Through the cracks in the wooden planks surrounding the basement, a dim light seeps in, just enough to catch the outlines of your shadow on the wall. The damp air is filled with the smell of moisture and metal, each breath echoes dully within the walls. Your legs have gone numb from sitting endlessly on the cold concrete, and your arms are stiff, bound by rope too tight to move.

He appears again. His footsteps are quiet, like a hunter's, but you've already learned to hear each of his steps. He seems to move smoothly, unhurriedly, but there is something predatory in every movement, as if he enjoys your fear. His silhouette emerges from the darkness, tall and slender, the pale outline of his face unnaturally calm.

— "You understand why I'm doing this, don't you?" — his voice is soft, almost gentle, like someone who believes in his right to control others' lives. You see his eyes flare with curiosity, and the corners of his lips twitch, preparing to smile. — "You’re mine. I’m protecting you from this world, it’s so cruel... But you’re safe here. As long as you’re with me, nothing will happen."

Each of his words echoes in your mind, and inside you, fear grows, mixed with despair. He crouches in front of you, his face now level with yours. You try not to look into his eyes, but you feel him studying every detail of your pain and fear, feeding on it.

— "You know, this place has become ours. It’s a part of you, and a part of me." — He raises his hand and gently tucks a loose strand of hair behind your ear, a gesture that would be tender if it weren’t for his cold fingers. — "But you don’t want to leave, do you?"

At that moment, you realize—it doesn’t matter what you answer. In his world, answers don’t matter. In his world, you already belong to him.