Chương 14: This Tastes Like Purple

"Come on, this way," Mordak said, coaxing Elios forward.

"Sir, I hope you don't mind me saying this, but… But your skin… it's amazing," he said, leaning closer to Mordak's face.

"I never noticed how smooth it is." He sighed.

"Or how wonderfully orange it is, especially in this light."

"Thanks," Mordak muttered, barely glancing at him. Elios made his way closer, his face now merely inches from Mordak's cheek.

"Get away, you buffoon," Mordak said, pushing Elios away.

"If I didn't know you were overmedicated, I'd fire you, right here, right now. Fired. No ifs, ands, buts, or coconuts, out the door. You get that? Fired. F-I-R-R-E-D: fired!" Elios stopped and looked up at him, confused. His lips silently began moving as he counted letters on his fingers.

"Sir, I mean no disrespect, I mean I could never disrespect someone as awesome as you are, but I think maybe, just maybe you have one too many R's in there. I think it's actually F-I-R-E-D. I mean, I could be wrong, but I don't think so." Mordak turned to Elios, his face darkening into a vivid shade of red.

"Your face is so pretty when it changes colors like that," Elios said, leaning in.

"I love that shade. It's like a big juicy tomato. So robust! Is that where they got the idea for Rogue Rouge?"

"Can you make it any other pretty colors or just the red?" Elios asked, his eyes widening with wonder.

"I'm going to make yours blue, black and blue if you don't shut up," Mordak replied, his teeth grinding.

"Got it? Zip it!" Mordak barked, grabbing Elios' arm and tugging him toward the door of the Medical Wing.

"Where are we going, boss? You know I have important stuffs to do back in the lab," Elios said, doing his best to pull away from Mordak's grip.

"Well, the only important stuffs you have to worry about right now is meeting with Dr. Wentworth."

"But boss, I don't wanna." Elios leaned in closer.

"He's mean," he whispered sloppily into Mordak's ear. Mordak pulled away, wiping the side of his head.

"He's just a meanie weanie and I don't wanna go!" Elios declared, stomping his foot then folding his arms and refusing to budge. Feeling the resistance, Mordak turned to Elios with a glare sharp enough to peel paint. He stood wordless for several moments, his skin darkening from its usual orange to a bruised, pulsing maroon that made Elios wonder if the man's head might actually pop off.

"Elios, I don't give a rat's ass what you want!" He stepped closer.

"Do you hear me? Not a single rat's ass," he hissed.

"You are going. Not later. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But now. Now let's go!" he commanded, reaching out and grabbing Elios hard by the arm. The corridor they entered was sterile and brightly lit, with polished floors that reflected the overhead fluorescents in long, unbroken lines. The walls were lined with closed doors, each labeled with a small metal plaque, and the faint scent of antiseptic hung in the air.

"Ouchie!" Elios cried.

"You don't have to be so rough! Geez, I'm coming already!" Mordak flung open the door marked Research and Development open and pulled Elios into the reception area. The room was sparsely decorated, but functional. A small desk and workstation were set up neatly against the back wall. A sign on the front of the desk told visitors to kindly take a seat and someone would be with them shortly. Elios looked around the room with wonder. He glanced at the numerous accolades Dr. Wentworth had received over his career.

Elios jerked toward a potted plant, staring at it as if it had just whispered his name.

"I'll be there in a minute," Elios whispered, looking directly at the plant, struggling to pull away from Mordak. He turned toward Mordak.

"'Scuse me, sir, but I have a meeting over there." He pointed wildly in the direction of the plant. Mordak dragged Elios to the empty reception desk and scanned the room, the muscles in his jaw bulging with enough tension to snap a tooth. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

"Can someone turn the sun down, please?" Elios asked, holding a hand up to shield his eyes.

"Too bright," he muttered, looking directly at the overhead lights, shaking his head while placing an arm over his face. Mordak released Elios' arm before slamming his fist on the desk.

"Doesn't anyone actually work around here?" Mordak huffed, eyes darting around the room.

"What do I pay people for if they are not where I need them to be? They should be at their desks working!"

"WENTWORTH!" he demanded loudly.

"Geez, boss, what are you shouting for?" Elios said, covering his ears.

"WENTWORTH, WHERE ARE YOU?" he screamed, his frustration reaching a fever pitch. Elios had wandered closer to the door, clearly plotting his great escape. Out of the corner of his eye, Mordak caught Elios slowly inching toward the door. His jaw began to tighten while the veins in his temple began to protrude.

"I swear to God, Tusk, you step one foot outside that door, you won't have to worry about Wentworth being mean."

"You haven't seen mean until you see how mean I am going to be when I rip your arm off and beat you with it. Then you will know what mean truly is… You will see mean… Feel mean!" Elios stopped mid-step and turned around.

