The Split Page 7

  I sit in silence for a moment, not sure if this is a rhetorical question or not.

  “Wouldn’t you say, Mandi?” Kellogg asks again.

  “It’s pretty strange.” I tell them.

  “Care to explain?” Kellogg prods.

  My gaze moves tensely between Doctor Crawford and the two detectives, wondering if I should give up right here and now. I have no reasonable answer for them, nothing that could make sense of any of this. However, they also don’t seem to have any answers for themselves. This entire situation may be utterly bizarre, but since when has being bizarre been a crime?

  “I…” My voice shakes as I try desperately to come up with something. “I guess you should check the tapes again.”

  “We’ve checked them plenty.” Detective Kellogg says. “And it still doesn’t add up.”

  Suddenly, a stroke of brilliance hits me so hard that it almost knocks me over backwards in my chair. Visions of the man and woman who installed the security system flow into my head, particularly the woman who started crying over the rats and had to leave while covering her face.

  “Did you see anyone with their coat over their head?” I ask.

  The two detectives look at each other, slightly concerned about the possible curve ball I’ve thrown their way, and more than a little confused.

  “I don’t think so.” Kellogg tells me, and then asks Detective Peek. “Did we see anyone with a jacket over their head?”

  “I don’t know.” Peek answers. “I’d have to go back and check the tapes.”

  “Well, that was me.” I respond. “I went to get my keycard fixed but slipped on some of the security equipment that was sitting out in the hallway, waiting to be installed.”

  Doctor Crawford suddenly looks terrified, probably sensing a potential lawsuit in his future.

  “It happened at the top of the stairs that lead down to level two, and I fell down them.” I explain. “Shook me up so bad that I had to call a friend to come pick me up, that’s why my car is still here. I was crying, and embarrassed. I didn’t want anyone to see me like that so I changed into some new clothes and then rushed out the door with a jacket over my head.”

  Kellogg eyes me suspiciously. “Why’d you change your clothes?”

  “It was a bad fall.” I tell him. “My original outfit was ripped and bloody, so I changed into something I had lying around in my office.

  “You don’t look too scarred up.” Detective Peek says with a laugh. “You look just fine.”

  I stand up from my chair and turn away from them, willing the nanobots to create a massive swath of scabby, healing tissue across my back as I pull up my shirt. The group lets out an audible gasp, and when I turn back to face them, Doctor Crawford looks white as a sheet.

  “Is that everything?” I ask.

  The detectives exchange glances, and then Kellogg reaches over to one of the security photos and taps it twice with his finger. “Just one last thing." He says. “Any idea why this woman left wearing your lab coat?”

  I shake my head. “No idea.”

  I can tell that none of them buy it, the room tense with a heavy skepticism, but that this point they’re really nothing that they can say or do about it. I turn and start to head for the door when suddenly Doctor Crawford stops me.

  “Mandi.” The doctor says. “I think you should stay home the rest of the week while we sort this out, take some time off. It’s all paid, I just think it would be best if you weren’t here in the building.”

  Having barely just gotten out of the conference room without handcuffs around my wrists, I’m in no position to protest. Instead, I nod in affirmation.

  “We’ll check the tapes again and get back to you.” Detective Kellogg says.

  On the way home from the lab I call Derek on my car phone, but he doesn’t answer. Pangs of guilt surge through me, having no idea what kind of turmoil this incredible man’s life could be in right now simply because of my actions the other night. I’ll try again later.

  In the meantime, with all of this shape shifting nanobot drama going on, I haven’t had time to take care of any monotonous, daily chores at all. I’ve got packages to take to the post office, groceries to buy, and bills to pay; and no amount of experimental technology is going to change that,

  It’s a long day, and by the time I get home I’m absolutely exhausted, flopping down onto the couch and almost immediately drifting off into a state of deep thought.

  My thoughts, however, are very specific.

