This is Fan Fiction based on the Max Payne Computer game series. It is based on a fictional (yet looks to follow the original) time line of events set years before the first Max Payne game, in particular the years before Max enrols into the NYPD academy.

Chapter 3 – Poisoning of the Mind

My mind was blank as I sat in the back of the squad car with my head against the window. The officer that was driving was talking, but his words just seemed like a distant echo in some dream that I couldn't wake up from. I kept asking myself Why Jen? Until a few hours ago I hadn't even thought about 'the one that got away' in years! The drive seemed to take am age but eventually we arrived at the hospital. As the officer walked me through the wards, I hoped that when I got to the room that it would turn out not to be Jen, and that it was someone else who I had never met before. However upon opening the door any shred of hope vanished as I caught sight of her still beautiful fiery red hair.

Jen was still unconscious and the closer I got, the more evident her wounds on her face were. Man, someone had really messed her up – the bastard! I held her hand and just stared at her. Jesus Jen – I can't believe that this has happened to you.

I had sat by her side for an hour or so when she started to come round.

"Hey Jen. It's me Max. How are you feeling?"

"Max. You look like shit!" Jen said softly. That's Jen – she always looked for a way to try and bust my balls.

"You know, you don't look too great yourself at the moment. What the hell happened to you?" Jen took a large breath, "I'm not sure Max, but I'm pretty sure they followed me back to my hotel today from the subway."

"They!" I said, stunned by this revelation "How many Jen?"

Jen closed her eyes and turned away from me as if she was riddled with shame.

"T…Two of them..." I stood up over her and leaned in to give her a hug, when she let out a whimper.

"What's hurting?" I asked. Jen just looked at me with her eyes starting to fill with tears. "Please Jen. What is it?"

Jen glanced down at her legs and burst into tears. I pulled the bed sheet from over her legs and instantly took a step back and put my hand over my mouth with shock.

Jesus fucking Christ! The insides of both her thighs were deeply cut multiple times. Oh Jen! How could they do this to you!

As I got over the initial shock what I had seen, I noticed that the cuts were not random. It was clear as I moved closer that her attacker had left his mark – in more ways than one. Her left inside thigh was marked with a crude "X" and the right with a similar "Y".

I covered Jen back up with the bed sheet, and placed my hand on her cheek. "What did the bastards look like that did this to you? Do you remember anything about them?" I demanded.

Jen swallowed hard and wiped away her tears. I sat back down next to her and listened as she told me everything that she could remember. I took everything in, but the more she told me the more I longed for a way to be able to forget it all. It felt like a poison was being slowly released into my mind.

Jen described in harrowing detail that her hotel room door was kicked in and two men entered. One man punched her numerous times then threw her on the bed. He then held her down by pinning her wrists above her head on the bed. The second man then took a knife to her clothes – raped her – then left his 'signature'. Jen described the first man as being in is late-30's, well built and with a completely bald head. Jen had also noticed that he had a tattoo on the inside of his left arm but couldn't make it out properly. The other cocksucker was an older man, maybe in his 50's, who wore a shirt and tie which Jen thought made him appear to be a 'Mafia' type.

"Get some rest. I'll be back to see you soon. I promise." I said softly.

"I'm not going far Max" Jen replied as she closed her eyes. As I put my hand on the door I turned my head back towards Jen.

"Before I go Jen, do you smoke these days?"

"No chance, you know that I hate that Max. Why do you ask?" I didn't want to tell her what I had found in her hotel room earlier, and I definitely didn't want to tell what I was coming up with in my head. Jen didn't need to know that.

"Don't worry about" I replied, as I opened the door headed out into the brightly lit corridor.