According to her memories, the so-called demi-human style had begun 50 years ago. After genetic engineering had reached its peak, a very ambiguous couple wanted to give their children cat ears which were very popular at the time as accessories. Despite great advancements in the genetic field, the cost of these operations made it nearly impossible for the middle class. Since then, the addition of animal parts to the body had been used to show prestige and wealth. She felt both excited and a little disturbed that real, physical furries exist.
"May I know your name?" Tom asked. She blinked, her eyes snapping out of their dazed state.
"Ellowyn". She felt more comfort with the familiar name from her old world.
"I'm sorry, may I know why you would want to adopt me? It would be much easier to inquire the orphanage or other similar organizations" She asked, slightly tilting her head.
Tom sighed, his expression somber as he hesitated. He pulled a picture from his wallet, it was a short, ginger girl smiling while standing next to him. Her small, thin body looked frail, just like Ellowyns.
“Alice is my only daughter. I love her dearly, for she is all I have left after Lily passed away. Little did I know that she had developed Thyroid cancer until she was diagnosed last year, in her second stage. You see, Alice wasn’t very talkative and she was home schooled, it was also partially because of my position, not many had approached her”. Tom explained.
She scrunched her eyebrows, it was understandable that even when the medical field has advanced, cancer was still a major problem, but she was suspicious that Alice wasn’t able to make friends.
“I do not mean to offend, but when you are a person of power, would many not want to befriend you and your daughter to establish connections?” She asked.
Tom’s mouth curled upward in a tentative smile .“I don’t want to offend you either, but for someone who spent most of their time in captivity, you seems to know politics. I agree that in normal circumstances, it is only natural for others to want to make connections with people like me. However, in this case, you could say that I hold quite a foothold in mankind’s advancement in the field of genetics. As the CEO of Eve Genetic Corp, I overlook all research and development operations. There are many dangerous and powerful groups who would like to get their hands on my work and they will do anything. Countless times have my offices and home been attacked, though I assure you, my security teams aren’t just a bunch of donuts leeches. They are elites who has stopped even the most forceful of invasions. However, because of the violent nature of these skirmishes, not even the bravest of my friends would bring their children to meet Alice often. I don’t think it makes Alice feel any better seeing their strained and frightened expressions when they stepped in my house. Ha ha”. He chuckled bitterly.
“The problem here is not whether I can find Alice friends, it's keeping them from leaving. Ellowyn, I know you have been through a lot. I’m going to be frank here, the reason I’ve asked you was that I hope your circumstances will allow you to sympathize with Alice more, I’m sure you have been in similar, dangerous situations” He clenched his fists, looking at her with a strong and focused gaze.
“Although there may be a few scuffles here and there, our security team prefers safety over looks, they might bring down walls and blow up buildings. It is your safety that they have to take such actions. I have entrusted Alice’s life to them for the last 18 years and they have not failed me. You will be provided with all necessities, we will treat you as our own daughter. You will be given a brand new life of luxury. You will become our second daughter, as a part of our family. All that I ask of you is to keep Alice company”. He declared.
The importance of his message had finally hit her. Tom had been serious, based on Clive’s o-shaped mouth and widened eyes. She needed to calm down, is he telling the truth? She silently inquired the system. A screen appeared, graphing Tom’s facial expressions and bodily responses such as subconscious gestures in the last ten minutes, the system had concluded that Tom most likely had been speaking the truth.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“If I’m adopted by you, would that mean I have to continue the family business?” She asked, her sarcastic tone almost whimsical.
“You sound as if managing Eve is a bad thing. And no, because of the serious nature of our work, the board has very strict regulations on the candidates, if you want to continue my position, you have to train very hard to be experienced in the field”. He said with an amused smile.
She bit her lip, everything was perfect, she could not resist the urge to help Alice, she knew how Alice must have felt, Alice was like her in many ways, from the chronic sickness to the loneliness she had to endure every day. In addition, her partial hero system would almost always ensure her survival, even if she was stabbed through the heart, theoretically speaking.
She was also guaranteed a place to stay, there was no pressure in continuing the business either, she had no desire to waste years studying when there was a new world to explore. The only downside was that she had found herself having to make a decision to be accepted by a stranger in a strange world, full of unknown motives and consequences, again.
“This is a big life changing decision for you. I won’t force you to make your decision now, I will be here for the next few days, and if you need more than that, just tell my assistant”. His intense gaze betrayed his calm tone.
She realized that he was very eager to hear her response, almost desperate. For a minute, she simply stared at him, her gaze focused as she struggled to make her decision.
“I accept, I hope that you will allow me to leave if I find the conditions unwell?” Her strained voice betrayed her wariness and uncertainty.
Tom, however, changed his demeanor completely. His eyes gleamed as he gave a booming laugh.
“I will make sure that you do not regret this, miss Ellowyn Price, my assistants will handle the paperwork and hopefully have you transferred you to my, no, our home by the end of today”. He paused, holding his breath while smiling radiantly.
“Thank you, this really mean a lot to us, I am sure Alice will welcome you home with open arms”. He struggled to control his excited tone. She gave a small smile in return, infected by his joyous mood.
Shortly after they left, but before she had a chance to reflect on her decision, Tom returned. She narrowed her eyes, Tom’s movement seemed jerky, beads of sweat appeared on his face as he cleared his throat.
“I’m... I forgot to tell you this, but due to our family traditions”. Tom’s voice was strained. He emitted a loud sigh before recomposing his posture.
“Ellowyn, because we want to incorporate you into our family, and also, we want Alice to feel comfortable with you, you are going to be fitted with a pair of rabbit ears, just like our own. The operation is quick and painless, although it might take days before your nervous system can sync with them properly. I really hope that you can accept it”. His eyes darted away shortly before staring back at her pleadingly.
She gawked, she felt as if her eyes would fall out of their sockets. This is just too fucking much! First a world transfer, then running head first to an explosion, and now I will have rabbit ears attached to my head? She screamed hysterically inside her mind. Quietly nodding, she resisted the urge to burrow her face into her hands, her eyes vacant.
Tom gave a sad smile and hugged her tightly.
She gasped, surprised at his sudden gesture. The smell of his perfume and sweat reminded her of her past when her dad would hug her immediately after coming home, not bothering to change his clothes. Tears glistened her eyes as she welcomed the familiar yet long lost feeling of being in a warm embrace. He gently closed the door, leaving behind a shaken Ellowyn, buried deep under her blanket.
What have I gotten myself into? She groaned, but eventually gave into a gentle smile, holding onto the tender feeling that bloomed within her cold, lonely heart.