My eyes dart around the room. It's packed with people, and I can't see her. She's so short that she could be hiding behind anyone.
I can't let her get away. I whip out my phone and open the tracking map. It shows that she's still in the mall, but it's not precise enough to tell me where. That tracking bracelet was a cheap piece of crap. Shit. What if she got it off? She could've been pretending that it's been locked while waiting for an opportunity.
I take a deep breath. I need to remain calm. I could catch her if I could just think clearly. My eyes scan the room. Should I guard the exit in case she tries to make a run for it?
No. She could just take another door. Maybe a security guard caught her? Humans aren't allowed to wonder around on their own. I need to find one. I weave my way back into the crowd.
I keep my eyes open, but there are so many people.
I finally find a guard. "Excuse me, sir. Have you caught an unaccompanied human girl? She's about this tall," I put my hand inline with the middle of my chest, "...and has light brown hair."
He shakes his head. "None like that. If we find her, we'll be sure to hang on to her."
"Are you sure? Shouldn't you ask the others over the radio?"
"I am sure."
Crap. I head back into the crowd. Where is she? I was being kind by allowing her to tag along, and this is what I get in return? She'll regret betraying my trust. From now on, she'll spend her days locked up in the truck's cargo hold.
My phone rings. "Hello?"
"Robert?" an unfamiliar voice says. I can barely hear her over the crowd.
"That's me."
"I'm calling from Paul's Kitchen at Maryan Square Mall. We've found your human. Can you come collect her?"
"Yes," I blurt out, "Thank you." I hang up and rush back to the Paul's Kitchen where we just ate.
I soon spot Pip. She's sitting on the floor by the host's feet. They got her. They must have seen her wondering around on her own, and they knew she was supposed to be with me.
I rush over and grab Pip by the arm.
She yelps as I yank her to her feet. She stares at the floor, clearly too ashamed to look me in the eye.
"Thank you so much for catching her," I tell the hostess.
"Catching her?" She has a confused look. "We didn't catch her. She came back here on her own, and she was in quite a state. We searched through the receipts to find your number."
I release her arm. She didn't run?
"Pip?"
"I'm sorry, Master," she cries. "I-I got bumped, then I looked back, and and I couldn't see you anymore. I know it's my fault. I'm sorry."
"It was an accident?"
She nods without looking up.
I thank the hostess again, then head back to the exit.
I stop in my tracks when something latches onto the back of my shirt.
She's hanging onto me. She's worried about being separated again. My hand was right there, but she went for my clothes instead. Holding hands with someone implies that you're equals, and she knows better than to try and grab her master's hand.
The tugging on my shirt is annoying. I grab her hand, and she finally looks up at me. Honestly, I don't mind holding her hand. I'm not concerned about her questioning her place, and she could use the confidence boost.
By the time we're out of the mall, both her hands are around my arm. She's pressing it into her chest as if it was a stuffed animal. I was going to let go once we were out of the crowd, but it seems like she wants to stay firmly attached. I'll let her hold on until she feels secure.
* * * * * * * *
We head back to the motel after dinner.
I set the kettle to boil. "Give me the earrings."
She hands them over, and I put them in a bowl of boiling water alongside a needle. I add a strong-smelling disinfectant to the mix as an extra precaution.
"That's a really big needle," she says.
"It has to be if we want the earrings to fit."
"But won't it make me bleed?"
"Probably." I fish the needle out of the bowl. "Sit on the stool."
She takes a step back and brings her hands up to her chest. "Maybe this isn't a good idea."
"Don't be silly. It's fine. Now get on the stool."
She obeys.
I have to push her hair away to get to her ears. It's a knotted-up rat's nest. I mark a position on each of her earlobes. She's trembling. She's afraid?
"Hey," I put my hand on hers, and she looks up at me. "I am your master. Do you remember what that means?"
"It means that I listen to you, and you look after me."
"That's right, and if I thought that piercing your ears would cause you harm, do you think I would do it?"
