Just random writing things I like

Penelope's not sure how long she's been strapped to this chair, collared and naked, before the door opens and a handler – her assigned handler, perhaps, he's a regular – steps inside, wheeling a TV along with him.

“So, how's my least favourite pet lib bitch doing today?”

“All the better for not seeing you,” she spits. The handler clicks his tongue.

“That's not very polite, now, is it? Fortunately for you, I'm not here to beat you up today.”

“What are you here for then?”

He smirks.

“Well, see, I was wondering what we could do. I didn't want to leave you in that chair forever, do you have any idea what that does to sale value? And then I thought, why not show you the fates of your stolen property?”

“People, not property. I hope they escaped you for good.”

“I mean. In a way.” He moves her roughly from the chair to the floor, still trussed up and tied down, then tosses a photo down in front of her. “Go on. Take a good long look.”

She stares uncomprehendingly at the photo for a few minutes. It's too much for her to take in, too much for her to understand, and she just can't.

After far too long, she realises what she's looking at and her heart shatters.

The eyes are blank and staring, long blond hair matted with blood, but she recognises him. He couldn't be anyone else.

No. No, Graham. Oh, god no.

“Why?”

Her voice is croaky, catching, but try as she might she can't make it do anything else.

“He was a pain in all of our asses. He had to go, and it really didn't matter how.”

“No. No.” She looks up at the handler, eyes blazing, anger or sorrow she isn't sure which. “You asshole! You didn't need to do that!”

He puts up his hands. “Wasn't me. But I won't be shedding a tear over the disposal of a broken product.”

“He's a person! He– he– why? Why? He was no threat to you, he was just a person trying to live, why– why–”

She's sobbing too hard to speak now and she doesn't care who sees. No, no, he was doing so well, he was so excited about going out and now he can't go out ever again, he'll never have the chance, he was reclaiming his life step by painful step, determined to make something of himself despite what he'd been through, he'd had his barcode removed and his scars were fading and he was becoming so much more confident, his personality starting to shine through, and now that's all cut short, stopped, the bright spark that was Graham fallen, gone, because some assholes decided he was property and broken property needs to be destroyed just to cover their tracks.

“He'd still be alive if you hadn't stolen him.”

“You assholes! He was just trying to live, he was no threat to you, why?”

He shrugs. “What a client pays for, the client gets. We were after you and 21059 really, eliminating 68923 was just a bonus. And speaking of 21059, why don't we see how she's getting on?”

No. No, Mercy, please no, not another death, not another loss, and she was doing so well as well, she just chose her name and her confidence has been growing, ever so slowly but Penelope's convinced she'll be ready to have her barcode removed soon. And now this.

Please, no. Graham is bad enough, no-one else.

She doesn't want to see. She will never want to see. But she was the one who couldn't protect her charges, no matter her promises, and they should have someone who cares to bear witness.

The handler smiles and turns on the TV.

She's looking at a room. White tiled on all sides, one of WRU’s. Mercy is in the centre, dressed in the old ratty t-shirt and shorts she wears to bed along with a thick leather collar, one shoulder torn, branded with initials, tears streaking through the grime on her face.

“Respect.”

Mercy drops to her knees, trembling. A man steps into view, low, measured steps, letting out a pleased hum as he walks behind her, raising her chin with a steel-capped boot to examine her face more closely. He doesn't seem as pleased with that.

“They showed me a photo of you pretending to be a person, you know. You look so much better bleeding and branded. Mine, down to your core.” His tone is sickly sweet, his words anything but. “I still have that barbed wire. You remember it, I’m sure. And you'll remember just how much I own you once we're done. I've upgraded the dog house since you left. I think you'll like it, pet. Or, well. You'll thank me for it anyway.”

Mercy looks away, trembling in a way that stops when he puts his hand on her shoulder, pressing in and rubbing the brand. It's new, red, even if Penelope didn't see it done. She bows her head and the man smiles, making quick work of fixing a scold’s bridle around her head.

“For your temerity. Get into your cage. You've gotten fat, but I'm sure you'll still fit.”

She obeys, crawling inside, squished up tight, head bowed. Her legs are bound to the bottom with barbed wire, her wrists contorted to reach the top. Everything bleeds and her shoulders shake with the strain and suppressed tears.

Her shirt is torn and bloody at the back and Penelope knows those signs. She's missed a whipping.

“That's enough of that, I think you've gotten an idea of the trouble you've landed her in.”

The screen goes black.

The handler drops a photo on the floor. Penelope doesn't really notice. It's not important right now.

“She's not fat, she barely eats,” she whispers without thinking. They had so much trouble getting her to eat even a spoonful of porridge or cereal without explicit permission, and this is why. The handler shrugs smugly.

“Pets are supposed to be skinny. I mean, you've covered her collarbones. You know what the latest fashions are, I'm sure you keep up to date just so you can subvert them.”

“She's her own person, you asshole, her life is up to her.”

“Oh it really isn't. But don't worry, she won't forget you. Her owner believes it's more painful that way. Although soon that won't matter to you. You'll forget everyone you've ever loved and be grateful for it.”

“It matters to her, so it matters to me,” Penelope hisses. “And I am proud of her. I'm proud of them both, of everyone I have ever helped. You can remove my memories, break every bone in my body, turn me into a good little pet, but I will remain proud of them until the day I die.”

“Oh, don't tempt me, you little bitch.”

She smirks. He smacks his baton down hard on her hand, making her cry out as the bones crunch beneath it. But she won't break that easily and she looks steadily into his smug expression, eyes gleeful, relishing in her pain. She grits her teeth and glares.

“Your prospective wants you as a professional slut. Shall we start? I think you know the process. But pet lib bitches like you get a little something extra. As a punishment for stealing our property.”

He wrenches her mouth open and forces a ring gag inside. Then something attaches to that that she can't see, but she can feel it vibrating and she knows what it is, wants to gag. Heh. Gagging at a gag. She stifles the urge to giggle.

She's going mad.

“We're starting your training early. I'll leave these with you as you think on the consequences of your actions. Close your eyes and you'll wish you were never born.”

He ties her collar down, forcing her to face the photos of Graham, of Mercy. She can't move her head to look away.

Then he leaves, locking the door behind him.

She closes her eyes, tears tickling her cheeks. She won't have her memories of Mercy and Graham replaced by blood and fear and blank, staring eyes. And she won't follow orders. That's the first thing to go, the ‘no’, the trigger for an avalanche. And she will not go. She will not forget the people who have been so brave, and so [good], and work so hard with everything they have to reclaim their lives.

Even through the tidal wave of grief and pain she recognises something though.

His voice calm and nearly innocent with its complete candidness.

Plain look on his face even when looking into your eyes that had gone completely moon-wide now.

“Much more than what you do with me I wager…” He smiled softly. Voice still smooth as he looked down into your pitiful pools of building anxiousness. “It would be fun to watch him ravish you.”

Your throat was tight as you swallowed. Trying to convince yourself he was only being cruel in his strange ways.

But something about the excitement in his bicolored eyes told you otherwise. Along the fact that he’d never been one for jokes.

“Or perhaps you’d like Midoriya instead?”

You shook just a bit by the thought. Recurring stories Shoto’d told you about the man. Stories resembling a callous and calculating villain, much less the number one hero. You wouldn't want to be caught beneath that nor the former.

“I can’t promise you he’d be any less rough than me though.”

You flinched when his hand started up again. Stopping in messaging your thigh to run fingertips so very cold up you belly and chest to where you heart couldn’t seem to calm down.

“Hm- Maybe one isn’t enough for you at all?” He questioned.

His slender hands rubbing your throat now. Stroking his thumb up and down your jugular.

“Would you like them both?”

He leaned forward until his bangs brushed against your forehead and his breath fanned across your lips. So close, you could see the blitz in his eyes. A look so crippling you felt he was undressing your soul just like he’d done your body.

His voice still so soft it was smothering.

“Maybe they’d bring along friends and we’d get to see how much you could take before breaking.”

You shuddered and broke from his eye-contact. Bowing your head with a small sniffle, followed by a whimper breaching from you as you shook your head.

“What’s this? You changed your mind?” He remarked.

“I don’t want anyone else.” You whispered weakly in the only voice you could manage at the moment.

Shoto’s icy palm cupped your cheek and raised your chin so he could level you with his eyes.

“No? You certain?” He whispered back and your entire body sprung with goosebumps. A tear running slowly down either side of your face as you chewed some on your lip.

Hands slack in his grip above your head.

“Yes, Shoto. I only want you.” You sniveled.

Another small smile crept onto his face as he looked upon your teary features.

“Such enthusiasm.” He commented. “My friends got you so hot and bothered.”

He blew on your neck and your breath hitched on your trembling lips.

While his firm lips kissed your throat.

“One phone-call, snowflake-” He moaned and placed another kiss upon your collar. “They’d be here in minutes.”

He let go of the grip he had around your wrists and moved to rub a nipple between his fingertips.

And his other hand moved to where it had been before.

Between your thighs, with cold digits running over your warm and soft core.

“Bakugou would be thrilled to break my girl over his knee… and Midoriya would love to comfort you afterwards.” He continued in a low murmur, but you shook your head at the nauseatingly scary thought.

“I don’t want them, I want you. I only want you.” You vowed with a tiny cry, as though you were begging.

“Mh…” Shoto hummed, peeking through his bangs at you before kissing a nipple and rubbing your clit. “Then act like it.”

MIDORIYA IZUKU

“Bunny~ I’m home!” Deku’s voice came booming from the outer-door.

You’d heard him pull up the driveway some minutes ago and were expecting him.

It wasn’t as if you thought it would help to hide…

But, knowing that wasn’t enough to stop you though.

“Bunny?” His voice came again, but you didn’t answer.

And then that nerve-wreaking chuckle came rumbling like thunder and you swore you were going to choke on the tremors of your own heart.

“You’ hiding from me, little one?”

You knew you were supposed to greet him by the door. Throw yourself into his arms as though he was all you’d been thinking of all day. But, you just couldn’t bring yourself to do it.

“Come out and play, baby-face~” His voice called once again and you had to cover your ears.

The crinkle between your brows just deepening where you sat on the cold hardboard floor of the closet. Rocking back and forth with your lip caught between your teeth. Trying to hold back the tears of dread

“Daddy’s brought a present for you~”

You nearly whimpered at that. Hiding your head between your knees

“Coming to find you, Bunny…”

You heard steps in the hallway leading to you. Massive thunderous steps you convinced yourself shook the thin walls of the wooden closet you sat in.

“And when I do…” He began warning. Another cripplingly low chuckle following the rumble in his rust. “We’re gonna go straight to bed.

Eyes wide as your stomach made a twist by the thought of hosting his massiveness inside. Cunt twitching involuntarily by the thought. Mouth watering as though you’d bitten your tongue too hard.

“We can have dinner later…” He dismissed. “‘Cause right now…”

His voice was close.

“All I want…”

Right outside.

“Is you.”

The closet door flew open and in the opening the giant stood towering in the light.

“There you are, Bunny.” He sighed. Eyes an ill luminescent green. Eerily lighting up his face like foxfire.

“No-” You whimpered. Hands stretched forward in and effort of warding him off. “Stay away- S-stop-”

He ignored you. Blissful smile on his face as he grabbed your wrist and threw your small body up over his shoulder.

“Why so jumpy, Bunny?” He asked innocently while putting his massive palm over the dome of your ass. Strong thick fingers carving into goosebumbed plush flesh before giving you a tiny smack

“Please, Izuku-” You yelped. “I- ah- I don’t want to- have sex with you. I don’t want-” You began crying. Banging your tiny fist on his back, even when it seemed so utterly pointless.

“Silly Bunny.” He dismissed with a chuckle. Kissing your hip. “Don’t you know?”

He bounced you off his shoulder for you to land on the bed.

“You always change your mind in the end.”

He climbed over you before you could gather yourself enough to crawl away.

“You always tell me you love it and make such happy noises for me when I make you cum.”

Your will and pride and anger told you to fight back, but fear and helplessness made you cry as you carried out your pathetic efforts. His words making you shudder and cringe as you felt the roughness of his hands greedily stroke upon your smooth skin.

“No-” You whined, trying to shove him away.

His wild curls tickling the skin of your chest as he buried his face between your warm pillowy tits.

“You just need to feel me first.” He urged in a mumble against your flesh.

Rubbing his stubbled chin against you while you wormed in discomfort beneath him.

“I’ve been wanting to feel you all day long.” He groaned. Grinding his bulge against your thigh. “I’m so ready to get inside you, I don’t think I’ll let you go again.” His voice moaned intrudingly load against you.

His large hands holding you still for him to use as he so wished.

“Just you and me, wet and warm and sticky until morning.”

Another cry broke form you, but was interrupted by the man’s distraction.

“Oh-” He exclaimed. “Almost forgot.”

His hands removed from you to fish something out of his pocket

“Your present…”

Pulling out a pink choker with a little jingle bell attached to it. He made some intricate adjustments with his fingers and the locking mechanism came undone.

“A pretty collar for my pretty pet.” He purred while snaking the necklace around your throat. Keeping it snug, though thankfully slack enough to be comfortable.

The humiliation wasn’t as merciful though.

