That same night, Antinstine walked up the stairs into the dorm floors.

He'd ordered Prada to room with another Evolved for the night, leaving Mark the only one in the room.

While he walked down those cramped, tight hallways, Prada caught sight of Cibil returning from the front doors. When she saw him, her brows furrowed beneath her blindfold.

"Prada? Aren't you supposed to be in bed?" she asked. She walked forward, then noticed the pallor of his dark skin. Even the red markings on his face looked paler.

"Prada," said Cibil, face falling. "What's wrong?"

He led her down the middle hallway where it was quieter.

"Antinstine, he... he told me to sleep somewhere else tonight," he muttered, gazing down at Cibil. "I think he's going to—"

"He's not touching Viper unless it's for those disgusting experiments," Cibil spat. She whirled around, running up the stairs to the dorms.

"Cibil! Stop!" Prada cursed, chasing after her. They ran down the halls, and though Prada could have stopped Cibil by bending her blood, he didn't. He grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her back.

"You've already stopped Druid from reading his mind," said Prada, lowering his voice. He glanced at the countless doors around them, the possibility of Evolveds sleeping or eavesdropping in them very likely.

Cibil tore her wrist away. "If he hurts Viper—"

"We can't do anything," spat Prada. "If we keep protecting him—"

"He'll be suspicious," breathed Cibil. She stamped her foot on the floor and ran a hand through her hair, sighing hard. "You're right..." She shook her head. "You're right."

Prada took a deep breath, the markings on his face flickering weakly. "We can talk more about this at the library."

"Conservatory," said Cibil. "I'm always there, it'll look less suspicious."

Prada nodded. He gazed down the hallway in the direction of his room, swallowing hard. He hoped that, whatever Antinstine planned, it wouldn't hurt Viper too much. But deep down, he knew, it couldn't be something good.

And while Prada and Cibil left the sleeping quarters, Antinstine steadily neared the hallway where Mark's room was.

———

Inside the room, unaware of Antinstine's near arrival, Mark was connecting the device to speak with Dark. His hands fumbled, and he constantly listened for any suspicious noise, hoping Prada wouldn't come anytime soon. After a few more tries, he succeeded. The device clicked, the static hissed, and the signal beeped once it was set.

Dark was in the middle of dinner when the device went off in his pocket, and the other Evolveds jumped with shock. Dark's eyes widened, and he glanced at the others before hastily picking it up, putting it on speakerphone and setting it in the middle of the table.

Even though it had only been a few days, Dark's heart couldn't help but pour with relief at the sound of Mark's voice.

"Dark?" came his soft voice, and though it crackled from the poor signal, it was enough to know he was alive, he was well, he was alright—

"Yes—Mark—" breathed Dark, leaning forward in his seat. As much as he tried to hide his emotions in front of the others, they still showed. The others smiled with amusement at his reaction; Xilef was the only one who continued to stare with cold, dead eyes.

Mark swallowed thickly, his heart pounding. He felt safer in a room of his own, no doubt, but the thought that anyone could barge in—

"I thought n-now would be a good time to update," he said quickly and quietly. "Can you hear me?"

Dark's voice crackled through the device, and Mark couldn't help but squeeze the device in an attempt to feel closer to Dark.

"Yes," came his voice. "All of us, we hear you."

Mark couldn't believe he smiled when he heard that. Those other Evolveds that were once his enemies, both by blood, makeup, and status—Voxe, Equinox, Eyes, Ether, the others—were now people he considered to be... family.

He swallowed down the emotion crawling up his throat.

"Nothing's happened so far," he said. "I've been treated like a normal guest so far. Antinstine's just been taunting me; the foreseer, Cibil, has been showing me around the mansion... I have my own room, but I share it with an Evolved named Prada."

He leaned forward, the device giving him a sense of relief. "Equinox, remember when we saw him in the Market?" He couldn't help but faintly smile at the memory. So much has changed since then. "He's actually... quite friendly."

"Oh, please," came Equinox's voice, and he smiled. "I wouldn't trust anyone in there."

"Well, I know that," Mark chuckled. His face fell, and he stared at the device. "But... one thing that—might happen..."

He swallowed hard, brought back to his moment with Cibil in the conservatory.

"I-I think Antinstine's going to—"

Footsteps creaked on the other side of the door, and Mark's heart shot into his throat.

"Mark?" came Dark's voice.

"I have to go—"

Before he could power off the device, the door swung open. Mark crammed the device into his hiding spot in the bed, standing up and picking up one of Prada's dolls. He pretended to take interest in it, staring at its hideous, twine features.

"You know," he said with his back to the door, slipping into the character of Viper, "these dolls are awfully—"

He turned around, meeting eyes with Antinstine.

His face paled, and he merely dropped the doll.

Calm down, Mark, he told himself. As long as you keep calm—

He kept his gaze away from his bed. He couldn't give away the device's hiding spot, but—

Fuck.

Antinstine can sense electricity.

