Rowan held a dog biscuit out towards Tulip in an open palm. The dog just stared at her, head not even tilted to the side and tail not wagging. She closed her fist around it, crumbling it to pieces on the floor, “great. A Helper dog… so fucking useful.” She wiped her hand on her apron then pinched the bridge of her nose, face scrunching in disgust as she smelled dog food on her hand.
She tried to rub the tiredness off her face. Through her fingers she peeked at Nikolas. He was curled up sleeping on a desk chair in the corner of the lab. When he was still like this he almost looked like porcelain. She let her hands slide down, pulling at her skin, “How did Amos make you?”
Her hands fell to her sides. She looked at the mindless dog then down at the crumbs on the floor, “clean that up.” she ordered. The dog stood and stiffly walked over to the remains of the biscuit, its tail not wagging at all. As it lapped up the crumbs with its tongue, Rowan turned her attention back to Nikolas. Tilting her chin up, she raised her voice, “Nikolas! Get on the table. I’m going to finally fucking see how you tick.”
Nikolas uncurled and slowly and mechanically stood up. His eyes took a few extra seconds to open and when they finally did his mismatched eyes were hazy and unfocused. After a few steps towards the surgical table, his eyes cleared up and his brow furrowed, “Rowan? What are we doing in the lab? Master Amos will get mad….”
Rowan cupped Nikolas’ cheeks in her hands and manipulated his face until he was looking up at her with eyes wide in bewilderment and his cheeks squished cutely under her palms. He looked like the skittish little boy that Amos brought back all those years ago. His face at that moment was how Rowan knew his personality wasn’t something programmed by Amos. That his self had been truly preserved through the alchemical dollification process. Because he quickly learned to play the coquette for Amos. And for Ren and all the unfortunate others that came after them, he was the arrogant sadist. Only showing the skittish little boy to Rowan. Because she was safe.
Nikolas blinked and Rowan could feel his eyelashes against her thumbs. Her eyes narrowed and affectionately she said, “you know I love that personality of yours but it would be easier for both of us if you just. Stayed. Asleep.”
*
Hours passed, an entire night coming and going without Helpers showing up to take the cats away. Nor did any of the other residents of the house come to visit. Waylon slipped in and out of consciousness, playing with the cats when he was awake. One time when he awoke, he found painkillers and a glass of water, that Belle was slowly batting off the nightstand, waiting for him. He picked them up to take them, receiving an indignant meow from Belle.
Finally, Waylon awoke to the noonday sun pouring into the room from the window. Blue and Belle were curled up around each other, napping in the sunbeam.
Normally when Waylon ‘slept in’ he woke up to Ren staring at him from a corner which was… creepy, but after this much time it was creepier to be without their presence.
Waylon studied the white wood door, his eyes tracing along the molding, waiting for it to open until he realized it was open. Just a crack.
Did Ren come by and leave?
Waylon slid out of the bed and quietly made his way to the door, walking gently to not disturb the sleeping cats. He stuck his head out the doorway and looked both ways. The hallway was darker than the room Waylon was in. No windows and the lights were out. Every other door was closed tight and it seemed as if the entire house was still. Waylon stepped out into that dark hall, completely forgetting to even grab a sheet to cover himself.
“Ren?” He called, scared to call for them too loudly for some reason he couldn’t place. He walked softly but still his footsteps echoed off the walls in the silence. He turned a corner and saw daylight streaming into the hallway from a half-open door. “Ren!” he called out again, approaching the door.
As he got closer, Waylon could hear movement. “Ren, that you?” Though Waylon most certainly spoke loud enough for whoever it was to hear him, the sound of movement didn’t stop. Maybe it was a Helper cleaning the room?
Waylon peeked into the room. It looked like the room he had first woken up in. With the life sized dolls sitting against one of the walls. One of the dolls was laying on the floor, Ren sitting on top of it… no they were riding it. Their frilly black shorts were pulled to the side as they bounced on a… dildo attached to the doll…?
Waylon felt a sliver of guilt at witnessing this without permission but before he could back away and shut the door, Ren looked up and met his eyes. “Waylon!” They stood immediately, rising off the very… realistic dildo with a wet plop. They stepped over the doll and towards Waylon. Then stopped abruptly, brows furrowing slightly. “You’re supposed to be resting. I’m not supposed to talk to you.”
“I’m pretty bored. I’m sure Nikolas won’t be mad if you just…”
“Nikolas?” Ren tilted their head to the side, the furrows on their brow getting deeper.
“…yeah…?”
Suddenly their eyes widened and they bolted from the room, flinging the door wider and bumping into Waylon in their haste.
Uselessly, Waylon called after them, “Ren, wait, what-?”
EJ Williams Books 