Your eyes downcast, but could still spot Izuku’s salacious smirk where he leaned forward admiring his pretty possession.

“With this I won’t lose you again.” He voiced. Fingering a lock of your hair. Looping it around his pointer until you bit your lip and another tear slipped down your cheek. “No matter where you might wind up lost...”

He caught the rebel droplet on his knuckle while stroking your face. Giving your forehead a kiss, he began dragging the zipper to his hero-suit down his chest. Whispering.

“I’ll find you.”

SHINSO HITOSHI

You had your back hunched. Claws drawn.

He was back and it was time to stand your ground.

Your tail coiled tall in the air.

Sharp fangs flashed hostilely.

Eyes narrowed at the man in front.

Clad in only frilly lavender underwear and the collar you couldn’t for the life of you seem to rip off.

“Heh, kitten…” Your captor chuckled. “Best thing about coming home is you.” His mockingly sweet voice mouthed in that sarcastic drawl all his words always drip with. Endeared by your wild disheveled hair while casually removing the gadget belt to his hero costume.

Visibly happy to be home.

“I hate you.” You seethed and the man cocked his head at you. His face splitting into a wide yet lazy grin. Accompanied by an ugly chuckle dry in his throat. As jaded as his eyes.

“Oh?” He piqued. Unbothered, or rather amused, as he lifted his black sweater off over his head. “You hate me?”

He left the article on the floor. His complementary dark cargo’s hanging low on his hips without the support of his belt. A path of purple fluff peeking out, running from his crotch up his firmly carved stomach like an ant-trail.

Capture weapon dangling like the bands of a mummy around his shoulders. Crossing over his puffed chest decorated by tough scars and bruises.

“Nothing to say?” He teased and her eyes narrowed some more as she lowered herself even further.

Ready to leap.

“Nothing at all, Kitten?” He pushed. Slight edge to his tone with his hands held at the reins. Scarf stretched and winding between his firm fingers.

Ready to ensnare.

“Come on... pet. Say that again.” He coaxed, snapping the band between his fists. “Let me hear you loud and clear.”

You thought about it. As overwhelmed and frustrated as you were, filled with boiling rage and vexation towards your insane captor.

But, ultimately, you couldn’t risk being tricked into triggering his quirk.

“No?” He asked. Taking a threatening step towards you with brows high and testing.

Clicking his tongue with a sigh when you didn’t answer.

“Fine then-” He mumbled. “I guess foreplay’s over.”

Cracking his neck with a groan, he seemed relaxed and neutral with his eyes closed.

Before they snapped open again with newfound focus.

“Time for the main event.”

Binding-cloth flew towards you before you could even as much as think of clawing at the air in front of you.

Captured instantly.

All you could was whine and worm.

“Struggle all you want, Kitty.” Shinso chuckled, while pulling you towards him.

Like a spider would its prey.

“We both know you'll end up a wet whiny moaning mess once I get started with you.”

He had your wrist neatly secured behind your back with his capture weapon in no time.

Twirling you around, he pushed you onto the bed. Stomach first and face down.

Your tail up.

Curling around and just begging to be yanked.

Something of which Shinso did with glee.

His fist grabbing onto the tip of the soft brush. Before proceeding to wrap it around his hand like one would bandage a cut until hitting the base. Pulling some more. Making you hiss before crying.

“You can’t help the way your body reacts to me.” He purred. His lilac eyes reveling at the sight of your thighs starting to shake.

Giving a little gleeful chuckle. His other hand made itself known.

Stroking two thick fingers up the puff of the sore little pussy he’d fucked raw before leaving for work only some hours ago.

Still full with his cum. Still with the feeling of him deep in your guts. And of how he’d bred you dumb.

You couldn’t help but mew at the feeling. His rough finger-pads rubbing over the fine silk of your panties. Such playful friction it made you shiver. Where all you wanted was to rock yourself backwards and beg for more.

Shinso chuckled some again. Smirking once your cute ears parted atop your head.

“It’s only natural your instincts recognize who’s in charge.”

His smile wide and lazy as he watched you try to contain yourself. Even when he could smell it in the air as well as feel it in the heat warming his fingers just how wrecked and ready you were for him.

“Though… you should do yourself a favor, Kitty, and start listening to yourself-”

You made a hiss and bit out a flustered comment. “F-fuck you-”

Funny you’re the cat, but Shinso’s the one who’s always got your tongue.

And mind and body.

“Exactly right...” He simpered.

Admiring how your tense body turned soft and fight-less. Your back becoming a smoother slope as your ass arched into him. Your pretty face blanking as his quirk brought you to your knees as it always does.

“Fuck me.”

TIP-JAR

BAKUGOU, KIRISHIMA, DENKI, ENJI

Before meeting Whumper, he hadn't actually experienced withdrawals before. Drinking was a daily occurance for him, but previously he had been able to get what he needed when he needed (or just really wanted) it. That was, until, he lost his job. Something that only pushed him further into his depression and addiction. All his savings went into alcohol, rather than other necessities, including rent.

When Whumpee was evicted, he had nowhere to go. Whumper had been an old friend, and had heard about Whumpee's situation, offering to help. Whumpee could stay with Whumper for a while, until he was able to find a new job, and Whumper could help provide him with the things he needed - alcohol included.

It had seemed far too good to be true, but at the same time, he didn't have much reason to question it. Whumper WAS an old friend, after all. It made sense, friends help friends. Even if they haven't spoken in a while. Either way, Whumpee didn't really have any other safe option. So naturally, he accepted the offer with gratitude.

Everything was fine at first. Whumper's house was quite nice, plenty of space for two people. It was even fun, hanging out with an old friend again. Whumpee realized he hadn't actually hung out with anyone since his drinking started, being too afraid and distrusting to really be around anyone anymore. He didn't even realize how much he had missed it.

But suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, things had changed. When Whumpee went to the fridge to grab a bottle of alcohol and begin his drinking for the night, he found it empty. Which was odd, because normally Whumper kept it stocked so heavily that you could hardly tell when one was missing.

When questioned, Whumper simply smiled at Whumpee in a way he hadn't seen before. Something about it made his stomach drop.

"I've been so generous with you, Whumpee. Giving you an endless supply of alcohol without asking for anything in return." Whumper took a sip from his own bottle, a move that felt taunting. Holding what Whumpee desired so desperately just out of reach. He felt his heart skip a beat as he wondered where Whumper was going with this.

"Don't you think it's time you paid me back somehow? You still haven't even got a job." Whumper continued, moving closer to Whumpee as he did. He lifted a hand and gently stroked Whumpee's cheek. Whumper had never actually touched Whumpee before, and it felt odd.

Whumpee could feel his heart pounding faster. What was it Whumper was implying? Was it sex? Whumpee wasn't sure if he could do that. Being assaulted by someone else was the whole reason he had turned to drinking in the first place.

But maybe it would be easier, this time. With Whumper. Whumper was an old friend, after all. And Whumpee had been enjoying their time together even more than he expected.

It might not be easy, or even enjoyable really, but Whumper had a point. Whumpee had been staying there rent free, and his needs were being met even moreso than when he was living alone. And in turn, he hadn't offered Whumper anything at all, outside of conversation. And on top of that, Whumpee needed alcohol. He didn't know how to live without it. He didn't even want to think about how to live without it. That was just way too hard. Too much to handle. If this was the cost, then...

"I... Do you want me to have sex with you?" Whumpee asked hesitantly, desperately hoping the answer would be no. "I can do that if.. If that's what you..."

Whumper's smile somehow became even more unpleasant. "No, Doll, but I love where your mind is at. That's close. I want to offer you a job."

Whumpee's head felt like it was spinning. "A... Job...?"

"That's right. You need a job, after all. And I need money to keep up with all this alcohol I have to buy for you. So I have an offer to make you." Whumper's hand was still pressed against Whumpee's cheek, the touch more unsettling now than it had been before. "I showed some of my friends pictures of you. They all think you're very pretty. One of them even has a party coming up, they want you to be there. They've offered money, quite a bit, for you. Your body. All you have to do is go spend some time with them, and I'll buy you all the alcohol you need, and more. Doesn't that sound nice?"

Whumpee swallowed heavily. "And what if... What if I don't want to...?"

"Then I guess you just don't get to drink, now, do you?"

And now Whumpee was here. Shaking, alone, on the floor of Whumper's guest bedroom, sweating heavily and feeling like his heart was going to pound out of his chest. He felt like he couldn't breathe. He didn't even know what parts of this were from anxiety, or from withdrawals. But this was already too much. Alcohol would fix this problem, either way. He needed it. And couldn't you die from withdrawals? Whumpee was pretty sure he had heard that somewhere. He didn't want to die. There was no other choice.

Trying to stand was no use, everything he was feeling before now combined with the extra anxiety about what he was agreeing to was too much. Instead he called out for Whumper weakly, but loud enough to be heard. "Whumper? I... I'll do it! I'll do it, please! Just, just give me a drink! Please! Just make this stop!"

Silence. He waited. Did Whumper hear him? He wasn't sure. He was about to call out again, before he heard footsteps walking towards the room. Slow, calm. It didn't match the urgency that Whumpee felt.

At last, the room to the door opened, and there was Whumper, holding a six pack. "You'll do what, exactly, Whumpee?"

"I... Please. You know. The... The party. Whatever your other friends want. I'll do it, just, please let me drink. I can't take this."

That disgusting smile again. Whumper walked towards Whumpee with the same, casual pace before setting down the alcohol and stroking his hair gently. "And you won't back out at the last second? Or refuse?"

"N-no, I'll be good. I promise. Please."

"Because you know what happens if you do."

He did. "I do."

"Good boy. I knew you'd come around. I'll just leave this here, then." Whumper said, setting the alcohol down next to him and stroking his cheek once again gently before leaving.

And so Whumpee spent the next few days drinking, even more than usual. He was incredibly grateful he didn't have to "earn it" beforehand, though he knew that part was coming.

The day of the party was both worse than he expected, but in a way, almost not as bad. Almost. There were significantly more people there than he had thought, and far too many took interest in him. He expected Whumper must be earning a lot for this, though he didn't have the slightest idea how much. Every touch made him sick, every time he could feel himself inside someone else made it even worse.

A loud snap sounded from the alley beside them.

…that was probably just an animal. Yeah, just an animal. A raccoon maybe.

Whumpee glanced backwards, and a shadow flitted past them. They stumbled backwards, crashing into a persons arms.

“Oh dear, are you alright?” The person asked, tilting their head.

Whumpees face flushed. “I- yeah- Uhm. Sorry. I thought… I just got scared. Thought someone might be following me.”

“Oh, they were.” Whumper smiled, the expression stretching across their face, unsettling in its softness.

“…what?”

“I was following you, sweetheart. You’re very pretty, you know that?”

Whumpees heart was racing. They tried to take a step back, but their legs wouldn’t obey them. “I’m sorry… I don’t- I’m not interested.” They choked out, trying and failing not to hyperventilate.

“That’s ok.” Whumpers hands around their biceps tightened marginally. “I’m interested. You’ll get there.”

They shoved Whumpee into the alley, pressing them up against the wall, hands wrenched behind their back.

Whumpee finally found the words, and they began to scream. “Help! Someone, please-“

A hand pressed to their mouth, and Whumper glared at them. “I’m trying to be nice here. Do you want to make me hurt you? Do you?”

Whumpee froze. Oh god… they were going to die, weren’t they? They were never going to see Caretaker again.

Slowly, they shook their head, eyes wide.

Whumper patted their cheek, letting go of their mouth. “Good, darling. Because I don’t want to hurt you.” Whumpee felt tape wrap around their wrists. “Now, let’s get you home, hmm?”

—

The door to Whumpers apartment slammed shut.

Whumpee flinched, sniffling.

“Don’t be scared.” Whumper murmured, leading Whumpee through their home.

It was warm, and well lit. It seemed lived in. It didn’t look like a place that would belong to a kidnapper.

“You like it?” Whumper grinned, pushing Whumpee down to sit on the couch.

The duct tape was beginning to irritate Whumpees skin, and they’d been clenching their jaw so much they were starting to get a headache. The light in the room was honestly a fraction too bright, and now that they were indoors their coat was making them too warm. God, were they going to die here…?

“Hey.” Whumper snapped, grabbing Whumpees jaw. “Are you always this fucking rude? I asked you a question.”

Whumpee flinched. “I- I’m sorry-“

“You. Like. It?”

“Yes-… yeah. It’s- it’s nice…”

“Good.” Whumper let them go, instead giving their shoulder a pat. “I think we’ll be staying here together from now on.”

Breathing measured, Whumpee risked a glance up at Whumper. “…are you gonna kill me?”

“…hmm.” Whumper tilted their head. “I don’t know. We’ll just have to see how it goes, sweetheart.”

Another deep breath in. “..o- ok.” And out.

This is fine. It’s ok. Someone will find them. Someone will save them from this. They just need to play along to buy themself time.

They were brought out of their thoughts by Whumper kissing them. It was gentle, and wrong. Whumpee was pushed back onto the couch, and Whumper began to unbutton their shirt. Oh fuck. Oh fuck.

“You’re going to like this, don’t worry.” Whumper murmured against them. “I’ll make sure of it.”

