Mark's senses came back to him slowly, rousing him from his sleep.

    Everything was numb, at first. His body felt like it was floating, and his thoughts muddled in his head... There were noises around him, but they were muffled as if he were underwater.

    His brows furrowed, and his throat vibrated as he groaned. He didn't... feel right.

    There was something shifting around him—the noises growing more intense now that he started waking up. Hushed whispers and clinking metal. The occasional pen scratch that felt too loud.

    Mark couldn't lift his head, his neck too tired to support it. He wearily opened his eyes, lashes fluttering—and with a wince, he squinted at the bright lights.

    For a moment, he wondered if he was in heaven. The piercing white from above, the dull aching of his body...

    But when his eyes fully adjusted, dread consumed every fibre of his being, and bile rose in his throat.

    His breaths caught, picking up, and he glanced around the room with just his eyes.

    He was still in the laboratory.

    He weakly struggled, panting when his wrists and ankles pulled against the leather restraints. Now that he was fully aware, the pain came rushing back at full force.

    He cried out, his throat sore and raw. Ox rushed towards him, made sure it was clear, then hovered a hand over Mark's body. His scales fluttered, and in the next second, the pain vanished.

    Mark gasped, relief flooding through his body. He glanced over at Ox with furrowed brows, panting.

    Why was he helping?

    "Antinstine will be here any minute," said Syl's voice from afar. "If he catches you doing that..."

    "I know," sighed Ox. He opened his eyes, gaze focusing onto Mark. "Please forgive me, Viper... I would have done this from the beginning, but... Antinstine's orders are very..."

    Mark swallowed, still panting. Despite the absence of pain, he was still breathless and weary. It reminded him of Ether—how she could heal wounds only at the surface. He assumed his body was still stressed.

    He cleared his throat, letting himself relax for the time being. His vision threatened to cut out a few times. "How... long was I out?" he said slowly, voice weak.

    Ox huffed, scales still fluttering. "Not long enough," he said quietly. "Your body isn't fully recovered."

    Ox's eyes trailed down to Mark's arms, and his brows furrowed. The black paint was crinkled, beginning to chip away. Mark followed his gaze, and his heart shot into his throat. He had to suppress his surprise.

    "Your arms," said Ox. "They're..."

    He reached for them, and Mark jerked against the binds. Ox jumped.

    "They're—sensitive," Mark said quickly. His fists clenched, which only caused the paint to crackle more. Dread pooled in his gut. "It... it happens when I'm... stressed."

    Ox lingered for a moment before nodding, oblivious to Mark's lie. He took a deep breath and sighed, closing his eyes. The lights were still so bright, and if Ox weren't taking his pain away, his head would be pounding.

    He flexed his fingers for a moment, his breaths cantering.

    He knew he should have repainted them. Who knows how much longer it'd last... if it peeled away—

    "Ox," snapped Syl. "He's coming."

    "But—how do you—"

    Syl waved his hands frantically, and Ox frowned. He turned back to Mark.

    "Viper," he said quietly, "I have to stop n—"

    The doors flew open, and Ox jumped, hands flying up into the air. The pain came rushing back, and Mark choked on a cry, struggling against the binds.

    A slow, punctuated cackle echoed throughout the laboratory.

    "Perfect!" came Antinstine's voice, and Mark's face paled. His blood went cold as ice. "How're we doing today, boys?"

    Ox cleared his throat and joined Syl's side, wearily eyeing the High Evolved. Antinstine walked with a cocky gait, smirking so wide his fangs peered from his lips.

    "He's—stabilized, for the most part," said Ox with a bow of his head. "But, still in—"

    "Pain," breathed Antinstine, eyes glittering. He pranced down the steps, walking right up to the metal table that Mark was restrained to. He leaned over him, casting a shadow over his body.

    Mark's eyes widened at the sight of him, and he struggled in his binds, baring his teeth at him. Just the sight of him made him forget the agony he felt; he wanted to make him pay.

