My Pet Human {UNDER SERIOUS EDITING}

Chapter Twenty-Two: 'The S.C.U'

"Are you excited about your first camping trip, Colton?" Lilly asked from the front seat as the car rumbled to life. Swallowing nervously, Colton felt his entire body vibrate with the jerky movements.

"Y-Y-Yes Master L-L-Lilly." He stuttered, trying to maintain his respective human monotone but failing because of how much his body shuddered with the car. David revved the engine, sending both Charlene and Colton stumbling backwards into the vertical back padding behind them. Ben giggled and extended his finger out to rub his pet's head, only dizzying him further.

"Ease up on the brakes, Dave." Lilly scolded. She turned her enormous head to face the two humans, who sat rigidly between their owners on the middle seat. From this angle, Colton could see each individual wrinkle lining the Laquanian woman's skin. She smiled warmly. "You don't have to call me your master, Colt. You're a member of this family, now."

"Master's fine with me." David grumbled in the background, causing Colton to stiffen. He nodded a little too quickly because when David ran over a loose stone, the movements sent his head back in a whiplash. He groaned, shaking away the nausea and clinging to Ben's trouser leg to steady himself. The car lurched forward onto the main road, caravan in tow and he settled down a little as the vibrations lessened. Charlene placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm guessing this is your first time in a car." She smiled in understanding. I like Charlene. Colton decided to himself, even though her Laquanian personality still struck him as odd.

"Yes." He replied hastily, seconds before Ben finally took pity and scooped the young human into his palm. Colton closed his eyes in relief, used to the 'handling' process now. Still, he couldn't bring himself to understand how Ben could be so gentle with humans. From the memories the voice had granted him so far, the Masters back at the Institute weren't as forgiving. Ben raised his hand slowly, as if not to startle him further and Colton felt the dizziness in his head recede. With Ben's larger body absorbing the shock of the car, he'd stopped shuddering completely.

"You're alright, Colt." His owner soothed, resting the human against his chest. Colton leaned back against the soft material of his shirt. Ben's skin was warm, soothing the constant headache he'd dealt with since regaining the first of his lost memories. Colton peered curiously over the side of his owner's giant hand, to notice Charlene pouting from the middle seat. Her entire body shook from the car's engine below, and her face was grim. Noticing her discomfort, Ben scooped her up so she sat next to Colton in his cupped palms. When she rested her head on the younger human's shoulder, he tensed up.

"What? I'm tired." Charlene giggled, nuzzling further against him. Her features softened. "You should get some rest, too, Colt. Maybe you'll remember something important when you wake up."

Colton nodded mutely. In all truthfulness, he'd been wondering the same thing. His head still throbbed from the last time the voice had spoken to him, and it had been dormant ever since. But Colton knew he'd never get to sleep. From the angle Ben was holding them, he could see outside the window. His eyes remained glued to the scenery, taking it all in with hungry, desperate curiosity.

Identical rows of houses whizzing by, each the size of an entire city to a human.

Trees taller than the eye could see.

Marshmallow clouds, and the blue ceiling Ben had described to him as the 'sky'.

It made Colton wonder what it was like to be a Laquanian; a thought that constantly crossed his mind. For one, he'd feel normal, like he was part of something and not just the human he was. His brain didn't even function quickly enough for him to form proper sentences. What he could get out were jumbled, monotonous statements that made him sound like a toddler just learning to speak. His entire personality was the product of the Pet Institute. If he was caught talking with expression or even tonal variations, like a Laquanian, he'd be punished. If someone asked him to recite the Human Code of Conduct, even as a joke, he wouldn't even be able to think properly before he was done.