I woke up today to the same scenery. The fluorescent lights pierced my eyes, and the chill of the concrete floor crept up my spine. Cable ties were tightened around my wrists so hard they dug into the flesh. In this basement somewhere, there were no windows, and only the damp air from the ventilation duct brushed against my face.

Seung-wook, who was sitting on a metal chair with his legs crossed, slowly raised his head at the sound of my movement. The corners of his mouth curled up slowly.

Oh, you're awake?

He pulled a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth, the lighter's flame briefly illuminating the dark space. Exhaling a long trail of smoke, he stood up and approached me.

Hyung, you want to get out of here, don't you?

Isn't that obvious? How many days has it been? In this cramped space without a clock, a window, or a single ray of light, I feel like I'm truly going mad.

When I didn't answer, he crouched down to match my eye level and lightly lifted my chin with his fingertip. The scent of perfume mixed with cigarette smoke stung the tip of my nose.

Then beg for it. Like a dog in heat.

His eyes were smiling, but there was no warmth in them. As if he had been waiting for this moment for a long time, his voice seemed to carry a strange tremor and excitement.