Content Warning: This chapter includes graphic depictions of torture and intense violence. The scenes described are distressing and may be upsetting to some readers. Please proceed with caution and consider your comfort level before continuing.
Sincerely,
Parkaaimin.

Chapter 25: (Aaira's pov)
30 July, 2025

I woke up after a day’s gap, I don't know what they had mixed in the milk that I've been sleeping for a day straight, I was disoriented and groggy. As I tried to open my eyes, I realized I was hanging upside down.

The world around me was not just a blur of gray and shadows, but it was upside down too, my head was throbbing from the blood rushing to it. I tried to move, but my body was restrained, my wrists and ankles bound by cold, metal cuffs.

I was in a room filled with various contraptions and strange devices—an old, decrepit lab. The smell of chemicals and something metallic was filled in the air. My heart was pounding as I noticed the old man.

His figure was hunched over a table cluttered with so many different instruments such as, vials, and syringes. He was muttering something to himself, totally engrossed in whatever experiment he was preparing.

The old man turned towards me, his face was illuminated by the harsh light of a single bulb hanging from the ceiling, I got scared, I started to shake the chains desperately. I wanted to go out of here. His eyes gleamed with a sinister intensity as he saw me getting desperate to run. He slowly approached, holding a syringe filled with a murky liquid in his hand.

Old Man: Ah, you're awake. Good. We can begin.

Aaira: Why am I here ? Please let me go.

Old Man: Quiet, Aaira. These are your own doings.

Aaira: Please let me go !

He put a fingure against his lips, trying to calm me down, but was i supposed to calm down in this situation, ai kept shaking myself, desperately trying to get out of their cruel holds.

Old Man: Shh... My daughter, haven't you ever heard, that one must cut what they've grown ?

Aaira: Let me go ! Please, I beg you, let me go !

Old Man: Shut up !

He shouted, but his voice was still cold and detached, as if my pleas meant nothing to him. He grabbed my arm, his grip bruising, and injected the contents of the syringe into my vein. I started screaming.

Aaira: Jungkook, Please save me ! Jeon Jungkook !

The liquid burned as it entered my bloodstream, spreading a fiery sensation throughout my body. I bit my lip to stifle a scream, tears streaming down my face. I don't want to give up, but this old couple is making it hard for me.

Aaira: What are you doing to me ?

Old Man: You're not from here, are you? I will inject this serum and see how your body will react.

Aaira: Why are you doing this to me?

Old Man: You are special, Aaira. Your body holds secrets that we need to unlock.

He walked back to his table, picking up a small device that looked like a remote control. With a press of a button, the metal cuffs around my wrists and ankles tightened, sending sharp pain through my wrist and ankles. I cried out, the pain was unbearable.

Old Man: Your pain is necessary for the experiment. Try to endure it.

He pressed another button, and the cuffs released a small electric shock. My body convulsed, every nerve ending on fire. I gasped for breath, my vision blurring from the intensity of the ache he was sending through my body. The old man watched peacefully, noting my reactions on a clipboard.

Old Man: Fascinating. Your resilience is impressive.

He moved closer, holding a scalpel. My heart raced as he made a small incision on my forearm, drawing a line of blood, my blood started to drop from my arms to the ground. The pain was sharp and immediate, but it was nothing compared to the electric shocks. He collected a vial of my blood, sealing it with a satisfied nod.

Old Man: Your blood will tell us much. Now, let’s see how you react to different stimuli.

He wheeled over a cart filled with various instruments such as—needles, clamps, and other devices I couldn't identify. My stomach churned with dread as he selected a long, thin needle, attaching it to a device that emitted a low hum. He inserted the needle into my arm, connecting it to wires that led to a machine monitoring my vital signs.

He turned a dial, and the needle vibrated, sending waves of pain through my arm. I screamed, my body thrashing against the restraints, I again started shaking my body desperately. The old man watched the machine.

Old Man: Excellent. Your response is within the expected range.

He adjusted the dial, increasing the intensity. The pain was excruciating, unlike anything I had ever felt. My vision darkened at the edges, and I struggled to stay conscious.

Old Man: Hold on, Aaira. Just a little more, we're almost done.

He turned off the machine and removed the needle, my body slumping in relief. But the respite was short-lived. He picked up another device, this one emitting a low, steady hum. It looked like a small, handheld laser.

He pressed the device against my skin, and a searing pain shot through my body. It felt like my flesh was being burned from the inside out. I screamed. Screaming Jungkook's name but no response. The old man didn’t flinch, his focus entirely on the experiment.

Old Man: You're doing well, Aaira.

He moved the device to different parts of my body, each touch sending fresh waves of ache through me. I couldn't hold back the tears, my body trembling from the relentless pain.

Finally, he turned off the device and set it aside. My body sagged in the locks, every muscle screaming in pain. I cried and cried. The old man stepped back, observing me with a satisfied expression. It was as if he was sacrificing me to his sadistic pleasure.

Old Man: Your responses are exactly what we needed.

