Page 76 of Game Changer

The last thing he remembered was a sharp pain in his arm as they held him down and poked him with a needle. The edges of his vision blurred and his world went black.

Chapter 22

When he woke up again, AJ felt much calmer.

Bet that was whatever was in that damn needle.

He rubbed at his arm and felt another wave of anger hitting him.

Who the hell do they think they are, sedating me? It’s not like I got unruly or hit anyone. I’m allowed to be frustrated and angry, right?

Right.

“You ok, Pim?”

AJ turned his head to face Jeremy.

“No, man. Not really. I’m so fucking angry. I dunno where it’s coming from, it’s just… bubbling.”

He closed his eyes, pinched the bridge of his nose and took some deep breaths.

“Want me to call someone? They can give you something to calm you down?”

“Hell no. Don’t do that. I can’t stand that shit they give me, makes me feel woozy as fuck and out of my mind. Where’s Ange? I just need to see Ange. She’ll help me figure this shit out.”

“AJ…” Jeremy began cautiously as he hit the call button on the bed remote. “You’re not with Ange anymore, remember? She’s with someone else now…”

“No! You’re LYING! I DON’T BELIEVE YOU!”

That was all it took, AJ snapped and started swearing, screaming and swinging his fists at Jeremy – who was attempting to restrain him on the bed.

“LET ME GO!”

“WHERE IS ANGELA? WHY ISN’T SHE HERE?”

“WHY WON’T YOU PEOPLE LET ME GO?”

“ANGELA? WHERE ARE YOU?”

A medical team burst into the room

“AJ, please, dude. They’ll sedate you again, man. Please,” Jeremy pleaded. “Please just try and calm down.”

“Fuck you!” AJ shouted as his flailing fist connected with Jeremy’s face.

“Shit!” Jeremy howled in pain as he grabbed his face with his hands and left the medical team to deal with AJ.

Here we go again, right? Another needle? Wait ‘til I’m awake and out of this fucking bed. I’m leaving this shithole and going home to my bed, and my girlfriend, Ange. Totalitarian fucking bullshit.

Glancing across the room he spied his father, holding his distressed-looking mother against his chest.

I didn’t even know they were in the roo–, he felt the familiar cool prick of a needle against his skin and passed into unconsciousness before he finished his thought.

***

When he woke up, he had an itch on the side of his nose, but he couldn’t move his arm to scratch it. Panic slowly crept over his body.

Shit. Not again. Please not again. Crap. Crap. Crap.

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