Snippet #1893905

Abigail jumped, the ruby-red light gleaming suddenly from the darkness as the mechanical voice chirped. She scampered towards the other side of the bed, directly opposite from the turret. "...hi?" she offered up tentatively. It was simply a red light, shining a bit brightly into eyes that had adapted to darkness. She blinked, keeping to the opposite side of the bed, but eager to figure out the source of the new noise.

The new friend? It seemed friendly enough, and quite like the animated nurse-machines that had puttered in on occasion. She reached forward, scuttling under the grime and the broken springs to rest a small hand on the metal. The red light buzzed to life again, and a lazer focused, dimly visible through the dust, on her throat.

The child flew to the side, pulling herself out from under the bed in a frenetic scurry. She stood, her clothes hanging off of her nearly emaciated form, staring wide-eyed at the intruders.