Chapter 11: Degraded

Her phone screen illuminated the room, displaying her mother’s name. The irony of standing in her toom, nearly naked, was not lost on her as she fumbled to answer the call, her breaths coming out in shaky pants. Vincent’s smirk grew wider, watching her panic with a glint of amusement in his eyes.

“mum?” she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper. She could feel the serum’s grip loosening, the whispers fading as the real world intruded upon her dark fantasy.

“Claire, sweetie, are you okay?” Her mother’s voice was tinged with concern. “You’ve been acting so strange lately. Where did you disappear?”

The serum’s whispers grew fainter as Claire stepped away from the bedroom door, the phone clutched tightly in her hand. Vincent’s eyes followed her, his smug grin never wavering. She felt a cold sweat break out on her forehead, the weight of her guilt threatening to engulf her. Her eyes followed Vincent, watching him pull closer.

“Claire, are you there?” her mother’s voice cooed through the receiver, oblivious to the horror playing out mere feet away. “whats wrong baby?”

“I’m fine, it’s just...” Claire’s eyes remained fixed on Vincent as he stepped into the corridor, stalking her like a predator. The man’s fingers felt like a brand on her skin, a declaration of ownership she hadn’t signed up for. “Are you going to be home soon? I miss you.” The words were a feeble attempt to assert control, to remind herself of a world outside this twisted game.

Vincent’s smirk grew, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he leaned close to her ear. “Your mother,” he whispered, “so caring, so clueless.” He took another step closer, his hand reaching out to stroke her cheek. The serum whispered, urging her to lean into his touch, to let him take her, but she stepped to the side, her hand shooting up to slap him away.

He grabbed her flailng hand by the wrist. His smile a taunt She could feel the serum’s grip on her mind weakening, the whispers fading like a distant storm. “Get away from me,” she spat, her voice shaking with a mix of anger and fear as she muted the phone hurriedly.

Vincent’s smirk didn’t waver, his eyes locked on hers with a predatory gleam. “Your mother’s worried,” he said, his voice a low purr. “Would you like me to take the call?” He took a step closer, reaching for the phone, his hand brushing against her exposed breasts, a silent reminder of his power.

Panic surged through Claire’s veins, her heart racing as she realized the gravity of her situation. “No,” she said quickly, her voice firm. “I’ve got it.” She turned away from him, her back pressed against the cool wall, trying to put as much space between them as possible. The serum’s whispers grew faint, the need for release momentarily forgotten in the face of her mother’s concern.

“Is everything okay?” her mother’s voice was tight, the concern in her tone making Claire’s chest ache. “Baby, I’m stuck at work, should I call Vincent to check up on you?”

Vincent’s hand shot out, wrapping around her wrist, his grip like a vise. “Let me,” he murmured, his breath hot against her ear. He tugged at her hand, attempting to guide her trembling fingers to the bulge in his pants. A part of her, the part the serum had so thoroughly claimed, yearned to obey, to feel the heat and power beneath the fabric. But she resisted, her own strength a surprise to her.

“No,” she said, her voice a whisper that seemed to fill the hallway. She yanked her hand away, the sound echoing like a gunshot in the tense silence. Her heart pounded in her chest, the serum’s whispers growing faint, a distant echo of the need that had consumed her moments ago. She stumbled back towards her room, her legs shaking, desperate to put some semblance of a barrier between herself and the man who had so easily infiltrated her mind.

Her mother’s voice grew louder on the phone, a stark reminder of the world outside her prison of pleasure and pain. “What’s going on?” she demanded, the concern in her voice sharper than any knife. “Is something wrong?”

Claire’s heart raced, the serum’s whispers now a fading echo as she clutched the phone, her grip tight enough to turn her knuckles white. “No,” she lied, her voice shaky. “Everything’s fine.”

Her mother’s tone grew more urgent. “I’m serious, sweetie. You’ve seemed off lately. Tell me whats happening claire, where did you disappear to?”

Claire took a deep breath, her heart thundering in her chest. “It’s nothing, I was ... with friends,” she replied, her voice a brittle thread of sound. “I just ... I missed you mum, that’s all.”

Her mother’s voice grew softer, a hint of sadness tinging the words. “Oh, honey,” she said, “I miss you too. I’ll be home soon, I promise. okay?”

