TW: Needles, Blood (I hate needles with a passion so I felt a warning would be in need 😂)

Mark woke up early the next morning.

    Despite having the room to himself for the night, he couldn't sleep. His thoughts constantly mulled over his interaction with Antinstine... and what would happen today.

    The first experiment.

    He had no idea what Antinstine had planned for him, but he knew it wasn't something good.

    Mark sat up in bed and glanced down at his hands, finding the paint wearing rather thin.

    He didn't have the energy to apply new paint.

    It would last another day, anyway, he told himself. A day would be fine.

    Right?

    A steady knock came through the door, and Mark straightened himself, slipping into the character of Viper. When the door swung open, he almost expected to see Antinstine, but he found himself relieved to see Cibil standing in the doorway. His shoulders relaxed.

    "Good morning," she said softly, gazing at him through her blindfold.

    Viper wearily smiled, standing up.

    "Morning," he said.

    "Did you eat last night?" she asked.

    Mark rose a brow at the question, gazing down at her.

    "No..." he said softly. "Only breakfast."

    Cibil gave a sad nod. "Perfect," she forced herself to say. "You're not hungry now, are you?"

    Mark's brows furrowed. "No... not really."

    "Good."

    They stood there for a moment, just staring, when Cibil returned to her usual, relaxed state.

    "Come," she said with more life. "There's water in the laboratory, if you're thirsty."

    Mark's heart sank. Experiments... first thing in the morning? He was really beginning to question if he'd make it out of here alive.

    He followed close behind Cibil, trying to avoid the other Evolveds' gazes as they walked around the mansion. They looked hungrier today—more manic. Their eyes glinted with excitement, and a few would gnash their teeth at him in sneers.

    Mark's heart pounded faster the closer they got to the laboratory.

They passed through the conservatory, and Cibil pushed open the glass doors, leading them out into the large, spacious backyard.

There it was... the laboratory. It seemed to leer and loom over Mark the closer they got.

Cibil quickly glanced at their surroundings, then gave Mark's hand a gentle squeeze.

Mark snapped out of his trance, gazing down at her.

"Stay strong, Viper," she said softly.

Mark swallowed, and she pulled her hand away to push open the laboratory door. It creaked under the pressure, the wood worn with age, and revealed the inside.

The lights were bright and painful, glinting against glass beakers and sharp, metal tools. Mark took a deep breath and clenched his fists, following Cibil inside. The door shut behind him, and he suppressed a flinch.

Just going inside was torture enough.

Mark breathed hard through his nose, staring at the lab tables as they walked down the aisle. Up ahead, Mark spotted the two scientists, who were readying their mysterious contraptions.

"Viper... It's so great to see you," rang Antinstine's voice through the lab. Mark tensed, searching for him, his eyes landing on a tuft of green hair further down.

When he walked forward, he noticed the floor dropped down a few steps, opening up into the testing room. Antinstine sat on the golden, metal table, playing with the leather straps.

"Come," he said, eyes glinting. "Syl and Ox are still getting ready."

Mark gulped, and he glanced over at Cibil, who simply nodded. With that, he wearily walked down the steps, focusing all his energy on keeping his footing.

Antinstine stared at him the entire time, his presence suffocating and radiating with raw power. It unnerved Mark; staying in character was much harder.

"Sit," said Antinstine, scooting over and motioning towards the empty space next to him.

Mark glared at him but didn't say anything, his jaw frozen shut. Even if he wanted to say something, he couldn't. His nerves were on fire. Hell, it took him all his willpower to even hoist himself up and sit next to Antinstine.

Fear into fuel, he told himself, shivering at the cold surface of the table.

"Cat got yer tongue this morning?" mocked Antinstine, sitting uncomfortably close to Mark. "Yer awfully quiet."

He leaned closer, eyes running down Mark's frame. He smirked when he noticed the faintest trembles in Mark's hands and the tightness of his jaw.

"Yer not... scared, are you?"

