It had only been minutes, but Mark's throat was already sore from screaming.

He couldn't keep his composure anymore—wasn't physically able to—the pain was so violent, so terrible—his body was growing weak and numb already—he couldn't last—wouldn't last—

He was human—too human—

A normal Evolved—no—not even a High Evolved would feel this terrible—would they?—

All the while, Antinstine watched Mark writhe and yell with utter fascination, never once looking bored. Just his presence made Mark's pain worse, increasing tenfold—it was humiliating—debasing—it wouldn't stop—

Minutes molded into thirty... forty...

Mark passed out at forty-one.

Antinstine ordered the scientists to wake him up; they tried stalling and acted like they were looking for another syringe... trying to give Mark's body just a few minutes to recover—but Antinstine was unrelenting. A savage, blood-thirsty animal with fangs dripping wet.

Antinstine retrieved the shot of adrenaline himself.

He straightened out Mark's arm, glaring at the scientists, forcing them to do as he said.

This same cycle happened three more times.

Ox would rush forward, insist on doing it himself—he'd stall; Antinstine would snap at him—

He'd inject the syringe into Mark's veins, and he'd wake up confused, dazed—and when he would see Antinstine, he'd return to reality.

The pain would come back in a drowning wave. His screams would paint the lab walls bloody.

The two hours were closing in now, and the scientists eyed the clock. While they looked relieved, Antinstine looked irritated. He didn't want the fun to be over.

The pain was beginning to fade, but it would attack at random intervals—strong, bright—like it was cutting straight through Mark's body.

He was reduced to tears and trembles, now, giving the occasional, spine-chilling cry. His wrists and ankles tugged at the binds, but the effort was weak... pathetic. Mark didn't have any energy left in him.

Antinstine smirked, resting his elbows on the table and leaning in close. His breath fanned over the side of Mark's face, and the human couldn't help but flinch, his body overstimulated, too sensitive—broken.

"I can take the pain away, Viper," breathed Antinstine, eyes half-lidded. His eyes glittered as he watched Mark struggle and strain to even hear him. "I can make it all go away."

Mark's lips trembled, his eyes struggling to focus. Everything was blurry, then clear, then blurry—his body couldn't function anymore.

"We are making history... with Syl and Ox... with you..."

Antinstine ran his fingers along Mark's arm, and he flinched and whimpered, trying to get away from the touch. His brain was on fire.

"If you join me, you'll be a part of my legacy." He leaned closer, examining every line and quiver of Mark's face. "You won't have to feel this anymore."

Mark breathed hard, screwing his eyes shut. His body screamed to accept the offer—anything—anything to take the pain away—but he had to keep to logic.

Logic kept him alive. It kept him sane.

But his mind was wearing thin—his body was tired, torn, numb—one more push—the chords holding himself together threatened to snap—

"You just have to say the words," breathed Antinstine, lips brushing against Mark's ear.

He couldn't take it.

"Say that you'll join me," said Antinstine. "And I'll take the pain away."

He eyed the clock, watching the hands tick away. Twenty more seconds. Twenty more seconds, and two hours would have passed.

"Just three words," breathed Antinstine. "Three words, and it's gone."

Mark huffed through his nose, crying out as another wave of pain tore through him.

He just had to ignore him—had to stop thinking—

Just don't say anything—don't say anything—

"Why do you do this to yerself, Viper?" Antinstine hummed, watching him struggle. "I'm giving you a chance... but instead, you choose to suffer."

He leaned forward and drew faint circles on Mark's arm. He flinched back, teeth gritting and sweat rolling down his neck.

"Doesn't it hurt?" breathed Antinstine. He dragged his hand up Mark's arm and dug his fingers into his chest. "Isn't it painful?"

Mark cried out, back arching, but Antinstine pushed him back down. His breath left his lungs—his mind whirred—body spasmed—

The two hours were up, but pain still threaded through him. He thrashed and tugged at the binds, trying to get away from Antinstine's touch, but he wouldn't budge.

"Antinstine," said Syl. "Please, sir—that's enough."

Antinstine frowned, gazing down at Mark. He looked so weak, so broken—just the shell of a man. Human.

It reminded him of himself, and he flinched at the thought, tearing his hand away.

"Fine," he spat. He stood and stepped back, letting the scientists tend to Mark's body. He frowned all the while, crossing his arms.

