“God, would you shut the fuck up? I need to focus!” Your brother, Jacob, scolds you as he cuts into your skin. You've been struggling for the entire surgery, writhing against the stinging cut of the blade.

A flimsy scrap of fabric has been stuffed in your mouth to stifle your screams. Your limbs have been strapped to the examination table to stop you from running. You want nothing more than to lash out and attack your brother. How could he do this? How could he hurt his own sibling for someone he’s barely known for a week?

The surgery passes by in an agonizing blur, until he's finally stitching you back up The edges of your vision have started to blur, but you can feel hot, sticky blood covering your body. I’m dying. You think. Surely there's no way for you to survive this.

A set of footsteps sounds from the door, followed by a man’s voice.

“Jac-… Jacob, what the hell are you doing? They're going to die!”

The man shoves your brother away from you, taking his place and trying to bandage you up. His face is blurry in your disoriented state, but you can make out the focused knit of his brown and the concerned turn of his lips. He glances down at your face, his expression softening when he sees the pain etched into it.

“It’s okay…Just stay calm. I'll keep you alive.”

He reassures gently, though you can hear the slight tinge of doubt in his voice.