Mark huffed through his nose, his heart pounding. He glanced over at Cibil, but she was looking elsewhere, now; she sat with her back to them, but her head was tilted as if she were still listening.

"No," Mark managed out, trying not to look at Antinstine. "I'm not."

Antinstine only hummed with amusement, leaning back on his palms. He toyed with one of the leather straps, his eyes glinting with excitement.

Syl spared a glance towards Antinstine, then at Mark, his eyes filling with a troubled emotion. When Ox walked in front of him, he pulled out of his trance, clearing his throat.

"We're ready, sir," he called out.

Ox walked down the steps, holding a small medical kit. He didn't look as troubled, but then again—Antinstine hadn't talked with him last night. Syl, on the other hand, kept thinking about the conversation; he worried about the final experiment.

"Get comfortable, Viper," teased Antinstine, sliding off the table. He sat on one of the chairs instead, sliding up his sleeve and leaning forward. He draped his arm over the cart, exposing it, staring at Viper all the while.

"This part will be quick and painless," said Ox, setting the kit on the same cart that Antinstine leaned on. He clicked it open and revealed the insides, pulling out a large, tube-like syringe.

This part, thought Mark, insides churning.

He wearily watched the scientists walk about the floor, assembling a few more items and conversing among each other.

Syl circled around the cart and tied an elastic band around Antinstine's arm. Mark's brows rose.

They're... taking his blood?

Antinstine flicked his arm nonchalantly, his veins becoming more visible. Electricity seemed to zip beneath the color, moving in static ripples.

Mark's eyes widened, and his mouth went dry when he made eye contact with Antinstine. He only smirked.

In a swift motion, Ox pushed the needle into Antinstine's vein, watching it carefully. The scales on the back of his neck fluttered, and he pulled the plunger of the needle back with ease, drawing stark red blood.

Mark shuddered, fingers clenching around the edge of the table. As much as he hated needles, he couldn't look away.

Ox slid the needle out, and Syl removed the elastic band, wrapping a bandage around Antinstine's arm. The interaction looked so... human.

Antinstine leaned back and rubbed his arm, staring at Mark with a smirk. Ox rolled the cart over and set it next to the table, grabbing another tube-like syringe.

Mark glanced down at the vial of Antinstine's blood on the cart. It was a deep red, but electricity seemed to spark and swirl within its depths.

Wait.

Mark flinched when Syl wrapped the elastic around his arm and tightened it.

His blood was human, thought Mark. Wouldn't they—couldn't they tell—

Ox grabbed Mark's arm and straightened it out, raising the needle. It glinted in the light, and Mark's face paled.

When it neared him, he jerked his arm away. Ox blinked and looked at him, and Antinstine barked out a laugh.

"Now that's golden!" he sneered. "The Celebrity Killer—afraid of needles? How pathetic!"

Mark's face went hot, and he cradled his arm, leaning away from Syl and Ox.

"What do you need my blood for, anyway?" he spat, trying to regain his composure.

Syl and Ox exchanged glances, and Antinstine kept laughing in the background.

"It only takes a few seconds, Viper," said Ox, stepping forward. Mark only glared at him, and he faltered in his place.

"Viper," said Syl. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way."

Mark gritted his teeth, about to snap at them, but decided against it. Anything could happen with these experiments, and he wasn't about to find out... With a long, weary sigh, he gave in.

"I... need to rest my arm on something," grumbled Mark, averting his eyes. Syl and Ox visibly relaxed, glad to know he wouldn't resist.

"No need," said Syl. He motioned his hands in front of Mark, then nodded at him. "Rest your arm, now."

Mark rose a brow, eyeing him, then placed his arm out in front of him. Syl gently pushed it down, and it met a resistance—like an invisible, floating table.

Mark tried to suppress the surprise in his eyes.

"Oh," he said instead.

Ox stepped forward and flicked Mark's arm, expanding his vein. He turned his head away when the needle got closer, trying to relax the best he could.

