American Monsters (11 page)

At the same time Uteri and Wake drop their ecstasy, Barren, Saline and Dioxin take their E in one of the trance areas outside, while dancing to DJ Rogue. From Jade and Sandalwood’s dance area Console drops an acid geltab, Trip begins to eat her magic mushrooms carefully listening to their instructions, and Skreem swallows a pill of E. Gaze is still looking for Slash, and she’s getting closer. Chamelia, Lily, NRG, Secrete, and the Firebirds are exploring the house in teams. Slash has already murdered a woman dressed like a sexy nurse in the bathroom; the camera cuts to him cleaning himself up. The Vikings are on the prowl.

Ichor stares at Uteri. She’s bleeding, he can smell it. It makes him hungry and oddly aroused. Her scent is particularly potent, spicy almost. Dentata and Wake decide to go dance outside: Wake loves DJ Rogue. She actually thinks he is much cuter than he is a good DJ, but whatever, who cares when you’re rolling? Ichor and Uteri decide to explore the house a bit. The four decide to meet back at the foyer at 11:00.

The camera pulls back and out one of the archways in the foyer. It careens over the revelers and stops once it arrives at the Firebirds, Galactic Canary, Cherry Thrush, and Cerulean Amazon. They are walking around the labyrinthine mansion.

Cherry Thrush:

This place has the craziest doors.

Galactic Canary:

But remember what the flier said though?

Cerulean Amazon:

Yeah about curiosity and the cat. Pretty cheesy for a warning you know. I don’t think it's serious.

Galactic Canary:

We should just be careful, ‘kay?

They walk past a door that looks like the entrance to a spaceship. Another door has a huge penis embedded in the heavy wood. Another looks like a cave opening, then there's one that looks sort of like a garage door and even has a little kitty door installed. There seems to be a titanium cage-like opening, and even a door that has talking door-knockers. Some of the doors have different colored smears on them, or are of distinct woods. One of the doors made Galactic Canary’s hand break out into pus-filled welts. She smoked some weed so the swelling went down, but it was pretty weird. Some kind of poisonwood? There are so many doors, but they haven’t tried to open a single one. Yet.

Cherry Thrush:

Ooh, what about that red wood one right there? You remember that movie, the Red Violin, how he used his wife’s blood to paint the violin? This totally looks like it could be blood... it’s got the right color. This is totally our door. Let’s go in.

Galactic Canary:

Who’s going to open it?

Cherry Thrush:

I will, it was my idea.

Cerulean Amazon:

Let’s all three of us do it. Share the responsibility of an open door.

They put their hands on the knob and pull. The door opens easily and reveals another portal, down by their feet. It is about three feet tall and two feet wide, and seems to be dripping.

Galactic Canary:

Holy shit! It’s a portal! It’s like in Being John Malkovich! I love him so much. Do you think this might be his portal?

Cherry Thrush:

No, they already made that movie.

Galactic Canary gets down on her hands and knees and starts to go in.

Galactic Canary:

Are you scaredy-cats coming?

Cherry Thrush:

Oh, right, who again was afraid to open the door?

Galactic Canary:

You can argue with yourself if you want, I’m going in.

Galactic Canary turns and the portal sucks her in. The other two quickly follow. The red door closes behind them.

The camera floats from the portal over to Uteri, who is already beginning to roll on her ecstasy. She was so excited about coming to the rave that it slipped her mind to eat so the drug absorbed into her system straight away. She is still with Ichor, and they are wandering around the house.

Ichor:

I wonder if there is a library. Mansions like this have the most spectacular libraries.

Uteri:

How do you know?

Ichor:

Oh, you know, been around a while, seen lots of mansions.

Uteri:

I wish there was a map or something.

Ichor:

What fun would exploring be then?

They walk and Uteri takes his hand.

Uteri:

I don’t mean anything by this. I’m just beginning to roll and I wanted to hold someone’s hand and usually I would hold one of my friend’s hands but they aren’t here. Anyway. Shit. I’m fucked up, already.