Claire nodded, even though she knew her mother couldn’t see her. “Yeah,” she whispered,” Okay.”

Her mother’s voice grew fainter as she spoke to someone in the background, the words indistinct. “coming” she said, the words like a knife to the gut. “Claire, there’s an emergency I need to go but I’ll be there in the morning, okay?.” The line went dead, leaving Claire with a hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach. The serum’s whispers grew louder in the silence, a siren’s call that she knew she couldn’t ignore much longer. Her eyes darted around, Vincent stood, very naked, in her doorway.

The hand holding the phone trembled as she lowered it to her side. “We need to talk,” she said, her voice barely above a murmur. She knew she couldn’t hide from him, couldn’t pretend she wasn’t his toy anymore. The serum had made her a part of this twisted world, and she had to find a way to navigate it without losing herself completely.

Vincent leaned against the doorframe, his eyes never leaving hers. “Sounded like your mother’s having a busy night,” he said with a shrug. “But I’m all ears ... what can I do for you ... toy.” His smirk was a knife, cutting through the last threads of her resistance. The serum whispered, urging her to submit, to let him have his way with her. But she clung to the last vestiges of her will, her anger and fear coalescing into a stubborn determination.

“No,” she whispered, her voice shaky with the effort of speaking against the serum’s siren song. “I don’t need anything from you, stop calling me that.”

Vincent’s laughter was a soft rumble, the sound of a beast that hadn’t yet decided whether to pounce or toy with its prey. “The taming of the shrew,” he murmured, his fingers tracing a path across her collarbone, down to her chest. She flinched as he brushed against her, her hand flying up to protect her breasts. “all the bearings of a classic, don’t you think?”

His touch was a brand, a claim to ownership that she hadn’t consented to. Yet the serum whispered in her ear, a seductive hiss that seemed to come from deep within her own mind. She could feel its power, the way it was slowly unraveling the last threads of her control. The tape ... the thought of it made her stomach churn. How had he gotten it? Marcus or Aaron, it had to be one of them. The betrayal was a bitter taste on her tongue, one that mingled with the arousal the serum forced upon her.

Her eyes snapped to his, her anger a living flame that seemed to dance in the darkness of the room. “How did you get that?” she demanded, her voice trembling with the effort of keeping the serum’s whispers at bay. “What sick game are you all playing?”

Vincent stepped closer, the smirk on his face growing as he leaned down, his breath hot against her cheek. “Let’s just say I have my ways,” he murmured, his hand dropping to her waist, his fingers brushing against her inner thighs. The serum’s whispers grew louder, a symphony of need that made her want to scream. “You’re quite the enthusiastic performer, aren’t you?”

Her eyes narrowed, her teeth gritted as she stared him down. “I Dont know what you’re talking about...” The words were a challenge, a declaration of war against the serum’s dominion.

Vincent’s smirk grew wider, his hand sliding down to the bulge in his pants. “oh? Should we see for ourselves then? Or maybe ... your friends and family can be the judge?” he taunted, his voice a low purr that made her skin crawl. “What will they think I wonder? Will they ever look at you the same”

Her heart hammered in her chest, the serum’s whispers now a cacophony of need and fear. “Delete it,” she hissed, her voice a knife’s edge. “Or I’ll call the cops. You can’t do this”

Vincent’s eyes traveled down her body, lingering on the budding breasts, the nipples stiff in the cold room, perhaps a symbol of her submission. He chuckled darkly. “Would you now?” he said, his gaze flicking back up to her face. “And what exactly would you tell them, my sweet Claire?”

Her chest tightened, the serum’s whispers now a cacophony of doubt and fear. He had her trapped, and he knew it. “I’d tell them...” she began, her voice trailing off as she searched for the words that would free her from his clutches.

Vincent stepped closer, his eyes fixated on her as she tried to back away, his hand closed in sandwiching her. “That you willingly went and made a little home movie, all by yourself? Lying about a ... college interview?” He ran a finger along her shoulder with a knowing smile. “that you seemed to be ... enjoying yourself, giving yourself up, to not one, but two men, strangers ... one who you barely knew for a week, the other a complete stranger. The country does have some qualms about women ... selling themselves out like that, all to make some money? And for what? To destroy the reputation of fine men? Oh the lawyers are going to have a field day squeezing every fine penny your mother makes.”

