“Take it slow, Ivy.”
If Pam and Ivy’s bodies could speak for themselves, they would both tell you that moving, or really doing anything at all, was the numero uno shit list item. Something taken for granted every day was now something to revile. Ivy tried standing for the first time after a long rest in the supply room. Exacerbated by the massive blood loss, the sudden change in position caused a sharp decrease in blood pressure to Ivy’s brain. Pam quickly caught hold of Ivy before she could collapse to the floor. The movement caused Pam to feel a painful twinge in her joints and ligaments. Moving a heavy door was definitely not without its consequences. The two women simply wanted to curl up and wait for it all to end. Something compelled them to do otherwise.
“Here. Put this on. I know it seems weird, but we’ll definitely fit in a little better around here.”
Pam handed Ivy a kimono and obi to conceal her obvious wound. Pam herself was in full dominatrix attire with thick-soled combat boots laced up to above her knees. She was wearing a black wig based on the mane of Betty Page. The overall effect was surprisingly stirring.
Pam had in fact just returned from reconnoitering and was happy to see Ivy was where she had left her. Pam had been the first to awaken from the tranquil recuperative state. Allowing Ivy more time to rest, she had left Ivy in a large cardboard box in the supply room while she slithered her way through the subterranean compound. Pam by herself would never have been able to navigate the fortress without detection. With Hrel’s assistance though, knowing when and where to hide and how to move became second nature. With most of the compound’s security forces scrambling to find the two women on the lower levels, Pam, after reaching them, found it easy to move about the upper levels—the vice levels. It wasn’t long before she had walked into the green room area used by the resident courtesans. It got Pam to thinking maybe she had died and was now walking through the halls of heaven. As a woman, she fit right in. As a lesbian, she had never been in the midst of so many beautiful feminine creatures at once. Pam, more like a man than a woman, was very visually oriented when it came to sex. This was somewhat atypical amongst her peers who usually craved tender affection over sheer hotness. Again Hrel’s influence, along with her own desire to complete the mission, had stepped in to keep Pam on the less carnal path.
One of the senior courtesans took one look at Pam and could tell right away she was definitely not ready for the floor. She immediately marched Pam to the wardrobe department to find some suitable attire. Pam did not hesitate in recognizing the value in altering her appearance. In fact the remainder of her time spent in the upper levels and making her way back to Ivy was filled with come-ons from patrons and security specialists alike. No one thought twice about a towering fetishist roaming the halls of the luxury suites or taking a peak at the bank of video monitors displaying views into every suite and nook and cranny of the casino. The guard manning the monitors, although unable to explain why a small few of the monitors were dark, found no problem showing the “new girl” both the bizarre and natural intercourse occurring within the suites. After some prodding and strategic flirting, Pam finally coaxed the guard into explaining how the portal room monitors always went dark during testing. Moments later, the guard was lifeless—his spinal cord snapped amongst his cervical vertebrae by a swift and decisive twist. Pam was about to leave the surveillance station when she noticed an older woman alone in one room who looked very familiar. Memories of perusing old family photos with Dave resurfaced.
“Any bright ideas coming to you, Turquoise? We ain’t going out like chumps, are we? Are you hearing this? After they wheeled off that big fugly dude, it sounds like they’re having a real barn burner next door.”
If Lester was on his way out, it wouldn’t be without a smile.
“Yeah. I can still hear. It’s my vision that’s jacked.”
“Is it clearing up any?”
“I’d say I’m at around twenty percent maybe, so it is getting better.”
“I’m wiggling my pinky. With that pinky moving, I’m starting to think, we’re going to make it out of this.”
Lester’s tone wasn’t very convincing.
“If we can find a way to get free, which seems highly unlikely right now, I know what I have to do, and Lester… I don’t want you trying to convince me to act otherwise. It involves me not making it out of this mess in the sense you’re referring to.”
“Crazy talk, Turquoise. We’ll talk about this later after picking up a couple six-packs of Singha from Chang’s.”