"Well?" Antinstine said after a while. "When will we know it's successful?"

The scientists wavered. Ox gnawed on his bottom lip, flinching when Mark shuddered at Syl's mere touch.

"He... he needs twenty-four hours," he said wearily. "If not—more, sir... his body is... well, it's—"

"I'm surprised he's not dead," Syl muttered under his breath, nose curled in distaste. "If it wasn't for..."

Ox sent him a glance, and he quickly stopped himself. As mad as he was at Antinstine, talking back to him would only make things worse.

That's right, thought Syl. Even if Viper did die, Antinstine wouldn't hesitate to revive him.

"What was that, Syl?" breathed Antinstine, eyes flashing.

Syl swallowed. "Nothing, sir. He'll be ready by tomorrow."

Ox's eyes widened. "But—"

"Tomorrow," said Syl, sending a pointed glance towards Ox.

Antinstine huffed out of his nose, gazing down at Mark's dejected figure. His body still shook and spasmed, but he wasn't feeling any new waves of pain. Good for him, disappointing for Anti.

"I'm expecting it to work," muttered Antinstine.

"Yes, sir," said Syl, bowing his head. "I-it'll work."

Antinstine nodded, and just as he left the laboratory, Cibil and Prada walked inside, taking his place for the night. As much as they both wanted to rush over to Mark and see the damage that had been done, they had to keep their composure.

They helped the scientists with the rest of the experiment, trying not to focus on how terrible Mark looked. When Cibil and Prada exchanged glances, though, they both thought the same thing.

They would put an end to this.

———

In the Evolved City, deep in the slums, Ethan and Konray sat in front of the monitors.

Their eyes were wide, unable to believe their ears. They had been listening to the taps since last night—and though they worked flawlessly, it was too painful to hear everything.

Ethan sat in the chair, holding his knees into his chest. He looked like he was about to pass out—his face pale and his body trembling.

"That..." Konray cleared her throat, turning down the volume. "That was... well—"

She tried to force a nervous smile, hoping to lighten the heaviness in the air, but it didn't do anything. She cleared her throat again.

"I-I guess this is—this is definitely enough—evidence—"

She glanced over at Ethan, faltering at his stunned features. She'd seen him shocked before, but not like this. He sat there like a stone—frozen in place—staring at the screen as if he'd looked Death right in the face.

"B... Blank?" she muttered. "Ethan?"

Her heart sped up, and she leaned to the side, trying to get a better look at his face. "Hey, are—are you... okay?"

Ethan didn't move for a long while.

He swallowed, his throat dry... and his lips quivered in the slightest—lashes fluttered... but Konray could tell it was taking him all his energy to try and speak.

She waited, nervously, searching Ethan's features.

"Kon..." said Ethan. His voice was weak and feeble—like a toddler tenderly catching their mother's attention. The sound only made her more nervous.

"That..." Ethan's eyes watered. "That screaming..."

The glow of the monitor casted shadows across his face, showing just how ghastly his features are.

With a deep, shuddering breath, Ethan continued.

"That was Mark," he said.

Konray went silent.

She sat there, staring at Ethan's face... glanced back at the monitor a few times... She was still stunned after hearing that Evolved screaming through the speakers, but... this? This was... well, a human—a human...

"Are... are you sure?" asked Konray. She huffed out a panicked chuckle. "Ethan, I mean..."

"No," he said, shaking his head. He pulled his knees tighter into his chest, eyes still wide. "No, that was Mark."

Tears rolled down his face, and his lips quivered.

"V-Viper is—him—"

He sucked in a few breaths, his chest heaving—and in a sudden fit, he bent over and burst into sobs.

"This is all my fault!" he cried, pulling at his hair. "If I hadn't said anything—if I hadn't—Konray, he's gonna fucking die! He's going to DIE! A-and it's all my fault—it's all my fault—!"

"H-hey!' Konray scrambled, trying to calm him. "Ethan—hey, listen, it is not your fault, remember? W-we went over this—!"

He continued to sob, shaking and trembling. Konray ran a hand through her hair and grimaced, her chest tightening with dread. She hated seeing Ethan like this—had to get him to calm down, but—if she were in his position, she probably would have reacted the same.

"How is this even possible?" Ethan cried, voice breaking. He choked on another sob. "Mark's a—he's f-ucking—I-I—I don't understand—"

"I don't either," said Konray, scooting closer and rubbing Ethan's back. She pulled him in closer, trying to soothe him. He relaxed in the slightest, but he still sobbed mercilessly.

