Affected, Part 12 - Alison

Cassie:

That was weird.

I was so close to having a really good time, when the phone rang. I answered it - it was Alison - and all of a sudden I couldn't stop laughing. Something she said - no, everything she said - sounded so damn funny. I couldn't even start to hold it in.

I must have passed out for a minute, because there was the guy again, standing over me. He was dressed again. I realised I'd lost control while I still had a cigarette in my hand.

'Don't worry,' I heard him say. 'It's been put out.'

'That was a friend of mine.'

'I know.'

'Thing is, she doesn't live too far away from me. She's probably on her way up here right now to see if I'm all right.'

'I know. Listen, it's been a great night so far. But I'd best split if Alison's on her way up. Can we chat or something again tomorrow night or soon?'

'Oh, I don't know. I'm supposed to be leading this group assignment, and we've got a video studio booked for tomorrow night to record a video presentation.'

The guy brightened. 'No problem. That's quite all right. Thanks for a memorable date. And when Alison gets here, you know what to do, don't you?'

'Absolutely.'

'I've left everything you need in your bedroom. You don't need to go there until she has sat down.'

'Okay.'

I watched the guy go out the door. Then I went into the bathroom to put on my clothes. He'd put out my T shirt and jeans on the side of the bath. How thoughtful of him. I had barely had time to put them on when the doorbell rang.

'Cassie? It's Alison. Are you all right? Let me in.'

I opened the door and let Alison in. She's a brunette with long, straight hair.

'Are you okay? You were a bit out of it.'

'Yeah, I guess it was two hours of sleep and a shitty assignment deadline.'

'You sure?'

'Yeah, I'll be all right. Come on in.'

Alison went in ahead of me. In the living room, she looked around and sniffed the air. 'It doesn't smell like you've been smoking.' I looked at the coffee table. There was no sign of my cigarettes and lighter, and no ashtray. The guy must have removed them at some point when I'd passed out.

I don't think he took advantage of me while I was passed out. Weird.

'Anyway, as long as you're okay.' I look at Alison.

'Yeah. I'm fine.' Look, can I get you anything? Cup of tea?'

'No, I'll be all right. Mind if I sit down?'

'Sure.'

Alison sat down. 'Hang on,' I told her. 'I've got to take care of something in my room.'

'Okay.'

In the bedroom, the guy had laid out everything I would need. A full face gas mask, and a large black case. Inside the case was a bottle of gas with a thin, clear plastic hose and a timer. There was a note. I read it. 'USE THE TIMER. NO MORE THAN FOUR MINUTES FROM WHEN SHE PASSES OUT. THEN OPEN THE WINDOWS. PUT THE MP3 ON HER FIRST.' Beneath the note was an MP3 player.

It was time. I crossed into the corridor outside the living room. Alison had been talking to me. Something about the arrangements for the studio tomorrow night, arrangements which she was in charge of. I didn't catch a word of what she'd been saying. Too focused on this task.

Alison could not see me from the open doorway. Plonking the bottle down on the floor, I shoved the hose into the room. I turned on the little wheel, and gas began to pour into the room. I'd brought the gas mask in with me, and slipped it on while I listened to what she was saying.

'- and so I was thinking that five o'clock would be a good time to start, so I told the manager than we'd book the five pm slot. I've already contacted the lecturer and she's excused us from attending this evening's, yawn, this evening's lecture.'

I heard Alison cough, followed by another yawn. The gas was starting to work on her.

'Yawn, oh, excuse me, so I've sent emails to, yawwn, to the others, annd they'll ... they'll ... yawn ...'

Watching her from the doorway, I could see her nodding, her eyelids half closed as the gas swept into her lungs and bloodstream. '- an' I wuzz thinkinnat we could alwuzz go'n gezzafew drinkzzzafterwuzz ...'

I walked in to the room and stood in front of Alison, carrying the timer and the gas cylinder, pointing the end of the hose at her face so the gas could spray directly into it. Wearing the gas mask, and nothing else.

I could see the confusion in her eyes as she looked up at me. 'Whaddur you wurrin'? Whuzzat oonn ... yuurr ... fff ... fff ...'

She passed out. I popped the gas cylinder down and turned on the four minute countdown. As it ticked down, I popped on the MP3 player and turned it on. Then I sat and waited for the timer to ping.

You would not believe how hot this made me feel.

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