by Darcy Town
“Butt head.”
“Butt face.”
“Jerk off.”
“Bitch!” Rake grabbed his movie player and handed her one of the ear buds. “Let’s kill time.”
Katarina scooted up next to Rake, hip to hip. She leaned in towards him and watched as he reset the movies. She stared at his profile and moved her hand towards his. Rake gave her hand a squeeze and grinned as it started to play. “Ravil’s been watching these like crazy.”
“You let her use it?”
He slung an arm over her shoulder. “What else would I have for her to do while I was shooting up? She wouldn’t let me relax.”
Katarina frowned. “Oh classy, Rake.”
He grinned and turned the volume up. “That’s me, classy Rake.”
***
Lincoln eyed a wall of rainbow-colored artificial penises, their purpose intrigued him. A row of leashes and collars caught his eye. He purred and snatched at a riding crop. The glitter and bright feathers entranced him. He batted at the wall of them. The other patrons in the sex shop edged away from him.
A gray cat wandered in and headed straight for Lincoln, rubbing up against his leg. He glanced down and picked up the cat. He scratched its chin and held it in the crook of his arm. He waved a feathered whip and the cat batted at it and meowed. He grinned. “Yes I suspect Kennedy will do much the same.”
He dropped the cat; it landed on its feet and gave him an affronted meow. Lincoln eyed it. “Shush.” He walked towards the cash register with the whip in hand. He looked at the man behind the counter and smiled with sharp teeth showing. “I want this.”
The man waved him out. “Free for first-time customers.”
Lincoln tucked it in his jacket. “Why thank you.” He sauntered out and the gray cat followed him.
***
Tasanee jumped through Rake’s doorway as Rake and Katarina finished the first movie. She hopped from foot to foot. “Keto’s back!”
Katarina stood to help Rake up, but he was on his feet on his own in seconds. He dashed towards the stairs. “Where?”
Keto ran past him. “Why are you up?”
Rake followed. “I’m totally fit! That wasn’t my first beating.”
“I’m talking about withdrawals. You’re scratching at your arms like you have fleas.” Keto stalked into Danny’s room. “I’m surprised you can even walk.”
Rake stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I’ll be fine as long as I need to be. Did you get it?”
“Of course I got it.” Keto ducked into the bathroom. “How is she?”
Danny looked up from reading a newspaper. “She’s cooled down.”
Keto pressed his palm to Ravil’s forehead. “Good enough to move, but first.” He brought out a syringe and held it up for Rake to see. He wiped Ravil’s arm down and stuck her beneath the other vaccination marks. He tossed the syringe in the garbage bin by the toilet. “That should reduce the fever and the pain. Katarina, dry her off and put her into bed. Come on, Rake.” Keto grabbed Rake’s arm. “We’re doing you now.”
Rake shook him off and knelt at the side of the tub. He tapped on Ravil’s forehead until she opened an eye.
Ravil coughed. “Pilot.”
Rake smiled. “Navigator.”
She noticed him shaking. “You’re sick again.”
“Not for long.” He touched her hair. “I am leaving for a few days to get better. I won’t need the needles anymore once I’m done.”
Ravil grabbed at his hand. “Why do you have to leave? Why can’t you stay here?”
Keto knelt down next to Rake and put a hand on his shoulder. “Rake has a different kind of illness than you, Ravil. He needs to be at a special place to get better.”
Ravil looked between the two of them. “Rake, don’t go.”
Rake jerked his thumb at the rest. “They’ll be keeping you safe, and I will come back.” He pointed to the necklace. “You have my pendant and my bible. You lose them and I’ll kick your ass, Bebette, uh you know, once you’re not sick anymore.”
Ravil laughed. “Yeah right.”
“It’s true!”
“Better be.” Ravil yawned as the sedative effect of the medicine kicked in.
Keto looked at Ravil. “We’ll return him in one piece it’s a promise.” He hauled Rake to his feet. “Time to go.”
“Bye, Ravil!” Rake waved. “I’ll be back before you know it!”
Keto locked his hands around Rake’s wrist as he pulled him down the stairs.
Rake hit at Keto’s hand. “What is with the flesh-cuffs?”
Keto glared. “I know what addicts are like. Czar!”
Evgeniy stepped out of his room and yawned. “Yes?”
