Page 387 of Dirty Discipline, Vol. 1

“Check list,” she said.

“Right.” Handing her the popcorn, Morgan walked over to the window and parted the drapes. “The skies are clear and cloudless. No storm in sight. Hence, no lightning.” He turned back around and smiled. “Tonight is all clear for movie-watching.” He climbed onto the cushions behind her, pulling her back into the cradle of his legs. “Let’s do horror, so long as it’s not a b-flick film.”

“Nope,” Audrey said. “No b-flicks here. I’m cured of my love for b-flicks.” She looked over some of her movies, a slight smile curving her lips. “Well, okay, I’m cured of my love for older b-flicks. The modern ones don’t count.”

Morgan kissed the back of her neck. “Put in the movie.”

Audrey closed her eyes. She picked up the first film she lay her hands on and popped it into the brand-new DVD player that she’d picked up at Walmart the same night she’d brought Morgan home from jail.

“Deep Rising,” Morgan read the title. “What’s this about?”

“Sea monsters,” Audrey said, picking up the remote control and cuddling back into his arms. “You’re going to love the special effects. Things have changed since you were last in the real world.”

“So long as there are no spiders, I’m good.”

She laughed, tipping her head backwards to kiss him. “No spiders. I promise.”

Raising the remote, she hit play and a streak of blue-green light shot out of the machine, hitting both her and Morgan instantly. The living room, pillows, remote control, popcorn and soda all vanished, and the cold grey steel of a cruise ship’s deck and cabins took their place. A cool ocean breeze tussled through Audrey’s hair as she turned her shocked expression out towards the endless miles of ocean. In the distance she could hear music and laughter, and the soft rustle of her bright red and sequined evening dress moving around her hips and legs.

“I can’t believe this,” she whispered, clutching her face and hair. “I can’t be in the movie.”

Audrey turned at the sound of footsteps and watched in horror as one of the ship’s crewmen walked by with a tray of drinks.

“I’m in the movie!” she wailed. “Oh no! Not again!” Her panic suddenly died into an unnatural calm as she spun back around and stared across the water. “Oh my God, I’m in ‘Deep Rising’. I’m Famke Janssen.”

Any minute now tentacles with teeth were going to shoot out of the water and start devouring people.

Audrey heard footsteps behind her again and spun back around. One of the senior officers was on his way to the bridge when she grabbed him by the white lapels of his uniform jacket.

“Quick!” she cried, shaking him in her urgency. “I’ve been robbing the passengers blind! Lock me in the kitchen! Lock me in the kitchen!”

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