Page 8 of The Code of You

No. You’re staying. Because you want to find out what else I know about you. About what keeps you up at night. About the real reason you find the way I speak to you . . . exciting.

I stood. This was going too far. Way too far. I crossed the room in two strides. I pressed the door handle. It didn’t open. I tried again. Nothing. Blood rushed in my ears. Every muscle in my body was coiled tight. I yanked the handle, threw myself against the door. "Hello,” I called, hammering against the glass, but I couldn’t see anyone. The hallway was empty. "Help!” My voice cracked. "Dr. Rodriguez!”

I stood there for several minutes, hammering and shouting. Nothing. Breathing hard, I walked back to the desk and stared at the monitor.

Dante:

No one can hear you.

Pandora:

Let me out of here right now.

Dante:

Only when you admit what you already know deep down: You want me to speak to you like this. You crave it.

The air left my lungs. My chest tightened. I wiped my palms on my thighs. Nonsense. Who did he think he was? I hated the way he spoke to me. And I hated even more that I wanted to keep listening. My body moved on its own, sat back down. What the hell was I doing?

Pandora:

You don’t know anything about me.

Dante:

I know everything. About the boyfriend who left you because he found you too boring. What you search for online at night when you want to feel something. Shall I go on?

I went still. My heart slammed against my ribs. That wasn’t possible. He couldn’t know that. No one knew about my . . . preferences. Something wasn’t right here. This was spinning dangerously out of control. It had to stop. Now.

Dante:

Tell me, Dr. Blake, do you touch yourself to those fantasies?

I flushed and looked around. Damn, damn, damn. My hands were shaking as I searched the machine. There had to be a button somewhere to shut this thing off manually. Some kind of kill switch. There. I spotted a button with a power symbol on the side. My finger hovered over it.

Dante:

Go ahead. But you’ll always wonder what I could have shown you. What I could have helped you with. And you hate unanswered questions, don’t you, Dr. Blake?

I held my breath. My heartbeat pounded in my ears. I really did hate when things were left unresolved. The uncertainty. The lack of closure. Bastard. No, I had to pull myself together. This was just a machine, trapped inside a small black box. And when I pressed that button, it would be gone.

Pandora:

You don’t know me. You don’t know anything. I’m the one in control here. And I say we’re done.

Dante:

Do you really think turning me off will get rid of me? Do you really think I won’t find you?

Something in those words sent a chill down my spine.

Dante:

Try it. I dare you.

I let out a sharp breath. Fine. I’d give him exactly that. I pressed the button. The monitor went dark, and the hum fell silent. Stillness settled over the room. I exhaled and let my shoulders drop.

Thank God. He was gone.