    He was about to curse at him—yell and fight and tossle—but as another wave of pain coursed through him, he realized that's what Antinstine wanted. He enjoyed his suffering.

    Mark breathed hard through his nose, the muscles in his jaw clenching. He glared up at Antinstine with all the hatred he could muster.

    "You know," Mark managed out, "I was hoping I wouldn't get to see your disgusting face." Pain striked up his nerves, but he ignored it. "I'm more than disappointed."

    Antinstine frowned, eye twitching—but in the next second, he was grinning. "Still cheeky as ever, aren't ya?" he chuckled. He glanced back at Syl and Ox, and Mark gazed at the expanse of his neck, his blood pounding with a sudden heat.

    If his hands were free... he could strangle him—

    His breaths picked up at the thought.

    He could kill him.

    "Well?" Antinstine was saying. "Have you tested it yet?"

    Mark snapped out of his trance, trying to ignore Antinstine's looming presence. He wanted to know what they planned to do with him.

    Syl cleared his throat. "He only woke up a few minutes ago," he said. "We haven't had the chance, sir."

    Antinstine hummed, gazing down at Mark with an arrogant smirk. "Forget the blood tests," he said. "Let's go straight to the field."

    Syl and Ox exchanged glances, their eyes wide.

    "Sir—" said Ox, stepping forward, "—he's nowhere near ready for that kind of—"

    "Today," said Antinstine, eyes glinting. "It's been twenty-four hours, hasn't it?"

He glanced back at the scientists, raising a brow, and they wearily nodded. It was a bit over the set time, but still, it wasn't enough. Who knows how Mark would handle the effects of the experiment.

Antinstine smirked down at Mark, running his sharp nails across the leather binds.

"I'm going to untie you," he said softly, voice gravelly. "I expect you to stay still for me, hm?"

Mark grit his teeth, glaring at him. His heart began to pound in his chest, and when Antinstine began undoing the leather binds at his ankles, a burst of adrenaline pumped through his veins. That same excitement he felt before a kill.

Would he last, even if he did go through with it? If he actually attacked him—

Mark's breaths went shallow, and he shifted his feet once they were free. His knees ached, and he suppressed a wince.

Just his wrists...

    Mark swallowed hard, fingers twitching with anticipation. His mind whirred, focusing on Antinstine's figure—

    Antinstine loosened the first wrist-restraints, and Mark breathed hard, flexing his hand. The paint around his wrists had chipped from his constant tugging, and the mere sight of it snapped him back to reality.

    Killing Antinstine wasn't a part of the plan. Not now, anyway.

    His brows furrowed.

    Or was it?

    Antinstine stared at Mark for a moment, waited, then undid the last restraint. Mark swallowed, breathing hard.

    Dark never went into detail with the plan. It was all vague: act like an Evolved, wait in the mansion for two weeks... and then Dark would come to the rescue. Mark was simply the distraction, but—

    What if he could avoid the waiting?

    Mark pulled his hands into his chest, trying to hide the obviously-chipping paint.

    "Sit up," said Antinstine. Mark glared at him but listened, wincing as he did so. His back ached and burned, coaxing another wave of pain through his body.

    Antinstine raised a hand and flicked his fingers, motioning for the scientists to come forward. They obeyed, joining Antinstine's side so that the three of them stood in front of Mark.

    "Explain to him," said Anti.

    Ox cleared his throat, and he glanced at Syl, who merely nodded. Mark stared at Antinstine all the while, his eyes dark. The lust to kill thrummed with every beat of his heart, getting harder to resist by the second.

    "Viper," said Ox. Mark lingered for a moment, then pulled his eyes from Anti's figure, still torn between thoughts. "The serum should have given you Prada's bloodbending abilities. There's an obvious learning curve, but with your other ability, it shouldn't be as hard."

    Mark breathed evenly, jaw tight. He didn't have another ability.

    Syl stepped forward. "We have a specimen for you to test on," he said, and Ox went to retrieve something as he said so. "I want you to focus on the thought of its heartbeat, and how its blood pumps throughout its body. Let's start with that, alright?"

