Alpha test

The latest Alton Towers sensation leaked in a ruthless
razor blaze of publicity: experience severe mental
illness via virtual reality. The Schizimulator. Success
relied on the endorsement of bona fide crazies. I'll

admit I had reservations. They were open enough about
disturbing an already disturbed mind. Hell, I was behind
on the rent. And the educational angle was a good shout.
Petrol was paid for. Room too. Hurdles were hard to find.

The wrap-around screen televised a typical theme-park
goers living room. The TV told me to kill myself

faces morphed into different faces

the walls closed in. The commentary, dark
and abusive, was purged of swear words. Still,

I told them I liked the special effects. They had achieved
a take on what a non-sufferer imagines it to be like.
Suggestion: thrillseekers are followed when they leave
maybe by Saturday staff, fluent in non-sequiter speak

and then, for a whole week, they would gnaw away,
grind the mind like pepper, drain the brain like pasta,
watch cans of super strength swoop down at their prey,
laugh at the lunge for the pencil sharpener, screwdriver.