The fluorescent lights flickered above, casting long shadows across the sterile halls.
Footsteps echoed—our own and those of roaming guards. Ma'am Vivienne and I had arrived at the institute for a showcase and to care for Adrian, but he was nowhere to be found.
'As of now, we've encountered 16 guards.'
"Ma'am Vivienne, uhm, why am I exactly here? I'm Adrian's caretaker and I should be by his side right now."
"Adrian does not need your presence. And, you've been neglecting your duties as an Executive Chief."
'How stingy.'
I've been making excuses since arriving here. Using Adrian and using my role as his caretaker.
My purpose? I missed the guy.
'I hope he's doing well…'
A familiar presence can be felt near me, but maybe too familiar.
A person emerged from the next hallway to the right.
"Ah," a lazy voice called out. His head tilted slightly, eyes blank. "Sir, where might the exit be—?"
Chains shot from the hands of the nearby containment guard, latching onto him with a violent snap. He staggered back, a faint hiss escaped from his lips.
"Urk!"
"Adri—"
"What is the meaning of this?!"
Ma'am Vivienne, who had been composed earlier, exploded in rage as soon as she saw the person who'd been wandering—Adrian.
A person appeared behind Adrian. He was the secretary of Evercare Institute.
"Ah. My apologies. Madam. As you can see, Unit 091 escaped his cell."
He tilted Adrian's chin up, eyes cold. "Quite mischievous, isn't he? But he remains as the centerpiece of today's showcase."
My stomach dropped. My mind froze. Adrian… a product? My Adrian?
'No. This isn't possible. He belongs beside me. Only beside me!'
I couldn't wrap my head around the situation.
Adrian being sold off? I couldn't accept that. After all, the only place he belongs is beside me.
"W—what do you mean by productI?"
Ma'am Vivienne snapped back to reality as soon as she heard my words. She also chimed in, repeating my words in sheer disbelief.
"Just as he said! Why is he called a product?"
Underneath all the bickering. His eyes gleamed with quiet amusement, a predator in human skin. Calm. Untouchable. Still Adrian… but not the one I knew.