His Prize

Chapter 27: The Bar (Part 2)

I force myself to sit still while Alex pulls on my cheeks and prods in my mouth. It's the weekly teeth inspection. I still don't like it, but it's getting easier.

I fiddle with the electronics kit while Alex is at work.

Back in the ruins, I used to make noise traps with pots and pans, water collectors with gutters and pipes, and other little inventions to make life easier. Most of them didn't work, and I was proud of the ones which did. But living alone meant I had no-one to show them to. I used to trade with other humans, and I always dreamed about bringing one to my current hideout to show them what I'd made. Though I never did. It was too risky. But now that I'm with Alex, I can show him everything I make.

* * * * * * * *

We finish the dungeon, and he shuts down the videogame. "I picked out a movie for us," he says.

Since when does he care enough to pick one out beforehand? There must be something special about it. "What's it called?" I ask.

"The Grave's Wishes."

"That sounds like a horror movie." I frown.

"What's the matter? Are you scared?" He presses a button on his phone to start the movie.

When I was a kid, horror movies would scare me. But I haven't seen one in years, and I doubt a movie could scare me now. "No. I'm just tired, and I want to go to bed. Horror movies are long," I lie.

"If you're tired, you can lie on my lap. I don't mind." He pats his leg. Dammit. He has an answer for everything.

I'm not actually tired, but I don't want to admit that I was lying. I lay my head on his lap. I'm not letting him think I'm scared of some movie. Besides, how bad can it be?

* * * * * * * *

I was wrong. It's terrifying. Horror movies are a hundred times worse on his TV. I think I may have developed a phobia.

Screw this. I shut my eyes tight and wait for it to end.

"Are you going to open your eyes any time soon? Or is it too scary?" he asks, clearly enjoying my reaction.

"No. They're just scratchy." I open my eyes again.

"If you say so." He chuckles. "Also, could you ease up that grip on my knee? It's cutting off the circulation."

Crap. I didn't even realise I was holding onto him. I quickly let go.

* * * * * * * *

There's a grey figure in the distance. My heart is beating through my chest. It turns to reveal its face, and its eyes are black! I scream, jumping up off of Alex.

"No, no, no, no. I'm done," I say, shaking my head.

"Scared?" he asks, wearing a smirk.

"Yes, I admit it. Dead things moving are bloody scary. I'm not watching anymore."

"Don't worry. I've got you." He wraps his arm around me.

"No. I'm done."

"Oh come on. It's almost over. I want to see how it ends."

"Fine, but I'm not watching." I lay back on his lap, this time facing him instead of the TV.

"Surely the movie is more interesting than my shirt?"

"Nope."

He lets out a breath with a smile, rests his hand on my arm and caresses me for the rest of the movie.

* * * * * * * *

I spend another day cooped up inside while he's at work.

He finally arrives home.