Some Beauty and the Kind-Of Beast

- 8 -

8 - The Beast

The days passed without notice, and Donna seemed to find a place for herself in this stupid house. In this perpetual snow, Donna has found endless ways to amuse herself. The only problem is that none of the robots can go out and play in the snow, so she usually drags me out into the courtyard. I hate snow. And she knows that. So what do I do? I make sure I'm wearing my 'prettiest' -- her words -- cloak and I attack her.

I don't know why she doesn't just leave. It's not like I'm holding her back. Although, if I'm truly honest, I like having her around. I feel less trapped in this godforsaken house that's got its own mind.

I should've never taken that rose. I wanted it, though. It was pretty, expensive, and would've probably bought for more than it actually was worth, I suppose it was my own greed that brought the stupid curse upon me. You know what they say about karma, so I guess I deserve it.

I could've been so rich if I had just carried the damn thing until I got a buyer. I suppose that's what you get for breaking and entering an abandoned mansion with a stolen artificial intelligence source.

I'm not the cleanest guy in town. I've been a thief for so long because it's fun, not because I'm broke or starving or anything of the sort. I just can't afford the high maintenence lifestyle I want, so I steal. It's like shopping, except you don't pay for anything.

There have been a few people who've stumbled upon this mansion nightmare. One guy actually stayed a week, but that was only because he was interested in the robots. When he found the bomb in the basement, he fled. I don't blame them, but I get lonely. Everyone needs human interaction, and when we don't get it, we become psychopaths. I'm probably just trying to find excuses for my behaviour, but that's what I blame for holding Donna's parents up.

I liked Nova, I really did. She was sharp, quick-witted, nasty, brutally honest, and looking at someone that beautiful is just a great bonus. Of course, she's too young to want to even say Hi to me. Apparently, if you're old enough to know how to use a VCR, you're too old to talk to Nova.

Donna on the other hand . . . well, she's got her own kind of beauty. She contrasts so much with Nova. I mean, Nova probably knows the name of every fashion label and does her best to get her hands on the latest and greatest. Donna's wearing skirts from medieval times. I'm serious, she looks like a girl out of some old fairytale book. I can tell that Nova spends hours in the bathroom applying her makeup -- a skill Donna has declared impossible -- while her sister throws her hair into a ponytail and applies the bare minimum to her face.

And yet, they both look equally enthralling. Each with a beauty of their own that is unique to them and their style.

I miss being able to see so many people that I could unravel the mysteries of their lives as best as I can from watching them walk by me.

It's my own fault. I shouldn't have taken the rose.

I watch as Donna throws snowballs at the stray dog, laughing when it kicks snow back at her. She's actually named it Snowball. It fits, I suppose, seeing that the dog does have white fur. Well, we only discovered that after Donna took it in and gave it a bath.

Donna has to go. The house runs itself and might not let me out, but it will let her out. I'm the one that stole a fully functioning AI system and set off a fatal fail safe. She shouldn't have to stay behind as well.

"Donna," I call out, closing the netbook I was using and dropping it in my coat pocket.

She drops the half formed snowball on the dog's head. "You used my name," she says with a smile. "I'm so proud of you!"

I don't respond to her amusement and sarcasm. She scratches Snowball behind the ear and tells her to go play before standing up and walking towards me.

"What is it?"

I glance around, squinting at the harsh reflections of the sunlight on all the white everywhere. "How long have you been here?"

She shrugs. "I wasn't counting. Probably a few weeks, one month tops." She grins wryly. "You're not trying to get rid of me, are you?"

I smile at her. "I might be."

She laughs, throwing her head back like I've made the funniest joke ever.

"You can't get rid of me that easy, pretty boy," she says, highly amused.

I fold my arms and watch Donna call out to the dog. It's not easy to spot a white puppy in all the snow.

"I want you to leave."

"What?" She asks, turning back to me at the speed of light.

"I want you . . . to leave."

"No, I heard you. I was giving you a chance to change your sentence."

"Donna, you can't stay here. First of all, there's a self destructive bomb in the basement that neither of us know when will go off. Second of all, you should be at home, with your family. Third of all, you should hate me."

She takes some time to respond. "Maybe a while ago I did hate you . . . but then I got to know you a little better. I like the company of the robots, especially Logan and Holly. I like the huge library. I like sitting in front of the fireplace with hot cocoa made specially by Bleu. I love playing like a little girl out here with a cute little dog. Adam, I like it here."

She won't leave willingly.

"You should at least make a visit home. For all you know, Nova thinks I'm holding you here. I wouldn't blame her, by the way."

She looks shocked. "Adam, I don't want to leave. If I went back, they'd never let me come here again. They'd probably lock me up in my house."

I'll have to trick her into leaving.

I shrug. "Then maybe that's for the best."

"I would never see you again. I'd never see the robots . . . you'd die here."

I shrug again. "I stole something that didn't belong to me and now I'm paying the price. You haven't done anything. Go home, Donna."

"You can't make me leave. Just give me a phone and I'll call them. Tell them I'm fine and I wanna stay here."

"You have a really bad case of stockholm syndrome."

"I'm not being funny, Adam. Let me just call them, then I won't have to leave."

I shake my head. "You can't stay here, Donna. It's suicidal, moreover, it's stupid. You've just met me recently, and it's not like I have a very good first impression. Go home, Donna. You have a family that's worried about you."

"You saved my life, Adam," she says softly. "That's not something I can forget and just move on with life like you're still an evil beast. I'm not leaving you here alone with a ticking time bomb. How would I ever return the favour?"

"Donna, you'll die."

She shrugs. "So be it. I'm staying whether you like it or not."

Oh, Donna, you're going to leave, whether you like it or not.