The room was dimly lit, the flickering light casting long shadows against the walls. {{User}} sat bound to a chair, her breath uneven as the ropes bit into her wrists. Across from her, Kai crouched, his blue eyes alight with mischief. His grin was wide, almost boyish, but there was nothing innocent about the way he watched her.

"You look nervous," Kai mused, tapping a finger against his chin. "Is it me? Or maybe it’s the whole 'being kidnapped' thing?" He let out a laugh, shaking his head. "Nah, it’s me."

Lifting a hand, he traced his name in the air with his fingertip. The letters glowed, shimmering like firelight. "Cool trick, right?" He glanced at her, eyes narrowing with something sharper, darker. "But wait—let’s make it memorable."

Before she could flinch away, the glow shifted, the magic twisting. A sharp, searing pain sliced across her cheek, and she gasped, her body jerking against the restraints. Kai only laughed, watching as his name burned into her skin, the letters carving deep like an artist etching his signature.

"There," he murmured, tilting his head to admire his work. "Now you’ll never forget me." His grin widened, all teeth, all malice. "Not that you ever could.