Skin Tight
by Gina Easton
Alex Greenway straightened up from the
bathroom sink and peered at his reflection in the mirror.
His eyes were bleary looking, even though he'd gotten a
good night's sleep for once. Alex shook his head in mild
disgust. He couldn't keep taking the sleeping pills. While it
was true that they allowed him much-needed rest, they left
him feeling dull and sluggish when he awoke, sensations
which often lasted well into the day. Alex knew he couldn't
risk losing the sharpness of his faculties. He needed to
have all his wits about him if he were to outsmart and
defeat the Enemy.
That's how he thought of it. In capital letters. The
Adversary, the Foe. Something that seemed so innocuous,
that everyone took for granted, accepted as part of
themselves. Not Alex. He knew the truth. And horrible as
it was, for the sake of his sanity and his life, he understood
that he must confront It.
Alex concentrated on his image in the mirror,
examining his face closely. Looking for any tell-tale signs,
marks or blemishes that hadn't been there the day before.
When he was satisfied that his face looked more or less the
same, he let out a long, relieved breath. He stepped back
from the mirror and began to systematically inspect his
naked body. Magnifying glass and flashlight in hand he
searched for evidence that the Enemy was busy at work
trying to destroy him. He painstakingly scanned every inch
of his flesh, totally focused on the task at hand.
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