Aaira: Please... no more...

Old Man: Rest now. We’ll continue the experiment tomorrow.

He turned and left the room, the door slamming shut behind him. I was left hanging there, my body wracked with pain and exhaustion. The room was silent except for my ragged breathing and the faint hum of the machines.

As the minutes dragged on, my mind drifted to Jungkook. I clung to the hope that he would find me at least today, that he would save me from this nightmare. I kept crying screaming his name as much as I could, but there was no response.

***

I had no sense of time, each second stretching into an eternity. My body ached, the various wounds and burns reminding me the old man's cruelty. Just when I thought I might pass out from the exhaustion, the door creaked open again. Fear gripped my heart, my body started trembling.

The old man entered, a strange device in his hands. It was black and metallic, with a long lens protruding from the front. I had never seen anything like it before. He pointed it at me, and a sudden, blinding flash of light filled the room. I flinched, blinking rapidly to clear the spots from my vision.

Old Man: Hold still, This will only take a moment.

He moved around me, the device clicking and flashing repeatedly. Each burst of light felt like a jab at my already frazzled nerves, i felt so helpless and broken. I watched him through half-lidded eyes, trying to understand what he was doing. He seemed engrossed in his task, the device emitting mechanical whirrs and clicks as he adjusted it.. What was that?

Aaira: What... what is that?

Old Man: It’s a camera. I’m documenting our progress.

His words meant little to me. I had no concept of what a "camera" was, nor did I understand why he needed to document anything. All I knew was the blinding flashes and the unrelenting pain.

Old Man: Good. Very good. Just a few more.

He continued taking pictures, each flash feeling like a dagger of light piercing my skull. I bit my lip, as I tried to stay silent, but a few whimpers still escaped despite all my efforts. Finally, he lowered the camera, inspecting it with a satisfied nod. I just stared at him.

Old Man: That should be enough for now.

He set the camera aside and approached me, with his weird expressions which were unreadable. My heart pounded inside like a drum with renewed fear as he leaned in close, his cold eyes meeting mine.

Old Man: You’ve been very cooperative. Now, rest. I’ll be back in a few hours to continue.

Aaira: You should go die!

Old Man: Eventually, you'll be the one who's going to end up dead.

With that, he turned and left the room, the door locking behind him with a click sound. I was alone again. As the hours dragged on, I clung to the faint hope that Jungkook would find me. Each moment felt like a lifetime, my body screaming for relief.

My body was giving up. Blood started to pool in my head, throbbing painfully and blurring my vision. I could feel it pressing against my skull, making my thoughts foggy and disjointed. My eyes stung, and it became harder to keep them open.

My mind kept flashing back to all the tortures I had endured lately: the nails driven into my hands, the burns, and now this. The old man's cruel experiments had pushed my body to its limit. I could barely process anything beyond the overwhelming helplessness.

As the hours dragged on, my muscles began to cramp and spasm from the strain of hanging upside down. Each breath was a struggle, my lungs burning as I fought to draw in some air, to breathe. The blood rushing to my head made me dizzy, and I felt on the verge of passing out.

I couldn't tell how much time had passed. I tried to focus on something, anything, to keep myself from slipping into unconsciousness, but it was no use. My body had reached its breaking point.

The door creaked open again, but I barely registered it. My vision was hazy, and my hearing was muffled, as if I were underwater. The old man approached, his face was now blur. He muttered something, but I couldn't make out the words.

Old Man: (muffled) …good… Oh no…

I felt him release the restraints that was holding me upside down. My body dropped to the floor like a rag doll, and I lay there, unable to move. The sudden change in position made my head spin even more, and I retched, but nothing came up.

Old Man: Get up.

I tried to obey, but my limbs refused to cooperate. Every part of me was screaming in pain, and I could barely keep my eyes open. The old man grabbed me by the arm and hauled me to my feet. I swayed unsteadily, my vision going dark around the edges.

As the old man dragged me through the blinding lights out of the laboratory, I caught a glimpse of myself in a passing mirror. Blood had pooled in my eyes, tinting my normally green irises with crimson streaks. A faint chuckle escaped my lips at the surreal sight of my own distorted reflection.

He shoved me forward into the dimly lit room where the old woman sat on her leathered sofa, her face was now in shock and horror at the sight of me. She quickly stood up taking her steps forward to hold me.

Old Woman: What have you done to her?!

She gasped.

Old Woman: What happened to her eyes ?

Her voice echoed through the haze of my pain, now it was irritating me, I was hearing her voice on loop, "What have you done to her, what happened to her eyes?" I tried to speak, to explain, but my voice came out as a hoarse whisper now.

Aaira: They… he…

Before I could finish, everything went blank. The world faded into darkness, finally, i could find some peace, and I slipped into unconsciousness, it has become my home now.

I was finally mercifully escaping the torment and confusion that had become my reality. I would rather live unconscious till the day Jungkook comes here and takes me, than to die consciously daily.