"Surprised to see me?" asked Antinstine, closing the door behind him with a loud click. Mark swallowed, breathing hard through his nose.

"What do you want, Antinstine?" he spat, walking over to Prada's bed and gently setting the doll down. The two of them seemed to circle around each other. Antinstine walked away from the door and up to Mark's bed, standing so far yet so close to him.

"I just wanted to see how you were settling in," said Antinstine. He reached up and tugged on one of the ropes hanging from the ceiling, letting his nails slide along the rough surfaces. "Nice to know yer getting chummy with Prada."

Mark's heart beat a hundred miles an hour, but he forced himself to keep calm. He'd never been truly alone with Antinstine—Cibil or someone else had always been there, too.

"You were supposed to come up to my room today, you know," said Antinstine, his voice dripping with sadistic amusement. "But Cibil came bearing some rather... enticing information about you instead."

Mark stepped away from Prada's bed, and Antinstine mimicked him. They circled around each other in the middle of the room, slowly but surely. Antinstine stood tall, his strides confident and taunting—a stark contrast to Mark's nearly-hunched fighting stance.

It was grueling, and although Mark panicked, he couldn't do a thing about it. If Antinstine were to attack him then—well, he'd be dead. His charade would be over.

He reached his bed now while Antinstine stood at the other side of the room. There was that faint static that came from beneath the bed. The device was still on, and yet, Antinstine still hadn't pointed it out.

Could Dark and the others hear them?

"And?" said Viper, voice low. "Spit it out."

Antinstine grinned at that, his eyes glinting. With that, he walked forward in three strides, and Mark swallowed, standing his ground. Antinstine planted a hand on Mark's chest and shoved him into the wall, standing so close their foreheads butt against each other.

"Remember this?" breathed Antinstine, eyes wild and intense. He flexed his fingers over Mark's chest, feeling his rapidly-beating heart. It was just like the day they first met, and Mark sharply breathed in at the memory, getting dizzy at the overwhelming scent of him.

"Even now, your heart's still kicking up a frenzy," breathed Antinstine with a grin, his breath hot over Mark's face. "I haven't forgotten, you know. Just like I promised."

Mark breathed hard, making eye contact with the same burning intensity. It only seemed to make Antinstine grin wider.

"I'm not here to take a trip down memory lane," growled Viper.

He grabbed Antinstine's wrist, but it wouldn't budge when he tried to push it away. The contact shocked him—it was like power flowed beneath Antinstine's skin. Like it was his very blood.

"I know who you are," said Antinstine, and Mark's breath couldn't help but hitch. Antinstine dug his nails into Mark's chest, enjoying the way he bared his teeth in an attempt to conceal the pain.

"Yeah?" Viper managed out. "And who's that?"

Antinstine licked his lips. "The Celebrity Killer."

Mark stilled at that, nonetheless. At least Antinstine didn't find out he was human... who knows how he would react to that...

"Do you remember what I told you on the ride here, Viper?" breathed Antinstine, sharp teeth glinting. When Mark said nothing, he smirked. He slid his hand up Mark's neck and gripped his jaw, tight, forcing his head to the side so his lips would brush against his ear.

Mark shuddered in disgust, his breaths coming out fast.

"You can still join me," said Antinstine, voice low. Mark's chest heaved, and he desperately wished for this little "visit" to be over.

"Like hell I would," Viper spat, struggling under Antinstine. His grip only tightened, nails pressing into his jugular at a dangerous angle.

He stilled, breaths shuddering, and Antinstine only laughed at his reaction.

"I don't think I made myself clear," he said, watching with satisfaction as his sharp nails dug into the flesh of Mark's jaw. "You're the infamous Celebrity Killer, Viper. I've had my eye on you before Dark and I's pesky little favor."

He flexed his fingers over Mark's neck, feeling his thundering, thick pulse. "You and I... we both have that lust to kill..."

His words slipped off his tongue like venom, and Mark couldn't help but shudder.

"I've seen your victims, Viper," breathed Antinstine, nails digging into Mark's skin. "Mutilated... strangled... I've seen the art in how you paint the ground with that filthy human blood..."

If this were anyone but Antinstine saying this, he might have been flattered.

Antinstine leaned closer, eyes half-lidded. "I... want... you," he breathed.

Viper's breaths shuddered at that, and he forced out a hoarse chuckle, swallowing under Antinstine's tight grip.

"Then I'd have the satisfaction of denying your request," he said.

Mark was surprised that he was lasting this long or even making witty remarks. If he didn't have to put on an act, hell, his entire body would be shaking in fear. Just the fact gave him that high, cascading feeling as if he were looking Death in the face, and he couldn't help but continue.

"What'd you expect me to say?" he panted. "That I'd love to join you?"

Viper licked his lips, staring Antinstine dead in the eye. "You stole me away from my home, dipshit. Took me away from—" Mark caught himself before he could address Dark by his first name. "—Edwards."

Antinstine narrowed his eyes, fingers digging into Mark's throat. As much as he loved the other's caustic nature, not getting his way was a nuisance. He wasn't used to being denied.

