Introduction

In the opening chapter, tension fills the air as our protagonist grapples with his unsettling reality—imprisoned in the cold, damp confines of a basement cell, he senses that he has sparked something

She could have killed me. The opportunity had been there. Instead, she'd thrown me into a cell deep in her basement.

A smile curved my lips. That could only mean one thing. She liked me.

As I leaned back against the damp wall of the cell, the smile lingered on my lips, a strange mix of bewilderment and appreciation. In this twisted scenario, I was more than just a prisoner; I was a curiosity. 

Footsteps echoed down the dark corridor, and my heart raced, anticipation mingling with the musty scent of the cold stone walls. The heavy door creaked open, and there she stood, her silhouette framed by the harsh light. She held a lantern that flickered, casting dancing shadows across her face. 

"You're awake," she said, her voice smooth yet laced with an edge of something sharp-dangerous, yet enticing. 

“Don't sound too disappointed, I might think you don't like me,” I replied, finding my voice despite the circumstances. “I'm not dead yet.”

She stepped closer, the glow of the lantern illuminating her features-high cheekbones, and piercing eyes that seemed to see right through me. "You might be soon," she teased lightly, her lips curling into a smirk. "But not yet. I need you for something first."

“What could I possibly offer you? Surely there are better options out there,” I shot back, testing the boundaries of my newfound boldness.

Her laughter was a low, melodic sound that echoed around the damp cell. “You underestimate yourself,” she said, leaning against the stone wall, her gaze never wavering. “You’ve sparked my interest. Not many people can claim they’ve escaped my grasp. It intrigues me.”

I tried to read her thoughts, to decipher if this was a game or something deeper. “So, what’s the plan? Am I your next experiment?” 

“Not quite,” she leaned in closer, her presence intoxicating. “I have a proposal for you. Help me with a task, and I’ll let you go. Refuse… well, let’s not focus on that unpleasant possibility.”

“What kind of task?” My curiosity was piqued, and I couldn’t deny the thrill coursing through me. 

A smirk pulls at the corner of her lips. "I need you to pretend."