Arrival at Alabaster Penitentiary

Dascha "Dash" Reznikov, a 25-year-old Brooklyn bank robber, is sent to Alabaster Penitentiary, a secret, off-the-books prison for society's most unwanted. Dash is not a killer—at least, he doesn't think so—but he's thrown into a world of monsters, murderers, and the truly lost. The prison is isolated, brutal, and run by guards who are more dangerous than the inmates. Dash's only goal is survival, but from the moment he arrives, it's clear that nothing will be easy. The guards strip him of dignity, his hair, and his hope, and he's left to wonder if he's truly as bad as the company he keeps.

The Warden's Welcome

Dash is brought before Manuel Blanco (The Warden), the enigmatic and terrifying Warden of Alabaster. The Warden's words are cryptic, his presence overwhelming. He makes it clear that Alabaster is a place of no return, where the world believes its inmates are dead. Dash is told he's inmate 101, and that he will never leave. The Warden's officers are his eyes and hands, and Dash is warned that disobedience will be met with severe consequences. The psychological weight of this new reality begins to crush Dash, who is already haunted by the traumas of his past.

New Cell, New Rules

Dash is assigned a cellmate, Luthor (Lexington Deon), who becomes his first tenuous ally. Luthor explains the unspoken rules: the guards run the show, and the only way to get anything—comfort, food, even a toothbrush—is through them, often at a price. The prison is a microcosm of violence, manipulation, and blurred lines. Dash meets other inmates, including the seductive and dangerous Ren (Warren Xavier), and the only female guard, Joy Jameson, who is as tough as any man. The threat of violence and sexual exploitation is constant, and Dash must quickly learn who to trust, and how to keep his head down.

Flashbacks and Family Scars

Dash's mind drifts to his past: a childhood marked by a cold, criminal father and a mentally ill, abusive mother. His father taught him the art of crime and the rule "don't get caught," but abandoned the family, leaving Dash alone with his mother's instability and eventual sexual abuse. These traumas shape Dash's psyche, fueling his need for control, his sexual compulsions, and his inability to form healthy attachments. The prison's isolation amplifies his inner demons, and the line between memory and reality begins to blur.

The Bank Job Unravels

Through flashbacks and nonlinear structure, we learn the truth of Dash's crime: a meticulously planned bank robbery that spiraled out of control. Betrayed by an accomplice, Dash killed the rat in a panic, and in the chaos, a young woman—later revealed as the Governor's niece—was also killed. Dash's memory of the event is fragmented, clouded by trauma and possible psychosis. The world believes Dash is dead, but he is very much alive, trapped in a prison that feeds on his guilt and confusion.

Prison Politics and Power

Life in Alabaster is a constant negotiation of power dynamics and sexuality. Dash navigates the dangerous social web: Luthor's quiet intelligence, Ren's manipulative sexuality, Kang's loyalty, and the ever-present threat of the guards, especially Velle (John Chevelle) and the mysterious, tattooed Kellan "Officer" Kemper. The guards exploit the inmates' needs, trading goods for sexual favors, and Dash is soon caught in their games. His own sexuality becomes a weapon and a vulnerability, as he is both repulsed and aroused by the attention of Officer Kemper, who seems to have a special interest in him.

The Officer's Obsession

Officer Kemper, a massive, tattooed guard, becomes fixated on Dash. Their relationship is a twisted dance of dominance, submission, and mutual need. Kemper alternates between tormenting Dash—forcing him into humiliating sexual acts, punishing him with solitary, and controlling every aspect of his life—and caring for him, providing small comforts and moments of tenderness. Dash is both terrified and drawn to Kemper, and their encounters become the center of his existence. The power dynamic is fraught, and Dash's sense of self begins to fracture under the weight of desire, shame, and dependency.

Solitary and Psychosis

Repeated stints in solitary confinement push Dash to the brink. Starved, sleep-deprived, and deprived of human contact, he begins to hallucinate. His only companion is Felix Darcey ("The Carver"), a notorious serial killer in the next cell, who becomes a strange source of comfort. Dash's grip on reality slips: he is haunted by memories of his mother, the voices in his head, and the increasingly surreal encounters with Officer Kemper. The line between punishment and pleasure blurs, and Dash's psychosis deepens, culminating in a sexual and psychological breaking point.

Hallucinations and Hard Truths

As Dash's relationship with Kemper intensifies, so do the cracks in his reality. He is forced to confront the possibility that much of what he has experienced—especially the most intense, violent, and erotic encounters with Kemper—may not be real. The truth emerges: Dash is suffering from schizophrenia, and his mind has created an elaborate fantasy to cope with the trauma, isolation, and abuse of prison. The real Officer Kemper left Alabaster the day Dash arrived; the Kemper Dash has loved and hated is a hallucination, a manifestation of his deepest needs and fears.

The Great Escape

With the help of Darcey, who orchestrates a bloody distraction, Dash escapes from Alabaster through the sewers. The escape is harrowing, a fever dream of violence, filth, and terror. Dash makes it to the outside world, and, using his hidden stash of money, flees to Tulum, Mexico. He is free, but haunted—by the crimes he committed, the people he left behind, and the uncertain reality of his own mind. The world believes he is dead, and he is determined to start over, but the past is not so easily left behind.

Tulum: A New Reality

In Tulum, Dash tries to build a new life. He dyes his hair, finds a place to live, and attempts to enjoy the paradise he always dreamed of. But he is plagued by loneliness, guilt, and the persistent sense that something is missing. Then, impossibly, he meets Kellan Kemper—alive, real, and as drawn to Dash as Dash is to him. Their connection is immediate and electric, but complicated by Kellan's marriage and his own unresolved past. Dash must confront the possibility that his mind is still playing tricks on him, and that happiness may be as elusive as ever.

Love, Lies, and Recovery

Dash and Kellan's relationship deepens, moving from lust and obsession to genuine love. Kellan leaves his wife, and the two men begin to build a life together. But the ghosts of Alabaster, Dash's crimes, and his mental illness cannot be ignored. With Kellan's support, Dash seeks therapy and is diagnosed with schizophrenia and narcissistic personality disorder. The truth of his past—his mother's abuse, the murders, the hallucinations—comes into focus. Kellan's own traumas and struggles with addiction are revealed, and together they begin the hard work of healing through love and chosen family.

Facing the Past

To move forward, Dash must confront the literal and figurative skeletons in his closet. With Kellan's help, he anonymously reports the location of his mother's remains to the police, finally putting her ghost to rest. The couple faces threats from the Warden, who wants Dash returned to Alabaster, but they refuse to live in fear. Dash reconnects with his friends from prison, maintaining weekly calls with Luthor, Ren, and Joy. The past is not erased, but it is integrated into a new, healthier narrative.

Healing and Homecoming

Dash and Kellan settle into their new home in Tulum, adopting a stray dog and creating a chosen family. Dash finds purpose in his work, and Kellan embraces his identity and their love. Therapy, medication, and mutual support help Dash manage his illness, and the couple learns to navigate the challenges of life together. Their love is unconventional, born of trauma and fantasy, but it is real and sustaining. They are each other's tourniquet, binding up wounds that may never fully heal, but can be lived with.

Forever, Distorted

Dash and Kellan's story is one of survival, resilience, and the transformative power of love. They are not cured, not redeemed in the traditional sense, but they are together—two broken people who have found wholeness in each other. Their life is not easy, and the scars of the past remain, but they choose each other every day. In a world that tried to erase them, they have created a space where they can be seen, loved, and real. Their forever is not perfect, but it is theirs, beautifully distorted.

Characters

Dascha "Dash" Reznikov

Dash is a 25-year-old Russian-American bank robber from Brooklyn, whose life has been shaped by trauma, abuse, and abandonment. His father, a career criminal, taught him the rules of the underworld but left him alone with a mother whose mental illness and sexual abuse left deep scars. Dash is intelligent, resourceful, and fiercely independent, but also deeply damaged—compulsive, sexually fixated, and unable to form healthy attachments. His time in Alabaster Penitentiary pushes him to the brink of madness, and his relationship with Officer Kemper—real and imagined—becomes both his salvation and his undoing. Diagnosed with schizophrenia and narcissistic personality disorder, Dash's journey is one of self-discovery, acceptance, and the search for a love that can hold all his broken pieces.

Kellan "Officer" Kemper

Kellan Kemper is a massive, tattooed former correctional officer at Alabaster Penitentiary. Haunted by his own past—addiction, a violent father, and a marriage built on denial—Kellan is both a figure of authority and a man searching for redemption. His obsession with Dash begins as a fantasy, but becomes real when they meet in Tulum. Kellan is dominant, possessive, and sometimes harsh, but also deeply caring and committed to Dash's well-being. He struggles with his sexuality, his sense of duty, and his need for control, but ultimately chooses love and authenticity over fear. Kellan's journey is one of coming out, letting go of shame, and learning to love without conditions.

Luthor (Lexington Deon)

Luthor is Dash's first friend and cellmate in Alabaster. A tech genius imprisoned for hacking, Luthor is calm, rational, and a source of stability in the chaos of prison life. He is haunted by his own regrets and unrequited love for Ren, but remains a steadfast ally to Dash. Luthor's presence is a reminder that even in the darkest places, connection and kindness are possible.