Viper pressed his neck into Antinstine's hand so their foreheads collided again.

"I know what you're going to do to me," he breathed, glancing down at Antinstine's lips. They twitched, his fangs glinting beneath them. "You're going to have Syl and Ox experiment on me. Now... what for, I haven't found out..."

Antinstine breathed hard, gritting his teeth as he tilted his head. They stood there for a moment in silence, breathing hard against each other.

"If you join me..." said Antinstine, "I'll send those scientists home."

Viper gave a breathless chuckle.

"You're lying," he said. He leaned forward, noting how Antinstine's breath caught, then pulled away, pressing himself into the wall. The Evolved seemed to snap out of his trance, though his gaze was still heavy.

"You don't have a choice anymore, Viper," said Antinstine, and with that, he pulled his hand away. Mark gasped in a breath at the sudden motion, panting. Antinstine swallowed at the sight, eyes glinting.

"Sleep well," he said mockingly. "I can't wait for you to see what experiments I have planned for you."

Mark glared at him, and Antinstine left the room, shutting the door loudly. Once his footsteps faded away, Mark sucked in breaths and slumped against the wall, sliding down onto the floor.

"Fuck..." he said under his breath, clutching at his racing heart. That static by the bed wavered for a second, and Mark jumped, remembering the device was still on.

He glanced at the door, then dove his hands into the crevice of the bed, grabbing the device with violently-shaking hands.

"H-hello?" he said, breathless. "D... Dark, are you still there?"

There was a pause before he answered.

"I'm here," he said, and Mark gave a breath of relief.

"Thank God," he panted, holding the device to his chest. "It's clear now, if that's what you're waiting to hear..."

"Mark," said Dark's voice through the device. "What did you mean by experiments?"

Mark swallowed. So they had heard everything.

"I found out this morning," he admitted, face falling. "There's... a lab here, and I've gotten to know the two scientists. I'm gonna be their guinea pig, but... for what, I don't know."

At the dinner table, Dark stared at the device with something akin to horror. He knew exactly what they were going to do.

Xilef understood his gaze, exhaling hard and resting a hand on his arm. The others didn't have a clue of what they knew.

Dark gazed at Xilef with furrowed brows, swallowing thickly. Xilef only squeezed his shoulder reassuringly.

"You'll be fine," said Dark to the device, but his expression said the complete opposite.

Mark was not fine.

"Remember, Mark," said Xilef, and Mark was surprised to hear his voice. "Turn your fear into fuel."

Voxe laughed from the other end of the table. "Well, I think he's doing that quite well!" ze said, lightening up the sudden heaviness in the room. "You really stood your ground to Antinstine, Mark. We're proud of you."

Mark smiled at the device, clutching it tightly. He wanted to go home already... he wanted to see Ethan, and Dark, and the others... he wanted his old life back.

"Thanks," he said softly. "I... don't know the next time I'll be able to call..." He sighed, bowing his head and pressing it into the bedframe. "Especially if Antinstine visits like that again... he might sense the device next time."

"I'm surprised he didn't," came Emery's voice, and Mark chuckled when he heard the others shushing him.

"I miss you guys," Mark blurted out, and his face went hot. Well, mostly Dark.

"We'll be there soon, Mark," assured Dark. "We're still gathering enough forces for the attack."

Mark closed his eyes and sighed, nodding softly. He didn't know how much more of this he could take... and to be experimented on? Depending on how harsh it would be would determine if he could really make it out of here alive.

"I'm gonna get some sleep," said Mark, softly smiling. "I have the room to myself, for once, so I can rest in peace."

"Sleep well," came Ether's voice. Mark smiled.

"You too, guys," he said. He clutched the device and swallowed, face going hot. "Oh, and... Dark?"

"Yes, Mark?"

He grinned. "I love you."

Dark blushed, and he swatted away the other's teasing looks. He grabbed the device and held it up to his lips, averting his eyes as he said, "I love you, too."

The others laughed and teased him, and Mark chuckled through the device as he heard them.

"What was that? I couldn't hear you," teased Mark.

Dark chuckled, covering his face. "I love you, too, Mark," he said loudly, and the table erupted into giggles despite the situation at hand. Mark grinned, his stomach lighting up with butterflies.

"That's better," he said, and he made his way into bed, getting comfortable under the covers. The lights dimmed on their own. "Until next time, everyone."

They all made their sounds of goodbyes, and with a sigh, Mark powered off the device so it no longer gave an electrical signal, stowing it away in his hiding spot. His fingers glanced over the glass vial, reminding him of how soon he had to repaint his arms, but he pushed it aside. He was too tired, especially after that surprise encounter with Antinstine.

And as he fell asleep, the table in Dark's manor went quiet and serious.

"Xilef?" muttered Dark, and he simply nodded, standing up.

They had to discuss a new plan.

Thank you so much for readingggg!!

Have a wonderful day, and stay safe out there! <3

-Kass xoxo