Ryan's fingers touched something soft. He snatched them back in shock, expecting whatever it was to move. His lungs held onto the breaths they had been about to release, and his heart doubled its speed.

When nothing happened, he cautiously reached back out, slowly inching his fingers towards the object or person. Did he suddenly have company in his cell? Was that why They had come to him? They weren't taking him out. They were putting someone else in!

What he touched did not immediately feel recognisable. That was fine. He didn't expect it to. It didn't suddenly twist under his hand, and nor was it warm, so it wasn't a living person. It wasn't a dead one, either. He rolled over and moved closer, rubbing his hands over it.

No.

Could it be?

His heart leapt in his chest and he had an instant feeling of gratitude to the doctor. The mattress was thin, and didn't feel well padded, but it wasn't a floor, either. Ignoring the noise he might make, he scrambled towards it, gulping down the squeal of glee that threatened to burst forth.

Clambering onto it, he buried his face in its soft centre and set the squeal free.

Once it had been released and he was contained again, he turned onto his back and starfished, the way a child, after their short lifetime being spent on a single bed each night, it bought their first double by their parents.

He didn't notice, and wouldn't have cared, sleep slip over him and lead him from the conscious world.

"Let's hope he lasts longer this time. I expected better of him."

"Yes, Doctor."

"Don't just 'yes Doctor' me. I don't want a fucking suck up. I want an assistant who has a mind of their own, unless I tell them different. Got it?"

"Yes, Doctor!"

"Didn't I just... Oh, never mind. This is his fourth cycle. He's supposed to get better, not stay exactly where he is. He was chosen because he was a match. If he's not going to play along, we'll throw him away."

"Yes, Do... I mean, I agree. It's odd."

"It's more than odd. It's fucking inconvenient. If he doesn't improve, it means the Process is off, and I don't want to be the one who has to report that little conundrum. Do you?"

"No, Doctor, not at all."

"Well, unless you want to be volunteered, I suggest you lighten up and stop sticking the word 'Doctor' in every fucking sentence. Got it?"

"Yes, Fiona."

"Are you fucking serious? Don't ever use my real name in front of the patients. Are you fucking insane, Pedra?"

"I... I..."

"Close your bloody mouth and think before you open it again! And never use my fucking name!"

"Yes. I mean no. I mean..."

"You mean you're fucking incompetent. Stop dithering and get out. I'll deal with him."

"Of course. I... I'm sorry."

"I don't want fucking apologies. I want efficiency. Try that for a change."

"Of course. I will. It won't happen again."

"I doubt that. Go on. Get out."

There was a scurry of heeled shoes and the opening of a door.

"Oh, Pedra?"

"Yes, Do... Doc?"

"That's much better. Can I have a coffee please? You do make them so perfectly."

"Of course. I'll make it now."

"Thanks, Peddy, you're a star."

Ryan listened to the exchange with interest. He wasn't surprised to find himself back in the presence of the doctor. He'd fallen asleep, giving them the cue they needed to come get him.

Ah! Was that why he hadn't seen anyone else be taken, outside of outbursts? Did it happen while they were sleeping? If so, that must mean they all slept at the same time! That made it easier for Them. If They were coming and going constantly, there'd be an uproar. His fellow prisoners, and Ryan too, would be calling out. Someone was being taken anyway, but surely They wouldn't be able to take everyone at once!

No, They couldn't. It had to be timed. If this was his fourth cycle, then he'd been taken without knowing, so asleep! His first time would have been a show of force. He was firmly in his place, so force was no longer required.

But, now, he was awake, and They didn't know.

Pedra. She sounded young. Mid twenties or so. Eager to please to the point she was making mistakes, though Bradley seemed to be impossible to please. Unless you were making her coffee, perhaps. A coffee he wouldn't have been surprised if it had been spat in.

"I'm not stupid."

Was someone else in the room with them? If there was, they were extremely quiet. He could only hear the doctor's breathing, no one else.

Which meant...

She knew.

Ryan opened his eyes slowly, giving them time to adjust to the bright lights. After a few seconds, he focussed on Bradley, who was standing near him, looking at the screen of a tablet she was holding.

"Hi, Fiona," he said.

Dr Bradley didn't look up immediately. She continued to swipe through the report she was reading, humming quietly to herself. After a few seconds, she seemed to realise someone had spoken, and looked up.

