MEET OWNERS

Mike and Scotty stood side by side, their hearts pounding as their Smartboi® monitors vibrated with a new notification. They glanced down at their wrists simultaneously, the screens displaying an order that made Mike’s stomach drop: “Meet your owner.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Mike muttered, his voice tinged with anxiety.

Scotty, who had a bit more experience with the island’s rules and routines, explained calmly, “It means we need to meet the person assigned to us. If one partner is classified as a boi and the other as a man, the boi becomes the property of the man. It's just how things work here.”

Mike’s face went pale. “What? That’s insane! Ben and I... we’re both supposed to be partners, equals. How can they just...”

Scotty placed a reassuring hand on Mike’s shoulder. “I know it’s a lot to take in. But we have to follow the rules, Mike. It’s the only way we can survive here.”

Reluctantly, Mike followed Scotty as they made their way towards the meeting point indicated on their monitors. As they approached the designated spot, Mike’s heart sank even further when he saw the name of his owner displayed on his screen: