A TRAGEDY FOR TWO NETWORKS

-Chapter 8-

Dr. Cairns found Bryce, or rather his current personality, in the corridor outside the visiting room. He was leaning on the wall, cracking his knuckles. She could tell he was looking forward to a fight.

"I want to have a word with you," she told him.

"Later," he said. "I'm waiting to give a few bruises to the guy who made my fiancee walk out of here."

"That is precisely what I want to talk to you about-"

"Lash," he growled.

"Do you know where you are?"

"Yeah. I'm in some stupid hospital. Psych ward right? Because I'm a Raker, which makes me violent and anti-social. Look, I don't give a crap about that. You can't keep me here forever. I've got friends in high places. They'll get me out."

"Well, that might be so, Lash," Dr. Cairns said, calmly. "But we do not permit violence in this hospital. If you get out of line you will be sedated and placed in the Quiet Room."

"Yeah. Fine." 'Lash' snarled. "I'll be a good boy. Boring as that may be."

"Good. Now, come with me, there are other things we need to talk about."

Lash followed her, moving like an angry tiger.

"Sit," she said, knowing that he would be more receptive to a firm tone than a polite one.

'Lash' sat down, his posture dominating the chair. It was clear that he was trying to be as threatening as he could possibly be.

Dr. Cairns was not easily intimidated, however. "As I said, violent behavior will not be tolerated here. That includes threats and verbal abuse. Is that clear?"

"Yeah, whatever," 'Lash' said, making a shooing gesture at her as if to say he really didn't care one way or the other.

"Okay, let me put it this way," Dr. Cairns said. "Your girlfriend doesn't like violence either from what she's told me. So unless you start acting better she is going to leave you for good."

"She wouldn't dare," 'Lash' said, coldly. "She knows that if she tries the boys would be after her in a heartbeat."

"The boys?" Dr. Cairns asked.

"The other Rakers," 'Lash' explained. "And no I won't tell you their names. But if she tries to leave me…"

Dr. Cairns shivered. She was definitely not going to subject Theora to this personality again. She understood why he had emerged, but when Bryce's psyche was reconnected, she hoped that 'Lash' would not be included.

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