I breathed in the slightly musty air of the basement. Still the same, as doing the ritual didn’t mean Alaina would go down here enough to do some sort of deep clean. The nakedness was still uncomfortable, but—there were more important things to focus on here.

Alaina stood at her usual place, her golden eyes still glowing from the ambient magic swirling in the air. Her hair was only calming down now, the tempest relaxing as she started to let go of her workings. After all, she was done for now—and it was soon time for her to exact her price out of me.

My heart felt like it was about to jump into my throat, and the churn in my stomach didn’t feel like it would abate anytime soon. This was merely the second time, and yet, the thought of refusing Alaina was already haunting my mind. Refusing would merely end with me becoming a doll again, and I didn’t want that. The very thought of it made everything worse, a shudder that made me nearly puke from everything.

Because despite all the uncomfortableness, I couldn’t help but want to stay like this. Let my skin feel the cool air. My lungs filling in, expanding and deflating with every breath I took. I didn’t even mind the taste of dust in my nose, and mouth, considering how much they were here. My heart continued to beat inside my chest as well—So many feelings I was missing. I even missed the taste of anything in my mouth, the way my teeth would ground down fried potatoes, the way those would be slightly crunchy and how salt would coat my tongue.

Many, many things I hadn’t done any longer, all because I was no longer in the body that could appreciate them. I didn’t think I would even taste the salt if Alaina shoved fries into my mouth when I was still a doll… and all that did would merely make me dirty.

I looked toward Alaina again, and… she was merely waiting for me. She had placed away her implements, and now standing and letting her body leaning slightly to the table she placed me onto before when I was still a plush. She was relaxed, merely waiting for me and that was—I should let her do that. I should just let myself revel in the sensations further, but I couldn’t let my worry gnaw upon me for too long.

“So, what’s your order going to be this time?” I finally bit out, the silence finally gnawing enough at me to say it. Not even fifteen minutes. But that was enough time for me to grind my mind’s objection on saying anything down, and then just the way Alaina’s eyes glinting in a way that had no connection with magic… I bit down on my lower lip, waiting for when she would answer.

Alaina stepped closer, and I couldn’t hear any sound. No need for shoes, but at this moment I wished she had worn one. Just let her heels click and clacked against the rocks, and that would pull away some of the monotony that had been forming between the two of us.

When her hands were suddenly on my arm, her fingertips barely caressing my skin and making goosebumps all over—I nearly jumped. Rocks were stuffed inside my throat as I waited for her to say what she wanted, even if I knew what it was.

“Kiss me.” Her voice was soft, not in a way that showed she had weakness. But to make it sound reasonable, that she was asking me and waited for me to consent and did it. After all, it wasn’t a demand or order.

Refusing her was still on the table. I could just back off, and the only consequences would just turn into a doll again. Her warmth would still be there too. She would hold me, if I asked. And yet, I couldn’t find the words to reject her. Just say no, tell her that she needed to give me different orders, ones I could do instead of something like this.

She looked disappointed as I let no words appear between us, seconds after seconds of my mouth not opening and giving her the answers she wanted. Because she had said it, and all she wished was for me to answer her properly.

My heart squeezed painfully at the way Alaina sighed, and I knew I would eventually crack. Especially as her shoulders drooped down as well, and I could see the way she looked… older. As if without her wish to keep her upright, she would lose everything that made her, her.

It didn’t take long before she straightened her spine again, and I could see the way lines formed all over her face. She was reluctant. She didn’t like it… and yet, she said it anyway. “I won’t force you, so…”

I knew what she would say next. I knew I should let her do that, because this whole thing was coercion, right? But the thought of becoming a doll again was—I didn’t want it. There were comfort to be had in that form, of course, but to stay like that forever? No. Just… no.

So, without thinking much about it—I surged forward. So fast that Alaina was a little surprised, from the way her eyes widened a little bit. But I closed my eyes immediately after, not wanting to see how she would think of me afterward.

Our lips met one another, and we kissed for the first time. Just a chaste press of us together, one that somehow sent warmth across my body and not merely on my lips. I could feel Alaina’s hands holding onto me tightly, the way her fingers dug into my shoulders—she didn’t try to pull me closer to her, and I knew it was because she wanted to stay in my comfort zone. This was what I could do, and the happiness that grew in my chest because she was wonderful could be too much.

