Ava's Plaything

I was shocked by what Ava had said but quickly shook out of it when Ava took a step forward, causing the ground to crack underneath her strength. A growl was coming out of Ava, completely inhuman sounding and even more feral than any wild animal. Saliva dripped from her mouth and she took another step forward, once again causing the ground to crack, the reinforced metal ground doing nothing.

The three Zenar Hunters took one last look at Ava then turned around and ran as fast as they could. I reached towards them and was about to tell them to wait but decided against it. They wouldn't stop even if she told them to anyway.

It was a shame as I knew they were working with Brian in whatever plan they were trying to do. I wondered what they were trying to do and who set them up.

My mind went to my father but I quickly shook my head. There is no way that dad would do this. Even he knows when too far is too far.

As I was thinking about things my mind came up with another question. The alarm went off for Ava. That was certain. Yet her room was three to four miles away. So how, how did she arrive here so quickly? And how did she even know I was in danger?

"Hey, Ava. How did you get here so quickly?"

Ava turned towards me and smiled.

"I ran through my wall and remembered that the quickest way is to go straight so I just went through every wall that was in the way towards you!"

"...."

"...."

You don't get to make that cute and childish expression while looking for praise. No, not after you destroyed humanity's most defensive stronghold's defense like it was nothing.

Yet despite that, I still found myself petting Ava. She purred and her tail plopped on the ground, making a scraping sound, and repositioned itself behind her. I started petting her behind her ears and was surprised by how soft her skin was and how soft the horns on the back of her head were. It wasn't until later that I realized that she made her horns soft for me.

"You did a good job Ava, but you were too reckless."

"What is reckless?"

"Reckless means being too bold."

"What is bold?" Ava asked, cocking her head with a curious and confused look in her eyes.

"...."

"...."

"It means that you don't care about yourself or others and get either yourself or others harmed."

"What does that have to do with what I just did?"

"You rushed forward not caring what was in your way. That was what being reckless is. I don't know the exact definition of bold but I will bring you the explanation later."

"Okay!"

Ava sat down like a dog and leaned forward, pressing her head against my chest. I couldn't help but blush at this. of course Ava didn't see what she was doing as wrong.

But I still had one more question. How did Ava know I was in danger? The alarm stopped when Ava found me too.

My mind went back to the camera that was watching me and Brian. Someone was watching us and let Ava escape. They probably told her what was happening too. But why? Did they want to see what Ava could do? Or is it something else?

I shook my head. I could think about this later. Right now I should just wait for someone to come to get us. As I sat down a voice from the speakerphone started saying that everyone in Sector 2B is to remain inside and people out of Sector 2B are to stay away from it. Of course, we were in Sector 2B.

Ava laid down in front of me, her tail curled around both me and herself protectively. After a while of waiting and nothing happening I noticed that Ava was sleeping, her claws twitching slightly in her sleep. Without thinking I lean down and kissed Ava on the cheek. She let out a small sigh and stopped twitching. After watching her sleep peacefully for a bit I began to feel tired as well. The events of today were too much for me to handle at the moment and I decided to take a nap as well. I settled down and felt Ava's tail wrap itself around me like a blanket. Her tail and body were very warm and comfortable. I felt safe sleeping right next to her despite the smell of blood on her and the spikes jutting out of her tail and arms.

I fell asleep in seconds.

....

I woke up in Ava's room. I was surprised at first since I expected that if anyone was to take us that they would send me back to my room but I guess I was wrong. Through the glass, I could see my dad and head scientist talking. Upon me awaking, one of the scientists in the room pressed a button and a metal shudder fell over the glass, blocking what was happening inside.

The smell of blood was in the air and I turned and saw Ava holding up a prisoner by his throat against the wall, effortlessly lifting him well above her head. The man had a deep stab wound on his left leg and his left arm was nothing but a bloody stump, the other end missing until I noticed a finger sticking out of Ava's mouth.

Ava spat out the finger and caught it in her free hand before tossing the finger behind her. Her tail sprung to life and opened up like a mouth, revealing sharp teeth. The yellow eyes that I saw before sprung open and the tail caught the finger in mid-air and ate it with one bite before going back to its normal dormant state.

The man that Ava was holding was begging for mercy and saying that if she'll let him go that he will give her money. I knew it wasn't going to work through. Ava simply cocked her head and asked two simple questions which cut through the horrible act she was committing and the man's pleading.

"What is money and what is mercy?"

The man did not know how to respond to that and only started stammering. Ava's back horns mimicked a cat's ears when annoyed and she leaned closer to the man.

"You sound funny. Are you alright prey? Well, it doesn't matter since you are going to be food soon."

Ava stabbed the man's right should with her free hand. Just one finger. The prisoner started screaming which caused Ava's ears to twitch. Despite that, her smile became even wider and she sniffed the air with delight.

"Ahh! That's a really good smell. Though I wonder if I keep poking ya with my finger if that tasty smell will increase."

Ava's smile was like a wolf yet still held that childish feature. She had no idea that what she was doing was horrible and wrong. She lacked the morals that other predators have. She lacked the knowledge that what she was doing was wrong that madmen and dictators have. She was a child who viewed violence and slaughter and even torture as nothing but a way of life.

It was then that I realized that Ava was indeed worse than any Zenar. Zenars get pleasure from killing but not like this. This was something way worse.

Ava suddenly turned towards me, her horns back to their normal positions. She smiled, her eyes closed and an expression of joy and relief on her face. She let go of the prisoner and ran towards me, her expression turning worried.

At first, I thought that Ava had let the man live, but when he hit the floor he split apart down the middle, cut in half. By the intestine on Ava's tail, it was clear that she was the culprit. She did it so fast that I couldn't even see...but the worst part was she did it without even looking at him. It was just like she had simply...scratched an itch.

"Are you alright? There is a foul smell coming off you." Ava asked, sniffing me all around before leaning in close to my face, her intense red eyes studying me. I couldn't help but blush furiously. Ava was very pretty, even if her face was covered in blood and she had what looked like black scales running from the sides of her face to her mouth and fo course, her Zenar eyes. Add the fact that there was a serious and concerned look on her face that was aimed towards me and you got yourself a very flustered me.

Not many people care about me like this. Not like Ava does. She picks up when something is wrong and actively tries to fix it, even if what is wrong is her. I calmed myself and found myself smiling.

"Nothing. I'm just shaken from what happened yesterday."

I know it is a lie but it is a lie that I had to tell. Ava is a Zenar. To her, the concept of mercy and morals don't exist. Just because she has an IQ and can talk doesn't mean she is different. She'll feel nothing if a human dies or if she kills one herself.

Then what about me? Would she care if I die? Would she become angry but afterward not even bat an eye at the mention of my name?

Ava was someone who I could hang out with and someone who will protect me but do I really even matter to her? I decided to ask a question that has been bothering me for a while.

"Hey, Ava. What was it that you were going to say when we first met before you jumped off of me?"

Ava blinked and sat back, her tail slightly tapping the ground. Her thinking face is cute.

But whatever joy I got from her cute expression instantly vanished at her reply.

"I was going to say that I'll keep ya since you seem interesting."

I froze. There was no hesitation in those words. She meant what she said. To her, I was something interesting. A toy.

My mind flashed back to the guy she had killed and briefly remembered something my dad said to me when trying to convince me on the phone to not see Ava. It was that Ava played with her prey, trying out different methods to kill them to pass the time. She even threatens to kill every one of the scientists in her room if they failed to provide her with enough entertainment.

A realization began to dawn on me. It was clear now that to Ava, I was hers. I was her toy. Her plaything. The interesting new prey that belongs to her. She was a child in the cruellest sense. She sees everything as a toy.

I looked at the broken wall that Ava escaped from and saw a flickering light of blue. They put up a force field until they could repair it. The thought of Ava coming to save me before was something I found heroic and noble...but now I know that she was coming to get her plaything before it found itself harmed. I had not run out of uses for Ava, and that was probably the only reason I was alive.

I looked into Ava's eyes and couldn't help but shudder. They were curious and worried, yes, but there was something else to them that I never picked up before. There was an uncaring look in her eyes. No amount of warmth could stop me from seeing it. Her eyes told me that she is akin to a God, or even worse, above them, and to her, I was nothing but a pathetic thing that she could do as she pleases. I was her plaything....and it was as simple as that.

But even so, I dared to ask. I needed to know.

"Are you really alright, Mye?"

"Ava, what am I to you."

"You're mine and my friend."

I swallowed nervously and found myself wanting to cower and just accept her words. But I needed to know. I must know.

"Yeah, but what else?"

Ava smiled wider. It wasn't a cruel smile. It was a smile that just was. It was Ava being Ava...and being completely honest.

"You're my Plaything. My Interesting Prey that is Mine and no one else's."