Lisette steps out of the way, gesturing for me to exit the cage. “Just like that. You’ve earned it, have you not?”
“Well, I hope to fuck I have. This shit sucked, just saying. Maybe as the warden you could find a different way to do this. The cattle prod, really?”
“It worked.” Lisette says simply.
“Still fucking sucked though.” I sulk, slowly stepping outside of the cage for the first time in almost two weeks. My toes edge the outside of the cell, and I wince, expecting to be electrocuted or some shit. This whole thing has felt like a sick game by some dude named Jigsaw.
“What a baby.” Robbie murmurs.
Lisette snaps her fingers, and Robbie is promptly turned into a bat. He squeaks and I swear I see his little bat mouth turn down in a pout.
“Ha!” I can’t help but let out a loud guffaw at the sight of the stupid little bat-boy flapping around angrily. “What an idiot!”
I’m too busy wiping the tears of laughter from my eyes to notice, until it’s too late, that Robbie is flying towards me. He whips around my head, biting my cheeks and ears as he flaps around hissing and squeaking. My arms flail wildly as I try to hit him away.
Lisette is now exasperated. With another flick of her fingers, Robbie’s bat body is immobilized.
“Alright. Time for you to leave, Mr. Kohl.” She sighs.
“You don’t have to ask me again.” Taking my chance, I don’t even look back as I leave the basement and walk up the steps, back into the real world at last.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Charlie
Things Get Serious
Kip: Meet at my place @ 7?
I stare down at the text, shocked and excited, to be hearing from Kip.
Charlie: You’re free?!
Kip: ;) u know it, sweetheart
Kip: Can u come 2nite?
Charlie: Uh, obviously!
Is it frowned upon to sneak out of work a few hours early? Now that I know Kip is back, everything in me is screaming to go to his apartment right this second. It’s as if the bond knows he’s accessible now too, because there’s an incessant tugging on my sternum, pulling me towards him.
But, Kip told me to meet him at seven. I don’t want to seem desperate,although I am very, very desperate to be as close to him as possible. Ugh, who am I? Wanting the contact of another person? Gross. Since meeting Kip, I’ve become a changed man.
In fact, Nancy commented on the smile that’s been on my face since I heard from Kip earlier.
“Who are you, and what have you done with Charlie?” She gasps, pretending to be stunned by the smile on my face as she leans around my cubicle to chat with me.
“Haha.” Woah, was that a real laugh? I didn’t even have to fake that shit! “What, can’t a guy be in a good mood?”
“Well, of course you can, silly. It’s just…well, you’ve been here for a few years now and I don’t think I’ve seen you genuinely smile one during that time. Are you sure you haven’t been body snatched?”
“You know what, Nance? Maybe I have been.” I shake my head, chuckling.
Nancy titters. “Ah, I see. Some lucky lady in your life then?”
My shoulders tense at the insinuation. I haven’t exactly come out at work. I don’t see the need to. I honestly think it’s a ridiculous notion that gay people have to announce their gayness. Straight people don’t have to go around announcing that they’re hetero, so why should gay people have to do that? And why does everyone assume that hetero is the norm? What, because I’m a man, I have to have a girlfriend?
My good mood sours a bit. Fucking boomers.
