emned in the nineties. It smelled of damp earth and boiled cabbage from the nei

hing of value. On it sat a high-end computer setup, the glowing monitors illuminating the dark room. Next to the

t take off his coat. The

tform for voice acting and companionship. H

ting. VIP user: I

ed on th

thority Figure. No pity. Mak

usted the microphone. He cleared his throat, dropping his vo

ected t

le voice whispered. It

aned into

idn't I?" he said. His voic

the other end. The sou

I'm sorry,"

close your eyes. Do not

starting from her toes. He used imperative sentences. "R

like a gasp of pain. A sharp intake of

His "big brother" instinct, forged from years of

eaking character. His voice

e line. The s

, angry whisp

that. Stick

Kellen insisted gentl

I pay you to control!" she

looked at the carving on his desk. He picked up

d. "Punishment for s

persona. Cold. Di

on. Slowly, the tension in her voice faded.

as as

stranger on the other side of the city. He felt a pang of loneliness hit

cted the ca

n popped up o

Note: Don't b

ubbed hi

business," he whispe

. Shavings of wood curled and fell to the floo