She looks at her lap. "No."
"And do you still want to wear the earrings?"
"Yea."
Her trembling subsides. I pierce the first ear with the needle and a cork. She doesn't even flinch. I suppose that this is nothing compared to the arm cut she had to endure earlier. I pierce the other ear and put both gold stud earrings in place. "Done. Go look in the mirror."
She hurries across the room. Her face lights up the moment she sees them. "They're beautiful."
"Well it's a good thing that you like them, because they're staying in for the next few weeks."
She looks back at me with a huge smile. "Thank you, Master."
I sit on the couch, turn on the TV and start a chess game.
She hops on the seat next to me. She looks like she wants to grab onto me, but I'm only allowing that when she's distressed, and now is not one of those times. Are all humans this clingy? I'll just order her around to keep her busy. "Go brush your hair. It's a mess."
"Okay, Master." She rushes off to the bathroom and starts brushing. I can see her reflection from my seat. She's just poking the hairbrush in and out of her hair and pulling it around haphazardly.
"Don't you know how to brush your hair?"
She stands at the threshold. "I've never really done it before."
I sigh. "Come here." I gesture to my lap.
She sits on my knees and hands over the brush.
I get to work. "You start from the bottom and work your way up. Didn't your mother ever teach you this?"
She shakes her head.
"Answer with words, Pip."
"I don't really remember her."
"Oh... that's a shame."
"It's okay." She perks up again. "Because now I have you to teach me."
I let out half a chuckle. "I guess you do."
"Master, can I ask a question?"
"Go ahead."
"How do I... make friends? I've never had a friend before. I don't know how to do it. I tried asking someone, but it didn't work."
She must've tried with that smoker women at the mechanic. "It probably didn't work because that woman was much older than you. Try talking with kids your age. Bonus points if you share some sort of interest."
"Oh okay. I'll do that."
I finish untangling the lower few inches of her hair. It doesn't help that it's so long. I teach her the motion so she can continue on her own.
I resume my chess game, and she watches. She tries to pronounce every word that appears on-screen. I usually have to correct her, but I appreciate that she's trying.
It's not long before she's fast asleep on the couch. It's getting late. I think I'll turn in myself. I cover her with a blanket and head to my room.
I'm about to close the door when I notice that she's following me. "What are you doing? Go back to the couch, and go to sleep."
"Um... can I please sleep by you, Master?"
"Why? What difference does it make?"
"Because you... you're my master."
"That's not a reason, Pip."
"But... I..." She's struggling to articulate herself. "Please." She bends her legs a little.
I sigh. She really wants this. I suppose it couldn't hurt. She's been nothing but obedient in the last while, and it's not like I can lock the door anyway. "Alright. Get the pillows from the couch and make yourself a bed on the floor."
"Thank you!" She hurries off to fetch them.
She makes her bed, and I get under my blankets.
"Goodnight, Master."
"Night."
* * * * * * * *
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I growl at my phone.
"There's been another holdup," Jack says through the crackly speaker. "I can't take the batteries off your hands today."
"This isn't what we agreed upon. I'm sitting here with a truck full of illegal shit, risking my ass because you couldn't be bothered to spare one guy. "
"That's just how it goes sometimes."
I pinch the bridge of my nose. He's just messing me around because he thinks I don't have the balls to take my business elsewhere. It's time I put my foot down. "Tonight, I sell the batteries. I'd prefer if it was to you, but if none of your guys are available, then that's just how it goes sometimes."
"You little shit! I'm in charge here!" he shouts.
"I'm not trying-"
"This is insubordination! You-"
"I don't work for you!" I shout back into the speaker and hang up. It looks like shouting is the only way to get through to him. If he doesn't show tonight, then I'm selling elsewhere.
"Master? What's going on?" Pip's rubbing her eyes by the bedroom door.
"I didn't mean to wake you. I'm just dealing with a difficult client."
She yawns but is cut off by a coughing fit.
"I think it's time we take you to the vet."