Ballad of Flowers

Chapter 36

            "I still don't understand, Apple... What's so dangerous about letting me go outside?" Strawberry seems disappointed, cabin fever growing on her. "That's enough." Apple grumbles, not looking up from his phone. "Seriously, I'm getting tired of sitting around-" "I said that's enough." Apple practically shouts, glaring into her visor. "Can I at least have something to do? It's so boring here..." He quietly growls, getting up and grabbing a scrambled Rubik's Cube. He tosses it at her head, the plastic cube making a small Tink sound when it hit her glass visor. "Ow, what the hell?" "You said you wanted something to do. You can solve that."

She had solved it in a little under three minutes, bored again. "Is that all you have to do here?" She grumbles, sour faced. "I'd let you watch TV if it wouldn't give you any ideas." He sneers, glaring at the black television, currently switched off. "Maybe we could go to the park or something? I've always wanted to go to that one... There's a Synth downstairs that talks about it to me..." Apple shoots up, shocked. "You've been talking to someone?! Come here." He practically runs over to her, shoving her to the floor and opening her access panel.

"I never thought you could... communicate... with other Synths..." He grunts as she struggles beneath him, twitching and shivering as he tampered with settings. "Now, you can't talk with them anymore. You hear me? You're not allowed to talk to anyone now." He hisses, closing the screen and getting off of her. She had started crying, scampering away from him as soon as she could.

"Has anyone ever told you how much of a piece of garbage you are?" She hisses a few minutes later, Apple mostly ignoring her. "I mean, you just want to control every little thing about me, don't you?" He clenches his teeth lightly, leaning in closer to his phone. "Have you ever considered that's why Copper was so scare- ""SHUT UP!" He screeches, eyes a sharp green full of anger and hatred. "What? You don't like thinking about how much you fuck up everyone else's life?" She growls, Apple furious. "Your sister never wants to see you again. Your ex-boyfriend ran away from home. Heck, your parents never wanted to be around you!" "Shut up... just stop..." He tries to yell, only sobs coming out. "I hate you so much... I hate being around you. You hate me. I don't understand why you bought me if you just want to control me. Maybe it's to compensate for a lack of something else?" He gets up, running over and punching her visor as hard as he could, seething. The sound of shattered glass rings through the apartment, Strawberry yelping in pain. "This is why nobody fucking loves you..." She whispers, Apple tossing her to the floor.

He had her pinned, opening up her holo-menu once more. He angrily punched in settings and options as she struggled and writhed with all her might. He nearly broke off one of her horns while keeping her down, keeping his entire body weight against her. "There. All done." He gets off of her, Strawberry preparing to yell insults and angry retorts at him, but nothing comes out. She tries to talk, but there's just silence. She goes to punch him, but her arm stops before it can connect. "Go to the bedroom and lie down." He orders. She would never obey him, but she does it anyways. She tries to fight it with all her strength but fails.

"I'd say you need to be taught a lesson. Someone needs to put you in your place." He paces across his room as Strawberry helplessly watches. Her expression shows pure hatred, and as much as she tries to scream at him about how much she despises him, nothing escapes her. "I called over one of my friends to assist in your lesson. He will definitely enjoy you." He snickers, ready to obtain revenge.

Her entire body ached. They weren't letting up. Both of them had been ruthlessly beating her, raping her, toying with her, all while she sat idly for a command. She had been crying most of the time, trying to break free but lacking the ability to.

It was quiet in the apartment. All the lights were off. She was sleeping on the floor next to the bed, deemed not worthy of the comfort of it. She was being treated like a wild animal now, like she was too stupid to understand. She couldn't take it anymore. She had one option left. The console pops up in her head, awaiting a command. Are you sure you'd like to shut down? [Y/N] it prompts.

Y

Strawberry didn't wake up that morning.

Or the next.

Or the one after that.