They sat him down with some of the nurses bringing in his food, as he finally sat down .

“Are you okay?” Zed calmed down noticing the hallway was empty, and he sighed.

“I’m fine, where are we anyway?” The two proceeded to try their best to explain what they knew and he quietly listened.

The two had revealed the place to be much like that of the previous facility, expect they were the opposing faction.

Zed raised an eyebrow asking what it was that they were opposing, the other two shook their heads not quite sure of the answer themselves.

“Hmm well at least we aren’t test subjects anymore” He put aside the tray and sighed resting his head on his propped up arm.

“So are you going to go home or something?” The girl posed him a question, they never expected to leave that lab. Now that they were out what exactly was it they were going to be doing.

“hah there’s no way I can go home like this”

“That’s true” Demiurge raised his shoulders and shook his head “Guess we’re stuck together for life”

The large majority of the rest of the day was spent getting him through the regular talk around the facility as he would only be let out the next morning.

The next morning he opened his eyes flashed open with cold sweat on his forehead as he gazed at the dark metal ceiling.

The lights had yet to come on, he groaned and turned himself over in an attempt to continue his sleep when he suddenly froze, his eyes wide.

That terrifying little living doll was staring him in his eye sockets. The boy slowly and carefully blinked the doll like things eyes unchanging.

He continued to keep staring at the doll, his confidence evaporating the longer she continued to watch him.

“Do you sleep with your eyes open?” the doll asked, it’s soft voice practically floated through his ears and danced on his brain.

“N..no?” The doll tilted it’s head to the side as it’s expression changed and he could see the little doll looked confused.

“Why are you just staring like that then?”

Zed felt the sudden urge to grasp at his hair and scream while bashing his head against the wall but maintained his fear induced poker face.

He closed his eyes as he sighed and tried to get back to sleep but only felt more uncomfortable and slowly perked out his eyelids to see the doll now had her face just a few inches from his.

He could see the dolls tiny red little lips hovering over his face and he couldn’t help but feel more uncomfortable.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“I can’t sleep if you keep watching me like that”. The doll tilted it’s head slowly before climbing into the other side of the bed.

The hair on his neck stood on end, his body instinctively moving towards the edge of the bed.

“You think I’m a doll don’t you?” Zed closed his eyes and had a pained smile form on his face, he highly doubted his uneasiness stemmed from the fact she looked like a talking doll.

“I’m guessing you’re not?” He inquired Tring his best to normalize this impromptu late night pillow talk.

The girl shook her head and could almost swear he could hear jingling as she did but could find no bells on her dress.

The girl stretched out her arm and tapped his face and he watched her in confusion Wondering what she was doing.

“My body is warm see?” Zeds mind could feel that this doll like girl had a rather strange interest in him and his mind was working tirelessly to understand what it was.

“Yes it is” he sighed and pulled up the beds blanket and turned towards the ceiling and yawn “Good night pretty little doll girl”

The doll like girl smiled and closed her eyes as well, leaving them both drifting off into sleep.

The next morning was almost too normal for Zed do understand, he woke up and had breakfast, took a shower and was now walking around the facility in an attempt to familiarise himself.

This was a rather refreshing experience, no guards, no strange people in lab coats, nothing just the oddly fresh air within the metallic walls and ceiling.

“This is rather nice”

“You think so?”.

This was perhaps the only strange thing at the moment, the doll like little girl from last night had been following him since he woke up.

With the exception of going to the bathroom she had been like his second shadow.

He was no longer afraid of her, rather he was starting to feel tired with how closely she was following behind him.

“Oh? Who’s your new friend?” Demiurge, he never expected to see him outside like this, he had a book in his hand and was wearing some black, rectangular rimless glasses.

The need for glasses had been all but eliminated, seeing someone wear them had become more of a fashion statement for many and a preference for the few.

Demiurge however was most likely wearing them for fashion, he had enhanced physical abilities and would have no need to wear such.

“Oh this is—”

“Mercury Deadman” she raised the sides of her dress and bowed slightly, this was the first time Zed has heard her name since she had been following him.

Demiurge seemed to flinch slightly at the mention of her name, an almost micro expression but had failed to let it escape Zed’s eyes as he only grew more puzzled.

He continued to stare at her as she spoke with Demiurge placing a palm to his chest and returning the bow. “Demiurge, I have no last name”

Zed found this whole interaction quite queer but didn’t know exactly what it was he found strange about it.

Perhaps it was the fact that Demiurge looked like a dragon with a lion’s tail hanging off his back or perhaps it was the little gothic Lolita doll that was speaking to him, he wasn’t quite sure.

Demiurge glanced at the confused white haired boy and smiled adjusting his glasses and closing his book with a thud.

“Are you exploring?” His eyes scanning the passage behind him “You haven’t gotten an official orientation yet then, someone is supposed to pick you up”

“There were people but they just walked away when I approached them”

Demiurge scratched his head and groaned “well I think that’s because of your new friend here” he sighed and shook his head “I would avoid you as well if I didn’t know you somewhat personally”

He glanced at the doll like girl who simply smiled at him and placed a finger to her lips making him look back at Demiurge who continued.

There was something strange about the way Demiurge had phrased his words but he kept silent as his doll like friend has suggested.

“This little lady is someone rather special” Zed was starting to wonder where he was going with this long winded speech of his.

“She’s one of the Facilities top ranked in terms of combat power and authority” Zeds eyes were slowly starting to Widen with each word that left the dragon like mans mouth.

“Rank 4, The Demonic Marionette, Mercury Deadman”.