"MIND TRAP" Part 4 Second Draft

OK folks, here is the second draft of "Mind Trap" Part 4.

"MIND TRAP": Part Four

SECOND DRAFT

Ben rushed forward and intervened to help the young man in the chair:
"Hey are you ok? *To Katie* Phone for assistance Katie. This guy needs treatment for the burns on his arm. "
However before Ben could do any more he felt a hand on his shoulder. He spun round to see Max Eastman:
"Hey Eastman, what the hell is going on here. Why were they torturing that guy?" Ben shouted. Eastman smiled:
"Oh come now, hardly torture. Chris there is a volunteer. He feels no pain at all due to my advanced hypnosis technique" he replied. Ben was bemused:
"Rubbish Eastman, I distinctly heard him screaming. Why were we locked in our room?" he demanded. Eastman was staring at Katie. He stroked her hair:
"*To Katie* What an extraordinarily beautiful woman you are. I'm sure that you can reassure Ben here that I would never harm any of my volunteers. I regard them almost as my own family. This centre is a retreat, an oasis of peace and harmony in which people can seek the space to rediscover themselves."
Katie stared at Eastman:
"Much as I appretiate you leching over me, I am more concerned for the welfare of your volunteer. I am phoning an ambulance" she feistily stated.
Eastman snatched her phone, threw it on the floor and stamped on it:
"I've always wanted to do that . Especially to inattentive staff. However I do hope that you forgive me. You have the most gorgeous hair."
Katie is furious:
"Hey, you bastard, that iphone cost the best part of a grand. That guy needs medical assistance. *To Ben*Ben I hope that you are taking note of the fact that Eastman has noticed me. It is my hair that he is praising, not yours. Obviously he is a complete ¤¤¤¤e however at least he is paying me some attention." Ben frowns:
"This is not the time or place for your self-indulgent complaining Katie. " Kyle meanwhile had gone up to Chris:
"Ere mate, you OK?" Chris simply stared into space. Eastman rushed up to him:
"Please don't intervene in this experiment. It is at a very delicate stage and the volunteer could be harmed if you don't come away."
Kyle and Ben glared at him:
"I demand that you provide medical assistance for Chris immediately" Ben shouted, his firm chin held high. Eastman pulled out a gun from his pocket:
"I do so dislike having to brandish this symbol of aggression. However you must return to your room.
Reluctantly Ben and Kyle agreed to leave and Eastman led them all back downstairs.

As they arrived back downstairs they saw Joe Peters had arrived and was being led inside. Ben went up to him:
"I completely forgot about you. I was more concerned about poor Chris, a young man being tortured here. I didn't give you a second thought." Ben stated before letting Eastman lead them back to the chill out room. Arriving into the room they saw two girls laying out a salad spread with several bottles of white wine:
"Please accept some refreshments as a form of apology. I promise that the door will stay open and you are free to walk about the centre and visit the gym and the television room" , Eastman stated. As he left he slid his hand down Katie's back:
"And you my dear can visit my own rooms if you wish." Kyle grimaced:
"Ere what a creepy old lech. You ok Katie?"
"Of course I'm ok. For your information Kyle, Mr Eastman is clearly someone with excellent taste in women." Joe approached her:
"He's not the only one."Katie smiled and stroked his leg. Ben was bemused:
"Oh for pity's sake. Come on Kyle, lets explore this establishment. That wine looks cheap, the salad clearly isn't fresh, and Katie is on heat. In other words, a trilogy of horrors. However the main reason that I wish to continue this investigation is that I care. I do not like young people being tortured."

Ben and Kyle went out into the lobby and saw a glamorous girl flouncing in the door, being remonstrated with by two of Eastman's female volunteers:
"You cannot come in here. You are not the right type", one of the girls stated. The glamorous girl , who was wearing a tight, short leather skirt pushed her aside:
"Shut your mouth you plain little thing. I am Portia Devine, the glamour model" she shouted. Eastman approached:
"What is going on here? Who are you?" Portia smiled at him and gave him her best pout:
"Darling, I am astounded that you don't recognise me. *Sidles up to Eastman* I am Portia Devine. I understand that you can help people with..... with certain issues. If you help me darling, (*flashes eyes*)I can make it worth your while."
Eastman smiled at her and blushed:
"Ehhm oh I see. Welcome Portia to our centre of peace and healing. But I don't see how I can help you. You are stunningly attractive and not at all an ugly fat munter from Newcastle or something. You don't need to lose any weight"
"Thank you Mr Eastman. That comment will be well rewarded tonight if you wish. However I just have this small matter that I need help with. You see I'm rather partial to the odd drink and perhaps you could help me in overcoming this minor intrusion into my modelling career," Portia replied, pouting.
"Oh I see. You're a booze, addled alcoholic model who has been sent here by her agent as a cheap alternative to the Priory. Of course I will help you. You look stunning and I have no desire to see you end up as a dring sodden lush lying in a pool of her own piss. Here we can cure all addictions in a week, especially drink and drugs".
Kyle turned to Ben:
"Ere Ben, I know her. She's not a model, she's Sandra Harrison a friend of mine from back in the day. I 'elped 'er sort herself out years back but then we kind of lost touch. Rumour was she joined the old bill an' I was like really shocked as were all me mates." Ben frowned:
"What the hell are the police doing sending an undercover officer in. This is an Operation Delta investigation. They will complicate things. We must get her on her own later and warn her off" Ben stated.
"Eastman's makin' some big claims there. What say you we try an' talk to some of his volunteers" Kyle suggested. Ben frowned:
" He won't let us get near them. You can bet that the gym and tv room will be either deserted or populated by flunkeys. And he'll have made sure we don't get access to elsewhere."
"Yeah but I've got a plan Ben......"

Kyle and Ben headed back to the chill out room. Katie and Joe were canoodling on the sofa, enjoying a bottle of wine and a mixed leaf salad. Kyle went up to the window, which was locked, took out his penknife and picked the lock in seconds.
"Look Ben, we need to escape out the window like an' then find a way into other parts of this place". Ben sighed:
"Anything is preferable to watching those two pawing each other. "
Outside they walked around the grounds. Ben started to open up emotionally to Kyle:
"You know I really feel that I've been on an emotional journey with this divorce from Emma. I really trusted her and thought that our arrangement was what she wanted. But it wasn't. What she asked of me at the end of the day, well Caligula would have blushed. When I tried to reason with her, she just said that I had been in the house too long. I naturally fled. But I've learned from the experience thats for sure. I'm not entangling myself with a woman again. Why is it that in my life, I give valuable time to people who don't care if I live or die?"
Kyle put his hand on Ben's shoulder:
"Oh cam on Ben, you'll get over this."
"I know I will Kyle. I feel like a stronger person now."
Suddenly Ben noticed a large grey building in the distance:
"Lets try getting into that horrible looking carbunkle". As Ben spoke they heard shouting and a thin youth ran from behind the building towards a wooded area. There was a shot and the youth fell screaming and clutching his leg. Ben tried to help the youth by shouting at the two uniformed men who were approaching him:
"Leave that guy alone or you'll have me to answer to."
However one of the men shot the youth through the head. Then he came for Ben........

........... to be continued.