Whumpees eyes were burning. They wanted to wipe at them, but his hands were still firmly bound.

“Now, let see what you’re hiding under here.”

—

The bed creaked, and whumpee gasped in a breath, tears streaming down their face.

Every jolt of Whumpers hips sent a wave of revulsion through them, and the heat, the moisture, it was all too much.

Whumper caught Whumpees lips in another kiss, hand absently running through their hair. “You’re so pretty, you know that?”

Whumpee sobbed.

“It’s ok, it’s ok.” Whumper shushed, stroking Whumpees face. “You’re ok, darling. I’ve got you.”

Whumpee tried their best not to lean into the contact. Their mind felt like it was being torn in half with the conflict, terrified of the awful person doing this to them, and also finding unwanted comfort in their actions.

Whumper wiped their tears. “It’s ok.” They repeated. “There’s really no need to be scared, dear. Sex is enjoyable. You should feel good.”

When Whumpee didn’t respond, they sighed. “Do you feel good?” They murmured.

Whumpee hesitated. Would they be punished if they said no? Would Whumper do more if they said yes.

In the end, they settled on slowly nodding their head.

“Good.” Whumper kissed their cheek. “You’ll like this then.”

Everything sped up, and Whumpee once again sobbed.

—

Caretaker was asleep when they got the phone call.

Whumpee was at a hospital, and they were their emergency contact.

Now, they were in the waiting room, still in their pyjamas. They’d only given themselves enough time to grab a coat and some boots before they’d driven over, not wanting to waste a second. Now it felt somewhat pointless though, as they’d been left waiting for over half an hour so far.

“Caretaker?” A nurse asked.

“Yes. Is Whumpee ok?” Caretaker asked.

“They will be. You can come and see them now.” The nurse replied, his expression sympathetic.

Caretaker was up and following them in seconds.

When they saw Whumpee their heart dropped.

They looked exhausted, eyes lidded, hair tousled. There were bruises- no, hickeys all over their neck, and tear tracks had dried into their face. Various IVs were attached to them, and a catheter.

“Whumpee-“ Caretakers voice broke, and they immediately pulled their friend into a hug.

Whumpee winced. “No- no- stop-“

Caretaker froze. After a moment, they withdrew, and they saw the pure terror on Whumpees face. “I- I’m sorry-“

“…it’s ok.” Whumpee murmured, picking at their nails. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Caretaker dismissed, sitting in the chair beside them. “What the hell happened?”

“I… I don’t wanna talk about it again.” Whumpee whispered. “Please- don’t make me…”

“Ok, ok. I won’t. Promise. Just… please tell me how you’re feeling.” Caretaker supplicated. Their arms felt useless at their sides, but they didn’t want to upset their friend again.

“…tired. Sore. A bit scared.” Whumpee replied. Their voice sounded hoarse.

“Can I hold your hand?”

Whumpee was silent. Caretaker thought they were being ignored, but eventually they nodded.

Caretaker smiled, and took Whumpees hand in theirs.

“Please don’t leave.” Whumpee pleaded.

“I’m not going anywhere, darling.” They squeezed their hand. “I’m here. It’s ok.”

———————————————————————

This was a gift for @fruity-loves-whump !! Hope you like it, I tried to include as many tropes you listed as possible.

Warlock: Oathbreaker. Deceiver. Monster. Those who bear the brand have forsaken their own world, and so too shall the world forsake them in turn.

At thirteen years old, Eldwin made a deal that would change his life forever. An outlaw from society, his only sanctuary is with the Black Syndicate, a powerful criminal organisation and bought Eldwin from slavers and trained him to be whatever they need - a tool. A weapon. An aether source. Something to use however they see fit.

Almost a decade later, this is where he remains. It's a life filled with pain and hardship; cruel punishments and the harvesting of his magic is almost too much to bear, and he doesn't recognise the person he used to be. But it's okay. It could always be worse.

After all, there is no life for a warlock.

MASTERLIST

Main story - these are ordered chapters of the main storyline. Convenient!

Chapter I: The Price He Paid - Eldwin returns from a mission in which he made his own decision. This is not allowed.

Chapter II: Lab Daze - Eldwin visits the Black Syndicate laboratory for some routine, yet unknown procedures. Also, a strange dream.

Canon extras - These are bonus insights to characters and story dynamics. Relevant, but not necessary reading. Also fun whump!

A Soul Condemned, a Fate Be Changed - When Eldwin made a pact with Vor'gol

Oh Sure, Take My Aether, I Didn't Need It Anyway - The first Aether extraction process.

His Greatest Gift - When Clyde bought Eldwin

Shattered Soul - A look through Eldwin's self-destructive habits, and when he pushes away the one person he has left.

More extras - These may or may not be canon. Mostly extra whump, fun with some character insights but you won't miss anything story-wise.

Who Needs A Muzzle When You Have Barbed Wire - Eldwin learns the value of silence.

Blindfolded - Blindfolded and left to fend for himself. Aka Clyde is a dick, what's new?

Echoes Of The Past: A Study In Jowan - Jowan is captured by a rival team and suffers for it. Oh, and represses everything.

The Black Syndicate Survival Guide - Eldwin's notes on the (un)official rules of the Black Syndicate

Comfort Ask Game Masterlist

Hurt Ask Game Masterlist

Perfect Doll - A curse to trap on in their own body, conscious and unable to move. Plus, the debut of a new whumper.

Remember That You Can't Save Everyone - a bittersweet look at Eldwin and Ancassius as children

BONUS CONTENT

Check out all the wonderful art people made!

Height Comparisons | Magic System | Whumper review | What does the pact mark look like?| Character Whump Interview | Eldwin as a roommate | Forsaken Lore Guide | Whump interview 2

All Forsaken Asks

Some select asks:

Does Eldwin have a favourite lie he likes to hear? +

Describe Jowan in an unkind way, then describe him in a loving way +

If Eldwin could speak to his childhood self, what would he say? +

Image credit: 1, 2, 3.

There was a gag in Rory's mouth, keeping her from cursing and raging as much as she would've liked. The ring of metal had been shoved into her and cranked open, forcing her jaws and teeth achingly apart, but only as the finishing touch after she had been stripped naked, tied with her arms behind her back, and securely blindfolded with a velvety mask she hadn't managed to nudge off, no matter how hard she had rubbed her face against the stone floor.

All of that, of course, had only happened after she had seen Garret setting up a video camera, and the number of phallic shapes he'd been pulling out from his duffel bag.

And before Sienna had knelt behind her, one hand beginning to fondle Rory's breasts, while the other one slowly trailed down between her legs. Her guard's curly blonde hair tickled the back of Rory's neck as Sienna leaned in close, whispering seductively into her ear.

"You're going to look so fucking hot on film," she purred. Her voice was so much more sickeningly sweet than her usual mockery as her thumb rubbed over the soft flesh of Rory's chest. "What do you think you'll like the taste of better? My strap? Or Garret's cock?"

Rory fought against her touch and her words, soft as they were for the moment, and made a strangled, gurgling shout through her gag. Her efforts were cut short though as Sienna's other hand found its mark. Instinctively, she tried to fold forward and force her legs together to resist, but her struggles just seemed to excite the other woman, who gripped her chest tighter to keep her upright and pushed her fingers into her folds.

A mix heat and shame and frustration hit Rory immediately as Sienna began to rub and fondle the softest and most vulnerable parts of her. She knew the woman would be able to feel her heart racing and her skin flushing right beneath her hand and she wanted to scream that this was not her doing that. It didn't matter if she managed to rub her digits in just the right spot between Rory's leg, because it wasn't pleasure that was making her buck and writhe - it was her own fury; her bitterness, her outrage at how helpless she'd been made again, because this -

This was far from the first time she'd been abused like this.

Something about finding out she was immortal - it seemed to give people that they had a free pass to do anything with her. Not just strangling her, and drowning her, and bleeding her out. Not just shocking her and keeping her in a crate like a disobedient dog.

But -

Rory's throat tightened with memories. With her sight stolen, it was all too easy for her mind to flood with images of Kyle and Grant, the vicious frat boys who had held her before selling her off to Blake.

Because, of course, what else were two amoral assholes like them going to do with their own personal living plaything when they got bored of finding new ways to kill and torture her? They had fucked Rory frequently, and somehow with even less concern for her comfort than Blake and his people, always leaving her aching and bruised and bloody in their wake.

And on one occasion, when they'd become bored with even that, they -

They had -

Rory could still hear the sound of the door that led down to the basement where they kept her, creaking open and shut repeatedly, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps down the stairs as they welcomed in guest after guest after guest. Still hear Kyle's voice carrying down from upstairs as he explained the price for their visit, and everything they could pay to add a la carte.

"It's a flat $20 to fuck her. Ten extra if you want to cut her, thirty if you want to stick the knife in. Rope rental if you wanna strangle her is fifty. And remember, it's all for a good cause - gotta pay for the house's new roof somehow."

Her face was aflame as she remembered that day - tied and gagged not unlike now, but without the shield of a blindfold, having to see the faces of each of those disgusting people as they came down to force themselves on her. That had been one of the worst parts of it all, even amidst all the pain and humiliation, that no one had cared if she looked them straight in the eyes. It wouldn't matter if she learned every last one of their names and faces - because they had absolutely no intention of ever letting her free.

But the fact that Sienna and Garret had her blindfolded now didn't mean anything different for her future. It just meant blindfolds were in with whoever they were selling their footage to this week.

Drool dripped down from of her open mouth as Sienna finally withdrew her fingers, after what felt like ages of teasing and massaging her. She had been kissing Rory's neck for a while now, as she worked her over into a state of tightly wound physical pleasure. There had been clicks from a physical camera all the while too - Garret taking photos that would go to their list of clients for...how much even?

Hundreds?

Thousands?

Twenty dollars to fuck her. Fifty to choke the life out of her. And maybe thousands just for a photo of less. It almost would've made her laugh, the irony, if the reality wasn't so truly cruel and fucking terrible.

"I think our girly's ready to go," Sienna called over, wiping her fingers off on Rory's own stomach. "So wet already - you could probably take her dry, and she wouldn't even tell the difference."

"Mgggh!" Rory protested with her jacked-open jaws. "Uuuuh! Mmph!"

"Oh yeah, that's right. We need something for your pretty little mouth first. How about..."

"The pink one?" Garret suggested.

"Yeah, perfect. Just what I was thinking."

Rory's body, tensed and edged nearly to the point of breaking already, could only wait in further anticipation as she heard the sounds of Garret setting down his camera, grabbing something off the floor of the cell, and making his way across the room towards her. As he knelt down before her, making sure not to block the video camera's view, Sienna moved her hands to grab Rory's shoulders and hold her in place.

"Y'know, Blake always says he doesn't care what we do with you in our free time, but I do think he'll appreciate this one," Sienna said, that familiar malice back in her voice. "It'll be just like one of those 'exercises' of his. We're gonna train that gag reflex right out of you."

The veiny dildo was in her mouth before she had any chance to object - thick, and rubbery, smelling just as disgusting as it tasted. Garret gave it a few experimental pushes back and forth over her tongue, crammed into the corners of her cheeks, before, without warning, he shoved it straight into the back of her throat. She tried to pull back, but Sienna held her firmly in place, giving her coworker the assist as he worked it deeper and deeper into her.

It would be ages before he let her come up for so much as her first breath.

“Hey, we're all close up,” Whumpee said as the man behind the bar turned to grab a bottle of Jack Daniels. “Hey!” Whumpee strode quickly forward and snatched the bottle from the man's grasp, “Get out from behind the bar, man. What the fuck you think you're doing?”

The man's eyes went wide and angry as he froze, hand still in the air where the bottle used to be.

“Door was open, prick. And we're thirsty.”

Whumpee felt a rush of adrenaline spread through his veins. Great. This was all Whumpee needed to top off this waste of a day.

“Yeah well too bad,” Whumpee huffed, “We're still closed so...”

“So,” Whumpee's eyes darted to the other man, the one walking slowly around the other side of Whumpee, effectively boxing him in, “Why don't you pour us a nightcap anyway, pal.”

“I'm not your pal and we're closed so why don't you get the fuck out.”

“Whoa, no need to be rude,” The man raised his arms laughing and casting a look to his friend.

Whumpee shifted on his feet, trying to keep both men in his field of vision. They quickly succeeded in turning Whumpee so his back was now against the bar and away from his escape out through the kitchen in a matter of seconds. His fists tightened on the bottle he was holding and he ducked his head, eyes tracking the two men. Goddamn it. Whumpee could hold his own in a fight but he was two against one and these guys look far more confident than Whumpee would have liked.

“Listen,” Whumpee took one step forward, intending to hold his ground, hesitating only slightly when the men smiled in response, “I'm not looking for a fight, okay. The boss is the only one with the keys to the safe so-” Whumpee buried a flinch when the men barked out sharp bursts of laughter, keeping up their slow decent on Whumpee, closing him in.

Whumper B was now on Whumpee's left and was finally edging back around the front of the bar, where customers were supposed to be, and Whumpee felt much less okay about that now that there was no longer a solid barrier between them. The man smiled at Whumpee, eyes racking over his body and seeping a pool of dread to sink heavy in his gut.

