Jules with a smile. She never ceased to amaze me. “Got anything else in your trunk that I should know about?” I teased with a wink.

^^^^ bump ^^^^