Page 56 of Madness

“Oh no, and I’m assuming Abe didn’t agree with whatever you were saying.”

“Does he ever?” I lean back further into him, loving how my heart stops pounding against my chest.

Jameson chuckles softly, his breath warm against my skin. “Abe’s a tough nut to crack, but he’s in a tricky situation. He’s wacko, but he’s better than some of the other psychologists we interviewed.” He pulls me closer, his arms wrapping around me like a protective shield, and traces soothing circles on my exposed skin.

I take a deep breath, feeling the tension slowly ebbing away. “It all started off fine. He made us drink that funky tea, and it just all went to shit. I couldn’t hold back anymore, and I’m tired of the games in this place.”

Jameson nods, his chin knocking against my shoulder, “White is a thorn in our side right now,but I’ll sort it, ok? Just give me time. But you did the right thing by speaking your mind, my love. Never dull who you are to please others.”

“Thank you.” I turn my head and chastely kiss him.

He tilts my chin up, his gaze locked onto mine. “I will always be on your side.”

“I know.”

“Now, you said you were sick of games, but I had one in mind. You up for it?” he smirks, and I can’t stop the way my lips kick up in a smirk in response.

“I always love our games. What did you have in mind?” I reply.

“Solitary,” he says, trailing his lips down my neck.

“Done.”

“What about a game of chess first?”

“Do you have the drink?”

He nods, pulling open the drawer at the top of his deck and revealing the small vial.

I pull the top, extract myself from his grip, and sit in my seat.

The pieces move across the board in a silent dance of strategy that I’ve never entirely managed to master and a battle of wills.

The sedative I took seems to be kicking in but slower than usual… maybe I’m becoming immune to it?

The minutes tick by on the clock, and slowly, my movements grow sluggish.

I try to focus on the board, but my vision blurs. The pieces seem to dance around… taunting me.

No.

I’m so close to winning.

My eyelids become heavy, and Jameson stands from his seat, filling my hazy line of sight.

“You’re mine, my love, and I’m a jealous man no matter how ok I am with you loving others. You are the only woman who will ever own my heart, and I’d like to hoard you for a little while longer…”

His lips continue moving, but I can’t hear the words that slip from between them, and soon, my eyelids close no matter how hard I fight against the sedative running through my blood.

Chapter Nineteen

I blink my eyes open, and the harsh fluorescent lights overhead make me wince.

Slamming my eyes closed does nothing to help the throbbing in my head, a dull ache that pulses in time with my racing heart.

I’m in solitary, chained to a bed – a familiar nightmare, but this time, it’s fun.

Jameson leans against the wall, a devilishly handsome smile on his face as he looks at me, “Are you ready to play, my love?”

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