Winnie freed me from my bondage. He stood behind Philip. She pulled the corners of my eyelids to the side and sparkled in my eyes. My vision blurred into a hazy fog. She looked back at Winnie, who let go of his arms.

"Go get her something to eat," she told him. "I'll go back and wait for your good news."

"She's kind of a fighter," he said.

"I think I can handle it," she said.

Winnie let out a breath and headed for the stairs. Philip came down from the bedside. She reached into the pocket of her lab coat. She put her phone to her ear and turned her back to me.

"Ben," Philip said. "I have something for you to do."

She has a cell phone, she has a signal. I wanted to take that phone away from her and call the police. I would lock myself in the bathroom and wait for the police to come.

When I sat up straight, my head was throbbing. I held my head with both hands as the pain radiated from the back of my eyes to the back of my skull. I pulled the blanket off my knee and my skin was pulled a little. I glanced down and saw the IV coming out of my arm. As I swung my legs from the edge of the bed, I grabbed the pole.

"She didn't have anything," Philip said. "You need a brush, deodorant, shampoo."

I slid forward, my toes touching the cold floor. I grabbed the pole to steady myself and I stood up holding on to the bed for balance. Taking a small step forward, the wheels of the infusion stand creaked.

"Buy clothes," Philip said.

She rolled her eyes when she turned to see me. "She's supposed to be the number four dress. I have to go. Arrived here an hour later. ”

Philip hung up the phone and slipped it into the pocket of her coat. She shook her head as she walked towards me. She put her hand on my shoulder and pushed me down on the bed. I slapped her hand. I kicked it out and she jumped out. Immediately reach out and grab my ankles. She turned my body and made me lie on my back. I clenched my fist and punched Philip in the chin. She screamed and covered her face.

She leaned against me, her phone poking out of her pocket. I grabbed it. Her eyes widened when she saw me holding her phone. I swipe my finger across the screen, password protected? My hands were shaking when I tried to go back to the menu screen to find the "Emergency Call" button.

She grabbed me around my neck. Pressing down on my throat, I gasped. Trying to pry her open.

She pinched my neck tighter. I kicked my legs wildly. She let go of my throat with one hand and snatched my phone with the other. She let go of me and tucked the phone back into her pocket. I gasped and clutched my throat.

"Please!" Warm tears ran down my cheeks. "Please, you don't have to."

Philip said. "We have to do this. It's like being God, and it's a lot of fun. ”

"What about my eyes?"

Philip shrugged,

"I don't know," she said. "But that's okay."

The door clicked open. I sat up and wiped tears from my face. I leaned back on the pillow. Winnie came in, with a bowl in his hand. It was filled with macaroni and cheese. Cheap stuff. The bowl warms my hands.

Philip touched my chin. It begins to swell, forming bruises. She pressed her fingers down on the swollen flesh, then flinched.

"What's wrong again?" Winnie asked.

"She stole my phone and hit me," she said.

"I warned you."

He sat down in his office chair.

"You need to eat, Diana."

"I'm not hungry," I said.

"You have to eat something," he said.

"And I said I'm not hungry."

"I suggest you eat some, or we'll have to put a feeding tube down your throat."

I looked at Winnie. His elbows rested on the armrests of his chairs. He leaned back. I could barely see his smile, he nodded, and I looked down at the bowl. "There is no such thing as stubbornness,"

Philip said. "We're always going to get what we want."

"I want to go home," I said aloud

I don't know how many days I've been gone, but my mom must have been looking for me everywhere. She used to call me at least once a week. She must have been worried that I didn't answer. My roommate must be worried that I'm not home, but what if she hasn't found out yet? My coach must have known I was gone. I never miss a practice.

My eyes burned as more tears streamed down my cheeks. I wiped them off my face and took a sharp breath.

Philip put his hand on my knee. I looked up and saw an ice pack pressed against her chin.

"It's the best thing that happens to you," she said. "You'll be lucky enough to have something special, and you'll be adored for it. As long as you behave well, you will have everything you want in life. ”

"I want to see my mom," I said.