"Mark's not—he's not an Evolved—" Ethan shook his head, fingers digging into his scalp. "Fuck, that doesn't matter! A-Antinstine is hurting him! He's—he's suffering—all because of me—"

"It's not all because of you," said Konray firmly. He stooped over to look Ethan in the face, prying his hands away. He wearily looked at her through blurry eyes.

"The Tear Stealer kidnapped him, Ethan," she said. "Like I've said, Mark would've found out how to get to him even if you didn't say anything. If anything, it's—it's the Stealer's fault."

Ethan shook his head, his brows furrowed. His lips still quivered, and his voice still shook.

"There's just... this is—this is impossible," he said.

Konray silently agreed, unable to believe what Ethan was proposing. His friend—his human friend—acting like an Evolved? Either he really was one, or he was a madman... humans never stepped foot in Evolved territory—not even Centauri Park.

Not willingly, at least.

"This..." Konray's voice wavered with uncertainty, but she continued. "This doesn't change anything," she said.

Ethan huffed and shook his head.

"Yes, it does," he said. "It changes everything."

His voice still shook, but he had stopped crying—he wiped his tears away with the back of his hand and sat up straighter.

"If Mark really is Viper..." said Ethan shakily, "then that means T.S. didn't give up one of his Evolveds." He stared Konray in the eye, and she shuddered at the intensity of his gaze.

"It means he's more evil than I thought," he said softly. His gaze went dark, his features falling grave.

"It means he—he forced Mark to be someone else just to save one of his own Evolveds, and—" His brows furrowed as he spoke, his mind still unable to grasp the entire scenario. "I mean, Mark's a human! If he tried to act like himself, he would've just been killed."

Konray sat there with a small frown, listening intently.

"If we—even if we approached T.S. with all this information—he wouldn't care!" Ethan grit his teeth, shooting out of his seat. The chair collided against the floor.

"That sick—sadistic—bastard!"

Konray stood up, trying to calm him down.

"Ethan, you... we can't be so sure—"

"He's one of the Highs for a reason, Kon," Ethan seethed. "He's a monster, just like the rest of them."

He turned to Konray, and his eyes were completely black with rage. She stilled.

"I'll—I'll kill him," he spat. "And Antinstine. I'll hurt anyone who even laid a hand on Mark."

"Hey now—let's not get any bigger ideas—"

"That's my friend, Kon!" cried Ethan. "You can't seriously be expecting that I'll let him suffer there?!"

"He's in the manor, Ethan," she argued. "You wouldn't stand a chance."

"I'll sacrifice my life if it means Mark is safe," he spat.

A silence fell over the room.

Konray stood there, lapsed into a quiet, while Ethan heaved for air. His fists clenched, and his teeth were bared... but as the two of them continued to stand there wordlessly, he began to calm down.

He took a deep breath, closing his eyes... and when he opened them again, they returned to their normal, human state.

"Sorry," he breathed, running a hand through his hair. "It's just... he's my friend, and... well, I can't imagine myself surviving where he is, and I'm..." He made a motion with his arms. "You know..."

Konray softly sighed. She pulled her gaze from the floor and looked at Ethan, whose figure looked more sinister in the blue glow of the monitor. She tentatively took a step forward.

"Does he know that you're an Evolved?" she said softly.

Ethan went stiff, but that was answer enough.

"I—"

Konray shook her head, turning back to the monitors. "Whether T.S. did this out of evil or not... we have to get to the bottom of this," she said.

She sat back down, grabbing a translucent tab and sliding it into the computer. A window popped up, and she typed a few things. The files began to download.

"From what we heard, those scientists are finding a way to inject new abilities into Evolveds," said Konray. "Now, I don't know how that works with humans, but... if that technology becomes public, not even Antinstine or the Tear Stealer can save the city."

She glanced over at Ethan, finding his worried features in the blue glow.

"I don't know what he really plans to do with that stuff," she said, "but I know it won't be good."

She swallowed, and the monitor beeped. She slipped the tab out of the device and slipped it into her pocket, standing.

"This is the beginning of a war, Ethan," she breathed. "We've got to act on this now... before it's too late."

Hehehe... what are your thoughts?

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

Love ya,

Kass xoxo