“You know I’m not a big fan of Singha. I can drink it at a Thai restaurant no problem, but I could never imagine myself buying the beer outside of a Thai restaurant context.”
“Hey, man. I’m just trying to project us into anywhere but here. If you want, you could be kayaking or doing some outdoorsy shit while I’m sipping some magic lemonade back in Charleston.”
The two men had experienced so much pain and violence together, yet through it all, they always found time to stoke their connection on a personal level. They both found it necessary in order to add a modicum of humanity to their days. Their relationship originally started off cold and mechanical. After enough near-death experiences and daily exercises in building trust though, the masks of indifference ultimately melted away. Harry now struggled to find the right way to explain to Lester that even if they were able to free themselves, his destiny lay along a path that diverged sharply from Lester’s. Even more painful for Harry would be missing an opportunity to say farewell to his now beloved Angie. This was an almost certainty.
“I have to tell you, Lester… I’ve seen some pretty amazing things. Unbelievable. I’ve touched the other side. Life after death is a reality. I’ve seen firsthand what we’ll be up against if the bad guys do make it through this portal into our world en masse. There is hardly a way we will survive if we allow it to happen. The entire planet will be enslaved. The seriousness of it all is much greater than any bullshit electioneering we’ve done in the past. It was so abstract and distant for me before. Dolph tried to use me as a vehicle for one of the demons. I could’ve ended up like that monster they just wheeled away. Fortunately, and at the same time, painfully, it didn’t take. During that process I caught a glimpse of their world. I was thrust into a battle of which I could never have imagined. My Nana was there somehow, fighting to defend the gate, and then fighting to protect me. Duty compels me to go back if I can.”
It was obvious to Lester that Harry was not joking, and the situation became much more real for him in that moment.
“I pray that they just scrambled your mind with some bad voodoo, but you know, brother, whatever you feel you have to do, I’ve got your back.”
Harry craned his neck towards Lester’s voice with a face of appreciation.
Dave continued to repeat to himself with Vros’ prodding, “It’s not my father. It’s not my father. It’s not my father… He is beyond saving.”
Dave just couldn’t get past the fact that the enormous body facing him once belonged to his father, Claude Bullock, whose essence currently resided within an internal hell. The real Claude Bullock watched helplessly as the beast painfully extracted both his cherished and shameful memories to foment doubt in his son’s mind.
“God has granted me this power, David, so that I may save the world. With my strength, my speed, and my agility, I can bring God’s wrath upon the unbelievers. I can send them all to hell where they belong. No man can stop me. You must now believe, my son. Believe as you used to. We can be together again. You will have no reason to fear me. God loves you. I love you.”
“I know what you are. Your words have no effect, demon. Even if you can best me, you will be destroyed within a heartbeat. Might alone can never reign. Our intellect challenges you from every point of the omniverse. When you show your face, you will be shunned not feared. The fire of these united peoples will bath you and destroy you.”
“So enamored with the superficial, aren’t we, David? You can only see me as far as your eyes take you. This perfect body is only a representation of the perfect world to come. I am only a small piece to the puzzle. My brethren will complete the picture. Soon they will take every shape and form. You will not know yourself from one of us. Your so-called friend, Ru, has poisoned your mind.”
“It is not your way to work as one. I know you answer to another who in turn answers to another. You will destroy yourselves and this world before you realize anything close to some deluded vision.”
Dave and Vros were baffled. Why had the beast not attacked? Words were no substitute for action. Was he buying time for some reason? Had he already stepped too close to the united flame in some way? Vros wondered how different the rules of engagement would be when dealing with a demon in this world. Then the initial charge came much more quickly than expected from such an immense figure. Not having time to react in any other way, Dave braced for impact. Claude stopped within inches of Dave’s face. The hot putrid breath seared Dave’s eyes and nostrils.
“Time to start playing for the other side, David.”
Claude easily grabbed a hold of Dave’s arms and torso enveloping him in a vice-like grip. Even with Vros on his side, Dave was helpless. Claude carried Dave to the same cocoon used to hold Harry and Claude before him. He forcefully constrained Dave within the cocoon and sealed it shut. Dave was in darkness.
