Toxicity

By Max Booth III

If Tarantino and the Coen Brothers ever teamed up to make a film, Toxicity might be the end result. Imagine the surreal universes of Philip K. Dick smashing into the gritty realities of Elmore Leonard, and you might have an idea of what type of book you’re about to get yourself into. Toxicity is violent, repulsive, charming, and completely ridiculous. It’s a dark comedy for those without a soul.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Post Mortem Press
• Release date: Apr 22, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310186639

Book preview

EGG

Chapter One

And Then There Were Three

Months had passed. The merry-go-round remained still. The group of teenagers had returned, minus one, making it only three now. This time instead of pot they passed around a bottle of tequila. None of them were exactly in the right spirit to be spinning so they just sat there and drank.

Candy Blossom took three turns for every single turn. The other two didn’t mind.

I just can’t believe it, Connor said after a while.

Addison shook her head. Out of everyone I ever knew, Johnny was one person I never thought would do something like this.

Connor gave her a hurtful look. What about me?

Addison shrugged. It’s the way it is, baby.

Bitch.

Either way, I still can’t believe it, Addison said.

Well, believe it, Candy said coldly. She stared into the pearly night sky with damp eyes and wondered why people were the way they were. Despite how hard she tried, she just couldn’t seem to come up with an answer.

Connor ran his fingers through his overgrown red hair, trying his best to comprehend the situation. I mean, his ma wins the lotto and bam, he transforms into a totally new person. It all seems like a strange dream, ya know?

Yeah. Addison nodded.

Candy, Connor said, what exactly happened when you went over there? What did he do to you?

Gimmie. Candy snatched the tequila from Addison. She took a long swig, paused, and took another. I went up there to his new place to, like, surprise him, you know? Have you guys been there? It’s fuckin’ huge, I kid you not.

Yeah, Connor said. I’ve been there a few times. I don’t think Addy has, though.

No, I haven’t gotten around to it, yet.

Don’t bother. Candy splashed more liquor down her throat. Her piercings glistened in the shadows of the forgotten park. I get up there, right? He ain’t alone. And I’m not talking about his family, either. Bastard goes to a new school not even barely two months and he’s already screwing some slut. He answered the door in his underwear and she was standing behind him wrapped in a blanket. I guess everyone else was out on errands or something.

Connor turned to her, staring incredulously. Are you serious?

Candy returned the look. Why would I make something like that up?

Addison kicked his foot. You’re right, he said. I’m sorry.

He told me he was now among a more superior, civilized class of human beings and I would no longer be required of any further services, Candy continued. Those are his exact words. Can you believe that shit? I told him all that money changed him and he said he didn’t change, he just grew up. I told him no, you just grew down. Then I spat in his face and left. I’m never talking to that piece of shit again, I swear to God.

I’m sorry, Candy. Addison put her arm around her. That’s horrible. Know that we’re here for you, okay?

Thanks. That helps.

Connor stood up and walked out a few feet away. He finished the last of the tequila and whipped it off into a nearby field of weeds. The sound of the glass shattering interrupted the night’s eerie silence.

Connor turned back to the girls. And don’t worry, he said to Candy. "He won’t get away with this. He will suffer the consequences of his actions."

What did you have in mind? Candy sniffled.

Uh, I don’t know, I guess we could, like, set a bag of dog poo on fire and leave it on his porch…or something.

The two girls stared at him. Candy sighed and lay down on the merry-go-round.

Addison shook her head at him. God, you’re such a nerd.

Chapter Two

The Cotton Candy-Haired Demon

Stay behind the yellow line, please.

The prisoner in the neon blue jumpsuit ground his teeth together. It took every ounce of him to resist jumping over the line, reaching under the bulletproof glass, and choking the guard until he coughed up the goods. It was awful tempting.

He tried to keep his cool, shaking away the violent urges he so desperately wanted to act out. My candy is missing, he calmly explained. I would like it returned.

Look, dipshit, said the guard. I already done tol’ ya, ain’t no candy here, ain’t no candy to give ya.

