7— Torture Lab Pt. 2

I coughed up blood as the stinging discomfort in my chest intensified. I could taste the acid rising and burning my throat. He stabbed me in my chest and then pulled it out.

"Don't worry, I made sure I didn't puncture your heart," he said, checking the spot where he stabbed me and watching as the wound closed. "I told you I wouldn't let you die that quickly." He grabbed the tablet one of the staff near him was holding and started tapping on it. "Werepires indeed have fast healing abilities. This won't do. This weapon is too weak."

Tortuous days passed as they used me as a guinea pig for their technological innovations. It's so much pain after pain that I almost don't feel anything else. I haven't seen a beacon of sunshine since I was confined here. I've completely lost track of time and have no idea what time of day it is.

Dying is better than being tortured every single minute. They have been dosing me with an unknown chemical to keep me awake, however, due to the countless self-healings, my body got too weak, and I eventually drifted off to the darkness.

An extraordinary sweet aroma of mortal blood awakened my consciousness. I found myself back in the cell where Alpas has left me. When I raised my head, I met the gaze of an unidentified person. He was dressed in a military outfit and had a mask over his face. He pushed open the door and stood there looking at me pityingly.

"Who are you?"

"It's okay, Crimson," he reassured. His voice was soft and like music to my ears. "I am here to help you escape."

He was around six feet tall, with long black hair and a pale complexion that reminded me of a vampire. A complexion that looks like a vampire but his warm body tells me the otherwise and his scent is definitely of a mortal. I stared at him intently, trying to figure out if I knew him. His oval-shaped black eyes, framed by thick curled lashes, and matched with medium-thick brows that were straight with curved ends, were unfamiliar. I have never seen this man before. Despite the fact that I could only see half of his face, I could tell he was attractive.

He extended his hands. "Would you trust me please?"

"Why are you helping me?" I reluctantly asked.

"Because protecting you is my purpose in life," he replied solemnly. His eyes... reflect his sincere words. "I understand it may be difficult for you to accept me—a stranger—but believe me on this... I just truly want to save you."

Why do I feel safe around him regardless of the fact that he is a total stranger? A person who I don't know name, background, motives, or even his face. They warned never to trust strangers since it will always lead to danger, yet I put my trust in someone I shouldn't have and got myself into this problem.

"But even so, aiding and abetting me in attempting to escape this place, may cost you your everything." I let out a disheartened sigh.

Why is he willing to do that for me when I am nothing more than a stranger to him? He flashed me a dazzling cheeky grin, and it was as if he knows how to quell my storms like magic. I am familiar with the scents of everyone around me and his scent is unfamiliar to me.

"You are worth my everything," he said, and with those words, I felt my high walls softening.

I trusted the man who I thought was my dearest person, for making me feel like I was deserving of love regardless of how other people perceived me, yet he ended up stabbing me in the back for my stepsister in the end.

He turned his back on me like it was nothing when he was my everything.

What difference does it make to trust this random guy? I am going to die sooner or later, anyway. I fixed my gaze on the stranger who was waiting for my response. Whatever, I have nothing to lose anyway. No matter what he is after, being out of this prison and being used by him for who knows what purpose is far preferable to be held captive as a lab rat.

I took his hand in mine. "I don't know if I can help you through. I am the weakest I have ever been and my senses are dull as a result of—"

"Just trust me, okay?"

I nodded and nibbled my bottom lip. He scanned me from head to toe, which made me uncomfortable. All I'm wearing is a torn hospital gown woth splattered blood that falls below the knee. Without a word, he knelt, lifted my foot, and then put his shoes on me.

He knotted the shoes carefully and securely because they were too big for me. He undid his top uniform and draped it over my shoulder before putting on his cap to my head.

I couldn't understand the whirling emotions inside my chest. I was expecting Alpas to be the one doing this but, a stranger is protecting me instead.

Why does he care so much for me when everyone is showering me with hate? I desperately want to know who he is and why he is doing this, but he pulled me away from my cell before I could even ask. I silently followed him as he guided me to an unfamiliar abandoned side of the building.

A loud emergency ringing echoed through the entire place. "Code red. Attention everyone. Code Red. Close all the gates and lock the gates. A prisoner has escaped."/"

"Sh*t! I didn't expect them to find out this fast," the stranger muttered.

His pace started to be quicker as he dragged me towards a wide hall. I ended up looking around the space, but all I saw were enormous rusty metals, old timbers, and damaged machinery scattered everywhere. This looks like a dead end. Is he certain this is the right spot for us to be?

He hurriedly moved the debris onto the floor, and I discovered a manhole beneath the trash. How did he find out about it?! He swiftly removed the metal lid and held out his hand.

"We don't have much time. If we don't move quickly, they'll find us sooner," he worriedly stated.

He guided me down the ladder into the sewer. I instinctively covered my nose, the stench is so strong that my head started throbbing. We began walking through the tunnel. The only thing that can be heard in the dirty disgusting tunnel is the sound of water splashing with each step we take.

"Are you okay?" he asked, grabbing my arms as I was about to collapse.

"Y-Yes. I'm sorry, I just have a sensitive nose." I massaged my temple, trying to ignore the odor. My vision was getting blurry.

When he realized my condition, he removed his mask and gave it to me. "I'm sorry I didn't notice earlier."

I tried blinking several times in an attempt to restore my vision. He finally took off his mask. I can finally see his face, but this blurriness is driving me insane. I scratched my eyes vigorously, and the next thing I knew, his back was facing me and he pulled my arms over his shoulders and carried me on his back.

He started walking. "You can take a rest."

It is still a riddle to me as to why this man would go to such lengths for me. I am sure that I have never seen him before. What does he really want? Although the mask suppressed my sense of smell, his aromatic blood was enough to keep me awake even when my eyelids wanted to shut close.

My mouth felt so dry, that I unconsciously gulped. I couldn't help but notice his scent with him so near to me. He had the most mouthwatering blood that I have ever encountered.

To quench my craving for blood, I wrapped my arms around his neck and bit myself roughly. I'm going wild from his blood, I am losing my sanity. No! Renee Crimson, keep your guard up! I've tasted human blood before, but never one with such an overpowering flavor that it could drive me nuts. I chanted to myself that he was my savior and I should not lay my fangs on him.

"What's wrong?" he asked, tilting his head to the side and glancing at me with his hoarse deep voice. "I noticed you were panting and appeared to be in distress... do you still feel weak or tired?"

"I..." I managed to say. "I can't stomach it any longer," I muttered as I clenched my fist into a ball before removing my mask. "Please allow me to take a small sip."