“Yeah, we aren't here for the money,” Whumpee glared at the man, confusion creasing his brow, “We thought we'd have a little fun instead. You wanna have some fun?”

The men launched at him, both at once, and Whumpee swung the bottle as hard as he could, connecting solidly with Whumper A’s shoulder at his right. Whumpee felt the reverberation ratchet up his arm from the impact, the bottle shattering in his hand, as Whumper B tackled Whumpee to the ground.

Whumpee grunted as he hit the ground hard, a solid weight landing right on top of him. These men were twice his size and now, what little leverage he had was gone. Getting his hands under him, Whumpee tried to push up, sliding out from under Whumper B. A hand gripped the waistband of his jeans and dragged him back right as Whumper A kicked him hard just below the ribs.

Whumpee doubled over, his breath tearing out of his chest. He coughed just enough to finally suck in a small breath and swung, connecting with a satisfying crack against Whumper B's jaw, his hand reaching up to twist in the fancy dark blue shirt and hold him in place as Whumpee pulled back to swing again.

Whumpee suddenly saw nothing but black and sparks of white, pain cracking against his skull. He wasn't sure what happened but watched numbly as his grip was torn from Whumper B's shirt and his wrists gathered limply together in front of him.

“No,” Whumpee choked out, tasting blood in his mouth, tongue darting out over a split in his lower lip. He shook his head, clearing away the stars and screamed out in rage, “Get the fuck off me!”

Whumpee felt his body coming back to him, awareness clearing his vision and he started to try and pull his hands free, feeling rough fingers grind his bones together. Whumpee twisted his hips, realizing Whumper B was straddling him. Whumpee cursed out in pain as another kick felt like it crushed his ribs, pain lancing around his back.

“Fuck! Get off, you piece of shit!”

Whumper B smiled, blood coloring his perfect white teeth and leaned forward, dragging Whumpee's hands back and pinning them to the floor above his head.

Whumpee eye's went wide and he growled out a pained breath through clenched teeth, watching Whumper A from the side of his eye as he casually took off his expensive looking wool coat and laid it neatly over the back of a chair he must have taken down off the table. He sat down, the chair scraping against the floor as he dragged it closer to Whumpee, pinned down completely by the man above him. Whumper A brought his foot down to press against Whumpee's neck, adding just enough pressure to send a wave of panicked sweat to break out down Whumpee's back. He squirmed, turning his head away only to be slapped across the face.

“Pay attention slut!”

Whumper A was talking apparently. Whumpee twisted his hands against Whumper B's grip, feeling broken glass and whiskey dig and burn into the back of his wrists.

“Now,” Whumper A spoke, “You are going to be a good little whore and do as we say.” He paused, adding a measure of pressure to the boot at Whumpee's neck, his breathing turning to a sharp wheeze.

“Or...we fuck you dry and hope you don't bleed out by the time someone finds you in the morning. What do you say?”

The air left Whumpee's chest in a rush as if he'd been hit. This couldn't be happening. He twisted, grunting when Whumper B ground his hips down on him, thrusting against Whumpee's jeans and dragging a hand up under his shirt.

“Remember,” Whumper A continues, “Either way you get fucked...you get to picked how painful that has to be.”

Whumpee swallowed hard, feeling his throat move against the boot at his neck, “FUCK YOU! You'll have to kill me first!”

Whumpee dragged in a gasping breath as Whumper A removed his boot and stood, eyes never leaving Whumpee's.

“We don't actually. But you'll wish we did.”

His fist came down hard, flinging Whumpee's face to the side and he felt the pressure leave his hips as Whumper B stood. He didn't have time to even process the fact that his hands were free before fists and kicks rained down on him in waves. Whumpee tried to uncurl himself against the onslaught, to fight back, but a kick to the stomach sent him flying back against the bar and he crumbled. He tried desperately to cover his head with his hands and pulled his knees up to protect his middle, just waiting for the beating to stop.

Air burned like acid through his chest as kick after kick stole his breath away, nothing but the smell of blood and whiskey filling his senses. Whumpee coughed, turning his body, exposing his back to his attackers but wanting desperately to protect his aching face. He felt hands on his hips and he was dragged limply away from the small protection of the bar, a hand twisted in his hair and he was dragged to his knees.

Whumpee could barely see. He blinked away blood and sweat and tears as Whumper B kept one hand dug into his hair and the other wrapped firmly around his neck, kneeling close behind him. Whumpee's head lulled in Whumper B's grip. He gasped, blood trickling down from his open mouth as his eyes tried to focus. He was kneeling right in front of Whumper A, sitting primly in the chair, eyes sparking with something Whumpee refused to think of as desire. Whumper A brought his fist to his mouth and sucked on a bloody knuckle.

“I guess you made your choice.”

Whumpee watched, eyes widening as much as they could against the building heat swelling his bruised face as Whumper A started unbuttoning his own fly and pulling himself out of his pants. Whumpee thrashed and screamed, trying to pull away from Whumper B's solid grip.

“No fucking wa-,” Whumpee flinched back hard as he was smacked against the mouth with the palm of Whumper B's hand.

“The fu-,” He was smacked again, right in the mouth.

Whumper A watched, slowly rubbing himself with a smile playing at his lips.

“This is going to happen.”

“No-,” SMACK.

“Fuck! Sto-” SMACK.

Whumpee pressed his lips firmly shut, anger surging through his very being as Whumper A just watched and smiled. He managed to get control of his arms and wrapped his fingers around the hand gripping his hair, his other hand curling into a fist at his side, ready to stop that hand from slapping his face again. This wasn't going to happen. This couldn't happen. He let the anger bleed itself into his bruised body, fueling him just enough and reeled his head back, connecting hard with Whumper B's collarbone and tried to spin and throw an elbow into the man's side. Whumper B grunted at the impact but just hauled Whumpee back up against his chest as if it took no effort at all and wrapped a thick arm around his throat. Whumpee gasped, already spent from that small effort. He sagged in the firm grip and choked back tears. Fuck.

“Aww,” Whumper A cooed, a hand coming out to wipe away a tear that escaped down Whumpee's cheek, “But we just got started sweetheart.”

Whumpee sucked in breath after breath through his nose, jaw clenching against the pain and anger and humiliation. He tried to turn away against the arm at his throat as Whumper A cupped his face far too gently, finger's lightly brushing away sweaty hair that had fallen into Whumpee's eyes.

“You're very cute, all riled up and spitting fire as if you could actually stop this.”

Whumper A gripped Whumpee's face and squeezed his jaw. He grunted as the rough fingers dug and dug into his face, pressing against his cheek until he couldn't help but released his jaw. Whumper A grinned, pressing hard until his fingers were forced between Whumpee's teeth and his jaw dropped open. He swallowed hard, tasting blood, his tongue forming the word no in soundless succession.

“Yes, sweetheart.”

Whumpee was pressed forward by the weight behind him and simultaneously pulled forward by the hand gripping his jaw. He kicked out, his knees scrambling for any kind of leverage, his fingers digging into the man's arm around his throat.

“Please-”

Whumper A stopped, his other hand coming to sweep away the hair at Whumpee's forehead, “Please what?”

“Please, don't,” Whumpee begged, barely forming the words with the man's hand still forcing his jaw open. Tears poured freely down his face now. Blood and tears.

Whumper A made eye contact with Whumper B over his shoulder. The grip around his neck shifted and one hand dropped to Whumpee's pants, pulling open his jeans.

“No!!”

Whumper A released his jaw and helped to drag Whumpee's jeans down to his knees.

Whumpee flushed with embarrassment, completely exposed and at their mercy. Whumper A boxed him in with him knee's on either side of him, Whumper B pressing close against his back. They were too close. Whumpee couldn't breath.

“You already made your choice,” Whumpee tried to fight, to turn his head away, as Whumper A gripped his face once again, fingers crushing into bruises already forming deeply along Whumpee's jaw.

“Listen to me,” Whumper A leaned forward, whispering in Whumpee's ear, “You bite me and I will gut you like a fucking fish.” He pulled back and looked into Whumpee's eyes, “Do you believe me?” Whumpee squirmed as a hand dragged down his back to palm at his ass, fingers probing and pressing at his hole. Whumpee tried to kick out with all his strength. Arms tightened around him. He was powerless.

Whumpee growled out in anger, trying to pull his face out of Whumper A's hand as Whumper B's fingers found their way inside, breaching the tight muscle and curling, seeking. The growl turned to a keening whine and Whumper A never broke eye contact, his eyebrows raising in a question.

“Do you believe me, slut?”

The fingers plunged deep inside and Whumpee was pulled back slightly, forced practically into the lap of Whumper B as he added another finger. Whumpee tried to lift himself off the man and Whumper A leaned forward, bringing one hand down to his hip, pressing almost gently down, his thumb rubbing at the soft flesh at his belly.

“Well?”

Whumpee flushed, sweat prickling over his overheated skin, trapped. This was going to happen.

If Whumper A wasn't watching so intently, he would have missed the slight nod of Whumpee's head.

“Is that a yes?”

Whumpee nodded, a small whimper escaped from the back of his throat as he was immediately tugged forward again.

The fingers never stopped moving inside of him, burning and pressing and stretching. He figured he should probably be grateful for the prep as he was positioned bent over, with his face so close to Whumper A's swelling dick he could swear he could feel the heat radiating from it. Drool escaped from Whumpee's forced open mouth and a rush of shame washed over him, flushing his cheeks. The punishing hand never left his jaw as he squeezed his eyes shut tight and felt the tip of Whumper A's dick brush against his lips.

Whumpee whined, pleading without words, “Easy now,” Whumper A eased him face down, filling his mouth so slowly, gasping as Whumpee's tongue flicked out almost on instinct against the intrusion.

“Oh fuck yeah,” Whumper A rolled his hips, and Whumpee tried to swallow, shifting awkwardly against the fingers plunging easily in and out of his hole now. It was all too much.

A hand found it's way back into Whumpee's hair as the fingers were dragged out of him completely.

“Easy baby, this will hurt,” Whumpee whined as Whumper A massaged his head with his fingertips before gripping his hair in his fist and holding him in place as Whumper B pressed his dick against Whumpee's hole.

“Nnnhughh!” He grunted, panic taking over his mind, his body, and Whumpee tensed as the thick cock was pressed inside, a hand gripping tight against his hip. One quick thrust and Whumpee screamed and thrashed. He was pulled off Whumper A's dick and pressed flushed back against Whumper B, clawing at the arm still wrapped around his chest.

“Stop!!” He screamed for all he was worth now that his mouth was free. It hurt. It hurt so much. Tears poured down his face and he fought, twisted and cried.

Whumper A just laughed.

Whumper B groaned hot and thick behind him, thrusting up hard against the thrashing body. Whumpee screamed and yelled as he felt Whumper B bite down on his shoulder, hard enough to draw blood. Hands were all over him. It was too much. It hurt. Whumpee's thighs trembled as they fought to take some of the weight, pull up against the man holding him in place. Whumpee felt the slick skin against his ass and thighs and dimly wondered if it was sweat or blood, or both. His world was nothing but fire, blacking out his vision. He ground his teeth and screamed again as strong arms lifted him slightly and slammed him back down. Whumpee couldn't help it. He leaned back against the body pistoning behind him and sobbed, trying desperately to let go, to relax the muscles he could feel tearing to shreds deep inside of him.

He didn't even notice that Whumper A had unbuttoned Whumpee's shirt, spreading it open and was now trailing his fingers delicately down Whumpee's chest. Whumpee dropped his head and watched dimly, the gentle touches a sharp contrast to the violent thrust against his ass.

One of those long fingers found Whumpee's chin and tipped his head up, locking hungry eyes with his own, “You ready now, love?”

Whumpee didn't think he could break more, but in that moment, something shattered. He went limp and dropped open his mouth at the gentle caress of fingers playing at his jaw.

“Good boy,” Whumper A praised, fingers sliding into his hair and guiding Whumpee forward, the position deepening the angle of the man behind him.

Whumpee allowed himself to be folded forward and a hard dick to slide into his mouth. His mind felt fuzzy and dark, little lights playing at the edges of his vision. His tongue tasted salt and sweat and blood and he found himself having to remember to breath through his nose.

He accepted this. His fate. His position. There was no escape. This new reality was all Whumpee knew in this terrible moment and he gave himself over to it. Rocked between two merciless bodies.

Whumpee held onto the arm around him as he was thrust forward, gagging on the cock as it touched that back of his throat and out again. Over and over, pain and heat and just too much. Everything was too much. He felt full and stretched and aching deep inside as sweat poured down his back and sides, tickling his battered ribs. His knees hurt and his neck pulled against the strain. Finally, finally Whumper B's rhythm stuttered and Whumpee almost fell impossibly forward as the arm released from around his neck and strong fingers gripped his hips, thrusting hard and chaotic into him, shredding him apart. Whumpee choked on the cock shoved deep into his throat, his hands coming up to press against the thighs at his face. Hands tightened in his hair and held him firm as Whumper A thrust up and he was rocked in place. Hot cum filled his ass and he felt it. He felt the thick, sticky heat ruin him completely and he whimpered bitterly as his face almost pressed flush against Whumper A's stomach as he jutted his hips and thrust hard into Whumpee's mouth, coming with a loud groan and filling him completely. Whumpee sobbed as he was held in place, filled at both ends until he swallowed. One hand gently carded through Whumpee's sweaty hair as the man behind him pulled out and Whumper A stood abruptly. Whumpee gasped as all contact was lost at once and he fell to the floor, empty.

