Page 94 of Immersed
And maybe the way out.
Ashernodded.“After we find you those clean clothes. And proper lighting.”
Even facing the prospect of descending into Dr. Faine’s basement laboratory, Asherwasstill planning his romantic evening.
Levi rolled his eyes. “Your priorities are impossible.”
“You’re my priority,”Asher said simply. “Everything else can wait.”
34
Monster Factory
“Firstpriority,”Asherannouncedwith the determination of a man planning a wedding, “clean clothes.”
We’re in a death maze designed by some twisted doctor, and Asher is concerned about proper attire for seduction.
“There should be staff lockers somewhere,” Levi said, playing along with the delusion. Itwaseasier than fighting, and part of him craved the normalcy of clean clothes.
They found the staff changing area off the main lobby with a row of metal lockers thathadsomehow escaped the building’s reconfiguration. Mostwerelocked, but Asher made quick work of the simple mechanisms.
“Here,”he said, pulling out scrubs that looked about Levi’s size.“Medical scrubs. Very... clinical.”
The way he said it suggested he found the idea of Levi in them appealing.
“They’re clean,” Levi said pragmatically. “That’s what matters.”
Asher turned away while Levi changed, a gesture of respect that felt surreal given everything elsehe’ddone. He began going through theother lockers, pulling out abandoned personal bags and purses left by long-gone staff members.
“Hey Levi? Do you think if I find the right place for us and we die again that your virginity resets?” Asher asked, his voice casual as he continued opening lockers.
Levi froze while he pulled down his jeans. “What do you mean?”
He can’t be implying what I think.
“Well, we don’t come back all fucked up, right? So you’d always come back as a virgin.” He heard Asher’s rummaging stop for a moment before he let out a pleased hum. “That just makes it more special, I think. I get to be your first forever.”
I think I’m going to be sick.
Levi caught glimpses of him rummaging through the contents—wallets, makeup, personal items that painted a picture of normal lives interrupted. Then Asher found something in a small travel bag that made him pause before he pocketed whatever itwaswith a smile that looked like a childwho’djust successfully stolen a twenty from his mom’s purse.
Worry about all that later.
The clean fabric felt like a small miracle against his skin. No blood, no grime, just soft cotton that smelled faintly of hospital laundry detergent.
“Better?” Asher asked, turning around once Levi was dressed.
“Much.”And itwastrue. The simple act of being in clean clothes made him feel more human, more in control.
“Good,”Asher said, his voice warm.“Now we explore. I want to see what your friends missed.”
They retraced their steps through areas they investigated before the building started its deadly dance. Passages that formerly sealedor rearranged now stood open, revealing spaces thathadbeen hidden before.
“Look at this,”Levi said, pointing to scratch marks on a wall. “These aren’t random. They’re deliberate.”
The marks formed crude letters: HELP ME.
“Someonewastrying to communicate.” Asher ran his fingers along the gouges.
