[ WP ] Love is a drug , literally .

Two men leaped out of a windowless van to snatch an unsuspecting third in broad daylight. The onlookers were either too shocked or apathetic to respond. Inside this van, in addition to the abductors, were two women, one young, the other not so much, and an older man. The three looked upon their captive with sadness and a hint of pity. 
 
 `` Mom? Dad? Judy!?'' The young man was as blitzkrieged as expected. There was no cause in his mind for this. 
 
 `` We're... Sorry, son,'' said dad, `` It's --'' 
 
 `` It's that nasty bitch Maritza!'' Judy spoke the name as though she would vomit. 
 
 `` That's enough, Judith!'' Mom pushed her back behind her, as best she could on her knees. 
 
 `` What the fuck about her?'' The man tried to sit up, but was held fast by the two larger men. 
 
 `` Kenny,'' Dad said slowly, `` we think you're addicted to Love.'' Love. They had n't even bothered to give it a street name when it was first introduced. And why should they? Science had known for years that the feelings described as being `` in love'' boiled down to a rather simple, yet superbly potent set of hormonal cocktails produced by the body. That someone should isolate and synthesize this for profit should have been no surprise. 
 
 `` I do n't believe this!'' Of course he did n't. 
 
 `` You ca n't take the fact that I'm leaving, to be with the woman of my dreams, while you languish here, trying to find ways to make my life miserable!'' They had been coached in how to deal with this outrage. The first reaction, after the confusion, would be anger, followed immediately by reproach and then accusations of ill intent. 
 
 `` I had bloodwork done just last week! If I had that in my system, it would have turned up!'' This was true and not true at the same time. There should have been evidence in his blood, but it would n't have appeared like a normal drug. 
 
 `` Son, we watched you break your life-savings to buy that *woman* things you would never buy for yourself! And we're told you've given her full control of the rest of your money and --'' 
 
 `` And how would you know that?'' Spat Kenny. `` You've been prying into my fucking business have n't you? Why would n't I want my woman to have things, huh? Is it because you bunch of freeloaders do n't want competition for the money *I* work for?'' Judy slapped him, despite herself and her coaching. 
 
 `` You hated that nasty whore as much as we did the first time you were together! You saw right through her gold-digging and how much she despised you! She was off sleeping with all those other assholes, and trying to get pregnant so you would have to keep her around. And now you get back together and give her everything she tried to take?'' She was in tears now, knowing that talking was practically useless in his state, but it just fell out of her. `` Pete, for Christ-sake --'' 
 
 `` Do n't call me that,'' spat Kenny, rejecting the decades old nickname shared between the two of them. The next step would be attempting to shut out those closest to him. 
 
 `` My name is Ken, dammit! And I'm so tired of all of you! How many years have I propped you people up, and for what? You --'' he pointed an accusing finger at his mother, `` Always telling me I was a failure compared to *her*, he gestured in his sister's direction, `` You bent over backward to provide for her, but you barely gave me the time of day! Well, who backed the wrong horse this time?'' The older woman clenched her fists till they turned white. She opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came. 
 
 `` And dear old dad, you old pussy! You never stood up for me once!'' Ever the stoic, the old man simply meditated on the advice given by the people that set up this abduction. He was n't angry, his son; his brain was merely protecting the chemicals it had become dependent on. He was lashing out with whatever would cut them the worst. Nothing he said was entirely false, but those issues had been settled years ago. 
 
 `` You know what,'' said Kenny after he tried a third time to sit up, `` What if she did drug -- how the fuck would she have been able -- What if she did? I do n't think I care if you're right. You have no right to do this!'' Most addicts adopted that mindset after prolonged dependence. The'I do n't care if it's a drug' line. After a long enough time, they only wanted to keep the feelings they had for their lovers. 
 
 `` So we thought,'' said one of the unknown men, `` You're pretty far gone. That's why this is not going to be pleasant.'' He drew up a clear liquid from a decanter into a syringe, and prepared to plunge it into the restrained man's neck.
