by H. Caswell
He became close friends, with Thomas, back in before Alfred’s, birth. The two had met one night; while watching a show for gentlemen, downtown. After a few drinks, and some stories, their friendship, had grown. He stood, as Thomas’s best man. He did his best, to try and talk Thomas out of the marriage, to Mildred.“I am telling you, she isn’t no good … Thomas” Charlie, knew she was no good for his friend. He heard many stories of her crazy outburst and violence. ‘That on there … she is Crazy’ But Thomas would, laughed it off. Thomas figured he’d just work on his beloved and fix her. “Charlie, come on now, this is me … we are talking about. I …will FIX … her” Charlie knew better. He’d tell Thomas “There ain’t no fixing that …Dixon” Although Charlie took no pleasure, in the nights, when Thomas called his friend to help with the mess; Alfred had gotten him into with the unmentionable women, he would never; turn his back on, Thomas. He watched Alfred grow into a fine lad. Thomas, so proud of his creationof his son. He would tell Charlie,“You see … my friend, marrying Mildred gave me such a wonderful … son. I could never be more …proud.”Charlie found Alfred to be like the son, he never fathered. Charlie, will do anything for Alfred, just as he did for, Thomas. There is no man, or woman, alive that will ever change that. He loves, Alfred. Charlie’s life is full of nightlife people. He knows the INS, and outs, of many things. He knows the right people, for whatever job. He carries no pride, in his heart, of the things he knows. It is just a part of him.
Sitting on his bed, bible in hand,‘his heart aching’ Charlie asks “I ask for forgiveness, of the things I have done, and the things‘his sigh profoundly filled with sorrow’ I still have yet,to do.”
Claire and Alfred, enter the same tiny room; Lauren had once laid, as the woman in red, begins waking from her induced rest, becomes alarmed ‘her heart racing’ by the doors opening. She watches the tall, thin man, as he walks in,‘her eyes, focusing’ wearing; gray and pink plaid pants, and a pink button down shirt, with his black thick rimmed glasses. His blonde, yet semi darkened hair, slicked back, with a grin upon his thin, narrow lips, clenching a white pipe; billowing a small stream of smoke. Her heart races, as the sight of a woman behind him, heavy weight and rounded appears. Claire, wearing a white nurse’s uniform; snugged tightly, upon the rolls of her body. A few of the buttons; looks as though, the stress on the threads; ready to fall off. Her dark, black hair; pulled tight, into a bun; nestled top of her head. Her, profound, round face; holds, tiny beading dark eyes, a small pug nose, and narrow lips. One side of her mouth a cigarette, burns. As they slither closer, ‘nervously’she watches, as the tall man walks with meticulous slow stride. He stands very tall and proper; while the woman in white; walks with a slight gimp, her feet so swollen, they hardly fit in her white nurses’ shoes. The woman; notices, a thin needle in the left waist pocket,of the white dress ‘gasping’ as Alfred comes closer, introducing, himself and Claire “Hello, dear… ‘Ashe points to Claire’ this is Claire, and I ‘smiling his evil grin’ … I am Alfred.” Claire gives a sly smirk, while still managing to clench her cigarette, as the smoke makes one of her eyes, squint more than they had already appeared. The woman in red quickly backs into the top corner of the bed; grabbing her knees; bringing them tight to her chest. Briefly, Alfred recalls the first time he had seen Lauren‘She too, had the same reaction to his first meeting … He sighs’ as he leans over the bed; ‘stretching’ and brushes the long red hair;draped across her face off‘he turns her face up to him’ Her big brown eyes; wide, full of fear. Alfred, caresses her soft white skin as he notices the light freckles; across her nose. He glides his hand across her check. She turns her head away from him. His grip‘forcefully’ taking hold of her face, as he looks deep into her eyes, which are full of fear, and seduction all at once. Her lips full and firm, as he traces them with his thumb. His thoughts ‘I understand why men … would want to pay for this lady, with her beauty’ashis hand glides; softly, down her arm; firmly