Page 15 of The Darkness Within

Knock, knock.

Jesus fucking Christ. It’s coming from the front door. Someone is about to beat it down. Throwing it open hard enough that it slams against the wall and bounces back, I glare at my visitor. “What in the ever-loving-fuck?” I croak.

“Morning,” Mandy chirps. “Or should I say afternoon? It’s almost three.”

Fuck. I rub the grit from my eyes.

“What about it? Was I late for something?”

“Actually, we’re about to be. I came to collect on that favor you owe me.”

Oh, hell no! “Mandy, I’m not feeling my best right now. Maybe another time?”

He steps past me, shouldering his way into my empty apartment. “Nah, now is as good a time as any. Go get dressed. Maybe shower first. I can smell you from next door. And brush your teeth.”

“Mandy,” I snap, “I don’t feel up for going anywhere.”

“You don’t look like it either, but I’m not taking no for an answer. A deal is a deal. Now get dressed.”

With a tired sigh, I shuffle down the hallway. “Where are we going?”

“I’ll tell you when we get there.”

Bastard.

The parking lot of the enormous white stucco building is nearly full. The large sign out front says BALLS- NC Mountain Region Branch.

A feeling of déjà vu nails me in my throbbing head as I try to recall where I’ve heard that name before.

A pleasant floaty feeling insulates my brain, like it’s submerged in the sea, sloshing back-and-forth on gentle waves. The sensation lulls me into a state of deep serenity, and I struggle to keep my eyes open.

“Come on,” Mandy says, clapping me on the back. “Let’s get you inside. Margaret Anne will load you up with some coffee. You look like you need about six cups.”

Moving on autopilot, I follow his lead, inside the building, through the pristine lobby, where an older woman greets us with a pleasant smile.

“Sergeant Cahill! How lovely to see you. Who did you bring?”

The fact that he was a sergeant dimly registers through the fog clouding my head.

“This is Sergeant Sommers. I’m hoping to recruit him,” he says with an evil cackle. “He looks like he could use some coffee, doesn’t he? Nobody makes it better than you,” he gushes.

“Oh, you’re too kind,” she beams, brushing him off with a wave of her manicured hand.

I just stand there, aware that I haven’t spoken a word yet, feeling ridiculously foolish and useless, as Margaret Anne fetches my cup of coffee. She hands it to me with a bright smile, and I close my eyes as I take my first sip, breathing in the fresh aroma of roasted beans. Pure nirvana. It’s potent enough to snap my eyes open.

“Can we get a ball sack?” Mandy asks.

Margaret Anne laughs. “Sergeant, you know that’s not what it’s called.” She hands me a black nylon drawstring bag filled with God knows what. “Here, take a flyer as well. It lists our services offered.”

She hands me the flyer, but the words just blur together on the paper into a black smudge. I can’t read for shit after taking my pills, and I definitely took some because that was the only way I was leaving the house.

“Come on, I’ll show you around.”

“What is this place?”

“This is the gymnasium where they play basketball,” he explains, ignoring my question. “Down here is the cafeteria. They serve free hot meals every day, and across the hall are occupational therapy rooms. Let me show you the gym.”

“Mandy,” I hiss, tugging on his arm, “I don’t like being blindsided. Tell me why we’re here.”

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