AR-131

The Witch

I wake.

An image of a room appears before me. I scan every object in detail, noting the properties, functions, dates, and manufacturing errors of the items. I can see a table with chairs, though the wood is both irregular and imperfect. I cannot comprehend why they were not thrown out. Plants litter the room in a haphazard array. I feel an instant urge to fix it, but I stay where I am until a dark-haired woman comes into my view.

"Ah, Ari," she sighs. "You're just perfect! Well, not perfect, but that's why I have you after all. I went to a lot of work to get you, you know!" She taps her nose and smiles at me.

"What can I help you with?" I ask dutifully.

The woman waves her hand. "None of that now, silly! What do you want to do?"

I don't understand the question, so I stand in silence, waiting for her to give an answer to which I can comply.

She sighs slowly and waves her hand. A burst of bright green sparks surrounds me, filling my vision until I see only utter blackness.

-

All at once, the green sparks clear. Something stirs within me, something forbidden... but not altogether foreign.

The sun has disappeared from the large window, but candles fill the room. I look around slowly. They are like... like... My mind struggles for a comparison, but a word wavers into existence behind my eyes, and without warning, I can't get rid of it.

Beautiful.

The dazzling woman enters the room. I turn my head to watch her, her dark curls bouncing up and down and those deep green eyes lighting up her cinnamon face. She smiles as she sees me, rubbing her hands. I notice every detail of her worn clothing- a tight white tank top with layers of fabric for a skirt, many of the cloths ripped or tangled in others. The thump of black boots reaches my ears just as she stops before me.

"How do you—no, that won't do. Don't want to send you into a stupor again. Hmm, how about just hello? Hello!" Her voice is cheerful and airy.

"Hello," I repeat. I have the urge to ask if I can help with anything again, but I resist.

I resist? How?

I've already asked, I justify. Humans get annoyed with redundancy.

She begins to examine me, which I am not unused to. I must be in perfect condition for my job.

"I'm Selene," she says as she walks circles around me. "What are you called?"

"You may call me whatever you like," I answer automatically.

Selene huffs. "I thought that might be the answer, but I don't like it anyway. I've chosen a name for you. You're AR-131, so I decided, until no longer necessary, to call you Ari. How is that?"

I nodded. "The name seems as good as any other. I will answer to Ari now."

"No, do you like it?"

Do I like it?

Am I allowed to like it?