𝓓𝓔𝓣𝓡𝓞𝓘𝓣: 𝓑𝓔𝓒𝓞𝓜𝓔 𝓗𝓤𝓜𝓐𝓝

Chapter 8

You've chosen to trust the tortured android. In the words of Maya Angelou, "I think we all have empathy. We may not have enough courage to display it." I agree that it was indeed courageous that you trusted this stranger, but will it pay off in the long run? Let's see.

"F,f,f,f,follow me. P,p,p,please f,follow Edward." His skeletal hand loosens, pointing to himself. He marches to the far door, to uncharted territory. "Let's wake P,p,p,Pete."

My chest tightens at the mention of his name. Such a sick joke.

Pete?

The banging from the bathroom gets closer. Luther's close proximity pushes me forward, running into another dusty room. This room is surprisingly still, no limbs or tortured souls dragging themselves around. "So where's Pete?"

"H,here, Miss." Edward points to a cube, draped in blue tarp. "He's in t,there."

The cage easily takes up a third of the room, and I wonder what monstrosity lay in wait.

The android pokes his bladed hand into the sturdy material and tugs. The crinkle of the plastic echoes through the room. If Zlatko and Luther weren't sure where we are, we've just rang the dinner bell.

I jog to his side and pull at the material, finally breaking it free.

"ROAR!" Pete and my eyes connect, and I freeze.

A freaking polar bear?

The beast's snout sticks out of the too-wide bars and sniffs at my face, before pulling back. His teeth glisten in the residual lighting, reminding me of how deep I'm in. Pete's pure coat of white paid homage to the animal he's designed from. Zlatko had removed the top layer of his skin, exposing his robotic innards. In this moment I'm thankful that androids don't feel pain.

"We're going to get you o,out, P,P,Pete." Edward's hand reaches for the lock. "G,g,g,gonna give Zlatko what he deserves."

Is he serious?

"Wait a second!" I hold my hand over the latch. "What if Pete attacks me?"

"H,he won't," the android whispers, placing his good hand through the bars.

The polar bear bows his head underneath, letting his companion pat him, a low rumble rolling from his throat.

"H,h,he's not the monster. We're not the m,m,monsters." These two beings looked at me, waiting for my verdict.

Don't think about it. You'll back out if you think about it.

"This is crazy," I chant, pulling the latch upward and pulling the cage door toward me.

Pete exits the cage, cowering as he looks in my direction. Better that than attacking me, I guess.

BANG!

The door handle explodes, and I roll into a ball. The shrapnel shoots across the room like knives. I scream out as a large shard plants into my forearm.

Zlatko waltzes in the room, armed with a pump-action shotgun. "Now I'm fucking pissed!" He looks at the meek polar bear and points the barrel at Pete's face. "And when did I say you could leave your cage, huh?"

I slowly lower my arm to my belt, and I clip my holster. Get him while he's distracted.

"And you, Eddie. Have you been a naughty boy?" Zlatko's face mushes into a wolfish smile. "I'm going to have to teach you some manners."