I didn’t hold her back, I didn’t even know where to put my hands except loosely against Alaina’s body—but that feel right. Tightly gripping her wasn’t my duty, and I let her maneuvered me a little more. Just until our kiss was finally broken up, and she pressed our body together. Reminding me how she usually held me when I was merely a doll for her to hold onto.

My eyes closed easily from the comfort, the certainty and warmth I could feel spreading from her to me—because I was where I was supposed to be. I could feel the way she was becoming happier as well, how Alaina’s heart beat slower as she calmed down from everything. From the excitement and the way I was with her, perhaps? I wasn’t sure, but… she seemed to like it, anyway. Her hands still didn’t let me go, still keeping me tight.

“Good girl,” was the first two words she finally said. A whisper right next to my ear, the meaning of them swirling easily inside my mind and making my whole body shiver. I didn’t know what to say, except staying still.

That was an easy thing to do. Even easier than trying to hold onto Alaina like she was doing with me. So I just let myself went limp a little, letting Alaina’s grip becoming stronger around me. Allowing me to finally feel safe, that I was protected within her hold.

There was something off about my behavior, and yet I couldn’t really dig into it. Especially when Alaina’s hands were starting to roam, to move across my body.

I shivered, a few moans coming out of me from the way she touched me—not even strong, her fingertips merely dancing across my open skin. But even the mere brush of them were enough to make my eyes flutter, my stomach flipping from everything that had spread all across me. Those started from where she touched me, before going deeper and brushing within my body.

Closing my eyes and just accept everything was the easier road. In fact, that was what Alaina wished out of my behavior. To merely whimper and contort my body so she would have an easier time finding whichever part of mine she liked today. And yet, I couldn’t help but keep my eyes open and my mind sharp—despite Alaina’s best effort to drown me within bliss.

It was hard to hold onto the words, the concept that I needed to question Alaina instead of surrendering to her. Oh lord, the thought of giving up and letting more of herself into me—it was hard to hold my moan back, but I managed to with a sharp bite against my lower lip. A few noises still managed to come out of my throat, though, and that was enough to make her smirk with satisfaction dancing within her eyes.

She enjoyed it, she loved it when I was like this—and there were parts of me that whispered I should do more of what she liked, instead of questioning her. I shoved that part down and ignored it the best I could.

“Isn’t this—” Another moan, and I had to pant while continuing. I didn’t want to, but Alaina’s hands were relentless. She refused to let me have any other possibility, and I had to fight that, even if it was getting harder and harder to resist. “—more than what I agreed on?”

I ended those sentences with a gasp, and my mouth ended up being left open. Saliva that had pooled within my mouth easily find the way out—the corner. I could feel a bit of wetness from there, slowly slipping and going through my skin. And yet I was unable to close my mouth, all because she continued her touches, her relentless caresses that made me groan and gasp, pleasure easily flooding every part of myself.

“Mm… but I’ve been so patient with you, Elys.” Her whispers were insidious, and yet my body shivered. Not from the fact we were still in the basement, or her touches, but merely the tone. Her eyes gleamed when I peeked, and she smiled just a touch wider. “Is it not my right to touch you wherever I wanted?”

That’s… not right, was it?

My mouth opened to say something, anything to refute it—and yet there was nothing in my mind. I knew I should say no, to say she was wrong, and yet… Alaina was right. She had been so patient and kind to me, ensuring I could become human again, even if for just a moment. A few touches were within her rights to get.

“You are starting to understand what you are.” She purred, understanding easily when I didn’t say anything. One of her hands moved toward my breasts, tweaking and pulling slightly against my stiff nipples and making me squawk when she pulled—electricity lancing from where she did it, right into my body. She didn’t stop, touching and caressing more places.

There’s nothing I could do to stop her, even if I wanted to. So I just stayed, letting her do what she wanted toward my body. My muscles twitched slightly in an effort to not move at all, to not give her any sort of reaction that I was certain she loved—because her next words made me jolt. Whether it was surprise or denial, I wasn’t sure.