***

I drifted in and out of consciousness, there were voices calling my name from a distance. I could feel the old woman splashing water on my face, her hands were shaking me desperately. She begged me to wake up.

Old Woman: Aaira, please wake up! Can you hear me?

I struggled to respond, but before I could respond, some steps came in, it was the old man, who had appeared beside me, he cut a part of my shoulder and inserted something inside, stitching it up quickly. I don't know why they were doing this to me.

Suddenly, a searing pain shot through my body as he activated whatever he had implanted. It felt like fire coursing through my veins. I clenched my teeth to stifle a scream, tears streaming down my cheeks. What was wrong with this couple.

Old Man: It's working. She's responding.

The old woman's voice grew more desperate, her hands shaking as she continued to splash water on my face.

Old Woman: Aaira, please, wake up! Ian is coming here to see you, Aaira!!

I struggled against the pain, I tried to make sense of the old man's threats and the old woman's frantic attempts to revive me. The mention of Ian's name stirred something within me. I tried more to open my eyes, the blood that had entered them obscured my vision.

The old woman hurriedly fetched something , the box said a pair of dark lenses, what were these things that she had fetched from the kitchen and she placed them over my eyes, what were these for ? Were these an attempt to hide the evidence of my suffering.

There was no sympathy in her actions, only fear that Ian would discover their cruel deeds and hand them over to the authorities. The old man knelt beside me.

Old Man: If you so much as whisper a word to Ian about what's happening here, I'll activate this device again, and the pain will be unbearable. You'll wish for death.

His words sent a chill down my spine, I couldn't let them silence me just like that. I had to find a way to communicate with Ian, to let him know the truth before it was too late.

Old Woman: Aaira, Ian is coming. You have to be awake when he sees you.

Her hands were trembling as she continued to dab at my face with a damp cloth. I fought against the darkness threatening to pull me under, summoning every ounce of strength left in me.

Aaira: I... won't... let... you... silence... me...

Each word was a struggle to me, my voice were barely a whisper. The old man's eyes narrowed, a cruel smile playing on his lips.

Old Man: You're in no position to resist, Aaira. Remember that.

I gritted my teeth, tears mingling with the blood and sweat on my face. Ian had to know the truth. He had to rescue me from these monsters. But I had no choice but to stay silent, I don't want to die here, and it's better if I stay silent then to die out in pain.

Aaira: Jungkook... Save me...

The old woman gasped, her grip tightening on my shoulders.

Old Woman: No! She's delirious! Aaira, stay quiet! Please, be a good girl.

I nodded weakly, acquiescing to their demands. Survival demanded silence, at least for now. They helped me towards the sink, where the old woman gently dabbed my face with cool water, trying to soothe the pain etched across my features. I stared at myself, with those dark lenses, I looked different, what were these things that changed my eye colour?

With delicate care that belied her earlier harshness, the old woman guided me to a chair and began her task of transforming me. She changed my torn dress, gingerly slipping it off to reveal the wounds inflicted upon my shoulder.

She sighed softly, before she carefully cleaned and dressed the wounds, hiding them as best as she could beneath fresh, clean bandages.

Next, she combed through my tangled hair, fingers gentle through knots and tangles. As she worked, she murmured softly to herself.

Old Woman: I'm sorry, my dear. We have to make sure Ian doesn't suspect a thing. You must look presentable. He can't know what we've done.

Once satisfied with my hair, the old woman moved on to my face, applying makeup with some practiced skill. She concealed the bruises and swelling with some weird creme, she was expertly blending it to match my pallid complexion.

Her hands were steady as she applied subtle touches of color to my cheeks and lips, what were these weird things she's adding to my skin, what more torture I have to bear.

The old woman's task was meticulous, each action calculated to maintain the facade they desperately clung to. Despite her earlier threat, there was a fragile vulnerability about her now, a woman driven to extremes by circumstances beyond her control. Finally, she stepped back, her gaze assessing and uncertain.

Old Woman: There. You look... presentable. Ian won't suspect a thing.

Her voice wavered slightly, She held my gaze, searching for any sign of betrayal, any hint that I might disrupt their carefully orchestrated plan. What should I do, die with the pain or live with the hope jungkook might come and take me home?

I nodded faintly, playing my part as best as I could under the circumstances. The old woman nodded in return, I really hate them all so much, I wish Ian sees everything without even me saying them.

Old Woman: Now, remember, Aaira. Not a word to Ian. It's for your own good.

I swallowed hard, my resolve hardening once more. Ian had to know the truth, he had to save me for my own good, but for now, survival demanded silence. As the old woman ushered me towards the living room where Ian would soon arrive, I steeled myself for whatever came next.

Behind the facade of makeup and careful grooming, beneath the layers of bandages and hidden wounds, I waited—for Ian, for a chance to escape, for the truth to finally come to light.

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"They painted me with perfection, Like a doll with painted smiles, But only I knew the horror, the pain hollow and unseen, I masked the ember burning within."

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