Ren (Warren Xavier)

Ren is a seductive, enigmatic inmate who uses sex and charm to survive. He is both a source of danger and comfort, embodying the blurred lines of prison life. Ren's relationship with Luthor is fraught with longing and missed opportunities, and his interactions with Dash are a mix of rivalry, attraction, and genuine care. Ren represents the ways trauma can twist desire and the human need for intimacy.

Joy Jameson

Joy is the only female guard at Alabaster, and she is as formidable as any man. She navigates the power dynamics of the prison with intelligence and strength, sometimes offering kindness, sometimes enforcing brutality. Joy is a survivor, and her friendship with Kellan and the inmates is a lifeline in a world designed to crush hope.

Manuel Blanco (The Warden)

The Warden is a shadowy figure, more myth than man. He rules Alabaster with absolute authority, manipulating guards and inmates alike. His motivations are inscrutable, and his presence is a constant reminder of the system's cruelty. Blanco is both a symbol of institutional evil and the embodiment of the world's indifference to suffering.

Velle (John Chevelle)

Velle is the head guard at Alabaster, a man who delights in the suffering of others. He is both a tormentor and a gatekeeper, wielding his authority with calculated cruelty. Velle's rivalry with Kemper and his obsession with control make him a constant threat to Dash and the other inmates.

Felix Darcey ("The Carver")

Darcey is a notorious serial killer, kept in isolation for his crimes. Despite his reputation, he becomes a source of solace for Dash during his time in solitary. Darcey's presence blurs the line between friend and foe, sanity and madness, and his actions are pivotal in Dash's escape.

Kang

Kang is an inmate who, along with Luthor and Ren, forms Dash's core group of friends. He is practical, supportive, and a reminder that even in hell, community can exist.

Nikki Kemper

Kellan's wife, Nikki, is a minor but crucial character. Her acceptance of Kellan's sexuality and her own pursuit of happiness allow both her and Kellan to move forward. She represents the possibility of forgiveness and the importance of living one's truth.

Plot Devices

Unreliable Narration and Psychosis

The novel's most powerful device is its use of unreliable narration, rooted in Dash's schizophrenia. The reader experiences the world as Dash does: fragmented, hallucinatory, and often indistinguishable from reality. The relationship with Officer Kemper is both a lifeline and a delusion, and the eventual revelation that much of it was imagined is both devastating and redemptive. This device forces the reader to question what is real, and to empathize with the terror and confusion of mental illness.

Power Dynamics and Sexuality

The story explores the interplay of power, sex, and survival in a closed system. The guards' control over the inmates' bodies and minds is mirrored in the sexual relationships that develop, especially between Dash and Kemper. The shifting roles of dominance and submission, pleasure and pain, are both a means of coping and a source of further trauma. The novel does not shy away from the darkness of these dynamics, but also finds moments of genuine connection and healing within them.

Flashbacks and Nonlinear Structure

Dash's story is told through a mix of present-tense action and flashbacks, revealing the traumas that shaped him. The nonlinear structure mirrors the fragmentation of his mind, and the gradual uncovering of repressed memories is key to his journey toward self-understanding and forgiveness.

Foreshadowing and Symbolism

Throughout the novel, there are subtle hints that not everything is as it seems: the lack of development in Kemper's character, the inconsistencies in Dash's memories, the recurrence of certain symbols (ice cream, tattoos, the word "Luscious"). These elements foreshadow the eventual revelation of Dash's psychosis and the true nature of his relationship with Kemper.

Healing Through Love and Chosen Family

Despite its darkness, the novel is ultimately a love story. Dash and Kellan's relationship, though born of trauma and fantasy, becomes a source of real healing. The support of friends—Luthor, Ren, Joy—and the creation of a new life in Tulum represent the possibility of redemption, not through erasure of the past, but through acceptance and mutual care.

Analysis

Distorted is a harrowing, deeply psychological exploration of trauma, mental illness, and the search for love in a world designed to destroy hope. Nyla K. uses the prison setting not just as a backdrop for violence and eroticism, but as a metaphor for the prisons we build in our own minds—chains of shame, guilt, and denial. The novel's greatest strength is its unflinching portrayal of schizophrenia, both as a source of terror and as a lens through which the world is made bearable. The unreliable narration and psychosis immerses the reader in Dash's confusion, making the eventual revelation of his psychosis both shocking and inevitable. At its core, Distorted is a love story—not of easy redemption, but of two broken people who find wholeness in each other. The novel challenges the reader to question the boundaries of reality, the nature of forgiveness, and the possibility of healing. It is a dark, erotic, and ultimately hopeful testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and a reminder that even the most distorted lives can contain moments of exquisite beauty.

Last updated: June 26, 2025