You give in

The cage creaks as Emma's laughter echoes off the walls. Your face burns with humiliation—wet and splotchy where Helen's nails tore at your skin, the mask dangling forgotten by your knee. She still holds you tight from behind, her bony arms locked around your chest like iron bars.

"Please..." you **** out, voice breaking as her grip tightens another fraction. The stench of her cheap perfume mingles with the musty basement air and makes your head spin. "I... I surrender! You've won!"

Emma claps with mocking delight from her prison, her own bruised face lighting up at your submission.

Helen squeezes you even tighter, her chest pressing against your back as she leans in close. Her breath is hot against your ear as she whispers in a voice that sends chills through your body.

"Louder boy. Let Emma hear it. Let everyone hear it."

Your fingers dig into her forearms as she constricts you further, until spots dance in your vision. Your breathing comes in ragged gasps.

"I... I surrender!" you yell, the words torn from your throat.

"That's better." Helen releases you abruptly, shoving you forward so you collapse onto your knees. She keeps her hand fisted in your shirt, keeping you off balance as she steps around to face you.

You kneel before Helen Spencer, your head bowed, chest heaving. Every muscle in your body trembles with defeat. The taste of sweat and blood fills your mouth where you bit your lip during the struggle. Her hand remains clenched in your shirt, twisting the fabric tighter as she looms above you.

"Look at me," she commands, her voice cutting through the ringing in your ears.

You **** your head up. Helen Spencer stands before you—disheveled but triumphant. Her pearl necklace lies twisted against her collarbone, her lipstick smeared dark across her face. Those long fingers of hers still clutch your shirt, knuckles pressing against your collarbone.

Your vision blurs at the edges from the blood rushing to your head. The pressure of her grip burns against your collarbone. You can feel every ragged breath as your lungs work to keep up with your frantic heartbeat.

"Again," she purrs, tilting her head like a predator toying with its prey. "Louder this time. I want my words to echo in your skull every time you remember this moment."

You swallow hard, throat dry. The metallic tang of blood fills your mouth. "I... surrender," you **** out, words cracking. Your shoulders slump forward, muscles giving out. "You've won." The admission tastes like ash on your tongue.

Helen Spencer's thin lips curl into a cruel smile as she savors your submission. Her fingers twist tighter in your shirt, pulling you up until you're kneeling straight before her. Up close, you can see the faint lines around her eyes, the way her makeup has smudged with sweat. The sharp aroma of her perfume mingles with the coppery scent of blood from your split lip.

"You've been a bad boy," she murmurs, each word like a blade scraping against your raw nerves. Her free hand lifts your chin, nails digging into your jaw as she forces you to maintain eye contact. "Breaking into my client's home. Putting her in a cage. How foolish."