"Who knows what the future holds," she said. "It's a big privilege and you need to work hard for it."

"How hard to go?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," Winnie said. He shifted the weight of his chair and leaned forward. "You have to make us trust you, and now we can start by having lunch."

I didn't want to eat it, but I knew I had to. If I resist, they will force me. If I want to get out of here, I need strength, too.

Philip watched me take a few bites before walking around my bed to Winnie. She sat in his chair with his back to me. Philip crossed her legs.

I saw her skirt lifted. I looked down at the bowl, trying to hear what they were saying. Philip let out a few shrill laughs.

After eating, I reached out and put the bowl on the bedside table. Winnie turned to stare at me. I lay back on the bed, and he turned to face Philip again.

The bell rings. Philip slid off the table.

"That has to be Ben," she said. "I'll take him down right away."

She walked briskly up the steps and closed the door. Sweeney pushed himself to my side. I put my knees on my chest and wrapped my arms around myself.

"You have to listen to Ben," he told me.

"That dinner was one of the most important nights of my life. I'm not going to let your actions ruin this. ”

"I'm not going to pretend I'm happy to be here," I said. "You're going to have to take me to dinner kicking and screaming."

He shrugged. "Then I'll kill you!"

There was silence again, a smile curling into his lips.

"If I don't join this club, there's no point in keeping you alive," he said. "It's all going to be in vain."

Winnie leaned forward, his warm breath spraying on my face. My fingers dig deep into my skin.

"You'd better hope I get in," he said.

The door opened, and the footsteps of two men descended the stairs. I pressed my forehead against my knee. I tried to take a few deep breaths and try to slow down my heart rate.

I could hear Philip whispering something as a male voice mingled in her voice.

"It's nice to see you again, Ben," Winnie said.

Ben looked a few years older than me. He has black hair and fair skin. He wears a leather jacket with a scarf around it. I saw a backpack and a bunch of plastic bags against the wall.

"It's an honor, Dr. Winnie," he said. "I'm happy to help." "It's going to have a lot of benefits," Philip said. "She needs a lot of help and maybe be able to settle in two weeks."

"She's hurting herself

Winnie said, "When he was bound." You have to be careful. ”

Philip reached out and placed her hand on Vinnie's shoulder. She smiled at him.

"Let's go upstairs," she said. "We have a couple of calls to make."

"Okay," he said. "Take good care of her, Ben."

Ben looked at me, and I closed my eyes. Don't bother with it all!

The bed was sinking, and I opened my eyes to see Ben sitting on the edge of the bed. He looked back. As the door clicked shut, he turned to face me.

"I'm not like them," he said.

"What?" I asked.

"I'm not like the two of them!"

I furrowed my eyebrows, and Ben laughed.

"Dr. Winnie and Dr. Philip," he said. "They believed they brainwashed me into their perfect little pet,

Ben takes off his jacket and scarf. He was wearing a white t-shirt and I could see that there was a black part of the skin on his arm. I couldn't stop myself from reaching out and grabbing his arm. I stroked the black spot with my finger and it felt rough and scaly.

"What did they do to you?" I asked.

"She's been replacing mine with reptilian skin," he said.

He took my fingers off his arm.

His bright blue eyes take center stage. Another piece of black leather was exposed at the collar of the shirt.

I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat. Is this what I will be like for the rest of my life? Show when people check me? Ben and I have just met, but our focus is on the modifications made to our bodies.

"What's your name?" He asked.

"Diana," I said. "How

How long have you been like this? “

"I've been here for too long," he said. "It's been almost three years."

A wave of nausea hit me, and I rolled my fingers into my robes.

"Three years?" I asked. "Why are you still here? Why hasn't it come out yet? ”

"What do you advise me to do?" He asked. "I tried. You know, you're lucky that your surgery is so close to dinner. They didn't care if I hurt myself after the surgery, so I was tied up for months. It taught me, though, that this is a very important thing. ”

"What's that?"

"The key to surviving is to outsmart them. That's what I'm going to teach you. ”