Ichor’s smile is fatherly, protective of his bleeding lamb. They walk by a lollipop and glowstick stand and Uteri gets herself a sucker.

Uteri:

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm. This is so good.

Ichor and Uteri turn around a corner and walk a bit further. Up to the right of the corridor there seems to be another path. When they get to it they discover a little waterway with stone books for stepping stones.

Ichor:

Yes, the library. See, I told you it would be something spectacular. Careful, don’t fall.

Uteri, giggling:

This is so beautiful. Wheeeee.

Uteri skips across the rocks and opens the library door. There is a speaker in there too, and the music is blasting. A few books have fallen off the shelves from the vibrations. There are huge plush chairs, a fireplace and books that span two levels.

Ichor:

Incredible! I wonder if there is anything to drink in here.

He begins opening cabinets until he finds a brandy cupboard with a fridge built into the bottom.

Ichor:

Oh look, fully stocked. How about some juice for you and a scotch for me.

Uteri, rolling around on the floor on the plush carpet:

Juice would be soooo good right now.

Ichor gets the drinks and sits by her on the floor. Uteri’s eyes are closed as she nods her head to the music. He leans over and kisses her, his fangs swelling from hunger. She responds well to it, good thing for the E, Ichor thinks. He climbs on top of her and kisses her harder. He begins to move downward.

Uteri:

No, don’t, I’m on my period.

Ichor:

I don’t want to have sex with you, I’m just going to go down on you. Do you want me to stop?

Uteri:

But I’m on my period.

Ichor:

I don’t mind, do you?

Uteri:

I’ve just never had anyone do this while... you know. You really don’t mind?

Ichor:

No, I like it. Anytime you want me to stop just say so.

He resumes.

The Firebirds are pulled through the portal. At some point they are separated by merging tunnels and continue their slimy descent through the door. There is light up ahead, possibly the end of the tunnel... They pop out of Uteri one after the other as an astonished Ichor looks on.

Ichor:

What the fuck is this shit?

Uteri, dazed with pleasure and startled out of her reverie:

What?

Ichor:

Some shit just popped out of you. What the fuck are you?

Firebirds:

We aren’t shit, asshole.

They look at each other and their Thumbelina size.

Firebirds:

What the fuck?

Ichor:

This is some sick shit. You dirty bitch. What are you?!

Enraged, Ichor goes to attack Uteri, fangs bared. He lunges just as the Firebirds take hands and project fireballs onto him. His skin begins to sizzle. He screams in pain and turns as the Firebirds slowly regain normal size. They stand their ground, take hands and hurl another set of fireballs, this time at his face. He lurches at them. They separate, and he runs flaming across the room. Uteri concentrates on her hormones and in a few seconds, he is knocked out cold. They pat out the flames and leave him in there to wake up and find his own way out.

Uteri, stepping over him:

Fucking freak.

The camera follows the three Firebirds and Uteri back over the stone-book creek. The Firebirds “ooh” and “ahh” over the path. They all introduce themselves and thank each other for the help. As they are turning the corner out of the creek, Habanilla, the spicy-skinned car-jacker, puts her hands out for them to stop. She walks up to Galactic Canary and puts her palms on either side of her head.

Habanilla:

Give me your wallets or I’m going to blow her head off.

Cherry Thrush and Cerulean Amazon look at each other, take hands and fire a flame missile at Habanilla’s head. She drops to the ground. Uteri and The Firebirds take hands and walk out.

The camera moves to Barren who had just gone to the bathroom, and now can’t find Saline and Dioxin back outside where she had left them. Her E is hitting her hard, and she is having a difficult time keeping up with the now-overwhelming pace of the party. As Barren walks through the foyer she sees the red leather couches, and decides to sit down for a while.

Barren, voice over:

Where the hell are they?

She closes her eyes and sinks further back into the plush couch.

Barren:

Ooh, this is so comfy.

Barren lies back and fishes in her pocket for the lollipop Saline had given her earlier. The music vibrates through the couch and her body. She has never felt so wonderful and so safe. It feels as if nothing in the world could harm her. She feels a thud on the couch next to her. Barren opens her eyes.

