Chapter 2~Hidden In Plain Sight

When I opened the door I saw a girl staring at a young picture of me on the wall. She was somehow taller than me which felt intimating. The only way I could tell she was a robot was because of a little antenna that poked out of her silky black hair.

"What the-," I said before I was interrupted.

"I'm... sorry. I'm sorry!" She said.

"I have so many questions. But luckily for you... I can't do this right now. I don't remember ordering an Ally. Either way, you're not supposed to be here. I'm fine all by myself. Just go back to your owner already." I said while trying to keep my cool.

She then ran over and embraced me tightly. Her chest was big enough to be felt under the sweatshirt. If this was any other girl I probably would've enjoyed that.

"G-Get off of me! Why are you wearing my clothes?!And why are you here!? Do you have a name?!" I said.

"So much for not losing my cool." I thought.

"R-right. I guess I got carried away, haha. I'm Dolly. I don't remember my last name. Oh well. More importantly I'm glad to see you, Eden Archer.

"That doesn't really mean anything to me. How did you get into my apartment?"

As soon as those worlds left my mouth, a tear ran down Dolly's face. I knew I wasn't the nicest guy. But making a robot cry accidentally really solidified a new low for me. I didn't know it was possible to make a robot of all things cry.

"Wow, wow! Okay, I'm sorry. Just don't cry, at least not while I'm in the middle of the hallway. Let's go inside, okay?"

I showed her to my couch and gave her a box of tissues.

"Eden... sniff... you idiot. Don't say such hurtful things to me so carelessly. If you wanna know who sent me... it was your mom. Maria Archer. The way Ally's enter agreements to humans is called syncing. An act of affection must be used for it to work. The moment I hugged you was when that contract was formed. The only way you can get out of that contract is if you kill me, violate me, or abuse me in any way. But I know that you're not that kind of person, correct?"

"So this is mother's doing. I should've known. I can't face the royal family after what happened all those years ago. What am I gonna with this thing." I thought

"For a stranger, you sure know a lot about me. Why should you trust me and why should I trust you?Have we meet before?" I said.

"Answering a question with a another question. You're hopeless." Dolly said while flicking me on the forehead.

"Ah! What was that for?"

"I can't say anything else, I'm sorry. Whether or not you want to trust me it's up to you. But I know the situation with your family and-"

"Stop it. I don't wanna hear anything else. I'll let you live here. Just don't make me regret letting you stay here. You can be an assassin for all I know. Or a nut case. Like I could wake up and my penis is chopped off." I said

"Huh? Wha- is that what you think of me!?" Dolly said as she brought her aggravated face to mine.

"Sniff, sniff. You smell. Your bath is ready master so just head in." Dolly said.

"Don't call me master. And how did you know to fill the bath with water when I wasn't even home?"

"My antenna. I can sense the presence of things around me or far away. Two hundred kilometers to be exact. I can also read the mind of my master, only if they the trust me. You don't trust me so I don't know what your thinking, sadly."

"Well aren't you attentive. Just stuck with Eden, Don't break anything around my apartment. Better yet, don't touch anything." I said as I went into the bathroom.

"Looks like I have my hands tied. I've never met this girl in my life, so why do I have this nostalgic feeling when I'm around her." I thought.

I shrugged and stepped into the bath. While I was in the tub I dozed off and started imagining the last time I was in contact with my mother. Every now and then I daydreamed memories from the past. Usually, they all played in different sequences but ended with the same outcome. Me dying. I started at the faucet as a lost memory came into my vision.

"That child was a mistake!" A man said

"How dare you bring a Earth born to Elnus?! You should've thrown that creature out into space!" A women said.

"Please! Just listen to me! Why must Earth and Elnus fight with one another? When will you all believe that good people still exist on Earth? I've given birth to a son and named him Eden. Why must you all say terrible things to him? I don't care about the Royal Selection. I've found love on earth. My husband might be an Earth born but he's better than anything this planet can offer." My mother said.

As my mind wondered back to reality I questioned if that memory was real or not. The harsh words, the tears, that sinking feeling. Questions like,

"Is this all my fault? Have I been a burden to everyone? Was there anything I could've change within myself that would've made everyone like me? Was there anything I could've done differently? What is wrong with me? It all started piling up. I couldn't take anymore. So, I rejected everyone. If I couldn't do anything to prove my worth to people, I would prove to myself that I'm worth it. Even if that meant putting others down and saying harsh things. I didn't know if that was selfish or not. Maybe I was foolish. I was an Earth born after all. I shouldn't have self worth or respect. And I was fine with that. Yet I hated that part of myself somewhere with me.

I couldn't allow myself to be that vulnerable again.

"Never again. Never again. Never again. Never

Again." I sad as I sank deeper into the tub.

I must of lost tract of time. My consciousness was fading in and out as the sounds around me were getting drowned out.

"Eden! Are you alright!?" Dolly said while bursting into the bathroom.

I passed out from falling asleep under water somehow. When I woke up, I was welcomed to the scent of a woman.

"Mother?" I thought.

Looking back, I wished that thought never came into my mind. I opened my eyes to a horrific sight. Dolly's lips were on mine.