Pam continued struggling to keep Ivy upright as they moved through the halls. Without medical attention, Pam couldn’t be sure for how much time Ivy could hold on. Their objective was the portal room, but Pam felt compelled to free Mrs. Bullock from her confines. It clicked the moment she saw her on the video monitor. The cellblock was on the way to the portal room. Pam and Ivy arrived at the guard desk looking like they had been partying a little too hard.
“Marv is going to be pissed. You guys shouldn’t be here.”
“Oh, don’t be so fucking compliant. Marv sent us down here to see if you wanted to get with us new girls after your shift is up.”
The guard definitely perked up and was hardly bothered by the fact that the tall one seemed like she’d been snorting rails while the short one had decided to go the other direction.
“Um, this is kind of new for me, but, uh, yeah. Yeah. I’m definitely down,” he stammered out nervously.
After giving a quick outline of what they planned to do to the oblivious guard, Pam moved into the small talk.
“So you got like a big key ring for all these cells?”
“Actually, it’s all up in here.” The guard tapped on his head. “We use key codes.”
Pam and Ivy looked at each other. With one hand, Pam grabbed the guard’s throat. With the other, she grabbed his testicles. The guard tried to scream, but could get nothing out. She backed the guard up to the door of Agnes Bullock’s cell before kindly asking for the code. Each incorrect answer was met with an ever-tightening grip until the correct code was revealed. The door opened and Pam could plainly see how Dave really did get his eyes from his mother.
“Agnes Bullock. We’re actually here to rescue you.”
Agnes’ eyes lit up.
“My prayers…”
“Uh, I hate to break it to you, but God didn’t actually send us.”
“Oh, yes, he did.”
“Whatever. Put this on.”
Pam handed a little cowgirl outfit Ivy had been hiding under her kimono to Agnes.
“What’s this all about?”
“Don’t ask,” Ivy stated with compassion in her eyes.
“Dear, you look ill. Are you all right?”
“I’ve actually lost quite a bit of blood.”
“Oh dear!”
As the women were about to leave the cell, Pam stopped them.
“Wait.”
Pam pulled out a handful of small bits of metal from under her corset that quickly sprouted legs and sprung out the door. Gunfire erupted outside the cell. Pam peeked around the corner to see that the arachnid bots had done their job of incapacitating a small security detail.
“I sure hope we don’t run in to too many more of those,” Pam exclaimed as the bots scurried back to her.
“Not so fast!”
A sharp dressed man with three gunmen appeared from the opposite end of the corridor.
“Well, well, well. We’ve been looking all over the place for you two. I figured you’d try to find your way to the portal. But this? This is a surprise. Love the outfits by the way.”
Ivy collapsed to the ground. Pam bent to help her.
“Ah, ah, ah. Leave her. I really have to admire your commitment, but when someone needs medical assistance, it’s really time to call it a day. It’s not right to let a beautiful girl like this expire.”
The man gestured to one of the gunmen to pick up the limp unconscious girl. He motioned the other two to apprehend Pam and a completely dejected Agnes.
“I’m feeling good, boys. Back on my game. Not so expendable now, eh?”
As the gunmen marched the women back into the cell, something peculiar happened. Little Ivy’s elbow abruptly flew in the direction of her captor’s temple dealing him an incapacitating blow. With control of her captor’s gun, she quickly shot through the heads of the other two gunmen. She walked toward the well-dressed man, who fired round after round into her body, and shot him three times in the face.
“You’re right, Hrel. We don’t have the time to suffer through this.”
“Ivy?”
Ivy’s cold dead eyes stared vacantly through Pam.
“She’s gone. I miss her so. She was so beautiful inside and out,” as Ru lamented.
Ivy had passed. Pam had trouble reconciling that what appeared to be Ivy was now just a corpse shell much like the one Hrel lived with for years. Agnes stood in disbelief at what she had just witnessed.
