Pov Veronica:
I was sitting in the driver's seat, pretending to be a driver. Eros didn't tell me earlier that the car could drive itself. Automation technology! Apparently, it was common in Ricco County.
After all the difficulties, I am finally free from those shackles. My new master wasn't bad except for the fact that he was grumpy and got irritated easily.
The country music was soothing to my ears. It was tolerable heat, the scent of carcasses, and the master's sleeping face seemed surreal to me. Most of my life I spent wandering around the outskirts of Zoas. This was my opportunity to have a better future.
In the back mirror, I saw a horde of grotesque animals with no hair chasing this mechanical object. Car! They were around 2 metres tall, had four limbs, and had electric blue eyes and fangs protruding from their paws. They had two huge horns to protect them from predators.
"A.I. move faster," said I in uneasiness.
In our common tongue, we call them Bodhi. They were chasing the car for no reason, as if we were prey. Wait! I remembered that Bodhi tended to run in bright colours.
"Oh sh*t. "
"Accelerate this. '' I interjected in panic. The horde was getting closer and closer, and I didn't know anything.
I took another bite of moong pancake and pressed my lips in anxiety. If Bodhi could destroy a house, then this car would be wrecked, for sure.
The ethereal taste calmed me down. That was the last straw I was holding.
Suddenly, an ominous voice echoed in my ears.
[Alert, Bodhi is approaching us with top speed.]
[The car changes gear, then accelerates to 100 kilometres per hour.]
My heart started beating fast as we were talking to each other. I peeked at hordes that were further and further away.
"You did a good job. " I praised her.
[My job is to ensure my master's safety.] A. I. replied in cheerful tone.
Speaking of the master, he was sleeping peacefully. As if the shaking or convulsion didn't wake him up. Looking closely at his face, I realised he had long eyelashes and a bridged nose.
My stomach had grumbled for some reason, and my cheeks flushed.
'Am I sick? This is my second time feeling this. ' I pondered myself. My lips widened in glee.
Thinking back, my first interaction with Eros was chaotic. I had even presumed he was a pervert.
|Flashback|
After finding myself in a lounge area where a pool of blood was gathered, my eyes went to my nude body. I wasn't wearing anything.
I looked up and found an ugly man who had mixed reactions to seeing me.
"Are you the one who stripped me? I asked in a belligerent tone, covering my chest.
"No no! Well you… " The man was fumbling and shut his mouth. He had concern in his eyes, even though his appearance was generic.
"Weird! " I exclaimed and tried to stand up.
Somehow, my legs were unable to walk, and proceeded to stumble. I closed my eyes.
A sturdy hand caught my waist and helped me stand up.
"Be careful." His voice was husky yet filled with kindness.
He passed his coat to me and averted his gaze. Most men would love to see a naked woman. Why was he indifferent to this? I wondered.
"Wear it or you will feel cold. "
I accepted it with scepticism. A man helping me was something new. After that, he introduced himself and also informed me. I am his slave. I have had numerous questions, and Eros answered each question patiently.
Like, the auction, which was going to be held tomorrow, happened today.
" It's uncanny that I don't remember going to the auction. Wasn't it tomorrow?"
Eros paused before answering it. "No it is today. Because of malnutrition, you forgot about it.Anyway, I am your master. " He smiled wryly.
I scratched my neck and grunted. "So you bought 12 slaves. "
Eros nodded.
My eyes sparkled, and I thought I was going to be a rich mistress. There is no need to eat dry bread or rotten fish anymore. My lips widened with zest.
"What is your name again?"
"Eros Mcflan!"
It sounded familiar. My eyes noticed dead men lying there as well as an old woman's corpse. I recognised her. Agatha. What was she doing here?
Shouldn't she have come tomorrow? I had many questions as I quickly walked towards her.
"Bitchhh! " Unfortunately, my legs betrayed me. My whole body galvanised to kill her, and I crawled.
The woman who took everything: my friends, my pet, and my Zoa. With deep hatred in my eyes, despite my knees being scraped by a glass shard, I keep moving on.
This is my last resort to pay her back for all my adversity.
"Agatha. You spineless ass. "
My revenge was calling me. Yeah.
Swiftly, someone scooped me into his arms. I see that my master gave me a troubled look.
"Put me down, you bastard. Who the fucking you are? " I punched his chest hard, but Eros ignored it.
My blood was boiling, and aggressively, I smacked his cheek.
*Pah! " But the guy, hard as a rock, didn't listen to my words.
"You rich bastard can't understand the pain of a slave, me. " I shouted at the top of my lungs. " PUT ME DOWN! "
He began walking, taking me further from my prey. I couldn't bear to watch it and started crying like an orphan girl who had been starving for a week.
"Stop it girl. You are hurting yourself. " Eros raised his voice while embracing me.
"Please, I beg you. You don't know what has happened to us."
Eros stopped, stared at me with melancholy eyes, and opened his mouth.
"S-she is dead. "
My face turned ashen, and I was unable to breathe. The woman I wanted to kill couldn't die easily. No! no.
[End of flashback]
Thinking back, I was brave yet naive. Eros said to me one thing: life was not all about revenge. There were many things that I needed to explore.
A Bodhi got nearer to our car and nudged it with his humongous horn.
The car trembled with great force, and for a second, my head felt dizzy. Bodhi hit the car over and over.
[Autopilot turned off.] A.I. informed.
My mind went blank… Who would drive this thing?
I called my master multiple times, but he was engrossed in his sleep. Having no choice, I turned the steering wheel as well as pressed the accelerator. When it came to switching gears, I accidentally pressed the reverse gear.
"°…°" My tears started spilling.
I failed miserably as a driver. What happened next was a tragedy. Master woke up with hostility and ended up fighting with the horde alone. He won.