Viking # 1/Dirk:

Hi there. How are you feeling tonight? Are you rolling?

Barren:

Mmmhhhhhmmmm.

Viking #1/Dirk:

I have the perfect thing for you...do you like Vicks?

Barren:

Huh?

Viking #1/Dirk:

Here, just sit up for a second. You’ll love it.

He takes out a Vicks inhaler and begins blowing through it over Barren’s eyes and nose, and then through her mouth. She feels the mentholated air enter every pore of her body, clearing away all cares and problems.

Barren:

Oh that feels sooo good.

Viking #1/Dirk:

It’s the menthol. Do you smoke?

Barren:

Umhmmmm.

Viking #1/Dirk:

Here try a Newport, it’ll feel so good in your lungs.

Viking #1/Dirk takes out his pack and lights cigarettes for both of them, since Barren would be incapable of managing hers on her own.

Barren:

This is so cool. I feel all tingly inside, like it’s in my fingers and my hair. I just love this. So much fun. Thank you so much, you are so nice.

Barren takes another deep puff on the menthol.

Viking #1/Dirk:

Is this your first time on E?

Barren:

Yeah it’s so great. But I can’t find my friends.

Viking #1/Dirk:

It’s okay, I’ll take care of you.

Viking #1/Dirk begins giving Barren a backrub. She is in ecstasy. She has forgotten she was ever with people other than him.

Viking #1/Dirk:

Do you want some more E? It’ll be a present...

Barren:

Really? You are so nice! Wow.

Viking #1/Dirk:

Here’s some water, just drink up.

Barren:

Aren’t you going to take one?

Viking #1/Dirk:

No, I’m cool. I’ve had my share for tonight.

Barren:

How many did you take?

Viking #1/Dirk:

Here, let me rub your back again. Would you like that?

Barren:

Mmmhmmmmm ― that feels so good. Where did you learn to do that?

He begins
rubbing her body and making it shake with his hands. In Barren’s euphoric state, this minor amount of touching has kicked her E back in hard core. Plus, her stomach is beginning to digest the second pill. She starts to feel a bit nauseous. It’s all getting to be too much. Saline and Dioxin! Where are they? Barren decides she needs to find them. Right now. She pries his hands off her body.

Barren:

It was nice meeting you, but I have to go find my friends now.

Viking #1/Dirk:

Where do you think you are going? We have to discuss payment for that pill you just popped.

Barren, with childlike disappointment:

But you said it was a present.

Viking #1/Dirk:

But you have to do something for me first.

Barren, cautiously:

What?

Viking #1/Dirk:

Go down on me.

Barren:

What?

Viking #1/Dirk:

You heard me.

Barren:

Here?!

Viking #1/Dirk:

Go ahead, whip it out.

Barren is about to cry. What just happened? He seemed so nice. But she did eat the pill, and she is totally fucked up out of her mind and now he wants her to go down on him? Barren considers her options. She could just run, maybe? But he could find her and then maybe he would do something worse than this right here. Just get it over with and don’t look back. Barren unzips his pants and begins the job. She is getting more and more upset and takes her head up to stop. Viking #1/Dirk grabs her head and pushes it back down.

The camera x-rays into Barren’s stomach. The acid is churning. The remnants of her E glow a luminous blue, and black sludge is beginning to creep its way up her esophagus. Barren tries to get up again, and the second time Viking #1/Dirk pushes her head down, she vomits all over his lap. The acid immediately begins eating through his lap. The expression on his face that began with disgust turns into fear and then ultimate panic as he screams, feeling the acid burn into his crotch.

Barren, slapping his face:

Fuck you. Don’t you ever disrespect anyone like that again. [slap] Fucking pig. Don’t you EVER!

Barren leaves him mewling on the couch. She goes back to the bathroom to rinse out her mouth. She decides to just go back outside and find some people to sit with until she finds Dioxin and Saline. That’s probably the best thing. Stay in one place and eventually they will walk by. Barren walks outside and sees a group of women, three of whom are dressed as Powerpuff girls. Perfect, Barren thinks, and heads over to make conversation.