Whumpee curled into himself, coughing out wet sobs, as Whumper A and Whumper B laughed, never once touching him again and walked out of the bar, never even looking back.

Somehow that was worse.

Whumpee didn't know how long he lay there crying into the cold, bloody floor. His body no longer felt like his own. Like he didn't have permission to stretch out and take measure of his injuries so he wouldn't dare try. One by one, Whumpee finally gathered the strength and stretched his aching limbs, dragging his legs straight again in what felt like a lifetime. A sharp pain screamed inside of him and he gasped, rolling over and dragging himself back up to kneeling. Back where he belonged.

Whumpee shook his head, wincing at the rush of pain and dark edges that crept into his vision. He was okay. He's okay. Whumpee looked down at his hands holding him up as if they weren't his own, curling his fingers against shards of broken glass. He groaned and dropped his head to the ground. He had to get up. To clean up this mess and make it look like nothing ever happened here. Whumpee dragged himself up onto shaky legs and reached down to pull his filthy, bloody jeans up over the sticky mess he felt dripping out between his legs. He buttoned his shirt back up with trembling fingers and limped to the back to get the mop.

Whumpee would fix this. It would be as if nothing awful ever happened here. Whumpee nodded his head numbly, wiping the tears with his sleeve that wouldn't stop falling. He'd clean up, leave money for the broken bottle of whiskey with a note that he quit and never look back.

This never happened.

Vienna's exhaustion was so profound that her sleep had been deep, mercifully dreamless. She awoke suddenly the next morning, and for one wonderful, fleeting moment she didn't remember. Then, the piercing, unfamiliar pain between her legs brought everything back. Without meaning to, she let out a miserable whine and pressed her thighs together, even though it hurt. She closed her eyes again, clenching them tightly shut in the hope that she could just fall back asleep. The brief respite of being unconscious, of being blissfully unaware of her hellish situation, was so enticing.

But now that she was awake it was no use: it seemed like each second of the previous evening was playing rapidly through her mind, a supercut of terror: the feeling of the restraints tight around her limbs, the knife cutting through her clothes, his hands, his skin, his breath… she wished with everything in her that it had been a nightmare, that she would wake up safely in her own bed, but the soreness all over her body reminded her it was all too real.

Vienna reluctantly opened her eyes and looked at the digital clock on the nightstand. It was 8:32 in the morning. If she were home right now....what day was it now, even? Saturday?

A lump formed in her throat. It was supposed to be the first day of her summer vacation. She and her cousin Daniela had been looking forward to it for weeks, finally reunited after months apart at school. Zander's hometown was close enough that last year they'd been able to meet up at least a couple times a week and they'd been planning that again, looking up festivals and breakfast spots and hiking trails to meet at. And her parents. As much as she loved Lakewood, she'd been so looking forward to being home with them, falling into their familiar, happy routine.

What had felt so simple just a few days ago now seemed like a beautiful, impossibly far away dream. Could that ever be her life again, after this? She closed her eyes again, not to sleep, but to focus her imagination on the faces and voices of all of her loved ones: her family, her friends, her professors, her classmates....Vienna ran them through her mind over and over, each time giving a prayer she would see them again soon. But every so often, a terrible image of Alec intercut her mental slideshow - sneering above her, laughing at her, hands all over her, his body rocking in rhythm against hers....what was today going to bring?

As if summoned by the thought, a door slammed above her. Vienna shot up immediately - she knew that sound by now. He was coming back down to the basement, back down to her.

Her heart fluttered so rapidly she thought she might be having a heart attack. Footsteps were approaching the door now. She didn't know what to do. Her brain screamed at her to get ready to fight, to hide, to run, but her body didn't seem to get the message. All she could do before Alec entered the room was wrap the thin blanket around her body, covering every inch of herself but her head as she cowered on the bed.

When Alec walked in, just seeing him again made Vienna feel as if the wind had been knocked out of her. She felt unbelievably small and helpless in his presence as he looked her over with a smug grin.

"Well....good morning."

Vienna said nothing, her chest rising and falling heavily as Alec closed the door behind him.

"How did you sleep? Mm? I gotta tell you, I slept like a baby."

He was so casual it sent a chill down her spine. How could he be acting like this after last night? After he'd torn a piece out of her soul and crushed it?

“Then I woke up, remembered you down here waiting for me, and man, it was like Christmas morning. You don’t look as excited to see me, though. Do you?”

Again, Vienna did not answer. He was crazy, this man. He was a psychopath. The more scared she was, the more pleased he seemed to be.

"You know, you're going to have to talk to me eventually."

Alec grabbed a chair from the small table behind the bed and pulled it out, straddling the back so he was facing Vienna. She was forcibly reminded of how he'd straddled her while she was bound to the chair yesterday, and her stomach twisted.

"I wanted to talk this morning, and you'll probably want to as well, because as soon as we're done, we're going to get started."

Get started? What did that mean? Was he going to....not again. Or did he mean...

"Are you going to kill me?" Vienna blurted it out almost without meaning to, clutching the blanket around herself so tightly her nails were digging into her palms. Alec did not reply at first, but a grin started to twist on his face.

"Because if you're going to kill me, just - just do it now and get it over with!" Vienna meant for her voice to be fierce, but it came out shrill and anxious instead. She flushed as Alec fully smiled, seemingly amused.

"I already told you, I have no interest in killing you. What, you don't believe me?"

"Why should I believe anything you say?!"

He watched her with the same amused expression, as if every word was entertainment.

"I haven't lied to you once since you've gotten here, Vienna."

She cringed at the sound of her name coming out of his mouth. He'd said it before, but it felt different today, crude and predatory and wrong.

"Yes, you have! You said you didn't want to hurt me!"

Alec cocked his head like a curious child. "Did I? When did I say that?"

"You -" Her voice died in her throat. She had been so sure that he'd promised it…but when she tried to conjure up the memory, she came up blank.

"Am I supposed to have said that when I told you I was holding you for ransom, too?" Alec sneered. "No - that was all your invention. Desperation is a crazy thing, huh?"

Shame rose hot and fast in Vienna's face. Because she realized - he wasn't wrong. Her fear had been so strong that she'd allowed herself to believe what was clearly not reality. Alec didn't even have to say the words for them to immediately ricochet around her head - foolish, naive, stupid. And now, she was paying for it.

Alec was still talking. "It was nice to have you believe all that, though. It wouldn't have been so fun last night if you really knew what was coming."

Fun. As if it had been a game, light recreation, not the most devastating moment of her life.

"So, I haven't lied. I'm not going to kill you." Alec finished simply.

"Then...then what are you going to do?" Vienna asked in a small voice, hoping against hope that now that he'd have his way with her, he would let her go.

Nothing could have hit worse than the words he spoke next. His tone, smug and satisfied, only made it worse.

"I'm going go keep you."

For a moment, everything disappeared. All that existed was her aching body, his terrifying closeness, and those words floating between them. The walls pressed in as if forcing them all closer together, claustrophobia and nausea rising in Vienna's throat like acid. No. No no no.

A part of her, twisted and guilty, had clung to the hope that maybe once he got what he wanted — money, revenge, something — he’d be done with her. Maybe he’d kill her afterward, and that thought had been terrifying, but at least it had an end.

Now she understood there wasn’t an end. Not unless he decided one.

She was glad to be alive. And horrified that she was still breathing the basement air. Because that meant he was going to keep doing this. Over and over. Until there was nothing left of her.

"And before you ask, I'm going to keep you for a nice long while," Alec was continuing cheerfully. "You're the exact type I wanted - sweet, innocent, healthy. Built to last.”

"You can't!" Vienna burst out, her body shaking all over. She knew she should feel more relieved that he wasn't going to kill her, but in this moment, it seemed like a fate worse than death.

Alec laughed. "Who's stopping me? Hmm? You see anybody breaking this door down to save you?"

Vienna swallowed thickly, her eyes darting to the door, thick and impenetrable as ever. Let someone come... she thought desperately. Anyone....

"No one is coming," Alec said, and she was disturbed by how he seemed to read her mind again. "No one is going to stop this, or stop me from raping you again. And again. Nobody can."

His frank words sent a terrible chill down her spine. Vienna forced her eyes back to him. This couldn't be the way it was going to go. Maybe.…maybe she could talk him out of it.

"Please - my parents. I'm their only child. They need me back. This will kill them!"

Her eyes filled with tears as she acknowledged the reality of what she was saying. She had known, always, that she was her parents' world, that they loved her more than anything. What would happen to them if she really never came home?

"Maybe," Alec said lightly. "That's their problem."

"They'll do anything if you let me go," Vienna pled. "I - we could make it work. I wouldn't tell anyone about last night. I can say that you - that you were nice to me. And they'll give you however much money you want."

"I don't care about money," Alec said with a taunting smirk. "I think you know what I want."

"I..." Vienna groped desperately in her mind for something that would get through to him. "I told you last night. I've only really done that a handful of times. I won't...I won't be good at it. You-you could find someone who w-wants to do it with you."

Alec's grin widened. "Maybe you're still not understanding. Let me make myself clear. Your struggling, screaming, begging last night? That's what I'm interested in."

A full body shiver overtook Vienna at his words. He wanted to hurt her. He wanted her to suffer. She had never felt so vulnerable or defenseless in her life. She didn't know what to do, and couldn't help but continue to beg.

“Please, you don’t have to do this…”

“I know I don’t have to - I want to do this. I get to do this.”

Vienna didn't know what else to say. She had never heard anyone speak like this before. It seemed like nothing was going to change his mind. She began to breathe heavily, unable to stop the panic overtaking her. Alec seemed to enjoy this, and continued, "I get to keep you. I get to touch you everywhere. I get to tie you up and fuck you however I want. I get to hurt you."

The words hit her like spears of ice. She finally broke down in tears, heaving, full-body sobs.

"I - I ca - I can't!" She wailed. There was no way she could survive this.

"Maybe not. But I can. And I'm going to make you." Alec said pleasantly. She simply wept harder, and he continued, "You know, it took a lot of self control to not to touch you these last few days. I can't tell you how many times I thought about just tearing off your clothes and going at it. We're going to make up for lost time today. And I don't work today, so we have all day to catch up."

Alec smirked in satisfaction as Vienna continued to cry, now rocking on the spot in an effort to soothe herself. He let her go on for a minute, and then said, “Alright, that’s enough. I need you to calm down so you can listen to me.”

Vienna gave no indication that she heard him, his crude words taking up too much space in her brain for anything else. For the first time he began to sound irritated.

“Hey - calm down. Or I’m going to start getting angry, and you aren’t gonna like that. Deep breath.”

Vienna looked up at him fearfully and obeyed, sucking in air and clasping her hands to her mouth.

"Another one. In and out."

Vienna took a shaky breath, forcing herself to swallow her tears. He was right - if he was like this in a good mood, she definitely didn't want to see him get angry. He nodded approvingly.

"Like I said...I didn't lie to you. And all my rules remain the same. You are going to stay clean, well-groomed, and fit for me. You'll have access to food just like the last couple days. I'll be giving you more clothes and bedding, too. You'll have some things to pass the time - the TV, doing my laundry. Maybe if you're good, you can have some books or games or something. But mainly," he smiled, unbearably smug, "you'll be waiting down here for me. Whatever I want. Every day."

Vienna bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying again. Every day felt beyond her comprehension.

"You're going to be good for me. If you want to cry, or beg, or struggle a little - fine. In fact, I'll like that. What you're not going to do, is try to escape, or try to really hurt me. If that happens - well, you know I don't want to kill you, but I’ll have to punish you. And I’ll make sure it hurts. Bad - worse than anything you’ve felt before, believe me."

He let the threat hang in the air a moment, her imagination already running wild. "I'll remind you: you're in the basement of my house, which is soundproof, with multiple locks, with no neighbors around for at least a mile. Trying to escape would just be stupid. Do you understand me?"

A strange buzzing filled Vienna's ears. All her strategizing, calibrating, furious calculating - for nothing. It didn't matter. He didn't care. She wasn't getting out of here unscathed. She forced herself to nod stiffly.

"Use your words."

Alec's voice was dripping with condescension, but there was also an edge of threat to it. Vienna whimpered, "I understand."

"Good. Now…take that blanket off yourself. I want to see you."

Vienna's stomach plummeted. "Wait, I - I have a question." She needed to keep him talking. Anything to prevent what was coming next.

"Alright, make it quick."

"I - um -" Vienna's mind scrambled anxiously. "Wh-where are we?"

"I just told you. My house." Alec arched an eyebrow.

"Yeah, but - what town?"

"Doesn't matter."

"Do you - do you own the house?"

"Yeah?" Alec said, bemused. She knew he was seeing straight through her.

"Okay...um...how long have you owned it for?"

"Alright, now you're just stalling," Alec sneered. "No more questions. Take the blanket off."

"Please, don't make me," Vienna whimpered, clutching the fabric tighter around herself.

"Would you rather I come and rip it off you?"

Vienna shook her head frantically.

"Then go on."

