Page 19 of Master B-1901

Elec pulled at his tie, turning to sink down into the sofa next to me. I was still off balance, but the room was coming in more clearly, as was my slave’s sudden stature. It had the fog dissipating enough to realize how quiet the room was. Quiet minus the click of heels that were beginning to approach.

“You look sicker than me.”

Elec glanced over, adjusting his tie as he turned more in my direction.

“I didn’t sleep last night. The hours are catching up with me. That’s all. Tell me about you. What didn’t you know, Braddock?”

I tensed at the name but was too exhausted to fight the anger that came with it.

“I don’t remember. I’m not even sure that was me saying that. The screams. They?—”

“What’s going on out here?”

“Side effect. Dizziness. That’s all. You can go back to your office now, Melissa.”

Elec’s voice was hard but shaky. The rage was there. The dislike was dripping with every word he spoke, but he wasn’t glaring at her anymore. He wasn’t looking at her at all.

“I see.” She scanned my face. “And you’re okay now?”

“Yes. I think I left the office too fast. It must have caught up with me.”

“Happens all the time. The Main Master is right. I have another appointment coming up. I’ll call you soon.”

“Alright.”

Elec didn’t look her way until the clicks of her heels were almost gone.

“Let me help you back to your apartment. I’m afraid you were under deeper than we expected. You’re probably going to feel a little off for the next few hours. It’ll pass with rest.”

I let him help me stand, and I followed him to the elevator.

“My slave advised the same. She’s going to make a nice lunch. I’m sure that’ll do the trick.”

He nodded, pressing the elevator’s button.

“Main Master…what happened in there? I think I can recall my grandfather. Or…Pierce Hall. I think I was there?”

“You were.”

“Why? And why was I yelling? Who was screaming? You have to know something. What in the hell is happening to me? Who am I? I feel like I don’t even know anymore. I’m so confused, and I think I’m getting worse by the day.”

The doors opened, and Elec hesitated before placing his arm on my shoulder and leading us in. When they shut, he let go and shifted, letting out a deep breath.

“Brad, how would you feel about me being your doctor from here on out?”

“You? But…” I stopped. “Is Mistress—Melissa…is she not helping me?”

For seconds he didn’t speak. The doors opened, and again, his arm settled on my shoulder, guiding me to my hall. He didn’t continue until I was unlocking the door and we were inside.

“Elec? What the hell is going on?”

There was no formality as he walked over and collapsed on my sofa. He leaned back, placing both of his palms over his face. A sound pushed through but ended just as fast. As if he were a completely different person, he sat up straight, squaring his shoulders as he looked at me.

“I can’t tell you what’s going on because I don’t know. I’m just as confused as you. The man who I invited to the Gardens is gone. The boy I grew up with has disappeared. I spent hours last night reading over your chart.” He continuously shook his head. “I must have gone over it countless times. You’re not schizophrenic. You have no history of trauma or anything close to a trigger that might have somehow…caused this. I can’t say much because truthfully, I had no idea this was even going on. It’s like you’re not even the same person. Do you hear what I’m saying?”

He gestured for the sofa, and I took a seat, leaving a cushion between us. My heart was racing. I felt sick. Anxiously violent. It was dancing along the blade that was digging into my heart, into my mind, at even talking about this.

“I hear what you’re saying, but I don’t understand it. Am I really so different? I don’t feel like I’ve changed at all. I’m still the same person I ever was.”

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