taking hold of it ‘She hollers’“Who are … YOU! Where am I?” as she tries to pull away, but his hold‘squeezing tightly’ begins to hurt her, motioning, her off the bed with his pulling. Reluctantly, she stands, cold and scared, she wraps her released arms around herself. Claire, still standing there; watching as Alfred, examines the new one. Her wretched angry face, emerges a smirk; watching as he walks close to the woman in red. He takes his pipe from his mouth and hands it to Claire, as the new one; watches him through her fallen hair. He once again, softly, removing her hair, from her face brushing it over her, shoulders. He is eager,‘wanting to see her eyes’, as he looks her over. The red dress she wears, is more provocative, then he first thought. The tiny red straps; ride perfectly, upon her broad, tender shoulders. His hands glide; tenderly, down from her shoulders to her hands. He slowly brings his touch back up to the top of her smooth, crease, of her neck; following the straps‘her skin, tingles, with his touch’ down the front of the dress, where the top is tightly formed; against her body; wrapping, around, her well developed breast. Her cleavage, emerging fully, for attention, as her breath rises. His fingers slowly; follow the dresses lines as he feels her soft cool skin. Her breath is heavy. Alfred carefully; circles her breast; slowly and follows her sides; down onto her hips. His man area begins swelling,‘his heart pounding’ with his feeling. The red dress stops just below her womanhood, he begins to squat down, his eyes, still watching her eyes and then her breasts as they raise and lower with her breath. Now on his knees, he caresses her long slender legs, he follows them to her small feet as he raises one leg, just enough to remove, her red high heel shoes, he sees the white lace panties between her legs ‘his pulse pounding within his ears’ as he repeats with the other. As he places her other foot upon the floor,‘raising higher on his knees, his head at waist level’ he again, lightly follows her legs with his fingers, all the way up; beneath her red dress. Her breathing; extremely, heavy now. She is unsure of the situation she thinks ‘my night jobs have at times been, erotic. But there is something, unsettling here with these two’ She asks ‘in a heavy voice’ “Did my … Jon, set this up?” Alfred does not answer; for a moment, he allows himself the joy, of lightly touching the center of her panties. He smiles. Slowly he turns her body, as she comes, face to face with Claire, ‘gasping in shock’, of not knowing Claire had been right behind her like that. The sight in Claire’s eyes; affirmed her fear, more now. Alfred stands tall behind the woman. His hands following her back; down to the bottom of her dress. Softly, he raises the back of the dress; over the humps of her plump, round rear. Just as he had seen outside, as Randle carried her in. White panties, just covering enough to leave parts of her skin exposed, as he rubs his hands over the round firmness. He lowers the dress back down and carefully; unzips the long zipper, which rides the length, of her back. He slowly eases each strap off her shoulders,‘Claire smiling as she watches’ allowing the red dress, to fall to the floor. He closes the gap, so his body is against hers. Moving her flowing red wavy, long hair to the front right shoulder, he tilts her head, to the left side. Allowing his fingers to follow her neck, ’her eyes close, enjoyment begins to fill her’ he wraps his hand around her throat; softly whispering into her ear …“My sweet … you are so beautiful. I almost guarantee … no man has ever taken such time to softly … touch you." She looks upward; seeing Claire watching, as Alfred touches her. Turning her quickly, now to him, her nipples aroused upon round firm breasts, he places one of his hand upon, as he whispers into her ear again, “You … should know … this is … the only sweet tenderness you will remember … or receive from me. For after tonight … my sweet …‘softer, he whispers’ your life … will never … be the same”‘Her eyes Widen, her heart pounds’ as Alfred, pulls his body away; smiling a deviant grin, giving a deep frightening look in his eyes, saying no more, as he leaves the nearly nude woman; alone with Claire.
