I immediately began to feel incredibly vulnerable as I realized the situation I'm stuck in. Ellie is somewhere in this room, free. He could attack me at any moment.

I have become his next target, he could attack just as he did my father. Just as he did me, all those months ago.

Doing the first thing that came to mind, I ran towards the counter and grabbed a syringe of medicine. Maybe, he is like a dog. Somehow he would obey me like I'm his master, if I tempt him with a treat.

Or he could bite me and tear my flesh to shreds, like a rabid animal. I wouldn't be too surprised considering he already tried to kill me once.

"Ellie." I called out for him as I pressed my body against the wall, so if he were to try and attack, he would have to do it from the front. If I was going to die, I didn't want my death to be in an undignified position.

The room, though it's not incredibly big, it has multiple objects easy to hide behind, and the light doesn't cover the entirety of it. There are corners and spaces still dark from the shadows.

"W-Would you like more medicine? I've got more for you right here." I held up the syringe, though I wasn't even sure if he was looking at me, or if he could understand what the hell I'm saying.

I heard the sounds of a chain being dragged against the concrete flooring to my right. I spun my head over to see Ellie, standing half in the light, and half covered in the shadowed corner. Though he managed to break out from the cell, chains were still intertwined with his arms.

I faced my body towards him, and did the only thing I thought to do, I tried to comfort him. "It's alright." I said in a mellow tone, "I promise, I won't hurt you." As if I could even if I wanted to.

He took a step closer, his eyes locked on me. I couldn't read the look on his face. I wasn't sure if he were scared or if he were angry.

I prayed it wasn't the latter.

I glanced down at the syringe in my hand, it was my only peace offering. It's the only thing I knew I had that he wanted, that he needed.

"Here." I lifted my hand with the syringe out, "Do you want this?"

He took another few steps towards me. His body was completely visible now, as he was fully in the light. I couldn't help but be a bit taken back by looking at him. This was the first time I've actually seen him fully in light since the day he attacked me.

He looks different. The blackness of his fingernails have thickened. His body is covered in black streaks as the toxic liquid flows through his veins. Even his eyes are starting to turn a black color I've never knew eyes could even be.

Slowly, he rose his hand up, though still not taking his eyes off mine, he took the syringe from my hand, and injected it in his arm, as if he's done it a million times before.

I watched as his incredibly tense body relaxed as if he got a temporary high by taking the medicine. He stumbled slightly as he took another step forward. My entire body was being pressed against the wall with such pressure, it began to hurt.

There was nowhere for me to go. I could try and run up the stairs, but there was no point. If he could break open a solid metal door, he could easily break open a wooden one.

I wasn't sure whether to scream for help, or if anyone could actually help me. Ellie is strong, supernatural even. I don't know the extent of his physical power, and I fear how rapidly it's increasing.

With that thought in mind I realized just how dangerous it'd be if he left this house. If he can easily hurt me and my father, I couldn't imagine what he'd do to an innocent civilian who knew nothing about him.

I have to contain him.

This isn't about the safety of my life anymore. This is about the millions of innocent lives just outside my doorstep. Their blood would be on my hands, because I knew how dangerous Ellie is and I kept him alive anyway.

His existence is now on me, not my father.

I forced my fear down, and stood up taller, positioning myself to seem not so scared, despite my traitorous body shaking with anxiety.

"Stop." I ordered, as I held my hand out to halt him. Shockingly, he obeyed. We stared at each other for a long moment, and so, not knowing what to do next, I improvised. "Surely," I said, "You understand me, right?"

Silence.

"Speak."

Silence.

"I said speak. Say something, anything."

Still, silence.

My anxiety was eating my patience to a thin line, irrationally, I rose my voice, "Ellie, I own you. As your owner, I command you to-"

"Yes." I was interrupted by him. I couldn't help but gasp slightly. He actually spoke. This whole time he could speak, and he understood me.

"I understand what you are saying." He finished with a slight twitch of his head. The black in his eyes vanished slightly, and I wondered if he could rid the back toxins whenever he wants. Or, maybe it changes depending on his thoughts or emotions.

How odd.

"You. . ." I was nearly speechless, "You actually understand me?" Somehow, I couldn't believe it.

He stared blankly at me, "Yes, I understand what you say."

"Say something else."

"Something else."

I shook my head, "No, no, say something of your own."

Silence.

Okay. I guess he can't think independently yet. Or, he's making fun of how stupidly gullible I am.

I don't know anymore, and I'm not going to pretend that I do.

I won't allow myself to feel comfortable around him. I won't even allow myself to relax. He's still just as dangerous as before, maybe even more considering how he's expressing way more intelligence than I thought he had. I can't pretend that just because he can talk, that he's no less of a threat.

"Why did you not talk before?"

He blinked at me, and repeated, "Why did you not talk before?"

"Not talk? I did talk, you were the one that attacked me when I tried to speak to you."

"Not talk? I did talk, you were the one that attacked me when I tried to speak to you."

I frowned, realizing he was just repeating what I said. He frowned as well, copying even my facial expressions.

I rose my hand up, and he rose up his. I took a step forward, and he took a step forward.

We were inches apart.

I have to show him I'm the boss of him. I have to prove to him that I'm not scared of him, and that he will obey me. No matter how terrified I actually am.

"Three eleven thirteen." I pointed at him, "You are three eleven thirteen."

He didn't copy me that time. Instead, he took a step back, almost as if he were offended. "No." He said, his voice changed eerily, almost to a plea, "No, I am not." The black suddenly returned to his eyes, and I wondered if I pissed him off.

"You are not?"

"I am not."

"Okay, okay." I rose my hands up to ease him down, "You aren't three eleven thirteen, what are you?

"I am not."

"Then tell me what you are."

"I am not." Each time he said it, he got louder, angrier.

I'd be lying if I said he wasn't scaring me. I inched backwards until my body was again, pressed against the wall. I didn't know what to say that wouldn't make him angry.

He clenched his fists, the black pumping from his fingernails through his veins. They were getting darker, until they were pure black.

So, this is what happens when he's angry. It makes sense. The black toxins must control his emotions.

I assume the more visible it is, the more he feels. That's my only explanation. My hypothesis as of right now. It's the only way I can make sense of it all.

With my heart racing, finally, I asked him one last time, "Tell me what you are then."

At last, he answered, "I am Ellie. I am not a project. I am a human being. I am Ellie. "