“You’re helping me, grab him.”
Evgeniy wrapped Rake into a bear hug and lifted him off the floor. Rake’s legs spasmed. “Come on guys! I’m fine!” He tried to bite the Russian, but Evgeniy held him in place.
Keto got out zip ties. He forced Rake’s hands behind his back and tied his wrists together. Keto dodged a kick to his stomach. “Czar, keep him still!”
Evgeniy frowned. “I am trying. He is squirmy like snake!”
Keto stabbed Rake in the back with a needle. “Stop moving!”
Rake’s limbs went limp. “I’m fine, I don’t need this, I’m fine...” He shook his head, fighting against his cravings and the voice that told him to lash out. “Get me tied to a bed now, Keto. Betty’s.”
Keto nodded. “Evgeniy, put him in my trunk.”
Rake grimaced. “A trunk? What? Seriously?”
“Shut up, Rake.” Keto watched him pass out and waved the Russian towards his car. He looked up the stairs as Katarina carried Ravil to Rake’s room. He whistled at her. “She gets hot again, put her back in that bath. I’ll be back in an hour. If she wakes up don’t let her scratch herself.”
Katarina glared. “I grew up in a household of kids with Chickenpox. I know what to do.”
Keto shrugged. “Fine, if she dies you can tell Rake why.” He followed the Russian out. They got in his two-seater and tore down the road. They arrived at Betty’s fifteen minutes later. Keto parked in front of a black painted door and stepped out. Evgeniy grabbed Rake. Keto knocked on the door.
A Thai woman in a black leather corset and spiked gauntlets answered. “How can we be of service tonight?”
Keto pointed to Rake. “He needs a place to be tied up for a few days.”
Betty grinned. “Rake darling, oh let me see him.”
Keto grabbed her wrist. “He is going into withdrawals and wants to kick it. No kinky shit and no drugs, just keep him tied down.”
“Sex? Rake? Are you kidding?” Betty laughed and gestured them inside the foyer. “He can have my room.”
Keto frowned. “How much do you owe him?”
She grinned and got out a ring of keys. “He messed up a bunch of soldiers that blew in trying to get rough.” She pouted. “I don’t think those boys understood that we’re the ones giving out rough.”
Evgeniy smiled. “How was Rake involved?”
“He found one of mine in an alley. He brought her back and got caught in the mess as it happened. He did us right.” She bent over and looked at Rake’s face. “We can do him right too.”
Evgeniy looked at the girls that walked by, some carried whips, others had handcuffs and gags. “Rake never said he knew you.”
She gave him a once over. “He never said he knew you either.” She hit a button and a red-lined elevator opened. “Going up.”
The elevator carried them to the top floor; it opened to a hall with five rooms. Betty’s was at the end. “Good time to come, early morning most everyone’s asleep or crawling back to whatever pit they came from.” She unlocked her door and waved them in.
The room was sumptuous, a burlesque tribute in black, red, and gold. Drapes covered the windows, blocking the pre-dawn light. Silk dividers split the bathroom and dressing area from the rest of the bedroom. Betty slipped on a black
kimono and pulled back the covers on her bed. She had leather, metal, rope, and padded handcuffs at all four posters. She undid the padded ones. “He’s going to hurt his wrists and ankles regardless, but this will hurt him the least I think.”
Evgeniy set Rake down on the bed.
Rake mumbled, saw Betty, and smiled. “Hi, Betty.”
Betty gave him a pinch. “Hey, babe.”
Rake grinned. “You’re the…the only p…person I know that ca…can ignore my screams of pain.”
Betty laughed. “Ignore? Rake dear, I’ll revel in them.” She took out a knife and cut through his zip ties. She strapped his right wrist in. “You know I’m not going to be nice. I am going to listen to this gorgeous African and not give you any treats.”
Rake nodded and swallowed. He was already sweating, his heart pounded furiously. “I’m—I’m apologizing no—now for anything I might say.”
Betty put her finger to his lips. “I have gags and I’ll use them if I have to, sweetheart.” She looked at Keto as she strapped his other arm in. “What are my instructions?”
Keto held up a bottle. “Two of these every few hours with water. They’ll take the edge off and keep him sedated for the most part. He’ll be the most dangerous between doses. I’ll be coming by regularly, so don’t worry about watching him yourself.”
