“The hell?” William blurted. “Sorry. Sorry. What I want,” he said in a gentler voice, “is for you to tell me if you’re hungry or not.”
Adathan nodded. “I am.”
“Okay.” He took out his phone and opened the hotel app. “I’ll order us something to eat. What do you like?”
“The same as you, William.”
William’s fingers tensed around his phone, but he kept his features neutral as he browsed the options. He spotted a tasting menu for two, which was expensive as fuck, but it would give Adathan a variety to choose from. It seemed like a safe bet. “All right. I ordered some food. The app says it should be here in twenty minutes.”
“Thank you, William. I took my accessories out of the box in case you wanted to inspect them, but I can put them back in if you would rather do something else.”
William ignored the tight squeeze of apprehension in his stomach as he walked closer to the table. At a glance, Adathan’s accessories seemed to comprise basic hygiene products, a change of clothes, some kind of... collar?
“What’s this?” William thought aloud.
Adathan stepped closer. “It’s for you to tether me when you go out.”
“And this?” William asked, gesturing at what looked like a complete BDSM kit.
“It’s for you to discipline me when I’ve been bad,” Adathan said matter-of-factly.
“Okay,” William snapped, shaking his head in disbelief. “We’re not gonna need this. We’re not gonna needany of this.” He snatched every object that was designed with the sole purpose of harming or humiliating Adathan and shoved them into the first trash can in sight. “This is bullshit. You’re aperson, not a dog. We’ll get you a job, and I’ll help you find an apartment.”
“That won’t be possible, William.”
William gritted his teeth. “What do you mean it won’t be possible?”
“I mean that I can’t do those things.” Adathan rolled up his sleeve and presented his forearm, which was tattooed with a large barcode. “I can behave like a person if this is what you want, but I can’t be one. I’m sorry, William.”
William’s heart broke at the genuine sadness in Adathan’s voice. A barcode tattoo wasn’t an issue on its own—they were all the rage a few decades ago. Adathan had obviously been told otherwise, though, and William doubted he currently had the energy to muster enough tact to challenge his belief. “Don’t apologize. None of this is your fault.”
“You’re very kind, William.”
William miraculously refrained from commenting. For all Adathan knew, he was a serial killer.
“So, these are your things,” William said, focusing his attention back on Adathan’s possessions.
“Yes,” Adathan said as he subtly, not-so-subtly, slid his fingers toward the instruction manual. Was it so obvious that William had no idea what the fuck he was doing?
William startled as his phone buzzed in his pocket. He took it out, immense relief washing over him as he saw his best friend’s name on the screen.
? Oliver:I just saw the news, congratulations! What was the grand prize mister big shot? :D
? William:I need help
William’s phone immediately rang. He threw an apologetic glance at Adathan and rushed out of the room, answering the call as he went.
“What happened? Are you okay?” Oliver asked.
“They gave me a person,” William whispered as he leaned against the corridor wall and slid into a crouch.
“Huh?”
“The prize,” he hissed. “Remember the ridiculous rumor about people being trained all their lives to serve rich dudes? It wasn’t a rumor.”
“Are you drunk?”
“I’m notdrunk!” William said a little too loud. He wished he were. Drinking sounded perfect right now. He’d raid the mini-bar as soon as he set foot back into his room. “I swear I’m telling the truth, man. I don’t know what to do.”