She flushed with shame, the serum’s whispers taunting her with the lies spewn by the disgusting man. She did not know what to say, her thoughts jumbled. “It was not like that at all” her words tumbled out. Wrestling. She swallowed hard, trying to find the strength to resist his words, to fight the need that was building within her. “I ... I will tell mum,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “You broke into my room.”

Vincent’s grin grew wider, his eyes gleaming with malicious amusement. “Broke in?” he repeated, his voice a mockery of innocence. “Is that what you call it when you leave your door unlocked, dressed like a whore?” His hand squeezed her breast, the pain and pleasure melding together as the serum whispered its approval. “Maybe I should call your mother after all,” he mused, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Tell her what her baby has been up to?”

Her eyes widened in horror, the serum’s whispers forgotten in the face of his words. “No,” she breathed, her voice barely audible. “Please, don’t.” The words felt like a collar around her neck, a leash that kept her tethered to these men and their twisted games.

Vincent’s grin grew wider, his hand squeezing her breast harder. “Don’t what?” he asked, his tone mockingly innocent. “Tell your mother about her little girl’s escapades? Or don’t call your boyfriend, tell him the one he’s jacking off to is a cumdump?”

The mention of Alex brought a fresh wave of guilt crashing down on her. She had been so focused on her own desperation that she had forgotten the people who truly cared about her. The serum whispered in the back of her mind, trying to drown out the fear and doubt, but it was weaker now, less insistent.

“You wouldn’t,” she said, her voice a mix of anger and desperation. “You can’t.”

“Oh, but I can,” Vincent said with a wicked smile. “And it won’t just be to your mother or that pitiful excuse of a boyfriend of yours.” His thumb traced the outline of the chastity belt, sending a jolt of arousal through her that she despised. “I think it’s time everyone knows the real Claire.” He pulled out his phone, his thumb hovering over the screen. “Everyone you know,” he mused, his eyes never leaving hers. “They’ll see just how much of a slut you really are.”

The serum whispered its approval, a seductive hiss that seemed to come from deep within her own mind. She could feel the heat building between her legs, the need to submit to his will, to let him do whatever he wanted with her body. But something within her rebelled, a spark of defiance that grew into a flame.

“I said no,” she whispered, her voice trembling with the effort it took to resist the serum’s call. She took a step forward, her eyes never leaving his, a silent challenge in the depths of her gaze.

Vincent’s smile grew broader, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of the power he held over her. “Abel, was it?” he mused, taunting her. “Or was it Alec?” His eyes narrowed slightly, as if savoring the thought of causing Alex pain. “ I’m sure he’d love to see you like this, naked, with a man old enough to be your dad. What would he think?”

The serum’s whispers grew faint as rage flooded through her veins, the thought of Alex finding out about her bondage unbearable. “You won’t,” she said, her voice firm, the tremor of fear now replaced by a steel resolve. “You can’t.”

Vincent’s grin didn’t waver, his eyes gleaming with malicious pleasure. “Oh, but we will,” he said, his voice a low purr. “In fact, I think I’ll show him right now.”

The serum whispered in her ear, a seductive hiss that seemed to coil around her spine, urging her to submit, to let him expose her to the world. But she clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms. “You’re a monster,” she spat, her voice trembling with anger.

Vincent’s eyes lit up at the challenge, his hand dropping away from the chastity belt to trace the neckline of her shirt. “Oh, I’m much more than that,” he murmured, his thumb grazing the fabric just above her breasts. “But dear little alex? He’s not a monster is he? He hasnt seen the slut in ... all her glory?”

Her eyes widened, a blend of anger and terror. “What do you mean?” she whispered, her voice barely above a tremble.

“You know exactly what I mean,” he said, his thumb circling the neckline of her shirt. “Has he even seen your tits yet?” The words hung in the air like a dark promise, a threat wrapped in a question that made her stomach drop.

“You’re disgusting,” she managed, her voice shaking with the effort to keep the serum at bay. “This ends now.”

Vincent’s smirk grew. “Does it?” He stepped closer, his hand sliding up to cup her cheek. “You’re so predictable, Claire. Miss goody shoes, the perfect innocent girl, he’s never had a reason to doubt you, has he? Never known you for the very pliable toy you are”

“I’m not a toy,” she spat, pushing his hand away. The serum whispered, urging her to give in, to let him lead her wherever he wanted. But she clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms, and fought the urge to scream.

