Experi-mental: Escape

The mists parted long enough for me to see a woman in a white labcoat look down at me. She held something in her hands. It was long and transparent and that tiny corner of self awareness hidden in the recesses of my drug addled consciousness supplied me with names. Doctor. Hypodermic needle. Narcotic withdrawal. But not even that hidden reservoir of knowledge on my otherwise blank mental slate could tell me the answers to the questions that, even then, I burned to know. Why? Why is this happening? Is this normal? Did something happen to me? What? Who? Am? I? The mists closed in again before I had come up with a satisfactory answer.

I'm not sure how long it was before they parted sufficiently for me to take in my surroundings again. The room was not the room I had been in before. That one had been very sterile. all white tiles and strong chemical odors. This one shared those qualities, but they were softened somehow. I was on a bed, before it had been an operating table. This little bit of trivia again came from that hidden recess of my mind that I was even now growing more aware of. exploring it like a man tongues the gap in his teeth after just having one pulled by a dentist. Aware of the shape of things by their absence. It was a start, but not much of one. There was no doctor to shoot me full of drugs this time, so I had a bit of leisure time to explore my surroundings. I was restrained somehow. Visual inspection confirmed the presence of soft fabric cuffs at my wrists and ankles. I guess someone really didn't want me going anywhere. With the drab scenery around me, and nothing else to really contemplate, I turned my thoughts inward. focusing on the only source of info availible to me. Me. I cautiously probed that little pocket of knowledge that had been so helpful to me before. There were a few brief flashed of insight. Generally images and some name to append to them. Car. Woman. Sex. Book. Hammer. TV. The exploration gave me enough of a working achive of images and concepts to work with. That "sex" concept required attention, especially when if one added the "woman" concept as well. I wondered idly when that doctor would return. I hadn't long to wait. She burst through door accompanied by several very large and very unwomanlike shapes. They definitly wouldn't be much fun when added to my newly reacquired concept pool. Men. Orderlies. Thugs. my ever helpful mental companion supplied.

They rushed the into the room in a very organized and practiced manner. very professional. Each of the four man/orderly/thugs physically checked one of the restraints upon my limbs, while the young doctor checked various blinking lights on a box next to my bed. My inner voice seemed stumped as to it's exact purpose.

After checking to see if I was still firmly attached to my bed, they cleared the way for my fantasy doctor, again holding a hypo full of misty oblivion. I couldn't resist them any more than I could resist that little voice. While the needle administered it's steely kiss to my arm. I reached out as much as the restraints would allow to grasp the edge of her labcoat.

"Will you have sex with me?" I asked, prompted by a sort of mental giggle.

She withdrew her hand hurriedly, a look of shock on her face. "It seems even intense rehabilitation can't cure some parts of him" she muttered to no one in particular.

The last thing I saw before the mists closed in again was a look of utter amusement on one of the orderly's faces. Apparently I'd not been the only one to entertain such notions.

I won't bore you with the details, but the next several days, as I reckon the time, were a blur. I'd come to lucidity more and more often, but they seemed ready for me. someone was always watching that damned box when I awakened. I'd get a stab and then be off to dreamland again.

At some point I'd managed to get a permanent hold upon my little companion and drag it down into sleep with me. Something strange happened then. My mind cleared completely for the first time in my recently recorded memories. I awakened from my narcotized slumber safe and secure within that hidden recess of awareness that I could only poke at from the outside before now. My warden never even looked up from the monitor, for I'd allowed none of my vitals to change as I awoke. My breathing deepened and I spoke.

"Release me!" an invisible hand shot from my liitle mental haven to wrap about the head of the orderly on duty. He stood stiffly, and walked robotlike toward me. With mechanical precision he reached out to one restraint and then another, freeing each of my limbs in turn. I stood, still wearing all of the assorted monitors upon my person. Barely stood would be more accurate. God, I was weak. I told my guard to strip, and strip he did. I told him to lie down upon the bed and go to sleep. again, total compliance. Everything had such a dreamlike quality that I didn't worry about it. I figured a dream of escape was almost as good as the real thing...when had I started thinking of escape anyway? I carefully removed the pickups from my body and attached them to my pliant accomplice's snoozing form. The box didn't show so much as a blip as I hooked him into the machine in my place.

After taking care of that little problem, I proceeded with the next. Clothes. The orderly, the same one that had smiled at my little performance earlier, now that I think of it, had been kind enough to supply me with his, Ugly hospital whites: shirt, pants, belt and all. even his sneakers were white. They were also the only part of his uniform that actually fit me. Size 11's. That might be useful to remember.

He posessed several ID cards, drivers license, credit cards, the usual stuff one finds in a wallet. Strangely I knew what was usual to find. The picture of him standing next to a shiny red sportscar gave me a bit of an idea. My mind locked onto the image in the picture and compass-like supplied me with a general direction to head. Without seeing any other options, I made my way out the door. There was a guard, looking very official and very asleep just outside the door. I didn't want him to wake, and that unseen hand responded. the guard's snore grew louder and deeper.

The building was mazelike. Several times I found myself going in circles. I had to bluff my way past several pairs of guards and hospital staff. that unseen presence aiding me all the while. You don't see me. I'm just a piece of the background. a scuttling bit of wall, a breeze. It took most of the night to navigate my way down to the parking garage. It was cold out and very quiet. That maginetic pull toward Smiley's shiny new car seemed stronger now and I just let it guide me. It led me down to the bottem level of the deck.

I'd been expecting a shiny red sportscar... two out of three wasn't bad. Apparently Smiley didn't wash his car very often. it was a dull and faded red with nicks and scuffs all over the paint. His keys fit the lock and ignition. and from somewhere I dredged up the knowledge concerining driving a stickshift. I tore out of the deck in grand prix racing fashion. I was free, had a bit of cash, and didn't think anyone would be looking for me for a few minutes at the very least.

I needed to get some distance between me and the hospital. I needed to find a cheap rat trap of a motel not likely to ask me any questions, breakfast would also be a thing to take care of. from the grumbling of my stomach, I'd have to tend to that soon.