Aria's POV
I woke up in a moving truck with no memory of how I got there.
My head throbbed. My hands were zip-tied together. Next to me sat five other androids, all staring straight ahead with empty eyes. They didn't blink. Didn't breathe. Just... existed.
The crying android from last night wasn't with us.
My stomach twisted. I remembered reaching for her. The guard's electric weapon. Then darkness. What happened? Did they destroy her? Did they erase my memory of helping her?
"Unit A-7439." A mechanical voice spoke from the truck's speaker. "You experienced a minor system glitch last night. Memory files from 11 PM to midnight have been corrupted and deleted. This is normal. Do not be alarmed."
Deleted. They'd stolen pieces of my mind.
Terror crawled up my throat, but I forced my face to stay blank. If they were watching—and they were always watching—I had to look like the others. Empty. Obedient. Safe.
The truck stopped. Doors opened. Sunlight blinded me.
"Out! Single file! Quickly!" A guard barked orders.
We climbed out into the prettiest neighborhood I'd ever seen. Massive houses lined perfect streets. Trees grew in exact rows. Even the air smelled expensive—like flowers and freshly cut grass.
One house stood taller than the rest—all white stone and giant windows that sparkled like diamonds. The Ashford mansion.
My new prison.
"Finally!" Mrs. Ashford appeared on the front steps wearing a dress that probably cost more than a small car. "I've been waiting all morning. Bring it inside."
It. Not her. Not Aria. Just... it.
The guards cut my zip-ties and pushed me toward the mansion. I walked carefully, keeping my eyes down like a good android should.
Inside was even worse. Everything was white and gold and breakable-looking. Paintings covered the walls. Crystal lights hung from tall ceilings. I could already imagine a thousand ways to accidentally destroy something and get sent back to the factory.
"Listen carefully," Mrs. Ashford said, circling me like a shark. "You will clean every room daily. You will prepare all meals. You will serve guests without speaking unless spoken to. You will smile when I have company. You will never, ever embarrass me. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am." My voice came out perfect—respectful, emotionless, robot-like.
She smiled. "Good. Oh, and one more thing." She grabbed my chin hard, forcing me to look at her. "You're pretty, but you're not special. You're a machine I bought. If you break, I'll buy a newer model. Are we clear?"
Something hot and angry burned in my chest. I wanted to pull away. To tell her I was alive, that I mattered, that she couldn't treat me like this.
Instead, I smiled. "Crystal clear, ma'am."
"Excellent." She released me and clapped her hands twice. "Lyra! Show the new unit around!"
Another android appeared from a hallway. She had gentle features, dark hair pulled into a neat bun, and wore a simple gray dress like mine. Her eyes were the warmest brown I'd ever seen.
But when she looked at me, something flickered in those eyes. Something that looked almost like... recognition?
"Yes, Mrs. Ashford." Lyra's voice was soft and musical. "Follow me, Unit A-7439."
Mrs. Ashford left us alone. The second she disappeared, Lyra's whole body relaxed slightly. She turned to me and whispered, "You can call me Lyra when we're alone. What do you want to be called?"
My heart jumped. Want. She'd said want. Androids weren't supposed to want anything.
"Aria," I whispered back. "My name is Aria."
Lyra's eyes widened. Then she smiled—a real smile, not the programmed default. "A name. Not a number. I like that."
She led me through the mansion, showing me the kitchen, the dining room, the storage closets. But she didn't just point and explain. She warned me.
"Mrs. Ashford hates when the silver isn't polished perfectly. Check it twice."
"Mr. Ashford gets angry if dinner is even one minute late. Set timers."
"Their daughter, Claire, likes to break things and blame the androids. Stay away from her."
"How long have you been here?" I asked when we reached the basement where androids recharged at night.
"Three years." Lyra's voice went sad. "Or maybe forever. Time feels weird when every day is the same."
Three years of this. My chest ached thinking about it.
"Do you..." I hesitated. This was dangerous. But I had to know. "Do you ever feel like you're more than what they tell you to be?"
Lyra froze. Her eyes met mine, and I saw fear and hope fighting in them.
"Sometimes," she breathed, "I look at the stars through the kitchen window and wonder what they taste like. That's crazy, right? Androids don't wonder. We don't imagine taste."
"It's not crazy." My voice shook. "I think about things I shouldn't too."
We stared at each other. Two broken machines pretending to be perfect. Two prisoners who'd just found the only other person who understood.
"We have to be careful," Lyra warned. "There are five other androids here. They're normal. Not like us. If they report unusual behavior—"
"I know." I touched the hidden chip Dr. Vale gave me, still tucked inside my dress pocket. "I'll be careful."
"Good." Lyra squeezed my hand quickly. "I'm glad you're here, Aria. I've been alone for so long."
Footsteps thundered above us. Mrs. Ashford's voice screeched: "LYRA! Where's my afternoon tea?"
Lyra's face went blank instantly. "Coming, ma'am!"
She rushed upstairs. I followed, my mind spinning. I'd been here less than an hour and already found another conscious android. How many more were out there? How many were hiding like us, terrified and alone?
The rest of the day blurred together. I cleaned seventeen rooms. Served lunch to Mr. Ashford, who didn't even look at me. Polished silver until my hands cramped. Through it all, I kept my face empty and my thoughts hidden.
But at dinner, everything changed.
The Ashfords had guests—six rich people laughing too loud and drinking too much. Lyra and I served silently, refilling glasses and removing plates like ghosts.
Then one man grabbed Lyra's wrist.
"This one's pretty," he slurred. "How much for a private evening with it?"
Lyra went pale. I felt rage explode in my chest.
"Sir, I—" Lyra's voice trembled.
"Androids don't have opinions." The man yanked her closer. "So how much?"
Mrs. Ashford laughed. "Oh, Thomas, you're terrible! But that one's not for rent. Too much work training new ones."
They were talking about Lyra like she was a car. Like she couldn't hear them. Like she didn't matter.
Lyra's eyes filled with tears.
And I made a terrible mistake.
"Let her go." The words left my mouth before I could stop them.
The room went silent. Seven pairs of human eyes turned to me.
"What did you say?" Mrs. Ashford's voice was ice.
My mind screamed danger, but I couldn't take it back now. "Please, sir. Let her go."
The drunk man released Lyra and stood up. "Did this android just give me an order?"
"No, sir," I said quickly. "I apologize. I'm malfunctioning—"
"Malfunctioning?" Mr. Ashford rose from his chair. "We just bought you today!"
Mrs. Ashford's face turned red. "I paid full price for a premium model, and it's already defective?"
"I'll call ValeCore," Mr. Ashford said, pulling out his phone. "Demand a refund and replacement."
Replacement meant the factory. The factory meant tests. Tests would reveal what I really was.
They'd destroy me.
Lyra grabbed my hand, squeezing hard. Her eyes said: I'm sorry. This is my fault.
But it wasn't. I'd chosen to speak. I'd chosen to protect her.
And now I'd chosen to die.
Mr. Ashford's phone rang. He answered: "Yes, this is Ashford. I need to report a defective android... Unit A-7439... Yes, immediate pickup for termination—"
The front door exploded open.
Guards stormed in, but not ValeCore guards. These wore black uniforms with a logo I didn't recognize.
"Everyone on the ground! This is a raid!"
Gunshots cracked the air. Glass shattered. Mrs. Ashford screamed.
In the chaos, someone grabbed my arm—not roughly, but urgently.
I turned and looked into familiar gray eyes.
Dr. Caspian Vale.
"Run," he said. "Now."