EXTRACT FOR
Flicking the Bean
(Kelly Addams)

Experimental conditioning? She asked herself.

Ashley hesitated for a second then reached out and slowly pushed the door open a fraction. Peeping inside the darkened room her eyes were instantly drawn to a series of flat screen televisions mounted on the far wall, with plastic seats arranged in several rows facing the displays.

Each television was switched on but showed only fuzzy grey. It's like the static when you can't find a channel she thought, it sounded the same too. So I guess the signal must be lost she added.

She was just about to turn away when a thought suddenly popped into her head, the power was off... so how could the televisions still be on?

There must be a back-up generator she decided, then questioned why it wasn't controlling the door locks too? It was only a small thing but it didn't seem to make any sense, why keep the televisions switched on yet leave the door locks disabled until someone physically went down to the basement and reset the breaker?

This place just doesn't add up she thought, then looked away from the flickering screens as a wave of irritability washed over her. Usually an easy going and even tempered girl the sudden shift of emotions was a puzzle. It was almost as though the screens had made her feel angry!

Get to the basement and reset the doors she told herself firmly as she dragged her eyes from the crackling displays.

Back in the corridor she closed her eyes and shook her head in an attempt to free her mind of the growing ire. "That isn't natural." she whispered, then looked again at the plaque on the door... "Experimental Conditioning."

Is that what's happening in there she questioned, is there some kind of connection between the screens and my irrational feelings of anger? That idea made even less sense, why make the inmates angry, surely the institute should be trying to condition the anger out of them, not enhance it.

Even if there wasn't a dead guy in the reception I'm sure there is a big story in this place. Ashley froze just as the thought was pushed from her mind by the sound of heavy footsteps.

Someone is coming. Suddenly her palms were sweaty and her mouth dry, it could be a member of staff she told herself a little too hopefully. But what if it's the killer?

Just seconds remained before she would be exposed, the footsteps were rapid now, like someone was jogging. Panicking, Ashley ducked back into the television room and closed the door behind her. Static crackled and the flickering light threw dancing shadows on the walls but Ashley didn't notice, she was too busy concentrating on the door as she backed away.

Maybe they will keep going she thought, praying that the door wouldn't open. Her fear of the insane had reached a new high, now they weren't just disturbing and dangerous, they were decidedly homicidal.

"I have to find a place to hide." she whispered as the sound of footsteps rose above the hissing static that filled the room. A blurred shadow passed across the frosted glass panels, then paused. Ashley held her breath and continued to shuffle backwards, the shadow grew and instinctively she knew that the person in the corridor was moving closer to the door.

Hide she screamed inside, then spun around to run further into the room before screaming again, aloud this time, as strong hands grasped her.