Betty tied his ankle down. “I’ve dealt with a few of my girls coming down before.” She cinched the buckle. “Do you have enough of that medicine for the entire ride?”
Keto nodded. “Yes, but I can get more if this dose proves not high enough. I’ll be checking in. I have another patient I have to attend to, so I’ll be back and forth, just let me know if he needs more when I stop by.”
Betty looked at Evgeniy. “Any chance this one will be coming back?”
Evgeniy grinned.
Keto rolled his eyes. “He’s a big boy. He can come here whenever he wants. May I have a minute alone with Rake?”
Betty nodded and pulled Evgeniy out of the room. Keto looked down at Rake. “You’re one brave fucking guy. I wish you could go to a hospital for this.”
“No!” Rake chewed on his lower lip. “They’d tu—turn me in, my—my prints and DNA are on rec—cord.”
“I know.”
“This isn’t fatal.” Rake wanted to scratch his arms. “Not, not fatal, I’ll get through it. I will.” He turned his head to rub his cheeks against the pillows. “God I want to—No. No!” He hit his head into the pillows. “This fuck—fucking sucks!”
Keto sighed. “Yeah, it will.” He frowned. “She must mean something to you.”
Rake’s pupils shrank. “She’s going to be safe right? No, no worries? She’ll be fine?”
“Completely fit by the time you return. She’ll be up and annoying the rest of us.” Keto drew blood from Rake’s arm. “When was the last time you had a check-up?”
“When was the last time you saw me and forced me to get one?”
Keto grimaced. “That’s what I thought.” He rubbed Rake’s arm down and held up a needle. “Vitamins first. I’m going to test what I just grabbed and put you on the necessary medication.”
“I have something?”
Keto injected Rake with a dose of vitamins. “Rake, if you don’t have something it will be a medical miracle. Shooting up and doing God knows what to men in back alleys is not a good way to stay disease free. You’re going to quit that when you kick this.”
Rake smiled weakly. “But it’s my—my favorite pastime outside of puking on myself, Keto.”
Keto glared at him. “Rake.”
“I’m kidding.” Rake’s breaths grew shallow. “I’ll quit.”
Keto watched Rake’s chest rise and fall. “Keep breathing; focus on your lungs, Rake. Just count the breaths.”
Rake nodded and counted in his head. “No visitors, Keto, tell Betty none. I don’t want anyone coming by. Just you and Betty, right?”
“Yeah Rake, I know.” Keto got up and gave the room one last look. “Good luck.”
“It’s the only kind I have!” Rake’s heart beat hard and fast. He gasped. He sucked in air. “I’m fucking nervous, Keto.” He kicked at the restraints around his feet. “I haven’t been this scared in a long time. Keto?”
Keto turned his back to Rake. “All right Rake, see you soon.”
“Keto!” Rake pleaded as Keto walked towards the door. “Do I need all four restraints, really? Can’t I have maybe a foot free? Just a foot!”
Keto shook his head. “Bye, Rake.”
“Keto!”
Keto closed the door and leaned on it. He looked to Betty. “He’s starting. I suggest earplugs.”
She nodded. “I always prefer a gag, but I can do earplugs.”
Keto grimaced. Rake’s shouts were audible through the door. “No one goes in there besides me and you. If anyone asks, that isn’t Rake in there.”
Betty nodded. “Mr. Solo is the guest of the day.”
Evgeniy grinned. “He has stayed before? Which girl is favorite?”
Betty smirked. “Rake doesn’t do that, but he has paid for our beds for a night’s sleep before.”
Keto held his hand up. “I don’t need or want to know about what he’s been doing here. Come on, Czar. Betty, I’ll be back in a few hours. Good luck with him.”
Betty sighed. “Yeah yeah, get out.”
***
Katarina dressed Ravil and dried out her hair. She was used to dealing with unconscious people; Ravil was light and easy to deal with, less kicking and scratching than Tasanee by far. She tucked Ravil into Rake’s old bed and sat on the edge of it. She yawned and looked to the window.
Tasanee peeked into the room. “I’m going to take a quick nap. Have you slept yet?”
Katarina rubbed her eyes. “No.”
“You should.”