  Finally, a moment to relax and all that runs through my head are powerful cravings to fuck. I think back to the way that Derek felt inside of me, the incredible sensation of his muscular body pulsing against mine.

  I reach down and let my hand slip under the waistband of my pants and underwear, my slender fingers gently tracing back and forth over my clit.

  A sharp but pleasant chill runs down my spine as I let out a long, satisfied sigh and push farther back into the couch cushions.

  With my other hand I reach over and grab my phone, then dial Derek’s number for the second time today, waiting patiently while it rings over and over against and then eventually goes to voicemail. I hang up and quickly sent him a text that simply reads, ‘It’s Mandi. Call me.’

  Touching myself feels incredible, I must admit, especially since I had even been abstaining from this kind of self-love for both years, as well.

  However, there is only so much satisfaction one can get while touching themselves after a night of such incredible sex. I’ve tasted the sweetness and now I’m trying to revert to a sex life without sugar, magic or mystery. I know deep down that I shouldn’t be having any of this at all, but the idea of returning to complete abstinence at this point is ridiculous. There is an aching fire that burns deep within me, and now there’s no way of putting it out.

  I stop the movements of my hand across my clit, a fierce internal battle waging within my mind. The conflict doesn’t last long, though.

  Moments later, I stand abruptly and head for the door, my body morphing and changing as I walk and, by the time I reach the hallway of my apartment complex, I’ve already transformed into Ms. Hyde.

  8

  This bar, like all the others in our lives, is nothing more than a marketplace. We enter and peruse the selection, the beautiful displays that have been laid out before us, and then eventually we make an offer.

  Often the offer is too low, the man’s show of power too meek for the woman to take notice. After all, there’s a whole room of other buyers just waiting to pounce and throw their hat into the ring. Sometimes the man takes a little longer than expected to show his true worth, revealing it through witty conversation or, more to the point, by dropping a significant amount of money on expensive drinks. Eventually, if the woman is impressed, the two of them will leave together, mutually satisfied with the transaction.

  It’s a dance that’s been played out over and over again for thousands of years, in different places with different people, even different species, but for the most part the steps of love and lust are always the same, and they’re hardwired within us.

  I haven’t personally witnessed this type of interaction in years, but suddenly being thrust back into it like this is just as thrilling as the very first time.

  Of course, my scientific, analytical nature makes it hard to just go with the flow and enjoy myself, but for me this kind of analysis is all part of the fun. I feel as though I’m the host of my very own nature show, about the mating habits of human beings.

  However, tonight something feels wrong. As a lone woman posted up on the bar with a drink in my hand (non-alcoholic mind you, I’m not sure how beer or spirits will react with the nanobot programming), I recall men being much quicker to swarm in and take their shots at me.

  Tonight, I remain alone, watching as the rest of the tavern pairs off with one another in their timeless mating ritual. Why is it so hard for a girl like me to get laid around here? I’m ten times hotter than I ever was when I
had been my average, frumpy self, but now that I’ve become Alison Hyde, the men should be flocking. Women too; and why not?

  Suddenly, it hits me. Maybe that’s exactly the problem, maybe I’m too hot to approach?

  I stand up from my stool at the bar and down the rest of my drink, then head towards a table of men in one of the dark corners of the room. There are three of them, all viciously sexy in a rugged, biker kind of way. Without a word I slide into the booth next to them, causing the trio to stop mid conversation and look me over in a mixture of confusion and thankful excitement.

  “Well hello there.” One of them says. “How are you doing tonight, little lady?”

  I smile. “I’m alright. How are you boys doing?”

  “Good, good.” The man says with a nod. “I’m Pete, and these two knuckleheads are Jim and Kyle.”

  The men flash me slightly uncomfortable smiles, which is a little funny given their ruthless biker demeanor. Even men this rugged can’t completely keep their cool in front of a woman this beautiful.

  “I’m Alison.” I say warmly.

