chapter four

“Someone screamed.”, remarked Balddee while lighting a cigarette.

“Do you have to smoke in here?” Dirty Orpheus questioned, waving his hand in front of his face. “I don’t think Harmon would like it if you were. Did anybody let Todd in?”

“Let him smoke.” Harmon cut in, looking in the direction the scream had come from. “Balddee go check it out. Remo must’ve slipped or something.

Baldee drew another drag from his cigarette exhaling a jet stream dyed red in the emergency lights. “Sure.”

Balddee walked. The corridor was black except for a faint glow coming from the direction of the utility room. He dropped the cigarette down to the floor, crushing it with the sole of his boot then followed the light. He pulled out his lighter so he could see.

On the floor of the utility room laid Remo, electrical cords mixing with charred intestines spilling out of his stomach; a flattened wrist reached out for the cell phone. Balddee lit another cigarette and looked at the cell phone, which did not have service, before flipping it shut. “I guess we all have to pay our dues somehow.”

Balddee picked Remo up and brought him back towards the others. The body felt light until Balddee realized Remo’s legs were no longer attached. He went back into the utility room to collect them and then dragged them out by a loop in the jeans.

Screams came from the front of the office.

“What the fuck? Seriously, what the fuck?” Dr. Gonzo screeched, clawing at her face. “Balddee, Todd’s dead. His head was chopped off by the revolving door. He’s-” She screamed again, “What the fuck are you carrying?”

Mule and Harmon came toward Balddee carrying the body of Todd Dancer. “Is that Remo?” Mule asked.

Balddee looked down again at what he was carrying. “Yeah. Found him in the utility room.”

Mule dropped his half of Todd causing Harmon to fall into the bloody stump where Todd’s head had been.

“Put both of them in Remo’s office.” Balddee instructed after a silence.

“Balddee's right.” Harmon whispered, “The police will be here any moment now and,” he paused, looking around at the rest of the people in the office. “We’ll leave them in there and let them sort everything out. Come on Mule. I can’t do this on my own.”

Satchel or Bel screamed, then informed the group. “We can’t get out. The revolving doors aren’t moving. Some sort of emergency system must’ve kicked on and the door is sealed shut.”

Balddee lit another cigarette. “That’s just perfect.”