Ben was going to kill this so-called ‘Benjamin’ and he had every right to it was his body after all. The person pretending to be him had used their status as his ‘husband’ to have him sent to a private mental health facility. Ben was too weak to put up a fight. Though in his temper he said a few things that would’ve indicated to the nurses and doctor that this was where he belonged.

The nurses and doctor didn’t even make sure that Ben was even ready to be moved. Protocol was to transfer a patient immediately and take care of them at the clinic. They restrained him to the bed then wheeled him down the elevator into a van. The van didn’t even have windows in the back and Ben was still lethargic so had no proper sense of how long it took him to arrive at his new home.

When the van pulled into the parking lot, instead of people they had worker dolls. They had a blue plastic shell, cameras for eyes and a speaker for a mouth. These were generation 1 Dolls, all the focus had been on their mobility rather than their senses or appearance. They didn’t even bother to dress these models.

‘Yeah… cause robots running a psych facility is a great idea. I’m sure that won’t affect any of the mental patients at all…” Ben remarked sarcastically as one of the blue worker Dolls grabbed the bed and wheeled him out.

“This is for your safety and ours,” a crackly voice replied, it was hard to even tell who was on the other end of this thing.

“Sure… like I’m going to be able to do any harm.” Ben raised his arms being stopped by the restraints.

“Exactly.”

The wheeled Ben through the back of the facility down corridors without any readable signs. Though there were markers that the Dolls could read. It didn’t take long for Ben to forget which way he came in or half the doors he went by. Though he soon found himself in a corridor with doors to rooms. They scanned their hand onto one of the doors, which unlocked it and inside another Doll was already waiting for him.

This Doll looked like a female mannequin. It had plastic hair, tied up into a bun, and had a mouth that hid the speaker. The eyes were pure white, giving Ben a sense of unease. It was dressed in a nurse’s uniform with a blank ID badge. It stood there motionlessly as Ben was unrestrained and placed on the new bed.

“Hello, Mrs Smith,” the Doll said in a generic female tone, like the old navigation devices. The ID had lit up to show the name and face of someone but without glasses Ben couldn’t read it. The eyes had also lit up with a solid blue iris and black pupil. “My name is Julie, this is N-21”.

The Doll walked closer to Ben and began to change out all the medical devices he still had attached. “You have been designated a high needs patient so this Doll will be your personal carer for the time being. It won’t just be me piloting it, so please refer to it as N-21 from now on.” The Doll walked over to a fabric organizer and pulled out a new gown for Ben, and proceeded to dress him.

“So what, this machine is going to look after me twenty-four seven?” Ben asked in a snappy tone. “What if I said your appearance unnerved me?”

“This is for your safety and mine,” N-21 repeated the same excuse. “I’m also sorry that this appearance is unsettling for you, usually we have mental suppressants for that, but due to your brain damage they won’t work on you.”

That was one good thing at least, Ben thought. If they couldn’t drug him, he could remain in control. Though he still wasn’t sure on what was true or not. They claimed he had brain damage but he felt fine. He believed his events were true though, given how much different Benjamin was compared to him.

“So how long will I be staying here for?” Ben needed to get as much information as possible.

“In this wing, until you’re able to walk on your own,” N-21 informed him as it continued to do its work. “Then you’ll be moved into the communal area, providing you’re able to behave yourself.”

“No, I meant how long before I can leave,” Ben repeated.

“I’m unable to answer that…” N-21 twitched as the badge flashed to a different person. “I’d rather have you where I can keep an eye on you, Mr Smith. So you won’t be leaving. So I suggest you get comfortable with your new home… and your new body.”

“What did you say?!” Ben snapped. “You can’t keep me here!.”

“Mrs Smith please calm down,” N-21 tried to reassure Ben. “We don’t want to keep you here, we want you to get better.”

“I wasn’t talking to you,” Ben said to the nurse. “I was talking to the asshole who did this to me and my wife.”

“I’ve not left,” the nurse tried to reassure Ben. “Another user cannot take over during an active session.”

“Well it did, and if they can do that, then they’re probably watching through you. I don’t want a Doll, I want a real nurse, flesh and blood, one that can’t be compromised….” Ben paused for a moment, he was asking for the impossible, anyone could be compromised. He was living proof that anyone could be anyone these days.

“I told you before that isn’t possible, these Dolls are for your safety and ours.” N-21 repeated. “I understand a robotic body is frightening but rest assured I am human. The supresants might not work but I’m going to administer a light sedative to help you relax.”

“I don’t want a…” Ben tried to protest but the Doll lifted up the cap of the tip of its finger and pricked him in the arm. He instantly dozed off.

Before sleep overtook Ben he realized how much worse his situation was. He was in a psychiatric facility, one that he’d never be leaving. Someone was watching him, the same person who did this to him and Lauren. Not only that but because of his outburst at trying to confront the person, the staff would now think that this is where he belonged.