Back Shadowlands
Chapters (21)
  1. Table of Contents
  2. Shadowlands
  3. Acknowledgments
  4. Epigraph
  5. Pygmalion Revisited
  6. October 13th
  7. The Twisted Glory of Ganymede
  8. GRINDR
  9. Witch’s Brew
  10. Lucretia Undone
  11. Mating Season
  12. The Transmitter
  13. Harvest
  14. 1 1 2 358 13 21 34 55 89 144 233 377 610 987 1597 2584 4181 6765 10946 17711 28657 46368 75025 121393 196418 317811…
  15. Xander & Hephaestion
  16. Narcissus
  17. Puer Aeternus
  18. Praise for Shadowlands
  19. About the Author
  20. Visit Dreamspinner Press
  21. Copyright

A younger, awkward, and chubby Alex tries tucking his T-shirt into his jeans. He turns to the side and sucks in his gut.

He lets his stomach hang out, deflated by the results. He tries again and then pulls the shirt out, letting it hang sloppily untucked.

Three attractive guys, JAMES, ELLIOT, and BROCK enter the bathroom. James lights a cigarette as the other two go to the urinals to take a piss.

JAMES

There’s no way she’s not putting out.

BROCK

Dude, we heard the same thing last week.

JAMES

I wasn’t prepared last week, this time I am.

He fishes out two condoms from his pocket and holds them up for the other guys to see.

ELLIOT

Where’d you get those?

JAMES

My brother’s underwear drawer.

BROCK

Just because you’ve got a couple rubbers, you think Rochelle is gonna give you a blow job?

James walks over to the urinals and leans on the wall, finishing his smoke.

JAMES

These aren’t for blow jobs, idiot.

Alex pretends to be fixing his hair as he steals glances at the guys in the mirror.

James takes a glance down at Brock pissing.

JAMES (CONT’D)

You seem to have a lot of advice for someone with such a little dick.

James takes his smoke and tosses it in Brock’s urinal.

BROCK

Dude, you almost singed me!

JAMES

Let me put that out.

He unzips and starts pissing into Brock’s urinal, but mostly on his shoes and jeans.

BROCK

Screw you, asshole!

Elliot is busting a gut laughing. Alex has turned around and is staring at the guys in disbelief.

ELLIOT

What are you looking at, faggot?

JAMES

You like watching us piss?

Alex makes a run for the restroom door.

BROCK

Get him!

James and Elliot grab Alex as Brock unzips his backpack and pulls out a roll of duct tape.

ALEX

Leave me alone!

JAMES

Shut up!

He punches Alex in the gut, doubling him over.

Elliot and Brock grab Alex’s hands behind his back and wrap the duct tape around. They slap a couple thick pieces over his mouth and push him toward one of the bathroom stalls.

Pushing him down on a toilet, the guys secure his feet with the tape and then unwind the roll around Alex and the toilet, fixing him there.

Elliot pulls a Sharpie marker out of his bag and writes on Alex’s forehead as James holds his head still. Garbage.

BROCK

Alright guys, that’s enough. Let’s get out of here.

James snorts up a loogie and fires it at Alex. He’s left with it dripping down his face as the boys run out of the bathroom, laughing.

INT. ALEX’S PRIVATE GYM—NIGHT

Dropping the dumbbell, he stands and takes off his shirt, watching himself in the mirror-lined walls.