If Pam and Ivy’s bodies could speak for themselves, they would both tell you that moving, or really doing anything at all, was the numero uno shit list item. Something taken for granted every day was now something to revile. Ivy tried standing for the first time after a long rest in the supply room. Exacerbated by the massive blood loss, the sudden change in position caused a sharp decrease in blood pressure to Ivy’s brain. Pam quickly caught hold of Ivy before she could collapse to the floor. The movement caused Pam to feel a painful twinge in her joints and ligaments. Moving a heavy door was definitely not without its consequences. The two women simply wanted to curl up and wait for it all to end. Something compelled them to do otherwise.
“Here. Put this on. I know it seems weird, but we’ll definitely fit in a little better around here.”
Pam handed Ivy a kimono and obi to conceal her obvious wound. Pam herself was in full dominatrix attire with thick-soled combat boots laced up to above her knees. She was wearing a black wig based on the mane of Betty Page. The overall effect was surprisingly stirring.
Pam had in fact just returned from reconnoitering and was happy to see Ivy was where she had left her. Pam had been the first to awaken from the tranquil recuperative state. Allowing Ivy more time to rest, she had left Ivy in a large cardboard box in the supply room while she slithered her way through the subterranean compound. Pam by herself would never have been able to navigate the fortress without detection. With Hrel’s assistance though, knowing when and where to hide and how to move became second nature. With most of the compound’s security forces scrambling to find the two women on the lower levels, Pam, after reaching them, found it easy to move about the upper levels—the vice levels. It wasn’t long before she had walked into the green room area used by the resident courtesans. It got Pam to thinking maybe she had died and was now walking through the halls of heaven. As a woman, she fit right in. As a lesbian, she had never been in the midst of so many beautiful feminine creatures at once. Pam, more like a man than a woman, was very visually oriented when it came to sex. This was somewhat atypical amongst her peers who usually craved tender affection over sheer hotness. Again Hrel’s influence, along with her own desire to complete the mission, had stepped in to keep Pam on the less carnal path.
One of the senior courtesans took one look at Pam and could tell right away she was definitely not ready for the floor. She immediately marched Pam to the wardrobe department to find some suitable attire. Pam did not hesitate in recognizing the value in altering her appearance. In fact the remainder of her time spent in the upper levels and making her way back to Ivy was filled with come-ons from patrons and security specialists alike. No one thought twice about a towering fetishist roaming the halls of the luxury suites or taking a peak at the bank of video monitors displaying views into every suite and nook and cranny of the casino. The guard manning the monitors, although unable to explain why a small few of the monitors were dark, found no problem showing the “new girl” both the bizarre and natural intercourse occurring within the suites. After some prodding and strategic flirting, Pam finally coaxed the guard into explaining how the portal room monitors always went dark during testing. Moments later, the guard was lifeless—his spinal cord snapped amongst his cervical vertebrae by a swift and decisive twist. Pam was about to leave the surveillance station when she noticed an older woman alone in one room who looked very familiar. Memories of perusing old family photos with Dave resurfaced.
---
“Any bright ideas coming to you, Turquoise? We ain’t going out like chumps, are we? Are you hearing this? After they wheeled off that big fugly dude, it sounds like they’re having a real barn burner next door.”
If Lester was on his way out, it wouldn’t be without a smile.
“Yeah. I can still hear. It’s my vision that’s jacked.”
“Is it clearing up any?”
“I’d say I’m at around twenty percent maybe, so it is getting better.”
“I’m wiggling my pinky. With that pinky moving, I’m starting to think, we’re going to make it out of this.”
Lester’s tone wasn’t very convincing.
“If we can find a way to get free, which seems highly unlikely right now, I know what I have to do, and Lester… I don’t want you trying to convince me to act otherwise. It involves me not making it out of this mess in the sense you’re referring to.”
“Crazy talk, Turquoise. We’ll talk about this later after picking up a couple six-packs of Singha from Chang’s.”