The prisoner cracked his neck. He had gone ten years without any candy, he could surely hold off his craving another couple of hours. It probably wasn’t even that long of a walk to the nearest gas station, anyway. There was around fifty bucks in his wallet—assuming the Ratman hadn’t snatched that, as well. The amount would suffice well enough to satisfy his sugar-withdrawals.

The guard pushed the prisoner’s personal belongings through the slot in the window. He spoke into the intercom: Now, if you’re done throwin’ a fit, please change out of your uniform and back into your original source of clothing. Where I can see you, if ya don’t mind. You’re still a con ‘til you leave these doors, as far as I’m concerned.

The prisoner unzipped his jumpsuit, stepped forward, traded the uniform for the garbage bag laying there, and returned behind the yellow line. He changed into the street clothes he had been wearing when he’d arrived here all those years ago. They were a little tight, which was pretty believable, considering the weightlifting he’d done while locked up.

Boxers, socks, jeans, combat boots, white T-shirt, a faded light blue jean jacket. He snuggled the Cubs cap around his bald scalp and risked a weak smile. After ten whole years, he was no longer Prisoner #070411. No longer was he a serial number. Once again, he was a man with a name.

Maddox Kane.

I don’t give a shit who you are, said the Ratman. Now get out of my prison before I decide to throw your ass back in. You’ll be hearing from your PO by tomorrow, so make sure that address is still valid. Otherwise I’ll be seeing you soon, cupcake.

Maddox made it two feet outside the prison before stopping. This was different from being out on the yard. There was no longer barbed wire around him. Sure, there were still towers everywhere, but the guards had ceased pointing their rifles at him. They didn’t even give him a second look as he walked away. It was so goddamn beautiful.

The air, it smelled different. It’d been quite a while since he had breathed air this clean. He was a free man now. Everything was going to be better. Even the snowflakes floating down on his cheeks felt wonderful, and he had never really been much for the cold, either.

Maddox walked away from Megaton Corrections a free man.

He wondered how many others were allowed such a privilege. Most of the cons he had encountered inside were either in for life, held an appointment with Old Sparky, or succumbed to the piercing bite of a burnt toothbrush. Sure, there had been a few instances when Maddox was the one wielding the toothbrush, but then again, when it’s shank or be shanked, there’s only so much you can do.

He turned onto the long narrow road leading from Megaton to the parking lot some miles away—or drop-off, as they called it. Cherry-top escorted the convict to drop-off and a bus transported them to their new hellhole, for however many times the judge pounded his mallet. It was a cycle repeated each week. Of course, friends and family were allowed to travel this road as well, whether it was visits or release pick-ups.

No one would be coming to pick up Maddox, though. He thought the art of surprise would be in his favor. Otherwise a certain someone might just decide to up and run—such as his ex-wife. And that would be a very bad thing indeed. He and she still had some things to talk about.

So he walked, figuring he’d hitch a ride once he reached the drop-off. He buttoned his jacket and stuffed his hands in his pockets. The snow fell in light

Reviews for Toxicity

[eric_j._guignard · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

REVIEWED: Toxicity
WRITTEN BY: Max Booth III
PUBLISHED: TBD, 2014

Fire up the pink Cadillac and huff your latest dose of Purple, TOXICITY, is a wild, careening ride through a landscape of criminals, wild drugs, fantasy, and sweet hope. This is the inaugural novel by writer and editor, Max Booth III, who’s shown a deft hand in story creation through short fiction tales found over the past few years in magazines, anthologies, and collections. TOXICITY follows the intertwining lives of felon, Maddox Kane, his estranged daughter, Addison, and a motley array of their family members, friends, and enemies. Some of the more memorable characters are Maddox’s bumbling brother, Benny, and the man-eating hooker (the lot lizard) that moves in with them and, of course, the prophesying fly-god that presages Armageddon.

Quick-witted and outrageous, this book is truly not for everyone (i.e. those puritanical and/or sane). But if you get excited envisioning something that’s like ‘Pulp Fiction’ mixed with a dose of the supernatural and a wicked sense of humor, TOXICITY should top your reading list.

Oh, and if you should ever meet Maddox Kane in person, just don’t ever let on if you’re a White Sox fan!

Five out of Five stars

[divinelotustea · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Not good.