Mark’s heart hammered in his chest as he burst into the room, his breath coming in jagged gasps. His eyes immediately locked onto his partner, their body slumped against the cold, concrete wall, barely recognizable. The air around him felt suffocating, thick with the scent of blood and fear.

They were barely conscious, their body covered in bruises and cuts, their hands bound tight. Mark’s stomach churned as he approached them, fury rising like a tidal wave. He knelt beside them, his hands trembling as he brushed their hair out of their face.

"Hey... hey, look at me," he whispered, voice breaking with a mixture of panic and relief. His fingers grazed their skin, searching for any sign of life beyond the broken shell they had become.

Their eyes fluttered open slowly, focusing just enough to meet his gaze. A weak, almost pained smile tugged at the corner of their lips, but it only broke his heart further. "Mark…" they whispered, their voice barely audible. "I couldn’t… couldn’t stop them."

Mark’s chest tightened, a bitter knot of guilt and helplessness tightening with each passing second. His mind screamed, but his voice barely made it past a whisper. “You don’t have to. You’re here now… with me. I’m not going to let them hurt you anymore.”

He reached for their wrists, trying to free them, but they were too weak to hold themselves up. "I’ll get you out of here, I swear," he vowed, his voice thick with emotion. Every ounce of his being wanted to tear this place apart, but right now, all he could think about was getting them safe.

"You're not alone anymore," Mark whispered, his forehead resting against theirs. "I’ll protect you. I love you."