Free Seven-X by Mike Wech

to the cold, winter air. His second swipe gouged through my ribcage ripping into my heart and lung. Pulling back his massive claw he easily ripped my ribs open and my organs dangled in front of me as the leopard began eating. 
    His teeth would latch on to pieces of my muscle and he pulled hard at them until they separated from my body like tenderly cooked meat. I looked down to catch his eye and as he became aware of my glance, he pulled back so I could look deeply into him. His nose was dripping with my blood and his mouth was filled with my half chewed organs. 
    He gave me a moment to see my grizzled reflection in his eyes, then he sprung at me and sunk his teeth into my skull, slowly breaking it open in his mouth. 
    I couldn’t feel any pain and I had no emotion. I just quietly watched myself being devoured as if I was no longer in my body and I was no longer me. 
    And as I sat there motionless reflecting on my departure from this world, one of the guards brought me back home to what was now a dry and brittle cell. As he unlocked the cell door, I could see a smattering of light that accompanied the sun and the opened door revealed shades of color that brought feeling back to my body. He never said a word as we walked across the institution.
     The brightness of the daylight painfully blinded my eyes and it was hard to get a bearing on my location. My feet tried to memorize the patches of grass between the concrete and the back of my mind counted steps as my mouth tried to make small talk and get information to my whereabouts, but it was all to no avail. 
    Now I’m waiting outside the office for Haworth and Billings to clear me. I’m exhausted, but thankful for an electrical outlet, so I can recall this evening while it’s fresh in my mind. Knowing that each piece of this night has a purpose to my investigation. 
    Here they come, walking together down the hall. I want to punch them both in the head, but that would pretty much seal my fate here. I have to stay cool and play by the rules. I’m playing their game now, on their home court. I’ll let you know how it goes.

AUDIO LOG:                                                      
    FRIDAY DECEMBER 10, 2010 – 9:00 AM
     
    ENTERED BY MELODY SWANN.
     
    This is the second log in the first batch of recordings that Eddie sent me. Eddie is talking.
     
    “This Eddie Hansen with Doctor Alan Haworth and Reverend William Billings. It is Friday December 10 th at 9:00 am. I was forced to spend last night in a padded cell against my will and I just received my recorder back. Right? We are sitting in the assessment room where I am told I need to get clearance to return to my room and my personal possessions. Is this true, boys?”
    The doctor responded forcefully,  “Mr. Hansen, please note on your consent agreement and in all of our publications and contracts that it is the policy of this center to detain any violent offender overnight for observation.”
     “Isolation?” Eddie yelled. “In a black hole like a criminal.”
    “The seclusion rooms are for your protection,” the Doctor noted.
    “You are so full of shit!”
    The priest told him, “Eddie. We made specific mention of supernatural manifestations and instructed you for preparation, which you deemed unnecessary. You put yourself and others in danger by entering unauthorized.”
     “Sorry,” Eddie answered.
    “You need to follow our rules,” the Doctor instructed.
    “What I need is a hot shower and some sleep.”
    “You didn’t sleep well.” asked the priest.
    “With all that screaming and the drugs you slipped me,” Eddie added sharply.
    “You were not drugged, Mr. Hansen. There were no other patients in your ward.” 
    “You love fucking with me, don’t you, Doc?”
    “Refrain from that language and tone of voice with me. You realize that your voluntary admission status at this facility is subject to change at my discretion.”
    Eddie replied, “You know, I