“Science has taken care of that, Mr. Pitt. Female conception without the need for men is already a scientific reality. It won’t be long before it’s a widespread practice.”
“I think there are many people who would disagree with your view of the world.” The pistol dug into his neck once more, and Rachel leaned close to Pitt’s ear. “Don’t speak to Mrs. McKee in that tone.”
“Your day is over, McKee.”
McKee nodded at Rachel, and the big woman shoved Pitt toward an empty massage table next to Loren. As Pitt staggered forward, Rachel plucked the flintlock pistol from his back. “Mustn’t be stealing the household goods either,” she said. Loosely aiming her pistol at Pitt, Rachel stepped to the tray table and set down the flintlock.
The instant her fingers released it, Pitt spun around, knocking her arm to the side. Before she could react, Pitt threw a left uppercut that landed clean on Rachel’s jaw.
Her head snapped back and her knees buckled as she weakly raised her free arm in defense.
Pitt ignored a rustle behind him and knocked her arm aside. He reached to pry the pistol from her other hand—and felt a prick on his back, followed by a nerve-shattering jolt of electricity.
From behind, Irene had thrust a stun gun against Pitt, sending a brief surge of ten million volts into his body. The shock sent muscle spasms through his limbs and intense pain through his entire body. He let go of Rachel and struggled to stay on his feet as Irene pulled the device out and prepared for a second strike.
Rachel recovered enough to step forward and shove him against the massage table. Pitt fell backward onto it as he tried to regain his senses. Irene and Rachel rushed forward and strapped down his arms and legs before he had the chance. Then Rachel slapped him hard across the face.
McKee smiled. “Your insensitive behavior has gone too far, Mr. Pitt. But we still have high hopes for your wife.”
Pitt said nothing as the feeling slowly returned to his limbs. He gazed at Loren and cursed himself for getting subdued.
McKee’s cell phone rang, and she stepped to a corner to take the call. Her face turned ashen as she listened silently, then hung up. She approached Pitt, eyeing him with hostility. “What happened to Audrey?” Her voice teetered just above a whisper.
“I believe she went for a swim with Nessie.”
McKee stared at him. She began to shake, and her cool sheen of invincibility vanished. Her eyes turned crazed, and she turned away from Pitt. Lurching over to Irene, she whispered in her ear, then motioned for Rachel, who came to her side. They left the room together, the large woman supporting the trembling McKee.
Irene stepped between Pitt and Loren. She selected a vial marked LSZ, a synthetic hallucinogen based on LSD, and filled a syringe. She turned and rolled up Loren’s sleeve and injected it into her arm.
“Leave her be!” Pitt struggled against the restraints as the numbness finally left his extremities.
“She belongs to us now.” Irene pulled a cell phone from her pocket and activated the camera. “Help her out with a big smile now,” she said, and snapped a photo of Pitt’s face.
She returned to the computer workstation and clicked away for several minutes. Pitt continued to fight the restraints, but to no avail. He glanced at Loren and seethed with anger.
She had been lying still since Pitt had entered the room, yet occasional body movements suggested she was partially conscious. Now her movements began to grow more frequent and more pained. As she twisted and tugged at her restraints, Irene stepped over, gazed at Loren’s struggles, and smiled.
“The mind is an amazing vehicle,” she said to Pitt. “With the aid of some mental enhancements”—she tapped the tray of syringes—“the virtual world can become very real.”
Loren struggled some more, then let out a sharp cry. Her head tossed from side to side as if an invisible hand was slapping her across the face.
“Make it stop,” Pitt said.
Irene gave a depraved grin. “It’s not me that’s harming her, it’s you. Her reality is that she’s being assaulted by you.”
Pitt ground his teeth and strained against his bonds as Loren screamed. She kicked and twisted against her restraints, trying to pull herself away. Then she tossed her head back and began to whimper. Tears seeped beneath her headset and ran down her cheeks.