The New Life of Amaya

Chapter 3

"Why are you in this kind of business?" I asked him. I've been talking to him for a while now and found out his name is Andreas and at some point I found out his middle name was Michelangelo. 

"It wasn't my choice." Andreas replied. Rex huffed out a breath of air as if to say 'as if'. 

"You're an adult and you had no choice? Look at how you live. You control the guard that takes people like us away when they get tired of us.." I stressed.

"Not what I meant. My father left me the business when he died. He was in it for the control. What I do is try to find new homes, freedom if you will, for those I get calls for."

"Why not just free everyone instead? Since you're in such a high and mighty position anyways."

"It's not so easy, Amaya. Not when there is so many things that are hindering me from abolishing the insane laws that are in place. Not everyone is owned like you were. In fact many people live a free life while few like you are owned by others in America. It's a black market kind of thing, and that's why when people get taken away by my guards civilians tend to think its a police matter "

"I don't even know what you're talking about because Red told me something different my whole life."

"That's because you were in Red's service to make up for debt from your family. When you demeanor became too much for her she called my guards and sold you to me essentially."

"So, you own me now?" I bit out.

"No, on the contrary, I bought your freedom. As long as you stay here, on this island, you don't go past the big rocks just over that way in the sea, you are free."

"Free to be a prisoner on an island with dogs I don't like People I don't like, Rex and you and Zhi. Sounds completely free to me I guess."

"There's a town on the island, a school, stores and much more. The island is much bigger than you've experienced so far. The only thing I ask is that you continue to reside at my residence to ensure your freedom and safety."

"You make no sense... If I'm free, I should be allowed to leave your home if I desire."

"But then you're at the mercy of those who can kidnap you and sell you into the same life you just came from. Here you have a home, a bed, food, guards to protect you, Rex who's opted to protect you, and you basically get to be yourself around the guards. To add a little incentive, the only one I ask you to listen to is Zhi."

"Hmmm....." I mindlessly pet Rex's head as I stared at the ocean and weighed my options, "Why not send me somewhere I'll be free forever?" 

"I could do that, but you're not guaranteed safety, rather here on the island you are."

"I think you just like to control people and things."

Andreas was silent for a moment, "You're right there... Though I never did say I was perfect."

"I also think that you have an unnatural attraction toward me. You say there is a school and because you apparently want to protect me, why not let me go to the school and make a life for myself?"

"Okay. You can still live here."

"What if I don't want to?" Rex's ears laid flat on his head.

"Then you can live on campus."

"What about Rex? He would be sad if I left him." This time Rex's ears perked up.

"You're quite demanding aren't you?"

"I just like to make people's lives harder." I retorted. 

"I can clearly see that." He said, then thought for a long while, "We can get you enrolled into school and get you into a dorm that accepts pets or I will get you into a home owned by the campus."