Desperately wishing that something, someone, would somehow stop this, Vienna pulled the blanket off herself and let it fall to the floor next to the bed. Alec grinned. "That's right....now the shirt."

A despondent mewl escaped Vienna's throat. She wrapped her arms around herself. There was no way....

"Okay then, I"ll do it."

Alec rose and pushed the chair back to the table.

"NO!" Vienna cried "No - I'll do it."

She couldn't believe she was doing it, but Vienna began to lift her shirt over her head. Alec hadn't left a bra for her after cutting through her other one, so her torso was completely bare under the t-shirt. She clutched the fabric to her chest, shaking.

"Drop it. On the floor, with the blanket."

She obeyed, gulping audibly. She could feel Alec's eyes on her and it felt like a violation in itself. There was a pause as he drank in the image of her topless before continuing.

"Very nice. Do you know what's next?"

His eyes glittered with excitement. Vienna was positively trembling now, and shook her head as a sob built in her throat.

"Mmm, I think you do know, baby."

"Please," Vienna's voice was small and strangled sounding as she looked pleadingly up at Alec.

"Yeah, you know. Take your pants off, now."

"I can't," Vienna whined, shrinking under his hungry gaze.

"Alright, fine."

Alec started towards her and Vienna screamed in terror, scrambling away on the mattress. She was afraid that she had made him mad, but as he climbed onto the bed towards her, he didn't look angry - if anything, he looked excited, an eager smile on his face as he reached for her. He grabbed her by the hips and yanked her towards him with an unsettling ease.

Alec took hold of the waistband of her sweatpants and began to tug them down. Vienna wailed in protest and shoved at his hands, trying to pull the pants back up over her exposed skin. They tussled like this for several moments before Alec decided he needed to try another tactic - he straddled her to pin her to the bed and forced each of her wrists into the restraints.

"No, no, stop!"

But he was too strong, too unrepentant, and before she knew it Vienna's wrists and ankles were locked into the restraints again, the sweatpants discarded to the floor.

"That’s it..."

Alec slid atop Vienna's desperately writhing body, panting with exertion.

"Well...here we are again."

Alec looked so excited and eager, greedy and hungry, and it terrified her. A broad smile was on his face as he settled above her, straddling her hips and effectively pinning her down. "This is exactly as I always imagined you. I can't believe I finally get to have you."

Vienna flushed red as he slowly ran his eyes down her body, taking in every inch of her exposed skin. She felt frozen in dread, scrutinized like a bug under a microscope.

Alec continued, “You know, yesterday was great. Don’t get me wrong. I do feel like I rushed it a bit, though. But that’s alright….I’ve got you right where I want you and we have hours. Today, I’m going to take my time.”

Vienna’s look of horror made him smile. “Mmhmm….by the time we’re done today, there’s not going to be an inch of you I haven’t touched. Inside and out.”

Vienna heart was racing so hard she couldn't believe Alec couldn't see it slamming against her chest. Every nerve in her body felt alight in fear and trepidation, knowing that soon he would be touching her again and she had no way to stop him.

Still smiling down at her, Alec said, "Tell me what you're thinking."

"I - I'm scared. I don't want to do this," Vienna whimpered.

"Perfect."

Alec cupped her cheeks in his hands and leaned down to kiss her. Vienna cried out in disgust and turned her face away to avoid his lips, desperately twisting her bound limbs. Alec laughed at her and licked a stripe up the side of her face, causing her to burst into tears.

"Don't touch me!"

"My tongue's gonna be a lot more places than that, Vienna. Remember, I can do anything I want to you."

The thought seemed to give him power, his chest swelling as he dragged his mouth lower.

“Anything I want…” Alec hummed as he kissed all over her neck and chest. Vienna squirmed and squealed as he trailed kisses down her body. “I get - to - do - any - thing - I want - to you.”

He punctuated each word with a disgusting kiss down her torso, approaching the apex of her hips.

“STOP!” Vienna screamed, absolutely panic thrumming through her body. Each place his lips had touch felt burned, skin crawling unbearably.

"Alright, alright....we'll start nice and slow." Alec settled kneeling between her spread thighs so they were face to face again. He reached up and lightly touched her bound hands and wrists. "That's not so bad, is it?"

Vienna’s stomach twisted and she said nothing, still breathing hard from the panic of Alec kissing her.

“Well, if it is, we can just get right to it -" His hand drifted lower.

“No!” Vienna cried, jerking in the restraints. “No, it’s - it’s n-not so bad.”

“Very good.” Alec smiled, tracing his fingers along Vienna’s, making good on his promise of touching each and every part of her. “You wanna be good for me, Vienna, don’t you? You don’t want me to have to hurt you.”

“I’ll be good,” Vienna said quietly.

“Yeah, you will. Tell me you’ll be a good girl.”

“I…I’ll be a good girl,” Vienna practically whispered, her face flushed in humiliation.

“I bet you will,” Alec purred, running his fingers across every nook and cranny of her hands. “Mmm…can you guess what I’m imagining these wrapped around?”

He laughed softly as Vienna grimaced, her hands unconsciously clenching into fists.

“Let me tell you what’s going to happen next. I’m going to ask you some questions. Some I don’t know the answer to already, but some I do - so you’re not going to lie to me. If you do, I will know, and I’ll need to punish you. Understand?”

Vienna nodded meekly, and he continued, “Good. I’ll start with an easy one - tell me your full name.”

“Vienna DeNova.”

“Good. And how old are you, Vienna?”

“I…I’m only twenty,” Vienna whimpered, and Alec smiled wickedly. His light touch moved further down her arms and her entire body shuddered.

“And when did you turn twenty?"

“M-May 1st.”

“Ah, just missed it. Well, next year we'll be able to celebrate it together."

Alec chuckled at the look in Vienna’s eyes. Relief and terror tangled in her chest - relief that he planned to let her live that long, terror that she might still be here in a year.

Time stretched into something unknowable. Vienna tried to answer his endless questions - about her family, her life at college, her friends, every last detail about her sexual history - while his hands slowly roamed her body. When she hesitated — like when he asked for her parent's address — he would press harder, move his touch threateningly closer to the places she least wanted him near.

By the time he seemed to run out of questions, there was only one place on her body he hadn't skimmed his hands over. Vienna trembled from head to toe, but the sensitive valley between her legs seemed to scream with awareness as he settled his gaze there.

"I noticed you bleeding last night." His voice was casual, as if they were discussing the weather. "You look okay now, though."

"I'm not." Her voice wobbled like jelly. "I'm not, please, I can't again."

"Don't tell me you're worn out after one go at it?" Alec smirked, letting one finger trail down where she feared most. She let out a staggering gasp. "Don't worry. I'll get you ready."

As he went further, fingers pressing and flicking and stroking, Vienna found herself wishing for the pain instead. Every nerve was was alight, firing not in agreement but in pure reflex. It felt as if her entire lower body belonged to someone else, hips jerking and twisting, a stranger's hand invading.

He lingered so long she wondered if that was all he had planned, savoring her breathless gasps and cries. But then he stopped. Pulled back, fingers slick. Turned her onto her stomach.

"Wait." Her mouth was dry as he dragged her hips up. "Wait - please."

"Why should I?" His voice was a purr. "I've waited long enough already, Vienna. I've been waiting ever since I saw you in your little volleyball outfit down at Freestone State."

Her heart stuttered. That game had been over a month ago, at least. Had he really been lurking in the shadows of her life that long without her noticing?

“Then I saw it all. College girl. Dorm room. Boyfriend. Coffee dates.” Something like venom began to lace his words. “You were living in a fucking commercial.”

His hands were on her hips. "But not anymore."

"Please. Please don't do this,” Vienna begged as she felt him moving behind her. She couldn't decide if had been worse last night when she had to watch him, or right now when she couldn't tell what was coming next. Her mind whirred, throat closing. “Please, I - I’m just a little girl, I just want to go home and see my mom and dad and -“

Alec cut her off with a sharp laugh and smacked her hip.

“You’re just a little girl, huh? I think I like that. You ready to get raped again, little girl?”

“No!” Vienna said shrilly. “No, please - PLEASE!”

She wailed in pain and terror as she felt Alec began to enter her again. He hummed in satisfaction as she felt an unbearable stretch in her already sore muscles. Vienna's cry turned into an outright scream - she couldn't believe that it hurt even more today, like needles stabbing from the inside.

"STOP, STOP - YOU CAN'T!"

"Mmm, seems like I can."

Vienna broke into frantic, pained sobs as he continued, slower than yesterday but no less agonizing. She begged, she bargained, she prayed, she struggled - and was only met a mixture of moans and laughter.

It was then that she realized her miscalculation: she was trying to appeal to him as if he were human. Like there was some shred of decency buried deep enough to appeal to, some thread of empathy she could tug on if she just said the right thing.

Now she understood - there was nothing in him to reach.

Every plea only seemed to spur him further, like her pain was oxygen feeding the fire. But she still couldn't stop herself, words tripping over each other, begging please and no and stop until they lost meaning.

And the shame of that seared deeper than anything he could have done with his hands.

Because the trap she was in was deeper than the locked door or the restraints. He fed off this. Off her tears, her panic, the way she shrank from his touch. Her fear wasn’t just incidental - it was the point.

Vienna clung to one desperate thought, even as her chest squeezed tight and her tears blurred her vision: If I can just stay alive. Just one more minute. One more hour. Someone will find me. I just have to survive him.

And that thought felt both like a lifeline and like a life sentence.

When he was done, his weight crushed her against the mattress. She weakly flexed her fingers, her toes, the only parts of her she could still move. Proof that she was still there. Surviving.

But his next words made her wish she wasn't.

"All day," Alec breathed against her ear. "That was the first of many. I could do this to you forever."

Against her will, a strangled sound left Vienna's throat. She had been focused on enduring minute to minute. The stretch of the entire day ahead of her felt like eternity.

"Let's get up." His voice was soft. "Clean up a bit. Then I have something to show you."

"Cleaning up" meant Alec wiping her down with a wet wash cloth, purposefully lingering on the places that made her tremble. When he handed the towel to Vienna, telling her with a wolfish grin to clean him, she could have vomited.

She should have known better than to hope for her clothes back. Alec marched Vienna back to the door from the bedroom to the rest of the basement, unlocked it, and began to push her through the doorway.

"No -" A tremor of pure fear ran through her entire body, and she turned, trying to shove against him to get back into the bedroom. Because the larger room in front of her was worse than anything her mind could have conjured up.

In one corner, a huge bed decked out with every manner of restraints.

In the other, a wardrobe, one door open as if on display. There were whips, cuffs, sex toys she couldn't even name.

Attached by a chain to the wall close to them was a collar. A collar. Like a dog would wear.

In the center of the room, a pair of handcuffs hung from the ceiling.

And beyond all of it lay the staircase. A couple of minuscule windows on either side of it, placed strategically so if anyone peered in all they would see were stairs and concrete walls. A sliver of sunlight glittered near the foot of the stairs, practically cruel in its golden light.

Around the room there were rugs carefully strewn about, softening the hard floor. But it didn't make a difference. She knew what this was.

It was a torture chamber.

Alec held her steady, one hand tightly clutching her arm while the other grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at the space.

"It's really something, isn't it? And it's all for you."

Vienna's knees buckled. He chuckled softly, starting to drag her across the room.

"I think we'll start here."

She couldn't move. Couldn't fight. Her veins had turned to ice, her entire body frozen. Alec pulled her arms up, cuffing her wrists above her head so her entire body was stretched out, even more defenseless than before. He moved behind her then, pressed up against her back, skin on skin.

“God, you’re so tiny,” he marveled, cupping his large hands around her waist. “Must be pretty scary to be locked up here with a big guy like me. Especially now that you know I’m big in lots of ways.”

He pressed his crotch up against her, snickering as she let out a fearful whine. She was going to vomit. She was going to pass out.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be careful not to break you…not too bad, anyway. I didn’t go to all that work just to have you last a short time. I think we have years of fun ahead, little girl, if you keep being this good.”

He let his hands roam her body, enjoying the way she flinched and twitched and whimpered. Her shoulders. Her chest. Her ribs. Her hips. Then….

Vienna's entire body jolted as if she'd been electrocuted, and he laughed.

“Are you going to get this upset every time I touch you here?”

Her mind tried to float up and away, tried to detach the way it had last night - but every cell in her body screamed danger, and if anything she was more alert and hypersensitive than ever. And Alec wouldn't stop. She tried everything - crying, fighting, begging, screaming, cursing, going limp, going silent. It didn't matter. Every hint of desperation or resistance seemed to goad him on.

Hands skimmed back over her ribs, up to her breasts. He whispered crude words into her ear that made her want to burst out of her own skin.

Hands wandered back down, rubbing and pressing while he called her names that seemed to make the air harder to breathe.

And on and on, and back and forth, and in between, as if tormenting her was a compulsion. When he finally stepped back, she should have known better than to be relieved. He'd said they had all day.

The second time he raped her, Alec simply bent Vienna over at the waist where they stood, her shoulders aching as her wrists stayed cuffed on the chain to the ceiling. He alternately slapped her hips and rubbed between her legs, as if experimenting with all the ways her body could tremble and jerk.