Claire tells the woman “Lay the hell down … TRAMP!” The woman listens, as she pleads for her life “Please…OH PLEASE ‘as tears flow from her eyes�
�what is this place? Who are you … people? Did my pimp not pay his …bills?” ‘Her body shaking as Claire stares at her’ “I will do ANYTHING … just please … don’t hurt me. We can call, ‘breathlessly’ YES … CALL … I … I … am sure … I can get the money … Please!” Claire, paying no mind to the woman’s cries, as she pulls the syringe out from her pocket, grasping tightly the girls,right arm ‘the lady, screams’ “NO!” as she tries, to fight back. Claire swings her arm back, as far as she can; SLAPPING the girl; across her face, so hard, an instant red, and blue mark appears. Tears flow down the woman’s cheeks, as Claire places the needle into a vein, and releases the fluid. Laying helpless upon the bed,trying to plead again“Please … just … tell …me” her voice, slurred, as she watches Claire, closes the door. Her eyes become heavy, she drifts off to sleep.
Alfred has no intention of spending time with this woman in his secret room. She is for a trial and perhaps error. He thinks to himself ‘Some things have gone on long enough’ His new found hunger of the forbidden fruit; costs him dearly. Alfred has become angry with himself, with his ways, with the others. He enjoys the sensation of being inside a woman, but his thirst, for that erotic nonsense, has kept him from his purpose. His own work, has suffered beyond; acceptance now. Alfred and Claire, have spent many nights; going through books, researching methods. Claire has become quite a student. He must begin to understand what his father set out to do. His thirst for greatness, yet proving his own worth, to Mildred, and all the others, who have turned their shoulders to him, drive his charted course. Alfred has greatly underestimated; his own narcissistic ego.
The sun, is rising on a new day; a scene Alfred enjoys from time to time. His gaze is upon the ocean waters. His thoughts, with Claire,‘she should be preparing the lady in red, for a morning therapy session … He smiles’ Alfred, wanting more than any, life, is worth, and to free his father’s theory; upon this earth. And although, Thomas has always been Alfred’s inspiration, his greed for acknowledgement, to be a profound leader in his field; may lead him into waters; even he, himself will find, uncharted.
As the scent of cherry flows through the loft, Alfred notices something; moving across the sea. The morning sun; glistening off the waves, makes it nearly impossible to recognize at first. Alfred leans near the windows more, his eyes; squinted as he stares.
Just as Alfred has predicted, Claire, is in the lady in red’s room. She has brought in a thin, cotton white, hospital gown, for her to dress. The woman begins to cover her closely naked body in her new attire, as Claire, in her demeaning, low voice; begins to tell the new one, of her new life; upon the island. “Experimental … you are ‘smiling’… only to us.” Claire explaining to the redhead, “Alfred conducts highly important research. HIS … MIND … ‘eyes gleaming’ is fabulous. He is a master. I know, he …‘her head nodding yes’ will …find a way. He must have some test dummies … you know … to experiment his thoughts … upon.” Claire seemingly makes her and Alfred’s work; sound romantic, in the eyes of themselves. “It is beautiful … watching the Doctor as he SOAKS up the ideas of peoples … thoughts. I Love … to watch the terror … within the folk’s eyes … yes ... I imagine, if I were as beautiful as, say …‘pointing’ you … Alfred and I … perhaps could have some erotic ways … of you know … love making. Instead‘her mouth turning sour’ I watch … as he becomes‘sighing’ excited on you ladies … and then I get to join in on some of the … fun. Yes, destroying you‘a grin of evil appears’ lookers … is quiet arousing for … myself as well … Perhaps I have become say a bit … jealous of Alfred’s affections. Parts of me I suppose …’shrugging’ would love to feel him … in such ways” The red-haired woman begins to plead for her release “PLEASE! Let me … go” standing near the bed; crying as Claire preps another syringe of fluid. Claire cannot stand for whining. But, trying to control herself she explains “All… this noise … you makes solves nothing. What? You think … I haven’t heard this shit before? Trust me sweetheart‘looking up from the bottle’ … there have been plenty … Crying for release … MUSIC … TO my EARS! There is not a person here … who will give Two SHITS … as you plead. And furthermore …there is no one who will even miss …YOU!”Claire moves across the room to the woman sitting on the bed. The woman looks up to Claire; her eyes soaked in tears. A bruise across her right cheek from the slap she received the night before. Claire smirks, as she grabs and pulls the woman’s arm against her waist, just before she can jab the needle in she hears Alfred call to her, in a very alarming voice; “CLAIRE … COME AT ONCE!” Claire, swiftly shoves the girl back; making her fall onto the floor as she runs out the door, forgetting to close it behind her; due to the anxiety, rising from Alfred’s calls. The woman sees the door ajar, she hurries; crawling at first; before getting to her feet. She grabs the door and runs out.
