As the hours tick on I notice the aching that's been tormenting 'my' body dulling. The craving for something I've never had isn't as bad, but it's still intense. I have never experimented with drugs, I refuse to put anything into my mouth that I haven't created, so this is strange. It's so weird to be going through withdrawal of something I purposely avoided. It feels like a creepy sci-fi movie come alive.

This whole detox thing hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be though. Grant's girl has taken really good care of me. I've tried to fight it, but the more time I spend with her, the deeper my feelings for her get. Wishes still lingers in my mind, but it's easier to forget her when she's not here and Grant's girl is so attentive to me. Guilt starts to set in. She's here treating me like a king while I'm deceiving her, lying right to her face.

"You've been acting different." She says lifting her head into her hands and staring right into my soul.

I keep my composure as I meet her eyes. "Different how?"

She ponders this a moment. The pause heightens my anxiety, does she know who I am? "Little things are different. You've been joking a little less, being less seductive and looking at me like you don't know what to do with me."

I chuckle even though nothing she said was funny to me, it actually stung. I'm not as entertaining or seductive as Grant. "I don't know what to do with you and I'm going through withdrawal baby."

I can tell I said something wrong the instant I look at her. Her eyes are enlarged and her mouth gaped. "You never call me baby, you hate that pet name."

My words trip over themselves to get out. I need to fix my grand mistake. "I guess I'm more funny than you thought, huh?" I pray this excuse works, that she thinks I was just joking around. She doesn't and I can tell she doesn't, but she laughs as if she does.

"What pills have you been on?"

I smirk, as Grant would. "Maybe you just don't like sober me."

I feel proud of how quickly I got back on my feet, back in the game. Grant has probably been drunk and/or high the whole time she's been with him. I once again had a scapegoat and all was right with the world once more.

I watch as a flash flies across her eyes. It refreshes my memory that she has a chip implanted in her brain. I have control of the chip I told Wishes to implant the night Grant and I swapped bodies. I make a mental note to keep the control close to me at all times. I don't want it end up in the wrong hands, especially now that I care about the girl.

"You are so self-loathing, stop it." She groans.

A quiet knock sounds on the door. "Come in?" I say, unsure why whoever is knocking isn't just barging in.

The door slowly creaks open to expose a tall, buff man with dark blue hair and eyes that are emphasized by his deep tan. "I was told to bring you your dinner." He is holding trays close to his chest. My stomach growls as I see the steam flowing off the gray dinner trays.

The man who brought our food is a clone that isn't allowed out. He isn't allowed out specifically because he sympathizes with the humans. His name is Darius. Darius is the only light this night for us. He may be our hero tonight if I can only convince him we're worth saving.

"Like we're going to eat that." The girl glares at the intimidating man like he's a little girl who needs punished.

It takes me only seconds to plan my next move, but it feels like an eternity. "Why don't you look as weird as the rest of the clones? Like, you look normal."

I watch the corners of his lips turn upwards, telling me that I made the right move. "Thank you! My name's Darius. I always tell them I could be useful as a decoy out in the real world, but they don't believe me." He sounds pained as he speaks. I decide to reconsider his request to be freed after I complete my mission. I feel like my Grinch heart has grown three sizes since I met this woman and I'm not sure whether I love or hate it.

"You don't seem to like your brethren very much Darius." Grant's girl toys with her fork as she glances at the intruder.

He scuffs and shakes his curly hair. "How could I like someone who keeps me locked in cage?"

A cage? I mean when he puts it like that it sounds kind of cruel. "Just so you know, we don't like them either." I inform him although I'm pretty sure he can guess this.

"I know, that's why I'm hoping you can help me." His eyes shine brightly as he meets my confused gaze.

"We're not in much of a position to help you." The girl spits at him.

He looks unfazed. "All I ask is you guys get a letter to my love when you leave here."

My mouth drops. What in the world is he talking about? How can he have a love outside the clone mansion, he's been out like once? "You know your look doesn't match you Darius."

Grant's girl's demeanor shifts as she jumps into
detective mode. "Who is she? Do I know her?"

He shrugs. "You might. She goes by Onya."

Her eyes light up. "Onya?! Oh my gosh, she and I love each other!"

"Really?!" I mock her.

She rolls her eyes. "This doesn't involve you Grant, the grown ups are talking."

I sigh. "Fine, but am I involved in the imaginary plan to get out of here?" I can't help but smile slightly saying this.

She waves me off dismissively. "Yeah, yeah after we eat." She turns back to Darius. "So how long have you guys been talking? How'd you meet?"

His eyes get bright as he talks about her. "I snuck out one day after seeing her. I never saw anything so beautiful." He rubs his chin thoughtfully. "That was about a year ago, we've been writing letters back and forth ever since."

Grant's girl's holds her heart. "Oh my gosh that's so sweet I'm having a sugar overdose." Her voice always sounds a little sarcastic, but I don't think she's kidding.

I nod along, but in the back of my mind I have one repeating question, how did he sneak out? There are guards and alarm systems in place that are so strong Hercules would be trapped. How didn't I notice? Someone's getting fired when I get my body back! Oh well, I'm learning that love can make you do stupid things. I mean, look at me.

Darius smiles. "Let's get you guys out of here before anyone becomes suspicious."

We move single file to the door before he stops us and whispers. "Wait here. I'll keep the door cracked open and you guys run out after I leave. I already have replacements I cloned of you guys."

I grab his wrist angrily. "You cloned us?"

He looks at my hand and back up at me, shocked. "Not exactly. They aren't activated, just paper copies."

"You guys are made out of paper?" Grant's girl smirks.

"I'm not surprised." I say honestly. With that Darius is out.

Five minutes later we make our grand escape.