An Exquisite Experiment

by Sappharia Mayer

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “And plié,” Lukas said.

  “We’ve been at this for hours.”

  “Would you like to be here for several more hours?” he chastised.

  “If it pleases you to do so,” I said as I swept into a deep curtsey.

  “Finally,” he whispered.

  I scowled in confusion as I rose.

  “How do you feel, two six eight?”

  “Sore but good.”

  “And your foot?”

  “Same answer.”

  Lukas nodded and wrote on his clipboard.

  “Tomorrow we’ll see how you do with jetés, pirouettes, fouetté, and chaine turns. Nothing far off the floor. I want you to build up confidence. You can do what your body knows how to do without thought.”

  “Sorry to disappoint, but there was nothing automatic about my work today.”

  “No.” Lukas shook his head in agreement. “Because you’re in your head too much and not letting those years of ingrained work take over. Maybe we should give you something else to think about while you dance. For now, you can change into your ballet flats and cool down.”

  He looked thoughtful then scribbled down something on his notepad.

  “How long did you dance?” I asked as I sat on the floor.

  “Are you implying I no longer dance?”

  “No. I mean… I didn’t mean to insult you. It’s just that… this isn’t exactly a dance company studio.”

  “Are you sure?”

  I shook my head as I unwound the ribbon from my ankle.

  “I’m no longer sure of anything.”

  “This is not true. If you were not sure of anything, you wouldn’t be here.”

  “In case it wasn’t clear, I’m here because I need the money to pay the bills.”

  “I was hoping you were getting more out of this opportunity. You disappointment me, two six eight,” Lukas said as he walked through the door.

  His word hit me like a smack across the face. The opposite of the determination he’d given me with his encouragement throughout the session. I sat in the emotions for a long minute then grabbed my pointe shoes and hustled to the door.

  “How dare you speak to me that way,” I said as I barreled through the door and straight into Dr. McNally.

  The force of my forward momentum against his large frame caused me to stumble, and for the second time today, strong arms caught me to prevent me from falling.

  “I see you’ve created quite the reaction, Lukas,” he said as he helped me stand. “Do you have an opinion?”

  “Yes, Sir. While two six eight has the potential to continue forward in the experiment, it is my recommendation that we end this path with justifiable cause.”

  I stared at Lukas then looked back at Dr. McNally.

  “You don’t think two six eight is capable of forward progress in the experiment?” he asked Lukas without taking his eyes off me.

  “I believe forward progress is very possible. However, I do not believe it is worth the energy and resources necessary to produce a Phase Two candidate.”

  “That’s too bad. Two six eight was very close to completion of this phase. I believe I would have enjoyed the next phase.”

  “Yes, Sir. I believe two six eight is best fitted to the structures of the outside world, but not the rigors here.”

  “I can do it,” I whispered, unsure of what I was attempting to accomplish. Everything in me knew it was important but with no idea why.

  “I don’t think so. You’re too afraid and lack the basic trust necessary to continue. Don’t think of it as a failure but a mismatch of ideals. We were looking for a traditional ballet dancer, and you are more contemporary in your thought process.”

  “You want me to follow you blindly, and I want to know why I’m doing the steps,” I countered to Lukas without taking my eyes off Dr. McNally.

  “Not blindly. We want you to follow because it feeds you and you trust us to lead you down the best path.”

  “Why would someone trust with blind faith?”

  “Trust in us is not blind. We gave you a structure, and at each juncture, your choice led to the next opportunity. In some cases, you’ve explored things you would never have done on your own. In others, you’ve faced debilitating fears which would end your career. Every step of the way you were led for your betterment.”

  His words sank in even as they pressed against my need for independence. There was an odd safety in these walls, and a freedom I’d never experienced, but something about the whole situation should make it feel wrong. Yet it felt almost perfect.

  “Yes, Sir, and I’ve failed to be appreciative at every step,” I said as I dropped my eyes but allowed my head to remain level.

  There was an audible gasp in the room, but I dared not look up.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  “Interesting,” Dr. McNally replied, but no one moved. “Why was that your response?”

  The question confused me, and I didn’t know how to calculate my next move.

  “I don’t know,” I stuttered. “It felt correct.”

  “Why?”

  I shook my head.

  “Looks like you might be right, Lukas. Two six eight does not appear suitable to continue forward in our experiment.”

  “Please,” I whispered.

  “Don’t worry about the money. We have a contracted agreement. In it, we specified that you were to stay here of your own free will and choice for two weeks in these accommodations. As of four hours ago, you’ve passed your agreed time. The money is yours. We’ve also taken the liberty to contact your ballet company. Your position is waiting for your return as long as you continue a rigorous physical therapy program for the next two weeks to ensure you’re ready for the upcoming season. As not to add to your overwhelming burdens, we’ve paid for those expenses. They will provide the information to you in the exit package,” Dr. McNally said in a matter-of-fact tone.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Which part, Miss Davenport? As you’ve stated on many occasions, you were here for the money due to your financial burdens. Your fortitude in this endeavor yielded your desired results. You've achieved the contracted amount.”