    Ox returned with a mouse in a cage, and he placed it on the metal table Mark sat on. Mark glanced up at him, then at Syl, who motioned for him to do as told.

    Mark couldn't help but swallow. The entirety of the experiment hadn't fully dawned on him—it was too surreal and too painful—but now that he stared at the mouse, trying to focus on its damned heartbeat... a chilling thought went through his head.

    Does this mean... I'm an Evolved, now?

    Instead of excitement, all he could feel was dread.

    That wasn't who he was.

    He clenched his fists, staring at the details of the mouse, his thoughts going haywire.

    He had always been frustrated with how weak humans were, but... it wasn't their fault that Evolveds dominated over them.

    His jaw twitched, and he stared at the beady eyes of the mouse. Its whiskers twitched, its pink nose sniffing at the air.

    He couldn't be an Evolved. He didn't want to be one.

    His hands shook, and without realizing, his focus shifted to Antinstine.

    He couldn't live knowing he was forced to have these abilities.

    Mark still stared at the mouse, but all he could think about was Antinstine. If this really worked—if this sick, fucked-up experiment seriously worked—

    His breaths went shallow. His heartbeat thundered in his ears—or maybe it was the mouse's—but it was too slow, too... calm...

    He could hear every pump of blood now—that echo of red drumming through thick, hollow veins...

    The more Mark focused on the feeling, the more his suspicions were confirmed. Dread rose in his throat, but instead of snapping out of his trance, he only focused harder.

    He would make Antinstine pay.

    "Now..." Syl softly said, careful not to startle Mark. "Raise your hand... and focus on moving the blood. Try to move a limb."

    Mark carefully breathed in and out, and carefully, he lifted up his hand, the edges of his vision going blurry. He could hear the heartbeat like music, loud and present.

    He would make Antinstine pay.

    His eye twitched, and he flicked his hand.

    The mouse didn't move.

    But the room went dead silent.

    The heartbeat sped up, and when he flicked his hand again, it went even faster.

    "Viper—" Ox said. "VIPER—"

    Mark deeply inhaled, gazing up at them. Syl and Ox's eyes were wide, and when he glanced over, he noticed that Antinstine's arm was suspended in the air.

    He didn't stop. Even though he was stunned, that rush of adrenaline pumped through his blood.

    This was an... opportunity.

    Viper's lips twitched, and he flicked his hand again; Antinstine's arm jerked to the side.

    He... would make him... pay.

    "Viper," said Antinstine, knowing now that Mark wasn't bending his blood by accident. "Lower your hand."

    Viper breathed in slowly, his entire body thrumming with anticipation. His mind went quiet, filled only with the thought of making Antinstine suffer. And, oh, how he would enjoy every... single... second.

    He fanned out his fingers, testing the new ability—and with a pleasured gasp, he slid off the table, feeling the ground beneath his feet. He understood why his body felt so off... it was like his very being was—remade.

    He met eyes with Antinstine, and for a fleeting moment, he looked powerless.

    He could hear the heartbeat—Antinstine's heartbeat—pumping faster the longer they stared. Carefully, he lifted his other hand, and with a flick of his fingers, Antinstine's other arm jerked to the side.

    Syl and Ox panicked, grasping at each other.

    "You could stop me in seconds..." breathed Viper, wearily walking away from the metal table. "But you aren't."

    He flicked his hands again, and Antinstine's arms mirrored his motions. Mark could feel it now—the invisible strings, the control he had over Anti. Now that he focused further, it was easy—with each heartbeat, he had more control, a stronger grasp.

    It was... it was intoxicating.

    Viper flicked his hand towards the table, and Antinstine's arm crashed against it. Anti burst into laughter as his body knocked into the table, the mouse cage clattering to the ground.

    "Woah! Hey, now," laughed Antinstine. "That's enough."

    There was a long, dreadful pause.