  “That’s a pretty name.” Jim tells me, and I respond with a wink.

  “Thank you. You three looking to get into some trouble tonight?” I ask the table.

  The guys look back and forth between one another, as if mutually trying to decide if I’m serious or not. “What do you mean by that?” Pete asks. “You’re not a hooker are you?”

  “No.” I roll my eyes. “Jesus, do I have to spell it out for you? Do you want to fuck me?”

  Pete’s jaw drops. “Are you…” He stammers. “Are you serious?”

  “I’m not going to ask again.” I tell them.

  The men all nod in unison and I stand up from the booth, motioning for them to follow me.

  My heart is nearly pounding out of my chest as we exit the bar together. Never in my life have I imagined doing something this wild, not that this particular opportunity had ever been thrown my way, regardless. I’m doubtful that a week ago, in my previous, nanobot free life, I would have even wanted such a thing, but having a new identity is a powerful thing.

  Not only does my new appearance as Ms. Hyde give me more confidence than I ever had, but the lack of consequences is intoxicating. It’s the perfect way to release all of these years of pent up sexual energy.

  But, as I lead the men around the corner to a darkened alley behind the bar, the truth of just how out of control I’ve managed to get in the span of these few days hits me hard. A back alley gangbang is not exactly where I expected to end up when I decided to use Ms. Hyde to seduce Derek, but at this point she’s taken on a life of her own and I’m just along for the ride.

  “Holy shit.” Pete says as we find our place in the shadows. “Are you for real?”

  “No.” I tell him, more truthful than he could ever understand, then kiss the man passionately on the lips.

  I tremble as he runs his hands up and down my gorgeous curves, happily taking in every toned inch of my body. One of the other men steps up behind me and starts to kiss me on the neck, exploring me with his hands as well. I let out as satisfied groan as the guy overwhelm me with their powerful arms, unbuttoning my jeans and slipping their hands within as I’m pushed up against the alley wall.

  “Fuck.” Is all that I can manage to say, soaking wet as they get to work massaging my clit.

  I can hear the jingling of unbuckled belts as the men unsheathe their cocks, and I grasp the air for them frantically, eventually snatching one in each hand and getting to work in the darkness as I stroke them off.

  The guys reel with satisfaction as I touch them, eyes closed and bodies quaking. Their cocks are enormous and hard as rocks within my grip, which quickens with every stroke. Soon enough, I’m beating them off ferociously, giving the guys everything I’ve got as I work their throbbing shafts.

  I’m too overwhelmingly horny to think, completely consumed by my arousal. Consequences be damned, I want these men to take me any way that they’d like. Somewhere deep down inside, a voice is yelling for me to stop, but it’s too faint and at this point I’m not really interested in listening.

  I drop down into a squat, my back pressed against the hard brick wall as the men surround me with their huge dicks. I immediately take Pete into my mouth, swallowing him down as far as I can and them rapidly bobbing my head across his shaft.

  Meanwhile, I continue to pump my hands along the cocks of the guys on either side of me, expertly satisfying all three of them at once.

  Eventually, I begin to move back and forth between their shafts, giving each of the three men equal time between my wet lips as they pound away at my beautiful face. I’m completely cock crazed at this point, losing track of which one is which as I shove their rods down my throat, sometimes two at a time.

  I’m so lost in the mayhem that I can barely hear my phone ringing within my pocket, but the second that I do I pull the men’s cocks out of my mouth and snap back to reality.

  I take out my phone and see Derek’s name flashing across the screen.

  “Sorry guys.” I say, standing up abruptly and pushing past them. “I’ve gotta take this.”

  The men start to protest but I’m already walking back out of the alley towards the main street.

  “Hello?” I answer. “Derek?”

  His voice seems lifeless and brooding as it returns to me through the earpiece. “Hey Mandi. Where are you?”

  I look up at the sign that hangs above the bar, having already forgotten where I was. “The Oakwood Tavern.” I tell him.

