"Okay what."

I shook my head as i said "Okay, I'll do it." My voice was barely a murmur, the weight of his words pressing down on me like a heavy burden.

My stepfather's smile grew even more twisted, his eyes glinting with a dark excitement. "Excellent," he said, patting me on the back. "I knew you were a good boi. Now go home and think about what you need to do. Make sure she's ready for her debut."

The drive home was a blur, my mind racing with thoughts of how to approach my mother with this twisted proposal. I knew she had no idea about the depth of my stepfather's perversions, and the thought of her finding out filled me with dread. But the allure of freedom, however fleeting it might be, was too strong to ignore.

As I pulled into the driveway, the house looked eerily normal, the porch light casting a warm glow that belied the darkness lurking within. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the task ahead. I had to be convincing, had to find a way to manipulate the situation without her realizing the true extent of my desperation.

The moment I stepped into the house, the sweet scent of my mother's cooking filled my nostrils, and for a brief second, I allowed myself to forget the depraved bet I had just agreed to. But the cold plastic of the costume in my bag brought me crashing back to reality.

My mother looked up from the stove as I entered the kitchen, her eyes lighting up with a warm smile. "How was the arcade, sweetheart?" she asked, oblivious to the dark turn my life had just taken.