Vincent’s smile grew wider, his eyes gleaming with victory. “But you are, aren’t you?” He stepped closer, his hand reaching out to stroke her cheek. The serum whispered sweet nothings in her ear, but she slapped his hand away, the sound echoing through the hallway. “You’re our little plaything,” he murmured, his breath hot against her face. “you walked to my room, you wanted it. You couldn’t wait for more. You love the need.”

He turned and began to walk towards the bathroom, his phone in hand. “Let’s take a little walk,” he said, his tone light, as if he were inviting her for a casual stroll in the park. “You and me. Unless...” He let his voice trail off, a twisted grin spreading across his features. “You’d rather stay here, hear what your boyfriend thinks of his sweet innocent girl riding another dick?”

Her heart thudded in her chest as she watched him go, the serum’s whispers growing fainter with each step he took away from her. She knew what he was doing—testing her limits, pushing her to the brink of what she was willing to endure. She swallowed hard, her hand reaching out to touch her chest, trying to calm herself. The whispers grew softer, but they were still there, a persistent reminder of her bondage.

The bathroom door clicked shut behind him, and she took a deep breath, trying to breathe evenly. She couldn’t let him win, couldn’t let him expose her to the world. The idea of Alex seeing her like that, her mother’s disappointment, the humiliation that would follow ... it was too much to bear.

She felt the serum’s whispers, faint but insistent, trying to coax her into submission. But she knew now that she had to fight, to find some way to break free from their control. The whispers grew softer as she took a step forward, and then another. Her mind raced, trying to piece together a plan, any plan, that would get her out of this situation.

Her legs felt like lead as she followed the sound of running water to the bathroom. She could hear Vincent’s low chuckles through the door as he watched her walking in, clad only in her yoga pants still. The fear of exposure was like a vice, squeezing the life out of her, but she couldn’t let it consume her. Not now.

“I’m here,” she said, her voice weak as she stepped into the bathroom. She forced herself to look at him, to not let him see just how much he was getting to her. He was standing at the sink, she could see the reflection of her own face in the mirror, her nakedness a stark reminder of her predicament.

“Good,” he said without turning around. “Because I have a little game I’d like to play.”

The serum’s whispers grew louder, urging her to submit, to let him do as he pleased. But she clenched her jaw, her eyes never leaving his reflection. “What game?” she asked, her voice trembling with the effort to sound calm.

He turned, his smile predatory, the phone still in his hand. “ I’m a reasonable man, You ... want your freedom, yes? I want ... A simple little game,” he grinned, holding up two pills between his fingers. “One for you, one for me. Whoever holds out the longest gets ... their wish.”

Her heart raced as she stared at the pills, the serum’s whispers a siren’s song in her ears. The need to submit was a physical ache, but she pushed it down, focusing on the hatred and anger that burned in her chest. “What are those?” she asked, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hand.

Vincent’s chuckle was the sound of a predator toying with its prey. “You know what these are, Claire,” he said, holding the pills up to the light, watching them glint. “You’ve had them before. The little helpers that make you ... so compliant.”

Her stomach churned at the sight. She knew them all too well—the serum’s potent siblings, designed to amplify the effects of her bondage. The whispers grew louder in her ear, urging her to take one, to submit and enjoy the sweet oblivion they promised. But she clenched her fists, fighting the urge with every fiber of her being.

“So, will you be a good girl and ... swallow,” he said, his eyes never leaving hers as he tossed the pill into the back of his throat, the muscles working as he swallowed. “Or will you walk away, knowing what will follow.”

The serum’s whispers grew louder in her mind, urging her to take the second pill, to play his twisted game. But she clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. “What if I win?” she asked, her voice a mix of defiance and hope.

Vincent’s smile grew, the challenge in her eyes making his own excitement spike. “If you win,” he said, his voice a dark promise, “I’ll do whatever you say, about the tapes, about all of it.” He leaned against the sink, watching her closely. “But if you lose,” he continued, his voice dropping to a murmur, “you’ll do whatever I want.”

