The darkness surrounding me felt alive, heavy with the echo of my own strained breaths. I was bound, my wrists tethered high above my head, straining against the tight, unyielding binds. My vision was hazy, but there was no mistaking the form standing before me—Alexander, his face etched with that familiar look of cold amusement. His gaze lingered over me with a quiet cruelty, as though relishing the sight of me powerless.
A small vial gleamed ominously in his hand, its contents a viscous, amber liquid that swirled in slow, menacing currents.
"Oh, you're awake." His voice was deceptively soft, each word laced with something darker, something twisted. "I thought you'd want to see this." He tilted the vial, letting the light catch on the glass, turning it into a sinister glow. "This isn't just some street concoction. It's been perfected by the Ashfords, genetically modified in our private garden for… training purposes. Trust me, It breaks even the strongest wills."