  “But Lukas said we’d work on other steps tomorrow and something about adding things to my file. Besides, there’s no way I’ve lived here for two weeks.”

  “We don’t part with our money lightly, Miss Davenport. I can assure you it’s been two weeks. During that time, you did well. The information you provided was crucial to the understanding provided by this experiment.”

  “Now what am I supposed to do?” I asked, afraid of the prospects of leaving.

  “The same thing you did before you got here. Live your life. Return to your life. Your ankle is well on its way to a full recovery. The financial situation which was dire prior to your arrival is now well in hand, and your continued physical recovery won’t cause you further burden. Take the experience for what it gave you and leave the rest. It was a pleasure to get to know you, Lexus. We wish you the greatest success in your future paths,” Dr. McNally said as he held out his hand.

  Numbly, I took it and shook it.

  “Thank you for the opportunity,” I mumbled.

  “Please use the facilities to get yourself prepared. A room attendant will pack your belongings while you shower. All the clothes in your closet are yours to keep along with the new pointe shoes and dance attire. Do you have questions?”

  I nodded and then realized the thousand questions running through my mind were now my issue. Then I shook my head and took a deep breath.

  “It’s been a unique experience.”

  “It is our hope it will be a fond memory for you. When you are ready, Vanessa will take you to the exit interview and help you through the discharge process.”

  “Thank you,” I said and gave Dr. McNally a tight smile. Then I turned to Lukas. "There’s no way for me to thank you enough, Lukas. You gave me my life back.”

>   He smiled. “It was a pleasure working with your petulant, stubborn ass.”

  I laughed.

  “It’s not just my ass,” I shot back.

  “No,” he agreed. “All of you is petulant and stubborn.”

  We both laughed, and he offered a hug.

  “Good luck, two six eight. It was a real pleasure,” he said as we embraced.

  “Likewise.”

  “Okay, Lukas. Let’s let two six eight get freshened up. The world awaits with bated breath to receive her into its grasp once more.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Both men turned with a perfect pivot and walked out the door as I watched them go. For a long minute I stood frozen, lost in the storm of thoughts. Then, in resignation of the reality, I turned and headed to the shower.

  “Please turn on the shower,” I said to the room.

  In the bathroom, the shower sprayed water against the glass, but there was no answer through the speakers dotting the room. I stripped off my clothes and stepped into the perfectly tempered shower.

  How can I go back out there when this is the closest thing to a family and home I’ve known in a long time? I thought as I dipped my head under jets of water.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  “Congratulations, Miss Davenport. Out of fifty subjects, you were one of ten who made it through to the end of the experiment,” Vanessa said as she led me into a well-appointed office and took her seat behind the desk. “Please have a seat. We’ll get through this paperwork and get you out of here. I’m sure you’ve got a long to-do list of things after stepping away from your life for two weeks.”

  “Um, yeah,” I said and forced a smile.

  “This shouldn’t take long. Let’s get the money out of the way first. I know how important it is, and we want you to receive it as quickly as possible. Would you like a wire transfer or a check?”

  “Either is fine.”

  “Fill out this form, and I can get it going right now. If you’ll give the account details where the deposit needs to be made, it will be in your bank account before we are finished. However, if you prefer a check, we totally understand, and we can cut it with a couple keystrokes.”

  “That easily?”

  Vanessa nodded as she turned to the large screen on her desk, and I scribbled my bank account information down on the wire transfer sheet.

  She picked it up and clicked a few keys, then turned to me with a smile.

  “Give it about two minutes and your balance should update based on the pending transaction. It will move to a permanent balance in thirty minutes, which is about the time we need to get through the exit process,” she said and handed me a small box.

  I took it and opened the top. Inside were all the personal belongings I’d handed over when I entered the experiment two weeks ago.

  “We’ve charged your phone. It can be a hard transition out of this odd vacation and back into your life. The little things make it easier.”

  “Um… thanks,” I said as I clicked the app for my bank. A few seconds later, a balance larger than I’d ever seen in my account flashed across the screen.

  “I think there’s been a mistake,” I said and looked up to Vanessa.

  “Is the balance incorrect?”

  “The contract was for ten thousand dollars, but the balance shows twenty,” I said and looked back down at my phone.

  “Good. For a moment you had me scared. I thought I’d forgotten to add the bonus to the amount.”

  “Bonus?”

  Vanessa nodded her head.

  “You need to do a better job of reading contracts, or at least asking more questions before you jump into an agreement. Let me give you the highlights. We chose fifty subjects, but only a fifth survived the entire period. The contract states that if less than half the subjects are left at the end of the experiment that the original amount would be doubled.”