“You are a toy.” She said, sharp and sudden. Her eyes were looking right toward me, as if she was daring me to say no, to refuse it.

That wasn’t true. I knew that, even as my thoughts felt like it had gotten a hit. She was lying, but because there was enough conviction to make me wonder to myself. What if… she said the truth? My stomach churned, and I had to hold back to slight nausea at that thought. No, no. That wasn’t possible, right? I should fight her, but that didn’t feel right to me. And yet, to give up was… worse. I pushed through it, trying my best to refute whatever line of thought that caused Alaina to say that.

“N—no!” The word slammed out of me, more violent than I wished. But I found myself okay with it, I had understood what Alaina said after all.

But Alaina didn’t care for my word. She tsk’d, and that was enough to make me look down.

“See? You craved my opinion, for what I want. My desire is your desire, and what you have is all from me. Tell me, what do you have that didn’t come from me in the first place?”

There should be something, anything. My family, of course, was the first thought that popped up. But that wasn’t… mine. Not in any way that mattered, as I had long since going no contact with them. They weren’t the worse, but I couldn’t just stay with them. The way their words would constantly dig to me… how Mom just let Dad say whatever he wanted—and in fact, agreeing with him occasionally.

No, there was nothing there for me. Friends? I… didn’t have anyone except for Alaina. She was the only one who stayed, who could accept me throughout the years… but surely there had to be something, right?

I tried to remember, and met with blurry memories, of being excluded. Being nearly the last person to be picked in the group. The subtle way they would push me to just be alone or with Alaina… My mouth tasted like ashes, as I found nothing in my mind.

“See, you don’t have any sort of answer for me.” She continued, not caring—but that was surely wrong. Alaina always cared. I had nothing else, and so I had to cling toward the knowledge I had of her beforehand… and so, I was sure that this was all based in kindness. That she wanted the best out of me.

I stayed still, even as her touches slowly went down, not only touching my breasts. One of her hands were still there, still shooting the mix of pain and pleasure across my body, but the other continued to stroke my stomach, running her fingers across my thighs and then right between my legs.

I strangled the gasp coming out of me, but Alaina merely shook her head, a slight disappointment darkening her eyes—and that was enough to make me whimper. My body tightened against her finger, even though I knew I shouldn’t, that I should try to push my friend away.

“Nothing except for me. Even now you are only reacting, not thinking of doing anything at all… But that’s what I wanted out of you, so that’s alright.” She smiled this time, kind and giving me the certainty that yes—this whole thing was just her trying to make me better. “Only moving when I wanted you to. Only shifting when I posed you a certain way…”

She took my hand, moving it back toward my body instead of loosely holding Alaina. I missed her—but I didn’t want to fight her on this. I already missed the warmth of her body, the disappointment that formed in my gut because she made me no longer touching her. Shouldn’t I be happy that she also stopped touching me to change my position like this?

My head felt off, as if it had been stuffed full of cotton… just like before. Just like when I was merely a doll. I ignored the whisper at the back of my mind, telling me how much easier it was staying like that instead of becoming a human like this.

“No… that’s not right.” I tried to whisper again, even as I was losing my conviction.

Alaina ignored my words so easily, and continued to talk. I couldn’t help but focus back onto her, as she pushed me to the shape she wanted me to be. Following that would be easier.

Alaina was looking at me with a smile, with hints of sharpness at the edges.

“Oh, Elys, you are so deluded with your constant refusal.” She didn’t say it with the possible cruelty I knew she had, just like when she drove a man into tears when he started hitting on me. No, none of that was wielded against me, the sharp edges never coming anywhere close to my heart. All she used was kindness, shaping me into someone she wanted me to become… because I couldn’t fight her. “Why are you refusing the truth? Not even wishing to listen to it? Self-delusion is a bad idea to get behind, you know?”

A trap question. Any way I answered, it would all be under Alaina’s plans. To agree would give her more power over me, to refuse would mean that I was open for her to undermine my reasoning. And yet, before I could have said anything more, Alaina merely continued, not caring that I was still thinking.

