Page 116 of The Wicked
“It’s not healthy, Sport.”
“I’m not a kid.”
“You could get addicted.”
“I know my limits.”
“It’s—”
“Do you wanna get high? Or not?”
He eyed the pills and then me. I watched him struggle with a decision for a few beats before he outstretched his palm towards me.
I grinned, slipping out a pill as I said, “I knew there was a crazy in there somewhere.” I placed one in his palm, and he eyed it.
“How strong is it?”
“One won’t tip you off the edge, but it’s enough to weaken your limbs and make you feel lighter… also, maybe a little…” I watched him put it in his mouth and swallow before I completed my statement. “… horny.”
He didn’t freak out like I expected.
I popped one in my mouth and swallowed, keeping the rest in the jacket pocket. “It’s the kind that dissolves into your bloodstream immediately after taking it, so it takes about a few seconds to kick in. It’s really good stuff.”
“I hope I don’t like it too much.”
I scoffed. “It’s just one pill.”
“I know. I have APD,” he said casually.
I paused. That didn’t sound good. “What does… APD mean?”
“Addictive personality disorder. It’s not intense, but it’s there. I get attached to things easily… people too. And when I don’t control it, it turns into an addiction. Like books, killing people, cleaning, and… what else? Ah… yes, cigars.”
I stared at him, my eyes growing wide in apprehension. “What the fuck, Elio? Why didn’t you say anything?”
He looked at me with a raised brow. “I said I hope I don’t like it too much.”
“How the fuck is that supposed to tell meanything?”
He shrugged like he didn’t care as he downed the remaining contents of the beer bottle while I sat there, feeling the effect of the drugs and feeling like shit.
“It’s like you’ve made it your mission to fill me with guilt at every turn,” I said, annoyed.
“I refuse to take responsibility for what you feel; it’s… oh.” He paused. “I feel it.”
My limbs grew weaker, and I felt lighter, but I wasn’t feeling the feeling, not after what he had just told me.
“It’s… outstanding… wow… what’s the name? Where’d you get it?” His voice came out raspy as he dropped the empty beer bottle.
“I’m never telling you that… God, it’s fucked up; I feel like shit.”
“I don’t.” He released a breath, dropping his head on the stone chair with an open-mouthed sigh before he looked up at the sky. “I feel so light. The stars are dancing; it’s beautiful.”
I groaned, allowing the pill to take effect by wiping off my annoyance.
“The moon is so large; I think it’s smiling. Can you see it?” he asked.
I looked up to see the moon grow large, a soft smile curving at the bottom. It also had eyes that looked down at us with a calmness that made me sigh.