Katarina nodded. “I will, at least in a bit. I have to watch her for awhile.”
“Okay.” Tasanee darted downstairs. Katarina lay down next to Ravil and got under the covers with her. She stared at the girl. Her eyes stopped on the pendant around Ravil’s neck. Rake’s pendant. He’d never taken it off before, never, ever. He’d worn it ever since Sammy had—
Katarina squeezed her eyes shut. “Stupid Kat.”
Ravil mumbled in her sleep and rolled towards Katarina, moving close to the warmth.
Katarina opened her eyes. Ravil shivered, the girl looked young and cold. Katarina wrapped an arm around her. “Prey on my biological clock, why don’t you?” She hugged Ravil to her. “You must be something special to bring Rake back.” She closed her eyes and slipped into sleep at Ravil’s side.
***
By the time Ravil woke up, the sun had risen and it was close to midday. She yawned. Her throat no longer hurt, but she itched like crazy. She scratched her stomach and frowned at the sensation. She lifted her hands to her face. They were covered by mittens, taped at the wrists.
Ravil chewed on the tape. It tasted terrible. She spat. “Yuck.”
“Hey.” Tasanee darted into the room; she wore long khaki shorts, a faded t-shirt, and pink flip-flops. She sat down on the edge of the bed and handed Ravil an open water bottle. “Do you got it?”
“Yeah.” Ravil put her lips to the straw that popped out the top. “Thank you…”
Tasanee fiddled with her mohawk. “I’m Rat.”
“I’m Ravil.”
Tasanee pushed her glasses up her nose and stared at Ravil’s hair. “You sure grow that fast. Is that an albino thing?”
Ravil frowned and touched her hair; it had grown over an inch while she’d slept. She forced a smile. “I guess.”
“Cool.” Tasanee helped her stand. “Come on, bathroom time. I don’t think Rake would appreciate you peeing in his bed.”
Ravil jumped up from the mattress. “This is his bed?”
“His former bedroom, I doubt the mattress is the same one.” Tasanee looped her arm with Ravil’s and pulled her out into the hall.
Katarina opened her do
or and peeked out. She glanced at Ravil. “Hello, I’m Kat.”
“Hello, Kat.” Ravil waved as Tasanee pulled her upstairs. She looked around the mostly empty building, then back to Tasanee. “Rake said you were family, but you all look different.”
Tasanee laughed. “Family yes, but not in the biological sense. Everyone in this group but Czar and I grew up together in the Space Corps.”
“Czar? He is a leader?”
“As-if. You’ll meet him later, he’s sleeping. His room’s up here near Danny’s.” Tasanee pointed to a closed door, the Hammer and Sickle icon was tacked to the outside. She led Ravil to Danny’s room. She knocked. “Danny?”
When no one answered, Tasanee walked right in and headed straight for the bathroom. Ravil remembered this room, but conversations from the night prior were fuzzy. “I’ve been here already.”
“Yup.” Tasanee checked her temperature. “You are a bit warm still.” She pulled the tape off around Ravil’s mittens. “No scratching, got it?”
Ravil shook out her sweaty hands and noticed that her nails had grown long overnight. She stuck a finger in her mouth and bit through the nail. “I got it.”
Tasanee closed the door behind Ravil and waited outside the bathroom. She whistled to herself. Ravil walked out a minute later looking blurry-eyed. Tasanee re-taped her mittens and checked her temperature. “Getting warmer, I hope Keto gets here soon.”
“Keto?”
“Big African witch doctor.”
Ravil remembered him vaguely. “He gave me these?” She lifted up her sleeve and peered at her vaccination tattoos.
“Yeah he did, they’re good for you.” Tasanee pulled her shirt up to show a matching set. “We all have them.”
Ravil nodded slowly. “Rake isn’t here. Where is he?”
Tasanee nodded. “He’s getting off the shit elsewhere.” Ravil yawned and Tasanee grabbed her hand. “Come on, you’re still not well and I’m only allowed to let you wander for bathroom breaks.”
Ravil followed Tasanee downstairs. Tasanee brought her back to Rake’s room. “Do you want to watch anything? I can rig a TV in here. We have some things to read too.”
Ravil crawled back into bed and slipped under the covers. “Do you have anything to read in Russian?”
“Russian, you serious?”