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Jekyll was looking extremely worried by this point. Perhaps that was due to the fact that I was curled up on the floor, moaning. "Excuse me, miss? Are you all right?"
I admit, I was severely tempted to say "Of course I'm not all right, you fucking cretin!" However, some semblence of social morality that hadn't been washed away in the flood of tequila came forward. I sat up and sighed. "Yes, yes, I'm just swell."
"Good. Then perhaps you could inform me as to how you came across my...assistant, Mr. Hyde? And how you arrived half-naked on the floor of my laboratory?"
"I am NOT half-naked, it's called a tube top, bub. And as to how I got here, I-" I started, then stopped. For the first time since my return to consciousness, the slightly intelligent part of my brain woke up and began functioning. Telling the truth, in this somewhat precarious situation, would be a big No-No. Really big. Gigantic. Jekyll here had not exactly taken the news that I was aware of the existance of Hyde very well. So, logically speaking, if I told him he was a fictional character in a play, I'd be having my dinner in a mental hospital. Then again, maybe I was the fictional one. Or maybe both he and I were real, but in some strange alternate dimension. Or maybe the tequila had damaged my brain. Oh, who knew what the hell was going on!
Jekyll cleared his throat. Ok, I was gonna hafta think of something, post haste.
Jackie, Jenn's beau, was constantly talking about Jekyll and Hyde. He'd gone over the plot a million times...there was an Emma-or was it Lisa?-who was Jekyll's girlfriend, and some whore named...uh...something or other, who Hyde screwed on a regular basis...she worked at...um...the Red Rat! Yes, that was it! Or was it the Dregs? Damn those writers for not making up their minds...
Oh well, I was gonna hafta bullshit my way through this, anyway.
"I, ah, ran into Hyde last night at the, um..." Eenie, meenie, miney, moe..."Red Rat." Seeing no reaction from Jekyll other than one of slight shock, I plunged forward with my *ahem* fabrication. "He bought me a drink...or twelve. I don't really remember anything other after that point." Whew! Ok, that sounded believeable.
Uh-oh. Henry didn't look pleased.
"Hyde was at the Red Rat?" Jekyll turned away from me, and I glanced longingly at the door. If I made a run for it, the Poole person would probably catch me. Damn. "I hope Lucy is okay..." he trailed off, sounding concerned. Ok, her name was Lucy! Another tidbit of information, in case I had to lie again...which I probably would. Luckily, Jekyll seemed to trust everything I said. Foolish guy. Ah, well, it wasn't MY fault. I had to lie to get out of this one. When I did escape, I was going to find Jenn and wring her sorry little neck. She probably spiked the drink with acid as a practical joke...
Jekyll turned back to me. "Do you work with Lucy?"
"WHAT?" I said, furious. "I am NOT a whore, you lousy son-of-a-"
"My sincerest apologies," he said. I raised my eyebrows. This was the first man I had ever heard say those words, and actually sound like he meant them. "You just said you were at the Red Rat, so I assumed-"
"You assumed wrong," I snapped.
"But you do know her?"
"Um...yes. Hyde mentioned her, I think."
"I see." Jekyll took on a slightly more evasive look. "Did he...say anything else?"
Ah-ha, I saw what he was fishing for. Better not disappoint him, huh? "Well, he mentioned he worked for you. He said you were exceptionally boring. He also said he liked my outfit. I don't remember anything else, sorry."
Jekyll nodded, already looking lost in thought.
I cleared my throat, and carefully said, "Um...so, would it be okay if I left now?" Please let him say yes, please let him say yes...
"Hmm? Oh, yes, of course." He gestured toward the door. "My man will see you out."
Trying to conceal my relief, I all but sprinted to the door. Just before I opened the door, however, Jekyll called to me, "Before you go, what is your name? Just in the event that I should need to find you again."
Oh, shit. There was no way in hell I was going to give him my real name...he'd burst out laughing, and then send me off to the sanitarium. No siree bob, that would not be acceptable. Let's see...something, uh, prim and proper, I supposed... "Anna...." What? I'd need a last name. Damn it all.....wait. "Collins. Anna Collins." Hopefully, no one from the cast of Rent was gonna show up...
"All right then, Miss Collins. It was a pleasure meeting you."
"Um, you too." I escaped into the hall and out the building before he decided he wanted my address, too.
So...now what?