31. Scrubbed Clean
Amy decides to take a nap. What’s the worst that can happen? The cot isn’t the most comfortable bed she’s ever slept in, but it serves its purpose. Amy had no idea how tired she really was; she’s asleep almost before she’s hit the bed.
As she sleeps, Amy dreams of Shannon. Dressed in a wedding dress, Shannon is surrounded by darkness on all sides. The darkness seems to be closing in on her. Shannon looks at Amy pleadingly.
“Help me, Amy! Why are you sleeping? I haven’t got much time!” Responding to Shannon’s cry, Amy lunges forward. She pulls a bright yellow rubber duck from her pocket and throws it at the things surrounding Amy, which have now turned into giant pencils. The pencils all fall over. Amy stands next to Shannon. Shannon throws her arms around Amy.
“My hero!” Shannon shouts. “Now, for your reward…” Shannon begins slowly, seductively removing her wedding dress. She’s wearing nothing underneath. Amy slips her hands around Shannon’s waist. Shannon purses her lips for a kiss, parting them gently as Amy's mouth approaches. Amy sees the hint of a tongue emerging from Shannon’s lips when-
“Hey! I’ve thought of something for you to do!”
Amy falls out of the cot, which has been turned over by the monster. Doctor Carluzzo stands over her.
“I need you to clean out the acid tank. There’s an acid-proof scrubber on the wall. Just scrape the sides with it. And don’t fall in!”
“Uhh… Okay.” Amy’s still a bit groggy from being woken up so abruptly and her mind is still mostly focused on that dream. She blearily makes her way to her feet and stumbles to the wall the doctor indicated. She notes, with some embarrassment, a slight dampness in the region of her crotch. Fortunately, her companions in the lab are too wrapped up in their work to notice. Looking around, she sees a large pool of green liquid in the middle of the floor. “Where did that come from?” Amy wonders to herself.
Amy sets about scrubbing the sides of the acid tank. “Why would somebody need a tank full of acid? And what was with that dream? I’ve never felt that way about Shannon before. And I’m not a lesbian! Or… I don’t think I am… But I did come all this way out here for Shannon… And I can’t say I’ve never been curious about that sort of thing… But no! I’m mostly attracted to dudes! Which is not to say there aren’t some women I’ve found… interesting. But not Shannon! Although, I suppose, if I were to try… that sort of thing… with a lady, Shannon would probably be up for it, just based on what I know about her. And she IS pretty cute…”
Distracted by her attempts to sort out her sexuality, Amy fails to notice a small wet spot on the side of the pool. As she thrusts the long scrubber along the side of the pool her feet lose traction and she slips forward, splashing into the green liquid. Amy tries to scream as the acid burns her skin, but it only allows more acid into her mouth, which begins melting her from the inside. Amy doesn’t survive long enough to even reach the surface; within seconds, all that remains of Amy are a collection of bones floating in the pool of green liquid.
Amy is in no condition to continue this adventure or her life.