The serum whispered seductively, urging her to take the bait, to submit to his game and the promise of escape. She reached out a trembling hand, her eyes never leaving his. It couldn’t be so easy, but ... did she have a choice? She took the pill, examining it. It felt like a tiny weight of fate in her palm. She knew what this meant—complete and utter surrender if she lost, or the chance to regain some semblance of control if she won. She brought the pill to her mouth, the bitter taste already coating her tongue.

With a deep breath, she tossed it back, swallowing hard. The whispers grew louder, the serum’s power swelling within her as the pill took effect. Vincent’s smile grew, the triumph in his eyes unmistakable. He knew the battle was already won, that the serum would soon overwhelm her. But she clung to the hope, the desperate need to win. Gullible fool.

“Very good,” he said, his voice smooth and patronizing. He took her phone setting up a countdown of ten minutes, placing it on the counter so they could both see the countdown. “Now ... I am all yours”

The whispers grew stronger, more demanding, as the serum took hold of her. Her thoughts swirled with a mix of fear and anger, the need to win this twisted game becoming a driving force. She stepped closer to him, her eyes never leaving his. “What do I have to do?” she asked, her voice a soft, seductive purr that was not entirely her own.

Vincent leaned back against the sink, watching her with amusement. “Anything you want,” he said, his voice a dark promise. “ten minutes of freedom, do whatever you can to make me cum” ... he grinned.

Her mind screamed obscenities, the serum’s whispers however grew louder, a crescendo of need that made her knees weak. She stepped closer, her hand trembling as she reached out to touch his chest. His skin was hot under her fingertips, and she could feel the thud of his heart beneath the fabric of his shirt. She had to win this game, had to show him she wasn’t just a toy to be used and discarded. Her hand slid down to the waistband of his pants, the metal of the zipper between her fingertips as she looked up at him.

Vincent’s smile grew as he watched her, his eyes dark with anticipation. She could see the timer on his phone, ticking down the seconds, each one feeling like an eternity. She had to act fast. She unzipped him, her hand closed around his thing, her grip firm as she stroked him through his pants. The whispers grew louder, urging her to go faster, to give in to the need that was building inside her. But she focused on her hatred for him, her need to win this twisted game.

With a sudden burst of strength, she pushed him against the sink, her hand still wrapped around his cock. He gasped in mock surprise, his eyes widening. “someone likes things rough?” he murmured, his voice a mix of pleasure and challenge.

“You started it,” she breathed, her own need a living thing inside her, fighting the serum’s whispers. She slid her hand down to his zipper, her other hand reaching for the phone on the counter. Her eyes looked at the counter, 5 minutes.

He watched her, his eyes hooded with lust, the serum’s whispers swirling around them both, urging them on. “Is that so?” he murmured, his voice low and dangerous. “and you want to show me how dirty you get?.”

Her hand trembled as she stroked, her own arousal warring with the fear of losing control. She could feel the serum’s whispers growing stronger, a seductive call to submit to him completely. But she clenched her jaw, her eyes never leaving his as she worked on his cock. It was hot and growing hard under her caresses, showing little signs of being close to climax but she refused to let it win. Her hand tightened around it, stroking it with a fierce determination that belied the tremor in her grip.

Vincent’s breath hitched, his eyes darkening with lust as she touched him. “That’s it,” he murmured, his own hand reaching out to cup her breast, his thumb flicking the sensitive flesh. The whispers grew louder, urging her to drop to her knees, to take him in her mouth, to serve him. But she resisted, her hand moving faster, her grip tightening.

“I’m not your school friend to finish in the backseat of a car, Claire,” he taunted, his grin a challenge as he watched her. His cock was thick and heavy in her hand, the head a bulbous purple that seemed to gleam with the promise of release. “Tell me, has he even gotten a handie off you yet?”

Her cheeks burned with humiliation as the serum’s whispers grew stronger, urging her to confess, to let him in on the intimate details of her relationship with Alex. But she bit her tongue, her hand moving in a steady rhythm that belied the tremble in her arm. “It’s none of your business,” she ground out, her voice tight with the effort to keep the whispers at bay.

“Oh, but it is,” Vincent said, his grip on her cheek firm, his thumb tracing a line down to her chin. “Because if he knew just how much you crave this, how much you crave being a plaything, he might start to rethink his feelings now wouldn’t he?”