  “Why? It makes no sense to give more money to those who survived the two weeks. I mean, in the grand scheme of things, it was an easy time. There were challenges along the way, but the time flew by. I didn’t even know the experiment was over until I ran into Dr. McNally today.”

  “I don’t know why the clause was added to the contract. My job is to ensure we fulfill our end, and it is closed when you walk out the door. Besides, as it was your singular motivation, I would think you'd be thrilled with the bonus,” she said and smiled back at me.

  I nodded in response.

  “Now, I need you to sign here, here, here, and there. Initial pages three, seven, ten, and twelve. This document covers you should you find any ill effects after the fact. It also states that we will pay for your ongoing physical therapy for a period of one month, five times per week. Finally, should your ballet company let you go within the next year, we will supply your former salary for a period of six months.”

  My hand stopped on the third signature as I listened to her explanation.

  “Why?”

  “It’s a philanthropic gesture. Consider it an art patronage. We believe you have great potential and are choosing to invest in your future,” she said and tapped the paper on the line for my initials.

  “Odd.”

  Vanessa smiled but only flipped the papers to the next places to sign.

  “I think that is everything, Miss Davenport. Copies of all the papers are in your folder. Should you need anything, you’ll find a hotline number and a website inside the packet with your access code. Do you have any questions for me?”

  I shook my head and followed her lead as she rose from her chair.

  “It’s been a pleasure to meet you. Please follow the attendant out in the hall, and they’ll show you the exit.”

  I forced a smile and gave Vanessa a slight nod as I picked up the packet off her desk. With unsure steps, but without the need for a cane, I stepped out into the hallway.

  “This way please, Miss Davenport,” the attendant said and started down the hall.

  After two weeks of being a number, my name sounded strange to my ears. Each time someone called me by it, I thought of Dr. McNally and all the things I’d done.

  “Here we are, Miss Davenport,” they said as they pushed open the door.

  I blinked against the bright sunlight streaming into the lobby. Across the room, a crowd of people were being organized into colors.

  Was that really me two weeks ago? I wondered as I walked out the front door.

  Plea from the Author

  I am so glad you’ve reached the end of the book and hope you enjoyed it. Thank you for giving me your valuable entertainment time. It is readers like you who make writing such an amazing experience.

  If you enjoyed the book, I hope you will leave a review.

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  An Exquisite Agony

  Mind Games - The Exquisite Collection (Book 2)

  Chapter 1

  * * *

  The last cord of the orchestra reverberated around the room as my foot drove in the floor, and Jacque caught me as I fell into his arms in the perfect death pose. A second lingered in long silence as we worked to catch our breath. Like wildfire catching a spark, the theater lit in thunderous applause as my partner set me back on my toes and we took our bows. Behind us, the company filed onto the stage and we stepped back into our places as the principals took center-stage.

  Everything in life was perfect. The last year was a whirlwind of activity. First the physical therapy to return the flexibility to my foot, and then the private lessons offered by a patron of the company. I moved from second soloist to a first soloist position where I’d received the occasional pas de deux. As I curtsied on the final curtain call, I forced a smile.

  “You were wonderful,” Jacque said as he laid his hand against my lower back.

 
“You were pretty good yourself,” I countered. “Thanks for being amazing. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

  “No, you couldn’t. It was a pas de deux; you needed me,” he said with a false arrogance as we walked toward the wings.

  “Funny.”

  “I think I’ll be a comedian when I retire,” he said and flashed me a grin.

  “You’ll have years to practice, and you will need them.”

  “You wound me, mon Cherie.”

  I laughed and moved toward my dressing room.

  “And here I thought male ballet dancers were strong,” I shot over my shoulder.

  “We are sensitive, madam,” he said in a thick false French accent.

  “Yeah, yeah,” I returned and pushed open the dressing room door.

  Flowers lined almost every square inch of the makeup table. The sight was overwhelming as I stepped over to my station.

  “Looks like someone is popular tonight,” Christina said from her station across the room. “I mean, you did a wonderful job, but your right leg lags and you sit on the back of your platform when you pirouette. It looks lazy, and some of us are much better in that pas de deux. If you weren’t sleeping with one of the patrons, you’d still be in the corp.”

  “You’re so sweet. Bless your little heart for taking the time to notice my technique. I will mention it in my next private dance lesson. As for the corps, I was a second soloist for two years before you were noticed. Claws in, pussy cat, I don’t have the time or the energy for them today,” I said as I stepped out of my shoes.

  Christina pushed her headphones onto her ears and the faintest sound of rock whispered in the room. With a thankful sigh, I stepped out of my costume and slid into my warmup outfit. A knock on the door interrupted my routine, and I stepped over to see who wanted to come visit the diva now.

  “Good evening, Lexus,” the ballet mistress said and smiled at me.