Page 10 of Make Me Scream

“Nice. I’m Lane, by the way. You’re not in any of my classes, but I teach Figure Drawing and Hands and Heads.”

The alcohol bubbles in my stomach. A spark travels up my body. I turn to face him.

“I know who you are, Professor Porter. I’ve read your critiques of Alistair Rat.”

Lane nods and takes a step back.

“That’s what it is,” he says. “That’s why you’ve been… guarded. You’re a Rat fan and you disagree with me.”

“That’s right.”

“In what way?”

I take a deep breath, reminding myself to keep it respectful. It’s not a personal attack, it’s an academic disagreement.

“You like to say Alistair seeks notoriety without having to answer to criticism, that he enjoys going viral and shocking people, but ultimately his work doesn’t have a cohesive message.”

Lane smiles. He rubs his chin, eyes lit with eager curiosity.

“And you believe he does?”

“I believe it has a purpose,” I say. “Rat’s art shows people who they really are. He puts people in situations that break our self-illusion and reveal our true nature.”

“Interesting,” Lane replies. “It’s a romantic idea, I’ll admit. Do you believe Rat succeeds in his purpose? Do you think his art really affects people?”

It’s a fair question.

“I don’t know. But does that matter? Artists have to follow their vision, don’t they?”

He chuckles.

“That’s convenient.”

“It’s easy to criticize,” I snap. “Not so easy to create something meaningful.”

“True. Tell you what: I’ve got an exhibition in a couple weeks. I’ll put you on the guest list at Galleria Carnale and you can tell me if I’ve succeeded.”

“Never heard of the place,” I say, admittedly just to be derisive. I’ve lived in New York for less than a year. It’s not like I’m aware of every niche gallery.

“They specialize in exploring eroticism, and my work is intended to disturb. Viewer discretion advised.”

A warmth stirs inside me.

“Is it going to be about shocking people, or is it going to have a cohesive message?” I ask, my voice coming out deep and sultry.

“Ideally, both. I think you’ll-”

Before he can finish, a deafening bell sounds, and an icy deluge rains from above.

Lane grabs my hand and pulls.

“That’s the fire alarm, everybody out!”

Chapter 2

The sprinkler system soaks me through in an instant. Shivers set in immediately. I scan around the room for Joel and quickly spot him racing toward the exit with Professor Mundell.

“Gwen!” he shouts, waving at me.

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