  “I’m pretty close.” Derek tells me, straight to the point. “Can I come get you?”

  My heart flutters a bit as he said this, a brief moment of love in the thick sea of lust that my life has quickly become. “Yes.” I answer. “Please.”

  “Be there in a few minutes.” Derek tells me, then hangs up the phone to leave me standing here alone out on the empty street corner.

  I take in a deep breath, trying to center myself amid all of this raging emotional confusion. What am I doing here? The addition of Derek back into my life, even in such a small way, immediately reminds me of what I truly want, and fucking three guys in the back alley isn’t it.

  “Hey!” Comes a voice from behind me, I turn around and see Pete staggering back out from the darkness, struggling to tighten his belt. “What the fuck?”

  “Sorry bud.” I tell him. “I’ve gotta run.”

  A look of drunken anger crosses his face, shocked that I could talk to him so bluntly like this. “You’re just gonna leave us out to dry like that?” Pete questions, his friends stepping up behind him.

  “It’s my blowjob to give.” I laugh. “So it’s also my blowjob to take away.”

  The group of us stand in silence for a moment, staring each other down. It suddenly occurs to me that I’m all alone out here, the night air quiet and not another soul in sight. The nearest person who would care if I called out is the bouncer at The Oakwood, but he’s sitting inside by the door and the door is currently shut.

  The trio of bikers must be thinking the same thing, because they seem to immediately realize that they don’t have much time to act, springing into action as they rush me abruptly.

  I try to scream but Pete is quick to cover my mouth as the others lift me off of my feet and pull me back into the darkness of the ally, kicking and biting.

  Had I never broken my celibacy this wouldn’t have happened, I think to myself, then try my best to push those thoughts out of my head. It’s not my fault, I’m the victim here. These men are the ones who are to blame, not me.

  Pete, Jim and Kyle have me pinned down now, my body pressed onto the hard cement as Kyle positions himself in front of me and starts to pull off my jeans.

  In my panic, I can feel the nanobots within me becoming violently unstable, stretching and pulling my body into small, but strange contortions. I can’t even begin to try and collect myself, rendered helpless by all of the chaos that swirls around me as I try to push
the men away. For a split second I consider changing myself into something extreme and terrifying to frighten them, but my brain is so scattered and hectic that I’m concerned I won’t be able to focus enough on the transformation, and end up like one of those poor, contorted, lab rat corpses.

  Still, without any other options, I have to try something.

  Focusing all of the mental energy that I have left, I try desperately to change myself into a monstrous creature. As the men remove my jeans completely I look over and catch a glimpse of my hand transforming into a strange, clawed shape, but then moments later it shakes wildly and returns back to normal.

  I try once again, this time with my whole body, hoping that the abrupt physical shift may scare the men off. I focus all of my mental energy on assuming some terrifying, monstrous form, expecting my sense of being to become strange and otherworldly.

  Instead, the feeling of my body becomes familiar and comfortable. I’ve returned to my original form, Mandi, and to top it off, the men surrounding me are too drunk to notice even that.

  There’s no way out of this, I quickly realize, utterly helpless.

  Suddenly, there’s a loud crack as Kyle flies off of me, and a second once as his head hits the pavement, knocking him unconscious. I look up to see Derek standing over me and I’m immediately consumed by an awesome wave of relief.

  There’s no time for pleasantries however, because the next thing I know Pete and Jim are jumping to their feet and taking swings at my handsome hero. They both miss in their drunken stupor, and Derek easily dispatches with Jim by giving him two swift jabs to the head and dropping him instantly.

  I quickly notice how fluid Derek’s movements are, as if he’s running through a delicate piece of choreography that’s been rehearsed for years. His wounds and broken bones from earlier years don’t seem to slow him down at all.

  Suddenly, I catch a glimpse of metal flashing in the dim light of the ally as Pete pulls a switchblade from his pocket.