Page 26 of Heart Sick

I take it all in, passing rooms with locked doors. I wonder what’s inside. It suddenly feels like there is a lot more to Parkfields than I thought.

“If you need some private time with your girl, you can come down here.”

“It’s not like that,” I snap, feeling my temper spike again.

But it kind of is.

Luna awakens a fire in me, but in the same breath, I find myself feeling responsible for her. I want to throw her up against a wall and devour that gorgeous mouth for hours, but I also want to hug her and keep the monsters away.

In no way do I see her as someone who needs rescuing, but I feel protective over her. Last night, for instance, all I wanted was to comfort her and tell her it’ll be all right.

We walk up some stairs, and when Old Timer opens the door, I see we’re in the projection booth connected to the theater. I could run at any moment, but I don’t want to and that’s because I want to check on Luna.

I’m still surprised he’s allowed to walk around unsupervised.

When we enter the bright, sterile corridor, I am actually thankful. All I want to do is shower and talk to Dr. Norton. Old Timer drops me off at my room, a silent nod the only hint of what we spoke of down below.

I guess I’ll be seeing him soon.

There is no bathroom in my room. All the men have to shower in a communal block, just like in prison, which is what this place is. Monique rounds the corner, talking to a colleague who conceals a chuckle behind her hand.

Looks like Monique made good on her word and told anyone who would listen about what went down between us. I wish I had stopped it.

“I’ll help you shower.”

There’s no point arguing because she is only following orders.

She says goodbye to her friend, who winks discreetly at me.

She leads the way and I have no other choice but to follow. “Once I’m done, I want to see Dr. Norton.”

Monique looks over her shoulder, her lips forming a devious grin. “Okay. But you owe me.”

And no guessing what she wants.

Thankfully, another patient was showering, so Monique couldn’t divulge what form of payment she wanted. But I know she’ll come calling again.

Once I was showered and dressed, Monique escorted me to my room and paged Dr. Norton. I’ve been waiting an hour.

“Are you sure you don’t want to eat?”

Peering at the vomit-colored stew in front of me, I nod. “Very sure.”

“Saving your appetite for tonight?”

“What’s tonight?”

Monique collects my untouched food, making sure to lean in close. “Once a week, we have a movie night. The patients love it. They have popcorn, hot dogs, ice cream…everything you’d have at a regular cinema.”

Sounds fucking awful, but I fake excitement because I have an idea.

I assume this movie night will take place in the theater, which means I will have easy access to the tunnels. I can’t stop thinking about them. I want to explore them, and I want Luna to come with me.

“Maybe we can sit in the back row together,” she says with a wink.

I like that she goes after what she wants, but I know if we weren’t inside these walls, a girl like Monique wouldn’t look twice at someone like me. I’m someone to pass the time with. If this were “real life,” she would be going out with her friends, flirting with some jock who would call her babe, not insinuating to give me a blow job once the lights dim.

Thankfully, Dr. Norton arrives.

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