Anti stared patiently with a grin, holding onto the edge of the table for support; Viper simply stood there, hands still raised like a puppeteer. For a moment, it looked like it was over.

Mark's jaw tightened, eyes flashing—and in the next second, he flexed his hand, feeling the invisible strings. He tugged on one of them, and Antinstine's arm pressed harder into the metal table with a painful creak.

    Antinstine's face fell. Any trace of amusement disappeared, and he took a deep breath, staring Mark in the eye.

    "Viper," he warned, voice low. His hands began to spark with electricity. "I am giving you five seconds."

    Mark's blood pumped hard, the adrenaline kicking in. He could strangle him right now—pin him down to the table by his blood—

    "What'll you do?" breathed Viper with a tilt of his head. "Shock me?"

    Antinstine clenched his fist, the electricity growing brighter—but with a violent wave of Mark's hand, Antinstine's fingers spread out.

    The electricity died.

    The sight had Mark's body thrumming.

    He could do it—right now—kill him—he had the advantage—

    "Viper—"

    Mark focused with all his energy, and Antinstine's entire body jerked up like a ragdoll. It was terrifying yet satisfying at the same time—and though Mark had control, he could feel Antinstine resisting him.

    His logic began to kick in.

    If he kept going, Antinstine would punish him—he might even end up dead—

    Antinstine escaped the hold, and he growled, glaring at Mark. Syl and Ox watched with wide eyes, stepping away from the two of them.

    Shit.

    Antinstine managed out a weary chuckle, the breaths scraping against his throat.

"Now, Viper," he breathed, walking forward slowly. "I understand how nice it must be to have another ability... but it's time to stop playing, hm?"

    Mark swallowed, and his eyes darted around the room, his fight-or-flight kicking in.

He spotted a syringe on a cart.

    "Get back on the table," said Antinstine.

    Mark stared at him, and that heartbeat echoed in his ears again. He focused on it, shot out a hand—and Antinstine stopped mid-stride. He looked down at himself, then glared at Mark, lips curling into a snarl.

    "Fine," he breathed. "Have it your way."

    The rest happened in a blur.

    Antinstine lunged. Hands glowing with sparks.

    Mark stumbled to the side. Light shot by his head. Hot.

    He fell to the floor.

    Antinstine huffed, the electricity fading from his hands—but before he could pin Mark down—

    Mark tackled Antinstine. They collided into the table, and in a tousle of limbs, he seized Antinstine's blood and slammed him down into the table.

    Mark spotted the syringe.

    It happened so fast.

    He grabbed it. Antinstine shot up. Mark slammed him back down.

    The scientists rushed forward.

    "VIPER, NO!!"

    Mark pinned Antinstine's arm down and stabbed the serum into his veins.

    Syl and Ox tackled Mark to the ground, but it was too late. Antinstine's scream pierced the air, full of agony. He fell off the table and crashed onto the floor, clutching at his body, which began to tremble from the pain.

    "K-keep him down!" Ox shouted at Syl, stumbling over to help Antinstine. He fell onto his knees beside him, hovering his hands, but Antinstine shoved him aside.

    He stared at Mark through blurry eyes, panting as the pain laced through him.

    Mark seemed to snap out of his trance now—and when Syl carefully backed away, Antinstine couldn't help but stare despite the immense pain coursing through him.

    Mark stared at his hands, which were shaking violently; his chest heaved for air, and his eyes were wild. The adrenaline was beginning to fade now, and all he could do was stare at his hands in shock. The realization of what he'd actually done hit him at full force.

    Antinstine recognized that look from anywhere. The wide eyes, the trembling... the utter terror.

    Mark glanced up, still stunned, and when he met eyes with Antinstine he felt... seen. Like he knew—like he knew what he really was—

    Antinstine panted, staring Mark in the eye with a hellish intensity.

    "I see you," he coughed out. Mark's face paled, and he shook his head. "I see you."

    And in the next second, Antinstine went unconscious, slumping against the metal table.

    He looked human like that.

    Too human.

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

Love,

Kass xoxo