Page 162 of Lost in the Dark

“No.”

He scratches my neck and my dick jumps. Groaning, I turn around and run into the last person I want to see.

“Watch it,cooyon.” His drawl is deeper today, and it has me curious.

Lifting my head to look at his eyes, I blow him a kiss before kneeing him in the balls. Laughing, I continue to walk forth, and I listen to him slowly land on his knees.

“Benjamin!”

Growling, I knock the papers off the counter by the nurse’s station and continue forth into my room without turning back.

The other residents move out of my way while the nurses give me an exasperated look. I give them my signature smile and tip my non-existent hat. By the time I make it to my quarters, I let out a sigh of relief. I hate always having to play the fool in front of the world.

The air conditioning is on high today. It must be hot outside. Not that I would know, since they only take us outside every few weeks. We’re left in this gilded cage guised as a facility to help us reintegrate back into the ‘real’ world.

Pfft. I’ll stay right here, thank you.Three meals, a cot,andI can leave anytime I want – what more could I ask for?

Something rubs against my neck like a cat, and I turn to find a dark shadow with wisps of black smoke lying next to me.

“Astar, if I were to leave this place, who would you attach yourself to?”

His head tilts the way mine usually does, and suddenly he morphs into a woman, pissing me off. He’s trying to deflect his answer, and I don’t like the games he plays. Shoving him off me, I sit up and leave the bed.

“If you’re not going to answer me, then go away. I don’t want your company right now.”

He cackles and my hackles rise. Turning to throw a fist at his face, he dissipates into thin air. As long as he doesn’t choose…

“Thibodeaux.” The name floats in the air.

I growl and pounce on the bed, throwing fists at the mattress until the thin bedding spreads and all I’m hitting is fabric against the metal frame. Screaming, I tell Astar all the ways I would rip his flesh from his bones.

Orderlies bust into the room, the sound of the door slamming against the wall does nothing to cool my ardor as I continue to yell Astar’s name. The first man grabs me by the waist, but I elbow him in the face and jump forward to claw at the sheets, trying to pull the black tar back up enough for me to shred him to pieces.

“Astar!” I yell.

“Hold him down!”

“Let me go! I’m gonna kill him!”

And like that, I realize my mistake. The men tackle me and drag me out of the room while one of them goes off in the other direction to call my doctor. My mind is in a red haze as I growl and snarl, struggling in their grasp.

As much damage as I deal, the men do nothing but pin me down, restraining me with my face against the carpet and my hands behind my back. I turn my head to find Thibodeaux’s face at the end of the hall, his arms crossed over his chest, staring at me with unblinking eyes.

When I get back, I’m going to kill him too.

“The doctor wants to change your medication again.” Mrs. Aquino states as she scribbles on her pad.

“No. He can keep all his happy pills to himself.”

“Benja—”

“Don’t. Call. Me. That.”

“It’s your na—”

“I tire of these little appointments Mrs. Aquino, though you provide me with good company. I’ll see you at the next one.”

Slamming her door upon my exit for a little more flare, I stand and stare at the wandering souls in the hallway. Maybe my time has come to an end. I don’t feel the same excitement anymore. Astar’s tail burrows into my hair, massaging my scalp with its mouth.

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