Page 76 of Brainwashed

If I do anything at all with these keys, it will all be monitored. Meaning I won’t have much time.

I’m jittery as hell while Peters brings me inside my padded cell, removing my stuff and locking the door behind me. I stand completely still in the middle of the room until I hear his footsteps disappear. And then I pull the keys out of my pants.

Holding them in my hands, I look them over slowly, running my thumb over the metal. It’s like I’m holding on to hundreds of possibilities, right in the palm of my sullied hand. I haven’t felt this alive in a while… Not even when killing Wilkerson.

This is different.I told Kieran he would see what happens when we’re face to face.

These keys are my invitation to make that happen.

Stomping up to the door, I pause, glancing over my shoulder. My book is still resting right where I left it in the corner. My lips curve into a knowing smirk.He promised me no one would touch my book… He made that happen, too.

I try three keys in my door until I find the one that unlocks it. Peering out into the hallway, I hear nothing but quiet, wishing I had the slightest clue what time it is. It could be midnight for all I know. But I think Dr. Love holds our sessions during the day, so if I were to guess, I’d say early afternoon…?Really, who knows.

I suck in a breath and step tentatively out into the hall. And once I’m out there, I look around. Part of me expects Velle to dive around the corner and tackle me the second I leave my cell. But he’s not here. No one is.

So I shrug to myself and wander the corridor. I’m on a mission as I make my way to the exam rooms. I go straight to the one they usually put me in, on the end, and open the door, striding inside.

It’s strange to be in here with no cuffs or shackles or straitjacket. I’m in here of my own volition, which is certainly a first. But there’s something I need, and I think this might be the place to find it…

Hurrying to the cabinets along the wall behind the exam chair, I tug on the drawers. They’re locked. I try the smallest key on my keyring, and it works right away.Jackpot.

Pulling open the drawers, I’m immediately part intrigued, part appalled by what I find. It’s the fleshlight and dildo they used on me the other day, along with lube, condoms, and a bunch of other devices I don’t have time to sift through.This must be the sex drawer.

Rolling my eyes, I slam it shut before pulling open the next. My jaw drops as I reach inside and pick up what looks like a cock cage. A chill runs through me as I hold the metal device in my hand.

No time for this.

I drop it back in amongst nipple clamps, candles, a ball-gag, and some other sharp, scary-looking items. I can’t help the way I gulp.This must be the pain drawer.

I’m becoming frustrated as I rifle through the drawers, looking for the perfect object. I find a few tools I could get away with using, but they’re not what Iwant. Crouching down, I unlock a padlock around some cupboard doors with a different small key. There are a lot of cleaning supplies in here; bleach, ammonia, lye, things like that. There are also packs upon packs of syringes and hypodermic needles. And in the way back, I spot a black leather case.

Pulling it out, I run my fingers over the monogram on the front.

AA

At first, I think maybe it’s for Alcoholics Anonymous or something, but when I open it, I dispel that idea.

It’s a butterfly knife.

My eyes light right up. This isexactlywhat I was looking for.

Removing it from the case, I observe the handle. It’s white and iridescent, almost like a pearl, but not as shiny. And there’s a little symbol carved into it. Taking a closer look, I see that it’s a bird surrounded by barbed wire.

Something about it tickles my stomach.

Pushing past it, I flick open the knife. The blade is so sharp, my mouth begins to water.

Perfect.

I close it and tuck it into my pants, locking everything back up. Leaving the room, I make a beeline up the hall, back to the row of padded cells.

My mind is clear, and my muscles are tight, sights zoned in and focused on the steps I’m taking. I know this is exactly what I’m meant to do, in this moment.

I’m on the exact path given to me by the universe. Because I’m an agent of chaos, and now it’s time to play.

Marching up to the cell right next to mine, I peer inside the small plexiglass window. And sure enough, there’s Kieran O’Malley, sitting on the floor with his head in his hands.

I know my time is limited, but still, I take a moment to watch him. He looks devastated, a vast difference from the angry aggressor I encountered in the cafeteria that day. And I know it’s because of what they’ve been putting him through. Where the experiments on me have seemingly been just for research purposes, with Kieran they’ve been going at him like they’re trying to fix him. Like they want to cut out the piece of him that makes him who he is, then sew him back up.