“You know I’m not a big fan of Singha. I can drink it at a Thai restaurant no problem, but I could never imagine myself buying the beer outside of a Thai restaurant context.”
“Hey, man. I’m just trying to project us into anywhere but here. If you want, you could be kayaking or doing some outdoorsy shit while I’m sipping some magic lemonade back in Charleston.”
The two men had experienced so much pain and violence together, yet through it all, they always found time to stoke their connection on a personal level. They both found it necessary in order to add a modicum of humanity to their days. Their relationship originally started off cold and mechanical. After enough near-death experiences and daily exercises in building trust though, the masks of indifference ultimately melted away. Harry now struggled to find the right way to explain to Lester that even if they were able to free themselves, his destiny lay along a path that diverged sharply from Lester’s. Even more painful for Harry would be missing an opportunity to say farewell to his now beloved Angie. This was an almost certainty.
“I have to tell you, Lester… I’ve seen some pretty amazing things. Unbelievable. I’ve touched the other side. Life after death is a reality. I’ve seen firsthand what we’ll be up against if the bad guys do make it through this portal into our world en masse. There is hardly a way we will survive if we allow it to happen. The entire planet will be enslaved. The seriousness of it all is much greater than any bullshit electioneering we’ve done in the past. It was so abstract and distant for me before. Dolph tried to use me as a vehicle for one of the demons. I could’ve ended up like that monster they just wheeled away. Fortunately, and at the same time, painfully, it didn’t take. During that process I caught a glimpse of their world. I was thrust into a battle of which I could never have imagined. My Nana was there somehow, fighting to defend the gate, and then fighting to protect me. Duty compels me to go back if I can.”
It was obvious to Lester that Harry was not joking, and the situation became much more real for him in that moment.
“I pray that they just scrambled your mind with some bad voodoo, but you know, brother, whatever you feel you have to do, I’ve got your back.”
Harry craned his neck towards Lester’s voice with a face of appreciation.
---
Dave continued to repeat to himself with Vros’ prodding, “It’s not my father. It’s not my father. It’s not my father… He is beyond saving.”
Dave just couldn’t get past the fact that the enormous body facing him once belonged to his father, Claude Bullock, whose essence currently resided within an internal hell. The real Claude Bullock watched helplessly as the beast painfully extracted both his cherished and shameful memories to foment doubt in his son’s mind.
“God has granted me this power, David, so that I may save the world. With my strength, my speed, and my agility, I can bring God’s wrath upon the unbelievers. I can send them all to hell where they belong. No man can stop me. You must now believe, my son. Believe as you used to. We can be together again. You will have no reason to fear me. God loves you. I love you.”
“I know what you are. Your words have no effect, demon. Even if you can best me, you will be destroyed within a heartbeat. Might alone can never reign. Our intellect challenges you from every point of the omniverse. When you show your face, you will be shunned not feared. The fire of these united peoples will bath you and destroy you.”
“So enamored with the superficial, aren’t we, David? You can only see me as far as your eyes take you. This perfect body is only a representation of the perfect world to come. I am only a small piece to the puzzle. My brethren will complete the picture. Soon they will take every shape and form. You will not know yourself from one of us. Your so-called friend, Ru, has poisoned your mind.”
“It is not your way to work as one. I know you answer to another who in turn answers to another. You will destroy yourselves and this world before you realize anything close to some deluded vision.”
Dave and Vros were baffled. Why had the beast not attacked? Words were no substitute for action. Was he buying time for some reason? Had he already stepped too close to the united flame in some way? Vros wondered how different the rules of engagement would be when dealing with a demon in this world. Then the initial charge came much more quickly than expected from such an immense figure. Not having time to react in any other way, Dave braced for impact. Claude stopped within inches of Dave’s face. The hot putrid breath seared Dave’s eyes and nostrils.
“Time to start playing for the other side, David.”
Claude easily grabbed a hold of Dave’s arms and torso enveloping him in a vice-like grip. Even with Vros on his side, Dave was helpless. Claude carried Dave to the same cocoon used to hold Harry and Claude before him. He forcefully constrained Dave within the cocoon and sealed it shut. Dave was in darkness.