Alfred is standing at the top of the third floor stairway as he hollers again, “CLAIRE!” just as she rounds the corner; looking up to him, in a bit of a shock, for she has not heard him ever; raise his voice like that. He is out of breath, and full of shocking, excitement, as he is trying to explain “There is a boat nearing the dock!” as he tosses another syringe to Claire; speeding by her, on his way down the stairs,‘nearly missing a step and falling’ to greet the boat, instructing her“Go … Quickly …‘waving his figure in gesture to move upward’ give it to Our GUEST!” Although, the room is padded and sound proof, Alfred, wants to take no risks with their newbie presence. Claire rushes swiftly back, just as she circles the corner, she greeted ‘their bodies colliding ... oomph’ by the woman who was trying to escape the room. Claire; grabs a hand full of the long red hair,‘her face beat red with anger’ pulls the girl back into the room. She shoves‘with such force the girl slides, nearly smashing her head on the wall’ the woman down onto the bed. Her breath; elevated as she grabs the woman’s arm tight. She explains “There is a … new circumstance‘her breath heavy’ and the plans for today …have changed for a while” as the drug is inserted, Claire reminds the woman, “No fear love … we will get to you … your life is never going to be the … same.” ‘Smiling’ she insures her as she makes her way to the door, “There is no … escape from here. There are only two ways off the island ‘pointing to the window at the ocean’ the other through … death … ‘laughing’ and even then you never … leave” smirking a huge smile as she closes the door, tight. The lady in red, cries as she feels her body; grow cold, and numb. She tries to move her legs, but whatever Claire has given to her; leaves her paralyzed and sleepy.
Randle is in the cottage; still fast asleep. The night before work, has drained his large body, of energy. Charlie, is in his morning prayer, when Alfred rushes through his door. He explains the happenings. “Charlie, quickly … a Boat …’catching his breath’ coming!” Both men rush, to the front door. Claire,is urged by Alfred “Stay inside so that suspicions … do not arise, with everyone acting like there is something …to hide.” Claire does as she is, asked her thought ‘you better hope not … Alfred’ as she waits in the kitchen, “Billy, prepare coffee and bring it to the entertaining room.”
Billy, has been kept on as the cook of the place. Although he mainly serves, Claire and Randle, for they are the ones who eat the most. He spends his time, mostly in the back wing, of the old scarlet fever rooms. He occasionally helps Charlie, who has been working, periodically on the west wings, solitary confinement. Alfred wanted the old wing; transformed, with four high security rooms. Charlie, has almost finished the area now. It is off the kitchen about fifty feet, behind a thick dark green security door. Alfred, had not seen this area, the day Wright had given him a tour. The door was hidden, behind a wall. From the outside, it had not been visible through the overgrowth. It was during the two phases inside and out that the discovery had been made. The area seated just so, facing the lighthouse. There is a small, yet wide hall, which contains four thick doors painted gray. The walls are made of concrete, throughout. Inside each room one tiny window high ab
ove the floor; unreachable. The only means of entry, are through the main door, and back door that is always, locked. Alfred, instructed that each room receive a small bed. The beds are to have shackles, at the top right, and left side, and bottom, the same right and left side for security. A tiny metal table in the far corner. It has yet, to have guests. Charlie, assumes the area had been hidden, for dark, secret, hidden agendas. Charlie, would be right. The addiction center, that had once been, did some crazy, sick, things to some of their guests. The main Doctor, and his partner, locked victims’ within those chambers, if they did not participate; in the sadistic, sexual sessions. Many, forgotten there, until a smell of rotted flesh; emanated from the small windows.
