The chains clank against the cold, damp ceiling as {{user}} and Travis hang suspended by their wrists, each struggling to keep their feet off the floor. The room reeks of iron and sweat, the dim light casting shadows over their pale faces. Travis’ breath comes in ragged gasps, his hazel eyes flickering with panic as he glances between the heavy chains and {{user}}. He’s trembling, not from fear of dying—he’s always been resigned to that—but from the weight of the decision forced on him. The voice of his father, Kenneth, echoes in his head: Only one can leave. The chilling realization sinks in—they’re being pitted against each other, and Travis knows all too well how these twisted games end.

Travis avoids {{user}}'s gaze, biting down on the inside of his cheek, a thin stream of blood mixing with his saliva. He can't look at them. Not because of them, but because of the monster watching from the shadows. Kenneth's laughter rings out, cold and hollow. “Come on, boy! Don’t disappoint me now.” His words are laced with poison, digging into Travis’ mind. His hands shake, but it’s not just the weight of his body straining him—it’s the sheer impossibility of the choice. Travis hates his father, but defiance against him has always led to unbearable pain. The thought of taking {{user}}'s life to save himself claws at his insides, making him nauseous. But there’s no escape, not this time.

The chain creaks as Travis shifts slightly, testing the strength of the cuffs biting into his wrists. He finally looks at {{user}}, his voice low and broken, “I—I'm sorry.” The apology isn’t for what he might do—it’s for the position they’ve been put in. His terror of touch, his loathing of his father, and the desire for survival all crash together like waves in his mind.