“Sweetheart,” Nihil whined, clinging to your sleeve, “but I was good today. I didn’t threaten Mrs. Davies’ dog at all.” Nasty little thing. Nihil didn’t understand why it wouldn’t shut up. Bark, bark, bark. He knew what sound dogs made and he hated it. Birds were much nicer to listen to.

“Baby, babe, honey, are you listening? I didn’t hurt the dog. I don’t know what happened to it.” And that was the truth. Nihil couldn’t have known what would happen when he opened the gate in Mrs. Davies’ backyard. Oh, poor puppy got out. That wasn’t on him. Maybe if the little thing was a good, loyal pet like he was it wouldn’t be lost right now. You couldn’t be mad at him. Nihil wouldn’t let you be.

Part of him was terribly frightened you’d send him back to the lab if he misbehaved too much. All the movies he watched said love was forever. The people always kissed at the end and promised to never leave the other. Nihil wanted that. He wished you would kiss him and tell him you wouldn’t leave him.

Nihil buried his face against your shoulder in hopes you’d find it endearing. He couldn’t actually tell if you were upset about the phone call from Mrs. Davies.

“I just don’t know where Cookie went,” he had heard Mrs. Davies saying. She was sniffling too, so more than likely crying. Why? The dog was easily replaced. He saw dozen of the same breed on the streets. She should get one that stopped barking when she yelled at it.

Nihil was good. He hadn’t killed anyone, or anything, since you took him out of the lab. Just that bird on the first night, and he even that been on accident. He’d only wanted the bird to sing again.

You weren’t like the scientists and doctors back in the lab, always poking him with needles and upsetting him. Nihil wouldn’t listen to them. They were mean to him and deserved to die by his hand. He liked when their screams stopped as he squeezed their throats. The sickening crunch of bone snapping. It was so simple. A little squeeze until they popped. Nihil always giggled when it was done. Whatever punishment they tried wouldn’t work, everyone knew that.

Until you came along.

When he wouldn’t behave for them, you became what they threatened. It ended up driving him crazy. The constant threats to your life, the glee the scientists got out of telling him what they’d do to you. Nihil snapped.

And then you brought him to the outside world. There was blood sticking his hair to his face, but all he could focus on was how blue the sky was. It looked just like the pictures. He desperately wanted to stop and stare, but he knew that wouldn’t be allowed.

Initium City was left behind. Nihil wasn’t sure where you took him, but it was far away. He watched the clouds pass by on the car ride to his new home. A house, one he’d seen in picture books, with a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. He had his own bed, but he preferred climbing into yours so he could watch you sleep. You always looked so cute.

A whole year of living here, of being good, and that dog was going to ruin it for him. Maybe Nihil should’ve gotten rid of it himself.

“I was just listening to the birds outside,” he said. Nihil didn’t go anywhere without you, it wasn’t allowed. He kept his hair short, wore different clothes, sunglasses, whatever else to hide his identity. The backyard was his safe place. He liked feeling the sun on his skin, the grass on his legs. “Are you mad at me, beloved?”

Nihil tried to remember what other silly names they used in movies. My love? My heart? Would you like those better? He wanted to be perfect for you. Nihil often got lost in his daydreams of you calling him your boyfriend. And you’d get married, too. With flowers and a ring. The important things for a wedding.

He couldn’t go back to the lab. That wasn’t home anymore, even if he’d been created there. You were home.