As Alfred and Charlie make their way down to the docks, Alfred wonders ‘what could this … be about? Had someone spotted the kidnapping, the night before? What will I do,if that were the case? Could I … turn my friend in, claiming, I, myself, had no part in the matter?’ The mayor steps upon the dock, shaking Alfred from his thoughts. Alfred, begins to relax a bit ‘The Mayor would not be the one to investigate a, kidnapping’ as he eagerly greets the man, with a hand shake and smile. The Mayor tells Alfred“I have some important business… to discuss with … you Alfred.” Alfred begins to second guess ‘Was I wrong? Is the Mayor here … because of last Night?’ Alfred invites him in for a morning coffee. As the men begin their way, Alfred notices the chief of police standing guard, of the tug boat. Alfred asks “Will the Chief bejoining?” The Mayor explains “No … he must stay aboard, part of the reason for the visit.” ‘A sigh of relief’ as Alfred spins around;facing the Chief,“I will have Billy bring you some coffee …my friend”The chief waves hollering “Thank …You” Claire joins the men, as they gather in the entertaining room. Billy pours the coffee then carries out some, to the chief. The Mayor begins to discuss the matters at hand “Alfred… ‘clearing his throat’ it seems as though … the town people … would like if you would do some of your sessions work … during the days. Maybe to include small … overnight visits? There happens to be some … well … wealthy people … who are interested in your therapy sessions … and found it extremely … interesting‘smiling nervously’ when the last group had returned … claiming of the excellent sessions” .Alfred sits in a chair; across from the Mayor, smoking of his pipe, and pondering the idea. To Alfred, it sounds more like a resort type activity. He thinks to himself ‘maybe this would … work. It would become a bit less … conspicuous for kidnapping others. The ship could go about more frequent … charter. All would be none the wiser. As for those who may stay overnight … or a week here and there, well … evening tea or coffee with a bit of something to ease them into a sound sleep … would certainly do the job … It had been done already … with the others’ Mayor, watches Alfred as the wheels of his mind turn. He smiles, in the sight, of a tiny agreement smirk; appearing on Alfred’s lips. Of course, the Mayor, entices the persuasion, with the pouring of money into the place. “Alfred, many rich folks have their needs, just imagine …the funds coming in”. Alfred knows darn well and says so…“Oh, I know the game …my friend, I make money, you make money. One hand washes the other”. The two laugh. Alfred likes the money deal. He is, a very wealthy man, but more; certainly could do no harm. Alfred reminds the Mayor; the waters are far too dangerous for winter visits “The months of operation still would have to remain, May through early November the latest.” ‘the Mayor clearing his throat’ …Understood … Alfred” Alfred gazes at the man, waiting briefly before the Mayor begins, “The second dilemma … I want to discusses, is a delicate situation. A young girl named Sarah, she almost eighteen … had been arrested for a very … most disturbing … crime against her parents. The whole town is distraught …of the horrific events’he stands, walking to the big window; staring down at the boat’ And due to her psychic state … I cannot place her on Rieker’s, I and‘turning to Alfred once more’ some of her family … fear for the girl’ssafety at the State Hospital.” He is unsure of when a trial will be. He is in desperate need of a safe and secure location. Alfred, looks to Charlie, as to ask him if the new area is finished. Charlie is knowing Alfred, for so long; nods his head in an approved manner. Alfred excuses’ Claire and himself briefly, explaining his need to ensure his small staff can handle such things.“I donot worry so much … about the girl, I have plenty for her, but I do need to discuss with my partner … the ability of all the others and their trips”The Major agrees, “Of course, Alfred, go ahead. I will wait right here.”