"I wasn't going nowheres, just lookin' around, no need to go all…"

"Mr. Blackwood, did you need something?" a young female asked, as she came out of the lab.

"First, why was this desk empty? This desk should not be empty. You are on the clock, aren't you? You should be here, in case, well, in case someone important, you know important like me, needs something." The young woman shrank back, her shoulders hunching as she cowered under Mordak's shadow.

"I'm sorry, sir, Dr. Wentworth needed my assistance in the lab."

"Well, I needed your assistance out here! Does he sign your paycheck?" He paused, waiting for an answer. The young woman opened her mouth to reply but Mordak cut her off.

"No, no he doesn't. I do, and you should be here when I need you. Now go get him, get him now. Not five minutes from now, but right this very instant."

"Sir, I'm sorry, but Dr. Wentworth is in the middle of a crucial phase of testing and can't leave the lab. Can I maybe assist you?"

"You, you're a woman, what do you think you are going to be able to…" he paused, catching Elios trying to stealthily make his way out the door.

"TUSK! FREEZE!" Elios froze mid-step then suddenly turned his attention to the potted plant next to him. He started petting the large leaf, explaining to the greenery that its shoes were untied.

"But if you leave them like that you will fall. Here let me get it for you," he said, bending over and picking up a leaf that had fallen to the floor.

"Trula, can you come out here for a moment?" Daisy called out, her voice echoing through the small grey box on the desk. Mordak turned back to the receptionist.

"As I was saying, you are a woman, I need a man, only a man can do what I need done…" Elios stood staring at the plant, then suddenly something only he could see, caught his attention. He stood by the large window overlooking the hall, whispering to himself. A young man walked through the lab door into the reception area. He was slender, with a kind, open face and messy sandy hair that looked like he had been running his fingers through it in thought.

He wore a lab coat that was slightly too large, making him look more like a student than a technician.

"Yes, Daisy, what did you need?" Trula asked pleasantly, his voice a calm breeze compared to Mordak's thunder... Daisy motioned to Mordak.

"Oh! Sir! I am so sorry. I did not see you there. How may I be of assistance?" Trula asked, a flush of maroon creeping up his neck and into his cheeks.

"Whatever," Mordak snapped, not even looking at the young man as he pointed at Elios, who was currently arguing with the window about the weather and whether or not he would need a jacket later.

"Fix it." He spun on his heel and stormed out. Trula looked over at Elios, who was currently pressed against the glass, his tongue leaving a long, wet, fogged-up streak on the pane.

"It's very smooth," Elios whispered to the glass, oblivious to the room.

"Like a cold lollipop. Why are you hiding the wind, Mr. Window? Let it out to play."

"Hey there, buddy," Trula said, his voice soft and non-threatening as he slowly approached.

"My name is Trula, and we are gonna get you fixed up in no time." Elios pulled away from the window, hiccupped loudly, then placed a hand over his mouth.

"'Scuse me." He smiled.

"Hey, did you know, your windows taste like purple?"

"You don't say." Trula smiled, reaching out slowly for Elios, his motions deliberate and controlled as if he were approaching a cornered animal.

"Do you think you can come with me to the back?"

"I don't know, it depends on who's back there. If the meanie is back there, I don't wanna go. You're not a meanie, are you?" Elios asked hesitantly, his eyes filling with unshed tears.

"No, I'm your friend, remember, I'm Trula."

"Trula!" he exclaimed, a smile widening on his face.

"I remembers you, you are my friend Trula! You're the nice one; you don't yell or give me owies."

"That's right, it's your old friend Trula." He smiled.

"Now how about we go in the back and get you all better?"

"Okay, Trula my friend," Elios said, wrapping an arm around his neck.

"First, you better give me a hug. I haven't seen you in so long that I forgot you." Trula wrapped an arm around Elios and patted him on the back.

"Come on, you," he said, leading him to the door. He turned to Daisy and sighed.

"This is what happens when we use employees as test subjects for medications." Daisy shared a look with Trula, but Elios found the way the light glinted off her metal stapler much more interesting than their quiet faces.

"I'm sorry," Elios said, trying to get to the stapler.

"Yes, I know you're pretty, but I have to go with my friend. Maybe later we can grab a coffee or something." Elios turned back to Trula.

"Do you have her number?"

"You're preaching to the choir, Trula," she said, her voice dropping an octave.

"I hope Wentworth figures it out soon... We had one guy who thought he was a baboon yesterday, and then the day before that someone came into the office and jumped on the desk because he thought he was a cat," she sighed.

"I guess I should be thankful he didn't start digging up the carpet thinking it was the litter box." Trula shook his head disgustedly.

"This guy," he paused, motioning to an unstable Elios.

"Well, I'm guessing that he is just the beginning of a long line that is sure to follow then." He shifted position so he could help the stumbling Elios remain steady on his feet, walking into the lab.