The third time he raped her, Alec had Vienna pinned in the middle of the huge bed that occupied the left hand corner of the basement. His whole body pressed to hers and he forced her into painfully intimate direct eye contact as he took his time. “You are mine…mine…mine….” he grunted repeatedly in her face. He seemed to relish studying the microexpressions of pain, humiliation, terror, misery, and helplessness as she had no choice but to look him in the eye as she was assaulted.

The fourth time he raped her, Vienna felt like she had completely lost her mind from the endless abuse. She fought him wildly, screeching and kicking and writhing when he made it evident he intended to rape her once again. Alec only enjoyed the struggle, chasing her all over the bed and forcing her into various positions as she unsuccessfully resisted him, rutting in and out of her with a gleeful violence.

The fifth time he raped her, Vienna felt completely broken, mind, body, and soul. She finally lay limply as Alec leisurely thrust into her from behind, at last losing energy from all his exertion over the last several hours. Vienna cried uselessly into the mattress, her entire body aching and bruised. She began to wonder if he would ever stop raping her, or if she had entered some kind of hellish purgatory of 24/7 abuse with this man who had to be some kind of demon.

But then, almost inexplicably, he did stop. He wasn't on her anymore. In fact, she was on her back again. At some point, he realized her mind must have clouded over, accepting her body's helplessness and protecting it the best way it knew how. Flashes of memory came back to her — too many, more than she wanted — but much of the day was a blur.

Alec was by the bed, pulling his clothes back on. She had become so accustomed to the pain and horror of the day that her mind barely registered the relief at first. He smirked as he saw her eyes tracking him.

"There you are. You went away for a little while, you know."

His shadow seemed to swallow her as he leaned back over her, tugging her legs apart again.

"God, no!" Vienna's voice was an exhausted, strangled scream.

"Shhh....we're almost done. You can go to your room in a minute. Let me just take a look."

Given how exhausted and sore as she was, it didn't take too much mental fortitude not to move, but her body quivered all the same. The feeling between her legs was somewhere between raw agony and utter numbness, and if she let herself focus on it too much panic spiked. Her blood speckled on the sheets.

"That looks painful," he chuckled. "Does it hurt?"

"Y-yes," Vienna replied tremulously. "Please, I can't anymore..."

"I know. We're done today, little girl."

Tears spilled down her cheeks, this time of utter relief. She had survived the day. Despite the hundreds of times she thought she wouldn't.

"Mmm. Have you had enough? Would you like a little break, just a couple of days?"

"Yes, please," she blubbered, not caring how pathetic she sounded.

"I think that's probably a good idea. I want to use you for a long time, can't wear you out too soon," Alec said casually. "I'll leave you alone tomorrow, and then we'll see after that. But listen carefully. Look at me."

Vienna forced herself to look up Alec's face. Something about his eyes was so disturbing - like he was barely human, barely there at all.

"You need to remember my rules. You're going to clean yourself up tonight, and I expect you to keep yourself clean and shaved and your room clean. Otherwise you might not get a room anymore. Is that understood?"

Vienna nodded mutely. Please let me go back in. Please leave me alone.

"Alright then, I'm gonna lock you in. Get up."

Vienna immediately complied, more than ready for him to leave. Her legs almost crumpled beneath her, pain searing, but she forced herself forward back towards the bedroom. Alec noticed. Of course.

"I'm surprised you can even walk after all that. I think you'll hold up just fine." She didn't have to look at him to know he was sneering.

When the door locked behind him and his steps faded away, Vienna thought she had never heard a sweeter sound. The bathroom door was only steps away, but the distance stretched like a mile. She dragged her feet forward. The rote, mechanical part of her brain told her this was the next step. Survive this minute. This hour.

The bathroom light was too bright. Vienna leaned against the counter, staring at her reflection but unable to hold her own gaze for long. Her face was blotchy, her hands shaking. Everything ached in ways she didn’t have words for.

She shifted her weight and winced. The pain shot sharp, unfamiliar, and her breath caught. Oh God. Something’s wrong. What if I can’t fix it? What if he broke something inside me?

She slid down to sit on the cold tile, hugging her knees despite how it made her sore thighs protest. Panic rose in her chest, hot and choking. She wanted her mom. She wanted a doctor. She wanted anyone to tell her this was survivable.

But somehow, there was no one.

Sparks bloomed in Vienna's vision as she pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes.

What if they were here?

She hadn't thought about any of them all day. She couldn't. It had seemed too painful, the idea of the world of her loved ones existing alongside this one. But now, for just a moment, she allowed herself to pretend that she could be comforted. That she was home. That she was just sick, or in an accident, not…..this.

Like the time she had a nasty cold on New Year's and had to stay home. Her dad had made her endless cups of her favorite lemon tea, the steam swirling around as cozily as the blanket he wrapped her in, whistling Christmas carols.

She thought about the fierce protectiveness of her mom - while her father comforted her, she was sure her mother would be dragging Alec to the police station herself by the ear, letting Vienna know no one would ever hurt her again.

Her cousin Daniela would be there, too. Mixing together her signature snack of M&Ms and popcorn, turning on their favorite childhood musical. Her heart ached at the thought, the simple innocence of it.

And Zander. She remembered how she'd been so sore from volleyball last year, barely able to lift her arms after a day of serving drills. He'd offered to give her a massage, all earnest confidence until his first attempt made her yelp.

"Oh, okay - ow! You're not kneading dough here!" she'd gasped between giggles.

The next week, he'd tried again, gentler this time, focused, quiet. She'd turned her head back to thank him and stopped short - he had one headphone dangling from his ear, his phone showing a YouTube video titled "How to Give a Back Massage (For Beginners)."

He'd caught her noticing, and for one moment his cheeks flushed pink - until they both broke into laughter, almost falling off the narrow dorm bed in hysterics.

The corners of her lips twitched up, almost reflexively, at the memory. She screwed her eyes shut again, trying to let the warm light of it glow inside her as long as possible. She was cared for. She was loved. No matter how far away it felt.

The mantra rang out once more: Just survive this night. This hour. This minute.

Tomorrow. That means he has a plan. They've come to an agreement. He's going to get the money, and he's going to let me go.

It was the news broadcast that had sparked it, probably. Alec had seen how desperate her parents were, knew that they would pay any amount it took for her safe return, and had taken moves to make it happen. That's why his behavior had been so odd yesterday. That's all.

But she couldn't stop the other voice, the one she tried to smother, whispering in the back of her mind: liar.

It was "tomorrow," now, and he still hadn't appeared. There was a low ache in Vienna's muscles from the constant tension in her body as she shifted on the bed, trying to distract herself with the drone of the television. She couldn't remember a time she had felt this exhausted, wrung out physically and emotionally. She had slept fitfully last night, afraid to close her eyes but unable to stave off the creeping fatigue any longer. Every so often she would jerk awake, expecting to hear the unlocking of the door, for whatever shadowy doom she had in store to come walking through - but it never did.

As the day stretched on, she figured Alec must be at work again and took solace in knowing the house was empty. Still, even when he wasn't around, his voice bounced around in her head. Unease sat like a brick in her stomach, but she forced herself through the motions of showering, of feeding herself, of tidying the room, so when Alec returned he might once again appreciate her "good" behavior. Even when the memory of his praise made her skin crawl.

And so here she sat, hair drying in waves over her shoulders, waiting for whatever came next. The helplessness was crushing, and she constantly oscillated between trying to keep herself calm and steady and feeling like a complete idiot for just sitting and waiting.

When his footsteps finally began to echo down the staircase, she knew the answer was coming. It was almost a relief.

Almost.

Her ears strained, trying to discern any difference in the rhythm of his steps, the weight if his tread, but she came up with nothing.

As the door opened she tried to greet him carefully, neither eager nor defiant, but his expression was more unreadable than ever, and when he spoke his voice offered no clues. The only thing different was he didn't close the door behind him this time.

"Stand up."

Vienna obeyed instantly, every nerve buzzing. When he slipped the fabric over her eyes, tightening with a firm knot against the back of her head, her chest seized.

"Wait - why? Where are we going?"

"You'll see." His tone was infuriatingly calm.

"D-do I need my shoes?"

No answer. He led her by the elbow, his grip firm but not rough, across the room and out the door she’d never been through. The air changed; she could feel the larger space, hear her own steps echo. Her heart leapt: this was it. She was leaving. He was finally taking her out of here. She stepped forward carefully, anticipating the moment she'd have to change her stride to walk up the stairs.

But then he stopped. The scrape of a chair dragging against the floor sounded out.

"Sit."

Bone-crushing disappointment seemed to force Vienna down into the chair more than anything else. Why? Why, when they had been so close to leaving this place forever?

Her wrists were being bound behind the chair with practiced precision. She vaguely recognized that the material, whatever it was, was much less abrasive than the zip ties, but no less effective when she pulled and twisted her arms. Then the gag - rubber stuffed between her teeth, the shock of it forcing a strangled yelp from her throat before she could stop herself.

"Shhh." Alec's breath close to her ear made her freeze. "I have a few things I need to do. I need you to stay here for a little while."

As if he were comforting her. As if she had any say in this at all.

His steps faded away, but not far, and she could hear him messing with something back towards the bedroom. Until even minutes ago that place had felt like a prison, a nightmare - but Vienna was already aching for it back. In this state, she couldn’t see, couldn't swallow properly, couldn't move her arms, and the fear was already threatening to swallow her whole. When the noises told her Alec was walking back towards her several minutes later, she braced herself, realizing her helplessness had peaked - but he walked right by without a word.

His footsteps echoed up the stairs, and then the door slammed behind him. Vienna finally allowed herself to sag in the restraints, for just a moment, as confusion muddled her thoughts. The question rang out again, clear and bewildered: Why?

He's getting things ready. To take me home. The thought burst into her mind, no longer logical but wild and pleading. She clung to it. It started like this - blindfolded and gagged and tied up - and now it'll end like this. So I don't see the inside of his house. That's why.

Minutes passed. Then more. Vienna tried to count her breaths, to keep track of how long she'd been tied to the chair. At least an hour.

Thoughts of everything she would do when this was over carried her through the indeterminable stretch of time she sat there, unable to move or see or speak. Tell her parents she loved them, over and over and over. Run through the widest field she could find, sun warm on her skin. Have a classic Bad Movie Night with Zander, lean against his shoulder in the way that always made her feel safe. Get an ice cream cone with Abi or her cousin Daniela or virtually any other girl she knew, free to exist in simple sweetness without feeling as unbearably small and powerless as she had the last few days.

Then, finally, the door at the top of the stairs opened again.

Maybe that’s the police, she tried to tell herself. And they’re going to untie you and take you away from here and to your parents and it will be like none of this ever happened.

But the footsteps were slow, incredibly deliberate, as if he wanted her to count each one. By the time they finally dragged in front of her, Vienna thought her heart might explode in terror.

He didn’t say a word. Fingers brushed the side of her face as he loosened the blindfold. The world flooded back in dim light and concrete walls.

And him. Standing in front of her, calm as ever, eyes drinking her in, a satisfied grin tugging on his lips.

"You've been so curious, haven't you?" Alec's voice was practically a purr. "I think we've both waited long enough."

And when his hand brushed a lock of hair from her face, so soft it made her sick, Vienna knew.

Her stomach dropped like she’d stepped off a cliff.

No.

The word screamed in her head, but her body stayed frozen. She had tried so hard — so hard —to tell herself that this wasn’t what he wanted, that she could hold onto the idea of ransom like a lifeline. She couldn’t stop clinging to it, even as the truth stared her down.

His body only came closer, hands reaching, and she felt it: this was the moment her world ripped in two, more violently than she could have ever imagined possible. Not when his car had pulled up beside her, not when the stun gun had rendered her body useless, not even when he had pulled taut the ropes that bound her to this chair. It was this, the moment she could no longer deny what he wanted, what was about to happen.

The last tatters of denial tore away. And for the first time since she’d opened her eyes in this place, Vienna wished desperately not for rescue, but simply not to exist at all.

Alec was horrifyingly close now, virtually straddling her in the chair. A petrified squeal broke loose through the gag as Vienna tried to shrink, to twist away, and for a few minutes, the world broke into fragments.

Hands, skimming her waist at first, then pressing, caressing, crudely squeezing up to her breasts. Not a hint of hesitation or remorse, easily moving under her clothes and bra as if he owned her down to the skin.

His lips, warm and surreal against her neck. Vienna felt them pull into a smile against her, and she wasn't sure if she would throw up or pass out or both.

The rope, digging deeper into the skin of her wrists as she struggled, keeping her pinned in place as he did whatever he wanted.

Her voice — was it her voice? She hadn't even meant to speak — muffled behind the gag, thin and panicked and incoherent.

When she heard the next sound, ringing bright and cheerily in the room, she jerked back. Because that couldn't be what he'd really just done, couldn't be any human's response to the raw panic and terror pouring out of her. But she caught a look at his face, and sure enough: Alec was laughing.

She couldn't reconcile it, couldn't make the pieces fit in a way that made sense - the cruel, bizarre contrasts of it all. The way he was touching her like a lover, even as she tried to twist away. The way every one of his motions telegraphed delight, even as she fell apart beneath him. And the way his laughter echoed around the room, even as she cried, as she begged.

