Chapter Text
It was cold, dark, and creepy, where they kept him shackled to a dirty cot.
Longer since they last fed him.
George struggles to keep his eyes open.
His stomach churns, aching with hunger, as he suffers through delarium
There was no hiding from him for prolonged time, only pain once he found you.
They had trapped him within the old abandoned Mall; the plaza was enormous and well kept. Various outlets lined the Mall, their chain-linked gates drawn. They wove food courts throughout the shopping center. The Heart of the Mall was on the bottom level, sitting next to the Arcade room. Nothing was more captivating than the architecture—the stunning archways to the flying buttresses to the glossy escalators that no longer ran. The sound of gushing waters from the indoor waterfall fills the oppressive silence.
George was both scared and lonely.
Father had sold the blueprints to George’s toy robot to the head of security with one stipulation that they instate a fail-safe into all production, calling it protocol seven.
George lifts his head, listening to the doorknob jostle. He covers his eyes as a flood of light emits from the corridor spilling into the darkened room.Robby enters the room carrying a steaming plate of fish and vegetables along with a small bowl of fruit. The cot creaks under his weight as he sits next to the boy commanding him to eat, pressing an apple wedge to his lips. George whimpers, turning away.
It would help if you ate, came the mechanical voice of the security robot.
A metal hand reaches out, grasping his jaw, prying open his mouth, nudging an apple wedge inside, cupping a hand over the child’s mouth.
George struggles but swallows anyway.
Robby gives him the plate of food. The boy’s hands tremble as he struggles to eat.
Finely he gives up.
“Eating is pointless; you will never let me leave”
“Affirmative, Robby answers. His mechanical voice sounding forigin to George’s ear as he guides the fish towards his mouth.
“Intruders have infiltrated the Mall, and my surveillance cameras have picked up several unknown movements throughout the Mall”. Robby goes on. I can’t have you running around. You are my primary target; he informs the boy.
Intruders-George whispers to himself, the TSP:
“They’re never going to find you”, assures Robby, crouching so that he was eye level. “I won’t let them. Once I eradicate them, I’ll come back and open up the Arcade, and we can play. But for now, get some rest. I’ll be watching.
“Let me go. You deranged psychopath”-. Robby pauses by the door, his back growing rigid as his fingers dig into the door frame: Tonight, the blood I spill will be on you. With that, Robby leaves, locking the door behind him.
“No!- Please no!” He cries, I can’t afford to lose anybody else!. Get back here and release me!
ROBBY!- He curses the android as the Security Robot disappears, subcumbs to a night of restless sleep.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump A headless body thuds against the door.
Blood-curdling screams reverberate through the corridors, followed by the manic revving of a chainsaw.
He screams, renewing his efforts.
Leave them alone- Robby- Leave them alone. George yells, yanking harder on his chains and taring the rusty manacles from the wall.
He rushes to the door as the agonizing screams fade.
George steps back, suddenly weary as he hides within the shadows, his breath bated.
The door creaks open.
He peers up at Robby clutching the decapitated head of one of the intruders. Then, reaching out, he grabs George by the scruff of his collar, throwing him back onto the cot.
George cracks his head against the wall.
You don’t listen, do you?
I told you I’d be watching growls Robby, placing the head onto the dresser, he lunges at the boy, gripping both wrists as he shoves them back into the cuffs. George grimaces as Robby shifts atop, twisting the severed head around so that he had an unrestricted view. Do you know this feline Robby seethes through serrated teeth -as Kitty’s decapitated head looks upon them with dull eyes.
George shivers with horror. Robby could feel him trembling underneath him- struggling, twisting, and writhing under him as he tries to turn his head away from a gruesome reality. Robby held his head in a vice-like grip. George could feel the bile rising from his stomach.
He swallows as he sputters. Geh- Get off me, pulling against his restraints as Robby presses his head into the pillow, forcing him to stop.
That all depends on one thing: Robby hisses, his face close to George’s ear.
The boy shivers, his skin crawls.
- On you, or the next severed head I bring in here, might be someone you know, like that sister of yours.” Robby Growls.
George winces. “You’re not giving me much of choice, George says, hissing in pain as Robby pins him to the wall.
No, I’m not. Answers the android cinching the chains.
He looks at his handiwork and smiles.
A twisted smile. Turning- grabbing the disembodied head, he slips off before walking out.
George cries himself to sleep while mourning the loss of a friend.
Through the ducts came a wisp of a whisper, a tiny soft voice audible.
Hang in there, George, I’ll find a way, he promises as she watches him through the crates of the vents.
Meanwhile, In the central control room, Robby boils. Slams the decapitated head onto the desk before sinking into the chair.
The boy was irritating and infuriating. So why couldn’t he stay put?
He had only subdued four out of the nine intruders. And three of them still had their heads attached to their bodies. They were still breathing for now, at least until George needs another dose of reality.
He toys with the head, watching George through the computer monitor. A framed photo of five figures stood on a nearby desk.
Three out of five had claw marks running across their faces.
It was a picture of their first meeting. Robby presses a hand to the computer monitor, watching the boy. Patience, I promise you in time, you’ll come to understand the plans I have for you and protocol seven.