"Hmmm? Oh, hello... Oh, what did I call you...?"

"Ryan. You said my name was Ryan."

"Yes. I did say that, didn't I?"

Ryan wasn't fooled. He could tell she was playing with him again, and her nonchalance was a ruse to make him feel unimportant while making her appear superior. That was absolutely fine. Let her have her games. Her life must be dull if she had to gain enjoyment from redundant diversions. He already knew she was in charge. He didn't quite think he was unimportant, exactly, but wasn't sure that he was indispensable. The room his cage was in was occupied by many others. He was just one of the many.

She had control of him. He ate and slept when she told him to. He probably shit on command, for all he knew. Toilet issues had been a non-issue for his entire time there, and he hadn't thought about it until that point.

She didn't have to wield her power in such a childish way. He'd humour her, though.

"Is it my name, or isn't it?" he asked.

"Without reading your file, I really couldn't say," Bradley said lazily. Ryan knew that she could say. She knew full well, and his file was probably the one on her screen right at that moment. "We'll use that for now, though, if that's OK with you. Are you happy with it? Would you like to change it?"

No, Ryan would not like to change his name from Ryan. It wasn't a case of being happy with it or not. He was used to it. She'd given him it for a reason, and he believed that was because it was his actual name. The easiest way to mess with his head was to call him by his given name and then make him doubt its legitimacy. He refused to fall for it.

But, she didn't know that.

"I don't know," he said. "What do you think? I have no idea what it is, so I suppose anything will do."

"How about Adam? Nero? Ricardo? Dave? Everyone knows a Dave. Ha, how about Bradley?"

Ryan paused. It was for effect, but he pretended to be considering her offer.

"I think I'll stick with Ryan, thanks. It's as good as anything. I could change it every day, if I knew when the days were, and it wouldn't make a difference."

"Well, it's up to you, you know," Bradley said. "You can be whoever you want to be. In fact, while we're hear, why don't we create a whole new you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Who do you want to be? I mean other than Ryan. Family? A pet dog? What do you want to do for a living?"

"I... I don't understand. What do you mean?"

He thought he understood what she was implying, but it didn't make sense. Why would he want to be someone when he already was somebody?

"Give yourself an identity. A wife. A husband, if you prefer. Two kids and a pet iguana. Why not be a rocket scientist or a brain surgeon? A postman, with a side line in burglary at the houses you see are empty? You could be making more money from robbing people, but keep the postie spot because you fool yourself you're a decent guy by having a proper job."

Ryan was shocked. She was creating a whole new life for him, but he wanted none of it. He wanted his own life!

"No, thank you," he said, as calmly as he could. "I don't want a new life."

"You don't? But you could be anyone! Anything!"

"I don't want to be!" He was becoming agitated. She was still playing, he knew., and he couldn't help allowing it to needle him like the syringes he saw lined up on a tray near the doctor. "I just want to be me! Give me ME back!"

"But, why would you want to be that boring old shitty life? We can give you so much more. You can be anything you like in here."

"Yeah, but you took away everything I already was! Just give me that fucking back!"

Bradley smiled and turned her full attention to him. Throughout their conversation, she'd been flippant and had kept turning her attention to her tablet, treating Ryan as an afterthought. Now, the façade dropped and she faced him directly.

"There we are! Wow, you're a cool customer, aren't you? I thought I'd never get you!"

"W... What do you mean?"

"What I say, Ryan." She emphasised his name, and the sound of it on her lips made him wince. "You don't rise to my nudges easily. That's excellent. You've done well."

"I have? How?"

She dismissed his question with a wave of her hand.

"Don't worry about that right now. It's not important. Let's just say you're doing sterling work. Keep it up."

"What the fuck are you on about? Stop with the bullshit!"

"But it's so fun!"

Ryan closed his mouth and shook his head in defiance. Let her do and say what she wanted. She'd be doing it alone.

"Oh, don't be like that. You were going to get a nice surprise! I was going to give you a treat for doing so well. Not many manage to impress me."

"Fuck you."

"Not that sort of treat, silly."

"I don't want anything from you."

"We both know that's not true," she said, smilingbroadly. "You want you back. And only I can give you that. Keepimpressing me, and you might just get it."