I walked into the house, turning to the living room and standing in the doorway. I was silent, watching Master and Bradley talk. Brad fell silent, taking a drink of what was in the smoking mug, and I knocked on the doorframe. "Sirs?"

Master looked up at me from where he was sitting, "Ah, yes. Thank you for coming."

I blinked. Wait... Did... did he just thank me? "Uhm, You are welcome, Sir. But I only followed orders."

Brad shot a glare to him, and Master chuckled lightly, "No, I never ordered you... I asked..."

"Okay..." Yeah, totally confused. "Can I do anything for you, Sirs?"

Master stood up, brushing off his jacket, "I would like to speak with you outside, dog." He turned to Brad, "You don't mind, do you, Bradley?" The name was dripping with venom.

The advisor shook his head, "I suppose not."

Master turned and nearly stomped out of the room. I reluctantly followed him outside. Once outside, he snarled and turned to me, "I hope that you know this kindness won't last." He spoke in a low growl, "Bradley thinks he can take charge of MY project! Well, he's about as wrong as he could be. You still belong to me, you are my experiment, got that?"

"Y- yes, Sir."

"Good. You know to obey me, and only me, correct?"

"You do not want me to listen to Bradley, Sir?"

"Unless it goes through me first, do not do anything for him."

I nod slowly, "Yes, Sir."

"Very good. Now, go back to the house and clean up, mutt."

"U- Uhm... S- Sir?"

He snapped out at me, "What?"

"What... uhm... Wh- what brought this up?"

Master snarled, just like the animals that he's created. "That so called colleague of mine wants to take my project from me. Absurd. He will not succeed. He won't get my experiment."

The possessive tone in his voice shocked me a bit, I inched back slightly, "Why would he do that, S- Sir?"

"He doesn't think I can take care of you on my own. That you'll die, or the experiment will fail." Master snorted, "Please, like he could do any better on any of my projects."

I looked up at him, "I- If I may suggest something, Sir?"

"Go ahead."

"Why don't you let him think he is taking control of a project... T- To see how well he would handle it." I automatically tensed, expecting to be hit.

"You know what, dog?" He gripped my chin, making me look into the cold eyes. "That's not a bad idea."

"S- Sir?"

"Forget what I said before, follow what Bradley tells you." He tightened his grip, making me wince and close my eyes, "But, I expect reports."

I pushed open the back door to the house, walking up to Brad in the living room. Brad was sitting in a seat, scribbling stuff down in the notebook. I mumbled, "Sir..?"

He looked up from his notebook, "Yes? May I help you?"

I shifted my weight and nodded, "Yes, Master has said for me to follow your orders until he states otherwise."

Brad let out a small hum, "Really now?"

I nod again, "Yes, Sir."

"Did he say anything else?"

"He said, Sir, that he wished to see how capable you are in taking charge of an experiment."

"Really?"

"Yes, Sir. Though, I am sure Master would understand if you declined."

Brad glared, "Will he now? No, no, he would only say that to show my bosses that I cannot control the experiment." He arched an eyebrow, "You're acting strange, is something wrong?"

I stood straight up, a bit shocked by the question, not a whole lot of people ask how I am. My escape plan was piecing itself together and I'm not gonna get found out. "No, Sir, everything's fine."

He got up from his seat, holding the notebook close to his chest, as if someone was going to take it, "Very well, I will be in my room if you need me."

"Uh, Sir, is there anything you wish for me to do?"

"Yeah, go take a walk, I think you could use one."

"Uhm, yes, Sir..."

"Also, stop with that 'sir' stuff. Your Master can't scare you that bad."

I smirked, "If only you knew."

"Let me be perfectly honest with you," He quieted his voice a bit, "he frightens me sometimes too, and I'm not an easy person to scare."

I nod, "I can tell."

"Find me if you need me." He turned to face the door, "I'll try to think up something for you to do later."

"Yes, okay..." I watched him walk out of the room before I left as well. I turned to go outside, and saw Master right in front of me.

He had a vicious smile crossing his lips, "What did he say?"

"H- He said that he will make an attempt on your request ... uh... Sir."

The chuckle the Master let out sent a shiver down my spine, "Good. What has he sent you to do now?"

"He told me to go on a walk, Sir."

"That Fool!" Master let out a growl, I tried to shrink back, so he wouldn't take out his anger on me, "That idiot doesn't know what to do with you. How else will chores get done?"

I bet Master had slaves when he was growing up, otherwise, he could be doing this all by himself. I watched him closely, several escape routes planned out in my mind.

Before I could think, Master moved, grasping my throat in his hand and holding me against the building's wall. I struggled to take in air, and realized 'this is exactly how Is' died...'

Starting to panic, I gasped, "Sir! ... P- please..! Let me... go!"

He tightened his grip and growled, "What was that, slave? You want to be free? Free of all this? It's not going to happen. It will NEVER happen..."