His hands slipped out of her bra, leaving it crooked and barely covering her. She didn't have any time to feel relieved before his hands began to slide lower.

Vienna cried out and struggled even harder - she thought she would die on the spot if he touched her down there. But just as his thumbs slid under the waistband of her jeans, he stopped.

Alec leaned back to look at her, and through her tears Vienna thought his eyes looked like black holes, devoid of empathy, of anything she recognized as vaguely human.

“What do you say we take this somewhere more comfortable?”

Dread struck like lightning down her spine. Alec took the gag off, carelessly throwing it to the floor alongside the discarded blindfold.

“Please,” Vienna begged instantly, wincing as her jaw adjusted to being free. “Please - you don’t have to do this.” Alec ignored her, moving behind her to unbind her wrists.

“What I said before about my parents is still true!” Vienna said desperately. “I won’t say anything about this, they can pay you -”

“I don’t want your money,” Alec said shortly, and his blunt denial of her only bargaining chip made her so hopeless that she broke down crying again.

She felt the ropes around her wrists fall away, and before she could even think about running Alec had yanked her to her feet and was half dragging, half shoving her towards the bedroom that now loomed like a death sentence.

When he shoved her into the bedroom, she stumbled to the back of the room, wanting as much space between them as possible. She spun around as he shut the door behind them, feeling like a cornered animal as she looked for an escape. Alec grinned and circled her, as if they were playing some kind of sick game.

“Where you gonna go? Huh?”

Vienna ran past him, ducking under one of his outspread arms and lunging for the door. She rattled the doorknob, but it was locked. She heard his huff of laughter as she spun back around, heart hammering in her throat.

"P-please -"

He caged her with his body, hands braced against the door on either side of her. Vienna had never felt smaller in her life. She looked up at him, breath catching in her throat, body trembling so intensely she thought it might split apart.

"Has anyone ever hit you before?"

"I - what?!" It was not the question she expected. She hated how tiny her voice sounded, as if it belonged to someone much younger. "No, of course not!"

She only had a moment to digest his exhilarated grin before he reeled back and smacked her across the face. Her head bounced off the solid wood of the door, her cry ringing through the room alongside his laugh. Her head swam, more with humiliation and shock than in pain. Alec grabbed her face then, fingers digging into the pink sting on her cheek, and smashed his lips onto hers.

It was violent and revolting and Vienna cried out in disgust into his mouth. He only pressed deeper, his tongue shoving past her lips as her hands desperately pushed and pulled at his shirt. When Alec leaned back, panting and grinning as if he'd just won a race, he rested his forehead against hers. He was so close she could feel his hot, humid breath wash over her face, could see the feverish excitement glittering in his dark eyes.

"And you thought I wanted money. I thought you might - that's the only language a girl like you speaks, isn't it? Let me show you what I really want."

He manhandled her body easily, spinning her around, and Vienna realized with a lurch what he'd been doing in here while she'd sat bound: the bed was stripped of everything but a dark sheet, and leather restraints adorned each of the four corners.

Restraints. As if this were a twisted horror movie, not her real life. And she was forced to reckon with the terrible fact again: this was not impulse. Not a mistake. This is what he'd been planning all along.

She shrieked, fighting back, kicking, pushing, nails scraping against his clothes, against whatever edge she could reach. But he was calm, unhurried, effortlessly overpowering her and guiding her toward the bed.

When he shoved her down onto it she immediately started back up, and Alec hit her again - harder this time, so much so that she fell back, dazed. Before she could catch her breath, her wrists and ankles were forced into the restraints. Spread. Trapped.

Vienna's voice burst out, choked, desperate, still spiraling in on one thought: "Why? W-why?"

He hovered above her, completely changed. The teasing calm was gone. The controlled, almost polite amusement vanished like smoke. What remained was something raw, electric - a giddy, predatory excitement that radiated from Alec in waves.

"I wanted to see what you would do," he breathed, his words wrapping around her like chains, "if you thought that you were safe. And you were so sweet. But none of that matters now, does it? It just means I have more of you to break."

And then he was on her, everywhere. Hands, breath, weight, all swirling together in a cacophony of horror she couldn't begin to process. She was writhing, screaming, until she saw a flash of metal. Every muscle froze, locked in place as he held the knife up to her throat.

"Remember this? I don't want to use it on you, Vienna, but I will if I have to. Stay nice and still and maybe you won't get cut."

Her body went rigid, tense and trembling at the same time. That knife had haunted her thoughts, drawing up terrible images of blood and pain. But as the blade began to slice through the fabric of her clothes, she knew this was even worse. She felt like she was floating far above the room as he tossed aside her torn shirt. Pants. Bra.

The sound of her torn clothes hitting the floor vaguely hit her ears, and — even as her mind tried to reject it — a soft groan from Alec.

"Stop it. Stop. Don't touch me."

The voice (hers? It only distantly sounded like it) came out staccato, practically robotic, and he ignored it completely. It was like she wasn't there at all, only a body. She tried to imagine her parents’ faces, Zander's laugh, her dorm room — anything to push against the enormity of what was happening— but every memory felt like it belonged to someone else. A girl who had been alive yesterday and who was now gone.

His words broke through the fog. He'd been talking throughout, but a particular phrase caught her attention. Her eyes refocused, the room swimming back into view. Door, locked. Limbs, restrained. Him, perched above her, grinning excitedly. He said it again.

"You're afraid I'm going to rape you?"

Vienna’s breath caught in her throat and she didn’t reply. Her horrified expression was answer enough. He looked practically gleeful and it terrified her. She thought it couldn't get worse. She was wrong.

Still looking her in the eye, Alec began to slowly move his hands down her stomach, going an inch at a time towards her underwear.

“NnnnooOOO!” Vienna’s wail crescendoed as his fingers brushed the top of the fabric. “Stop it! Get off me!”

Alec smirked and lightly ran his fingertips around the edges of her underwear, as if the way her hips jerked and twitched was just a delightful game rather than annihilation.

“What’s under here, hm?”

“God, stop, stop, please -“

Vienna gulped, her eyes squeezed shut in horror. This couldn’t be happening. He couldn’t be touching her like this. It wasn’t real, it just couldn’t be -

But the feeling of his fingers gliding under her waistband was inescapably real, and she jolted and screamed louder than ever as he slid his touch lower.

“NO! No no no no - just stop!”

He was rubbing her and she thought the emotional overwhelm would kill her. The feeling of this stranger’s fingers there was completely surreal. Then, she felt one of his fingers probe at her entrance, and he leaned forward to speak in her ear.

“Pretty dry…but I think I can still fit myself inside.”

“NO!”

It was happening. It was happening, and one of her very first thoughts was, I fucking knew it. And she had, despite the denial, despite the desperate bargaining, she had known from the moment he pulled up beside her. A surge of emotion reared in her like a roaring dragon - terror, rage, despair, and a deep twisted helplessness, all mixing together until an animalistic wail escaped her throat.

"That's right, nice and loud," Alec purred, and she realized he was taking off his own clothes. Vienna's stomach lurched and she whipped her head to the side, eyes squeezed shut. Let it stop let him get off let it stop let me wake up in my own bed let it stop let me die -

A loud ripping noise interrupted her thoughts, the last bits of defense literally torn away by Alec. Every nerve felt alight, buzzing with trepidation. The cool basement air against her exposed skin felt like being pierced with a thousand needles.

“Oh my god.”

Alec practically groaned as he looked down at her naked body. For a moment, he didn’t touch her at all, and Vienna wondered if maybe he would stop - maybe he realized how scared she was, how wrong this would be? But when she looked up at his face, another wave of nausea overtook her: he was looking down at her trembling body rapturously, hungrily.

“No, don’t look!” Vienna said tearfully, arms jerking uselessly with the overpowering desire to cover herself.

Alec chuckled, “Oh, I’m going to do a lot more than just look.”

Still with a practically reverent look on his face, Alec slid his hands up her thighs. She screamed desperately, but it might as well have been a whisper. His hands converged between her legs, fingers prodding, exploring. Again she screamed, fighting in anguish to close her legs to the intrusion, but the restraints made it impossible. Alec moaned huskily.

“God, so soft…”

He continued to feel between her legs as she let out a paroxysm of shrieks and cries. Vienna felt hollow, but not in the way she craved, where she might actually escape the sensation of his touch, fingers moving as if he meant to touch every inch of skin between her legs. Instead, it was as if someone had scooped out her soul from the inside, her sense of self shattered, breaking further with every deliberate exploration of his hands. His voice cut through the air again, sharp as nails.

"You ever done this before?"

Her mind flashed, almost unbearably, to Zander: to soft touches, shared giggles, tender murmurs. Those moments could not have felt farther away from this, and Vienna shook her head, a strangled noise escaping her throat.

"At all?" Alec's voice was delighted, practically giddy, and she realized with a lurch what he really meant.

"I - I have - but only a few times - never like this - please…"

She thought it might deter him, but he only grinned wider. "Well, this is going to be very special for you, then."

She could feel him. She could feel him. He was rubbing himself deliberately against her thigh, forcing her to feel how he was aching with need. She saw him bring his fingers to his own lips, wetting them, and then they were between her legs. Muscles jerked involuntarily. Words spilled out almost involuntarily.

"Please don't do this please don't I don't want to please stop -"

He gripped her thighs like iron, as if there was any way she could close them with how she was tied. His expression was excited, hungry.

"Oh, I love this part. Where you realize you can't stop me."

Before Vienna could protest again, he began to push himself inside her. She howled, looking between her legs as if she couldn’t believe what was happening. Alec drew back a bit, and then shoved himself inside her. Again. And again. And again -

Her screams burst through, and it was impossible to tell if it was more from pain or horror or pure helplessness, but they filled the room. Every motion was a violation, every touch a death. Her mind and body screamed in unison: this was wrong, this was agony, this was torture.

When she tried to tell him, voice rising and quivering hysterically, he only sneered. Pushed harder. Grunted, "Oh yeah? Good."

Vienna’s wrists burned against the restraints, every frantic pull digging the leather deeper into her skin. The bed frame creaked with each of his movements, the steady rhythm unbearable, louder than her own sobs. She tried to twist her face away from his mouth, from the sound of his breathing, but there was nowhere to go.

The searing pain shot through her body like a knife, but the horror in her mind was somehow even worse. Stop, stop, stop, she thought, but the words tangled in her throat and slipped out broken, barely recognizable even to herself. They were whimpers, sobs, screams.

Alec laughed, a low, delighted sound that cut through her begging like a knife. She couldn’t quite catch what he said at first - only the tone, bright and mocking, as if her terror was the funniest thing in the world. When the words did land, they made her stomach clench. So cute…so pathetic when you cry.

It felt endless. Not even because it was long, but because each second dragged out like time itself was trying to break her. She lost track of when he’d started - or if he ever would stop. It's like it wasn't even her body anymore. Just something he was using.

Then his voice, jarringly close, gasping in her ear. "Do you know what's about to happen? Do you know what it means?"

I'm going to die. The thought was clear, almost matter-of-fact. Not even because she thought he would outright kill her. There's no way I can survive living with this.

His grip became harder, his motions more violent. "It means you belong to me. You are mine - mine -"

The world tilted. Some distant part of Vienna knew what was happening, as if overhearing it from another room. He was finishing.

Finally, Alec collapsed onto her, heavy and slick with sweat. His breathing was harsh in her ear, hers ragged and broken. She didn’t flinch, didn’t move. She couldn’t.

His voice reached her like an echo underwater. Holy fuck…you have no idea how good that was. The words barely registered. Just…noise.

When he rolled off, the mattress shifted beneath her like she wasn’t anchored to it at all. She stared at the wall, her vision unfocused, her chest rising and falling like it belonged to someone else. Her body was still here, but she was far, far away from it.

The restraints came off her wrists and ankles, but the freedom meant nothing. She couldn’t have moved even if she wanted to. The weight of his touch lingered like a brand - every place he’d been on her still felt occupied, claimed.

She didn't think of her family. Or of sun on her skin. Or of comforting touch. Or of anything at all. It was as if her brain had turned to liquid, spilling out of her ears, unable to hold a single thought. Silently, she thanked her mind for the protection.

And then, like it was nothing, he broke straight through it.

Alec was looming above her, evidence of his exertion glimmering all over his body, clothes balled up under his arm, an undeniable spectacle of what had just occurred.

When he forced her chin up, the tears that slipped down her cheeks weren’t deliberate. They felt automatic, like breathing. He smiled fondly at the sight of them, and sighed contentedly as if he'd just finished a feast.

"You couldn't have made that more perfect if you'd tried, sweetheart. Get some rest, because I'll be back in the morning for round two."

When he leaned closer, his forehead kiss turned her stomach inside out, her body jerking in disgust even as she stayed limp beneath it.

And then he was gone.

Silence spread like fog, swallowing everything. She lay there rigid, the damp sheets cooling against her skin, unable to tell how much time passed. Seconds. Hours. She imagined if she stayed still enough, maybe she would stop existing. Maybe she already had.

But then the smell hit her — sweat, metal, him, clinging to her skin. A wave of nausea dragged her upright, though her legs felt hollow and unsteady. When she looked down, she saw the stain blooming beneath her, dark and wet, and the room tilted.