After a second, the elastic around his arm was being pulled away.

Mark blinked, looking down at his arm, then over at Ox, who held a fresh tube of blood.

They'd drawn his blood, but he didn't feel anything.

Syl wrapped a bandage around Mark's arm, then walked up the steps, preparing one of the lab tables.

"He can eat now," said Ox, grabbing the two tubes of blood and joining Syl's side. Mark blinked, looking at his arm, then at the scientists.

That was it?

Cibil walked forward then, motioning for Mark to stand up. He did, brows furrowed.

"See you later tonight, Viper," sang Antinstine, smirking.

Mark's stomach churned. This couldn't be it.

Cibil walked down the aisle, and Mark hesitantly followed, sparing a glance behind him. Syl and Ox were working at a lightning-fast pace, throwing around equations and messing with tools. They were getting months worth of human science done within seconds.

Mark hastily followed Cibil, taking a deep breath when they left the laboratory. It was sunny out, and the heat felt nice against his skin.

"Cherish this feeling, Viper," said Cibil, letting him stand there in the lawn a while. Mark glanced down at her, but she said nothing more, leaving it at that.

After a while, they went back inside the mansion, and Cibil led him to the dining hall.

"Sit," she said. "I'll have the servants make you something."

Mark lingered, watching as Cibil disappeared behind one of the doors. He looked around the dining hall, then sat down. When he looked down at his bandaged arm, his insides twisted.

That was too... easy, he thought.

Anxiety began to crawl up his throat, and he bounced his leg under the table, unable to keep his mind from whirring.

What would Antinstine do if he knew that he was human?

Mark pressed his hands against his lips, trying to keep them from shaking.

Now that they had his blood...

Cibil emerged from one of the doors, carrying a silver plate of food. She set it in front of Mark, sitting beside him.

"It's not human, but it's close enough," she said softly.

Mark looked down at the plate of steak and veggies. It looked quite good, but his stomach twisted. Even if it were human, it still wouldn't lift his spirits.

"I'm not hungry," he said.

"You have to eat," said Cibil. When Mark made no movement, she insisted. "Please."

Mark glanced over at her, expressions heavy. She stared back, unfazed, and Mark gave in with a sigh, picking up a fork and knife and digging in.

He took the first bite of steak, letting the juices well on his tongue. It tasted amazing—especially after not eating for a while—but his anxiety ruined the experience.

There was a long moment of silence, Mark painfully eating and Cibil simply sitting. After a while, she leaned forward and placed a hand on Mark's.

He stopped forcing himself to eat, glancing over at her.

"Don't worry about your blood," she said, careful with her words. Mark's eyes glimmered, his heart skipping a beat. "Trust me."

Mark swallowed, searching her face.

"What are you... talking about?" he muttered, playing dumb.

Cibil didn't answer, lapsing back into her silent state. Mark eyed her for a moment before turning back to his meal.

He had to admit, her random interjection did calm his nerves, but... he couldn't possibly trust her. Even if he almost did, she was here, in Antinstine's mansion, for a reason. She was on his side.

He glanced at her through the corner of his eye as he finished up his meal.

Or... was she?

When Mark was done, Cibil picked up his plate, standing.

"Relax in your rooms," she said. "I'll get you again later tonight."

Tonight, thought Mark. Maybe that was when he'd—

He shook his head, shoving the thoughts aside. Cibil was right. He needed to relax.

Mark glanced over at Cibil and nodded, standing. She turned away and disappeared behind the door again, leaving him alone.

She's doing it again, thought Mark. Letting me roam the mansion on my own.

He pursed his lips at that, briefly considering finding Antinstine's room—or maybe even a way out. He shook his head before he could expand on the thought.

He was here for a reason, too.

Mark sighed and headed towards his rooms, forcing himself to follow Cibil's directions.

He had to relax.

What will happen to Mark? Find out in the next chapter heheheh

Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day!

-Kass xoxo