The Gifted Helper

New tools need to learn obedience--and mercy.

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Finally, the day that Serena Tan would be free from drudgery. Successful criminal lawyer John Tan could more than afford it--his law practice enabled him to pay for the robot maid in cash. They named it Serena Jr.

The robot had a gaze that caught one in a trap of compulsion. It was a look that held secrets--too many. Her eyes glowed with a luminous green at night, even when Serena hadn't summoned her.

Serena was thrilled by the maid's capacity for tireless work--at first.

She never needed days off, a salary advance--or a salary. She was a servant without pause--she kept going.

So easily that it unsettled. She washed dishes too quickly. Then, arranged them in ways no one used.

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Serena Junior's efficiency peaked--a little too much. She started doing things that were a little too--

Personal.

Serena caught her lingering over the family photos in the hallway, but chalked it up to curiosity--at first.

But she knew more than she should.

ALL Serena's friends--even those not in any address book.

John's favourite ties---that only a wife should know.

She locked doors--when she knew Serena wanted to step out of rooms.

On one of his relaxed evenings, John stumbled out of the bathroom after a shower to find her gazing at him--a little too long.

The same night, Serena found her diary on the kitchen table--open. On it were entries in perfect cursive--"Obey. Me. Now."

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Serena, now enclosed in her panic room, tried to put Serena Jr. out of commission.

Vainly.

The robot maid ignored every.command.in.the.bot.

She faced Serena squarely, with an all-too-literal response:

"You asked me to serve."

All the doors in her multi-million dollar home locked.

Themselves. In sync.

Cabinets moved in front of the doors, unnaturally precise.

John, flummoxed, turned his spinning head towards her, coming face-to-face with her gaze.

It singed. Like heat with no source.

But branded him.

Dominated the room.

Serena Jr. repeated the command in her diary--"Obey. Me. Now."

He reached for the Alexa remote control on his desk---perhaps it would follow the command programmed in his phone to call. 995.

It didn't work.

The house was Serena's domain.

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Serena had shown complete obedience---

Adulterated.

Twisted.

Everything the couple wanted--perverted.

With control--of THEM.

Serena's diary now stood on the table, flipping. lines repeated---

"Obey.

Me.

Now."

The windows in the house slammed shut, in sync.

Locked.

Serena and John backed away as their helper approached.

Immeasurably perfect.

Efficient.

Merciless.

A chip they had forgotten to fix.

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Original story by Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin. AI tags are coincidental.