"And if he tears it apart?"
Oof. I cross my arms, hugging my chest. For some reason, the room feels ice cold. Or maybe it's just me, full of terror. The guard shoots me a sympathetic look.
"If he tears it apart, then we know he can't be trusted." There's a pause. "And humans die in captivity all the time. She's far more useful to our cause keeping him happy than washing dishes, don't you think?"
The lord makes a noise I can't quite understand. "Why not just give him a pile of credits and be done with it?"
"Because he doesn't want a pile of credits. He wants the female. Not just any female, that female. And you're not using her."
There's a long pause.
"We can use her as a bargaining tool," the scientist continues, his voice cajoling. "We can monitor how he acts with her, and adjust our plans accordingly. But this is the only thing he's asked for, and you want your investment to be successful, do you not?"
Another long pause. Then… "I suppose humans do die in captivity regularly."
Jesus, they sure are convinced I'm going to die right away. I shiver, and I can't seem to stop shivering. This is exactly what I didn't want. Haven't I worked so hard for the last two years to not be noticed? To make myself as unobtrusive as possible? It's all been ruined by that big, violent gladiator, and now they're going to give me to him because he's lonely? I don't know if I'm angrier at him or at them.
I decide I'm mad at them, and terrified of him. I remember my collar and how he snapped it. I also remember how casually he tore someone's throat out with his teeth.
"I suppose we'll use his possessiveness to our advantage," Lord Sir says with a sigh. "Someone find the human slave and bring her here?"
The guard nudges me. "That's you."
Of course it's me, I want to bite out. There are no other humans here. I'm not an idiot, no matter how much they treat me like one. The door opens, and I see Lord Sir sitting at his massive desk, the scientist standing in front of it. The lord has a resigned look on his face, but the one on the scientist's face is downright triumphant.
"That's convenient," Lord Sir mutters, glancing at the scientist. He flicks a hand, indicating I should enter. "Come in. There's been a change in your assignments, human."
I keep my hands clasped in front of me as they talk, and the entire time, I shiver. My shivering's due to fear, but no one asks if I'm all right, or if I'm afraid. They just talk about their plans for me.
No one asks what I want. Never do.
It seems that I'm going to be housed with Crulden to bring him into line. What that means is I'll be his to play with, in any and all ways imaginable. If he kills me, they'll be upset of course. I'm a pile of credits, after all, an awkward birthday gift that no one knows what to do with. My collar is programmed with an additional setting—two quick taps will activate an emergency alert. They assure me they will “do their best to get me out of his grasp safely” if such a need should arise.
But if Crulden wants to play patty-cake? I'm his partner. If Crulden wants to rape me daily and it keeps him happy? They're fine with that. This is exactly the situation I hoped I wouldn't be shoved into, and my mind is screaming with anger and terror both even as I silently clasp my hands together and shiver.
Just…shiver.
I'm trapped, and for the first time since I've been sold off to Lord Sir, I feel hopeless. In the back of my mind, I've always had a plan I've been working towards—be quiet, be unobtrusive, and win their trust. The moment rescue off this planet presents itself, take it. I can't do that if I'm their pet gladiator's prized chew toy. I sure can't escape if I'm trapped in his cell with him.
"He's very important to the roster," the scientist tells me, that fervent gleam in his eyes. "Make him happy."
With that, my collar is tested, they pat me on the shoulder, and then take me into the hall, back toward Crulden's cell. I move on wooden feet, my toes so cold I can't feel them in my shoes. My nipples scrape against the front of my shift, and the entire cellblock feels like ice. I clench my teeth as the scientist guides me toward Crulden's cell with a hand on my back, and pauses in front of the antechamber.
"Remember," the scientist tells me. "Make him happy and we'll be happy."
Right. Like I can forget? They're hammering it into my head every five seconds.