The Dog Hole: Chapter 11 -- Maddox
Perhaps Bebe misjudged the 'weirdo'.
The Dog Hole
Chapter 11: Maddox
He still occupied the same spot in the movie room. What he was watching was still dated, but at least he'd upgraded to color.
"Oh. It's you again."
"Yes. It's me again, and you're a fucking liar."
"How do you mean?"
"I stopped by the computer lab on my way here and checked out your story. The longest anyone's ever gone without sleep is eleven days. There's no way you've been awake for fifteen."
He grabbed the sides of his head. "What does any of this mean, brain?" he groaned.
"It means I'm calling you out on your bullshit. You just wanted to cop a feel last night."
"Naked women? I get. Giant spiders? I get. But why the hell would I conjure up someone with no other purpose than to nag me?"
"Conjure?" "You don't think I'm real, do you?"
He sighed in annoyance. "All signs point to no. You popped in here out of no where last night. I probably saw your face seven years ago at some strip club or something, and as much as I'd like a sexy rabbit to bring me lunch, it has always and will always be Snibbly's job."
"I'm real."
"Sure you are."
"I'm the new cook."
"That sounds like something I'd make up on the fly."
"Don't you remember when I hit you last night?"
"I made love to an old fling three nights ago. Felt real to me, too."
"I brought food."
He dipped two fingers in the mound of hearty spaghetti sauce. "Tastes real. So did my old fling." Bebe's spine stiffened at the comment; a predicable yet honest reaction. He examined the persistent figment in front of him. "I have to admit, my imagination usually drops the charade by this point. You want to convince me that you're real? Tell me something I could never know or make up on my own." "I didn't think so. Either take off your top or get out."
"Wait." "Have you had Creme Brulee before?"
"Can't say I have."
"Then this will taste at least somewhat new to you, right?"
He eyed her suspiciously. "In theory."
"Well? Try some."
He did. Cracking the surface, he took a large scoop of the creamy contents. He gave his pallet a moment to take it all in. "That is new."
"See?"
He rose to his feet and wrapped his arms around her. He began to both laugh and cry into her neck as he spun her around. "You're really real!" She announced over her stunned screams. "I've been alone for so long! No one talks to me! Anyone who does turns out not to be real!"
"Woah, woah, hey," she offered sympathetically. "I'm not the only one who's real. There's a whole base of folks. Snibbly comes by, too, remember?"
He had a palm on either side of her face as he memorized each pore. "He never says anything. He just drops food off at the door. Sometimes it disappears. Sometimes it doesn't."
"So leave. Chase after him. I don't know. This room is making you crazy."
"This room is the only thing keeping me safe." His face turned frightened. "The dark hallways...hide things. I know they aren't real, but..."
"It's not dark now. The lights are on." "Stay right here, and I'll go and get someone."
"No!" He snatched her wrist back. "If you leave, I won't know if it's the real you coming back or just my mind playing tricks on me. You have to stay. You're my only grip on reality."
"I want to help you, but I can't stay here. I still have duties, and you need a doctor...and a shower if I'm totally honest."
"Don't leave. Please, don't leave," he begged, refusing to let her go.
Bebe couldn't bring herself to fight him off of her. He really did seem terrified and alone. "What was your name again?"
He exhaled. "Maddox."
"Okay, Maddox. Listen to me very carefully. I can't stay," she could see him start to panic, "but what I can do is whatever it takes to get you to go to sleep...and also bathe. That is what you need more than anything. So, if any version of myself comes back here and tries to get you to do anything other than one of those two things, she isn't real."
"What if I never see you again? What if you round that corner and are gone forever? There are so many others I haven't seen in such a long time. I let them go when I shouldn't have."
"How about this. Every day, I'll bring you a dessert. If it tastes uniquely delicious, you'll know it's me. Okay?"
"Okay." He appeared calm again as his grip was loosening on her. "What's your name?"
"Bebe."
"Bebe. Bebe," he said again drying his eyes. "Sorry about telling you to take your top off."