赤裸裸的滑稽故事

“So… what does it feel like?”

“What?”

“Forgetting.”

“You’re a little slow, aren’t you?”

Granger growled.

“I’m so sorry to offend you,” she replied in her sweetest voice. “But it’s in the word, isn’t it? Forgetting… how can I remember what I have already forgotten.”

Granger sighed.

“The guy in the lab said you were different. That you remember it all when you wake up.”

“Yes, I remember it all until I don’t. This is the ‘don’t’ part, isn’t it?” Alice smiled, turning away as she rolled her eyes.

She knew his name was Granger. She knew that she had met him before. She knew she didn’t like him.

But other than that, she had no idea who he was or what he wanted.

Trusting him, or letting her guard down, was not an option.

“The other ones were like dolls at first. So blank. Staring off into nothing until they were told what to do,” Granger said passively.

“Other ones?” Alice asked as she looked through the closet of various styles of clothing.

“The small packs….” Granger said, picking up random items and looking at them around the room.

“The small packs?” Alice asked.

“Do you want to know?” Granger asked, looking back at her, eyeing her with both caution and interest._.

Alice felt his gaze. She could tell he was trying to figure out if she was curious enough to use this information somehow… he wanted something from her.

“Do you?” she asked.

“What?”

“Want to know what it’s like, the forgetting, waking up. Following orders without even knowing it,” she said.

“Why would I care?” he asked.

“Maybe you’re wondering if it’s been done to you,” she smiled over her shoulder.

Granger was quiet. He held her gaze with a serious expression.

Until he laughed.

Alice returned her attention to the clothes in front of her.

“I actually did wonder when I saw it happen for the first time,” he said. “I thought, ‘did that asshole do this to me?’. But the more I thought about it, the more I saw the look you all have.”

“What look?” Alice asked.

“That sad look, just for a moment. When you do something wrong because you were told to do it and then regret it,” he said. “That miserable instant where part of you knows you’re under someone else’s control.”

‘Every moment,’ a small voice inside her mind whispered.

“But that’s not me,” Granger continued, a smile spreading slowly across his face as he spoke. “I have enjoyed every moment of my ‘wrong doings’.”

Alice didn’t respond.

Granger sighed and dropped onto the bed with a huff.

“Is this going to take a long time?” he asked.

Alice clenched her jaw and then took a breath. Finally, she smiled brightly and turned back to him.

“I play a role, darling. How can I become that role if I don’t have my costume?”

“You seem to be acting like her already,” Granger said, resting himself against the headboard.

“Like whom?” Alice asked, tilting her head to the side.

“The you that I met before,” Granger said.

“Well, there is always a baseline of myself in each role I play.”

“If you forget everything, how do you know you play a role? Or who you are?”

“I have no idea who I am,” Alice said, turning back to the closet before he could see the way she clenched her jaw. “But I know some things.”

“Like what,” he asked.

“Attitudes,” she said, smiling over her shoulder.

“The way I walk,” she said, turning and slowly walking towards him with a sway of her hips.

“The things I like to do…” she said in a sultry voice as she got close to the bed. She leaned forward. Licking her lips and raising her brow suggestively. “With others.”

Granger scoffed.

“You don’t remember me, though,” he said, a disgusted sneer on his face.

“No,” she said. Then, standing up straight, her expression neutral. “Are you of the male persuasion?”

“There is only one person on this entire planet I want,” Granger growled.

“Ah,” she said, turning back to walk toward the closet. “That type.”

“What type?” he asked.

Alice reached in and grabbed one of the dark jackets.

“The delusional sort,” she smiled to herself. “Obsessive, possessive. Usually underwhelming in most areas.”

Granger snarled and jumped off the bed in her direction.

Alice dropped the jacket to the floor and raised her arm toward Granger as he came down at her. In her hand, she held the item that had been inside the inner pocket of the jacket. A taser.

Granger realized too late what was happening. He came down to receive the max voltage against his chest and promptly fell to the floor.

He couldn’t move. He lay there helpless as his entire body was stunned.

“I may not remember who I am or you are,” Alice said. “But I know you aren’t Holden.”

Granger groaned; he was starting to regain himself.

“I’m sorry, dear, I am not quite ready for your company yet,” Alice smiled brightly before striking him on the back of the head.

***

Granger had no idea how much time had passed when he finally woke. But, he did know that he was bound to a chair.

He let out a low growl and tugged on his bindings.

“AAARGGH!” He screamed out as his wrists burned painfully.

“Oh, you’re awake!” Alice laughed. “Ah, yes, do be careful. Those ropes are quite special… they have been infused with a silver and iron compound, suppressing your wolf and causing immense pain.”

Granger growled at her as she sat down across from him at the table.

“So feisty,” she smiled.

“Let me go!” he shouted.

“But we haven’t even had a chance to catch up,” Alice replied.

“I woke you!” Granger snarled. “You take my orders!”

“You did,” Alice replied brightly. “You did wake me. Good job!”

She raised her hands in front of her and clapped loudly.

“I am curious about how that happened, by the way. Holden isn’t exactly willing to share his secrets or his toys.” Alice laughed with a wink.

She snapped finger guns at him. “But, somehow, you got both.”

“Untie. Me.”

Alice wagged her finger at him and clicked her tongue.

“No, no. I think you misunderstood something vital.”

Alice stood from her chair and leaned forward on the table.

“You have no control over me…” she whispered.

“No?” Granger asked.

“No.”

Granger lifted the corner of his mouth.

“Clean cup! Clean cup! Move down!” Granger laughed.

Alice took a shaky breath as everything stopped. She couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. He knew the words.

“Alice,” he whispered. “Untie me.”

Alice moved without a thought. She pulled at the rope. Though it burned her hands, she stayed quiet through the pain, just as she had been taught. Then, finally, she untied him and stepped back.

Granger jumped up from his chair. He grabbed her chin roughly and got so close to her face that she could feel the heat of his words.

“There it is!” he hissed. “There’s that precious look in your eyes. Just like the others.”

Deep inside her mind, Alice sat on her knees in the cold stone room and let the tears fall.

“I wonder if you can see me….” Granger’s voice whispered.

Alice lifted her head to the grimy window. His pale blue eyes seemed to stare directly at her.

“The you inside, hidden away between the fractures and the empty places in your mind. Watching and waiting,” he smiled.

Granger let go of her chin and took a step back.

“Alice,” he smiled. “The one hidden away, I’m listening. So tell me, do you want to be set free?”

Alice gasped.

She stared out the window at this monster wearing human skin. She couldn’t trust him, she knew that. But still…

Alice got up from the cold stone floor, and in her loudest voice, she screamed.

“Yes…” Alice whispered, just loud enough for Granger to hear her.

His smile widened.

“I know how to free you, Alice,” he said. “But I need your help first.”