The serum’s whispers grew frenzied at the mention of Alex, the fear and doubt coiling around her like a serpent, squeezing the air from her lungs. She couldn’t let that happen, couldn’t let him win. With a snarl, she bent down, her teeth sinking into the fleshy part of his cock just below the head. He yelped in surprise, his hand jerking away from her face.

Vincent’s eyes went wide with shock, and for a moment, the serum’s grip loosened. She took advantage of the opening, her hand moving faster, her teeth lightly scraping along the shaft as she fought back the whispers. “You bitch,” he hissed, his grip on her hair tightening. He yanked her head back, forcing her to look up at him, his eyes glittering with anger and arousal.

But she didn’t flinch, her eyes meeting his with a fierce determination that surprised even herself. “I’m not playing your games anymore,” she spat on the dick, her hand never stopping its rhythmic motion. The serum’s whispers grew more insistent, but she pushed them back, focusing on the hatred that fueled her rebellion.

Vincent’s grip on her hair tightened, his eyes narrowing with the challenge. “Is that so?” he said, his voice tight with lust. “You think you can win without giving me what I want?”

The serum’s whispers grew more urgent, a cacophony of need that screamed for her to submit, to give him the pleasure he demanded. But she clenched her teeth, fighting against the tide of desire that threatened to overwhelm her. “You want a show?” she asked, her voice low and dangerous. “Fine. You’ll get one.”

Her hand paused, the rhythm of her strokes breaking as she leaned in closer. Vincent’s eyes widened slightly, his grip on her hair loosening just enough for her to lean down and press her lips to the head of his cock. The whispers grew louder, a siren’s song that demanded she take him in, to serve him. But she remained defiant, her mouth hovering just above him, her eyes locked on his.

“Is this what you want?” she whispered, her voice thick with the serum’s influence. “To watch me degrade myself for you?”

Vincent’s grip on her hair tightened, his eyes gleaming with triumph. “thats it. Thats the whore I knew was hidden in there,” he murmured, his voice a dark caress. “Show me how much you want to win.”

With a fierce snarl, Claire opened her mouth and took him in, the serum’s whispers screaming in her ear. Her tongue danced along the underside of his shaft, her teeth grazing the sensitive skin as she fought the urge to swallow him whole. She could feel his pleasure building, his breath hitching in his chest as she worked him over. But she didn’t stop, her mind focused solely on the prize—freedom from their twisted games.

Vincent’s eyes rolled back in his head, his grip on her hair tightening as he groaned with pleasure. “yeahhh,” he murmured, his voice thick with lust. “work that mouth.”

The whispers grew stronger, a cacophony of need and submission that threatened to drown her out. She felt the serum’s grip tightening around her, the urge to give in to him growing more potent with every passing second. Her eyes watered with the effort to resist, her mouth feeling like it was on fire with the need to please him.

Her hand slipped from his cock, and she reached down to his nutsack. The balls felt hot against her lips as she pulled herself lower, balancing her hands on his thighs. The whispers grew even louder, screaming for her to submit, to let him fill her, she worked her mouth faster, needing to win.

But she wouldn’t.

Vincent’s grin grew wider as he watched her, his own need for dominance a living force in the room. He took a step back, his hand releasing her hair as he surveyed the scene before him. Claire’s body was a tapestry of passion and defiance. His fingers ran through her hair, wanting to grip them and bring her efforts to fruition, but holding back. His body enjoying her effort. Oh she was learning.

The clock buzzed loudly, the sound echoing through the room like a gunshot. It was the signal that her time was up, and his was about to begin. He took a deep breath, his chest expanding with the anticipation of his victory. The serum’s whispers grew more urgent in her ears, screaming at her to submit, to give in to the pleasure that he could provide.

Vincent’s grin grew wider, a triumphant smirk that made her blood boil. “My turn, slut,” he murmured, his voice thick with the promise of punishment. He took a step back, his hand still wrapped tightly in her hair. She stumbled slightly, her knees wobbly from the sudden shift in balance. The timer on her phone was a stark reminder of her failure, the red digits counting down the seconds of her defeat.

He led her to the edge of the toilet, his grip unrelenting. With a cruel twist of his wrist, he forced her to her knees, the cold porcelain biting into her skin. The serum’s whispers grew more urgent, demanding she submit, that she was nothing but a toy for his amusement. But she clenched her teeth, her nails digging into the flesh of her palms, refusing to give in to the serum’s siren call.