“You are trying so, so hard, and I understand.” She whispered, kindness dripping all over her words, despite the way her words were anything but. “I know you wanted to see how it feels to be a human like me, and so you insisted on becoming a human so many times… Of course, I’m always happy to give you what you wanted, as you are a good doll. My favorite one… A good toy that I enjoy keeping near me, you know? An adorable plush, always there and supporting me from the side.”

I froze within her hold, an immediate denial forming within my mind. She was lying. My mouth opened, many, many words at the tip of my tongue, all ready for me to throw at her so she wouldn’t say I was a toy anymore—when she stopped me with a finger pressing against my lips. I could talk still, of course. There was nothing stopping me from it, I just needed to find my own spine so that little thing wouldn’t stop me.

But Alaina had continued again, not wanting to give me any sort of time to roll over any of her words. It was time for her to talk—and helplessness pressed down upon me with how much I was rolling over, giving up and letting Alaina continuing to hold the reins.

“Hush now. Anyway… where was I?” She waited a moment, as if she was expecting me to give an answer. When nothing came out of me, she grinned, her eyes flashing satisfyingly that made me looking there. Trying to see if there was something there that could give me an answer on why she was acting like this. On why she was saying all the wrong things—after all, I was a human.

“Ah yes, you are thinking I was lying, don’t you?” As always, Alaina was smart. Even without a single word, she could glean my feelings without any preamble—and I froze at that realization. “Aaaand there it is. If you are someone. Truly a person, then I shouldn’t be able to guess your thoughts without your words, right? Not in any sort of consistency, of course.”

“Y-You can read my mind? You are some sort of witch, surely there’s a magic for that.” Even when I said it out loud, my stomach twisted uncomfortably at that thought—because if she could do that, then what else was possible?

Alaina laughed, a short, barking laugh that warmed me for a moment. A reminder of that she could still be happy despite everything that had happened the past few days—until I remembered that she was the whole reason why I had an issue in the first place. I wasn’t saying that my work wasn’t hell, but becoming a doll and being told that I was making everything up was a new low for her.

“If I can read minds, I wouldn’t be here, in this city anymore, Elys.” Alaina squeezed me a little, sighing while leaning against my body. I ended up holding her back, all the while finding myself enjoying her hold as well. “That’s not something simple, especially when people’s mind moved much, much faster than what they said out loud—the many considerations that flitted through your mind even for less than a second? Those will overload me even if I only looked for a moment…”

That made sense. But… did this mean she was telling the truth? That Alaina was being honest, and I… made everything up in my mind. The whole thing about being a human previously, my job, the whole university issues—I didn’t even want to think about my parents. Maybe it was fitting, maybe that was why I had no one else.

It made so much sense, if they were never real. That was why Alaina’s always there… because she’s the only one I knew.

“Ssssh, it’s okay, Elys. Let the tears go.” Alaina whispered, gently lifting her hand up to rub away on my cheeks—and that was when I realized I was crying. Fat tears rolling down my cheeks as I hiccuped, my eyesight becoming blurry. “I support you, no matter what. You are my friend… best friend, even. Maybe it sounded sad, but you are always solid with me, you know?”

I clung toward her, finding strength within myself once more as I pressed my face against her clothes. Letting my tears staining the fabric as I shuddered and sobbed, the realization that I was someone Alaina made—it felt as if the whole world was crumbling.

I didn’t want to believe it. I still couldn’t, not really. But it made so much more sense… because I always trust Alaina to not lie to me.

She certainly wouldn’t, right?

“Do you want to become a doll again for now?” Alaina’s words were gentle, as if she was merely offering me something normal and not something that had given me various crisis.

I should say no.

She wouldn’t force me if I didn’t want to, right? Last time only happened because I fought against her wishes, because she wanted me to follow her orders… This time I already did it, and so this had to be merely a choice for me.

But her most recent words stuck with me, gripping my heart without any yield. The decision was already made, and I was merely catching up with what she wanted out of me.

“Yes.” the single word wasn’t hard to say. It was the easier choice, the one Alaina had pointed towards. Maybe that was the path I could take from now on—it was the easier road, after all.

“Good girl.”

The praise sent shivers down my spine, and I couldn’t help the smile forming on my face.