---
Pam continued struggling to keep Ivy upright as they moved through the halls. Without medical attention, Pam couldn’t be sure for how much time Ivy could hold on. Their objective was the portal room, but Pam felt compelled to free Mrs. Bullock from her confines. It clicked the moment she saw her on the video monitor. The cellblock was on the way to the portal room. Pam and Ivy arrived at the guard desk looking like they had been partying a little too hard.
“Marv is going to be pissed. You guys shouldn’t be here.”
“Oh, don’t be so fucking compliant. Marv sent us down here to see if you wanted to get with us new girls after your shift is up.”
The guard definitely perked up and was hardly bothered by the fact that the tall one seemed like she’d been snorting rails while the short one had decided to go the other direction.
“Um, this is kind of new for me, but, uh, yeah. Yeah. I’m definitely down,” he stammered out nervously.
After giving a quick outline of what they planned to do to the oblivious guard, Pam moved into the small talk.
“So you got like a big key ring for all these cells?”
“Actually, it’s all up in here.” The guard tapped on his head. “We use key codes.”
Pam and Ivy looked at each other. With one hand, Pam grabbed the guard’s throat. With the other, she grabbed his testicles. The guard tried to scream, but could get nothing out. She backed the guard up to the door of Agnes Bullock’s cell before kindly asking for the code. Each incorrect answer was met with an ever-tightening grip until the correct code was revealed. The door opened and Pam could plainly see how Dave really did get his eyes from his mother.
“Agnes Bullock. We’re actually here to rescue you.”
Agnes’ eyes lit up.
“My prayers…”
“Uh, I hate to break it to you, but God didn’t actually send us.”
“Oh, yes, he did.”
“Whatever. Put this on.”
Pam handed a little cowgirl outfit Ivy had been hiding under her kimono to Agnes.
“What’s this all about?”
“Don’t ask,” Ivy stated with compassion in her eyes.
“Dear, you look ill. Are you all right?”
“I’ve actually lost quite a bit of blood.”
“Oh dear!”
As the women were about to leave the cell, Pam stopped them.
“Wait.”
Pam pulled out a handful of small bits of metal from under her corset that quickly sprouted legs and sprung out the door. Gunfire erupted outside the cell. Pam peeked around the corner to see that the arachnid bots had done their job of incapacitating a small security detail.
“I sure hope we don’t run in to too many more of those,” Pam exclaimed as the bots scurried back to her.
“Not so fast!”
A sharp dressed man with three gunmen appeared from the opposite end of the corridor.
“Well, well, well. We’ve been looking all over the place for you two. I figured you’d try to find your way to the portal. But this? This is a surprise. Love the outfits by the way.”
Ivy collapsed to the ground. Pam bent to help her.
“Ah, ah, ah. Leave her. I really have to admire your commitment, but when someone needs medical assistance, it’s really time to call it a day. It’s not right to let a beautiful girl like this expire.”
The man gestured to one of the gunmen to pick up the limp unconscious girl. He motioned the other two to apprehend Pam and a completely dejected Agnes.
“I’m feeling good, boys. Back on my game. Not so expendable now, eh?”
As the gunmen marched the women back into the cell, something peculiar happened. Little Ivy’s elbow abruptly flew in the direction of her captor’s temple dealing him an incapacitating blow. With control of her captor’s gun, she quickly shot through the heads of the other two gunmen. She walked toward the well-dressed man, who fired round after round into her body, and shot him three times in the face.
“You’re right, Hrel. We don’t have the time to suffer through this.”
“Ivy?”
Ivy’s cold dead eyes stared vacantly through Pam.
“She’s gone. I miss her so. She was so beautiful inside and out,” as Ru lamented.
Ivy had passed. Pam had trouble reconciling that what appeared to be Ivy was now just a corpse shell much like the one Hrel lived with for years. Agnes stood in disbelief at what she had just witnessed.
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