*Eight Years Earlier*
She knew the difference between pain and danger.
Pain was expected here.
Pain had rhythm. It rose, peaked, settled. It could be anticipated and breathed through. It existed inside boundaries discussed long before the first door locked behind her.
This was different.
Something was wrong.
Her breathing had changed first. Shallow. Uneven. Every attempt to pull air into her lungs seemed harder than the last. Then came the burning a deep, unforgiving ache that no longer felt controlled.
She lifted her hand.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The signal.
They had discussed it beforehand. Practiced it, even. If she couldn't speak, three deliberate movements meant the same thing one word did.
Stop.
Nothing happened.
Her heart began pounding harder.
She tried again.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Across the dimly lit room, someone finally noticed.
"She signaled."
The words should have brought relief.
They didn't.
A few seconds passed before another woman's voice answered.
Calm.
Certain.
Almost bored.
"She's fine."
Her stomach dropped.
No.
No, she wasn't.
She tried forcing the word through her lips, but all that escaped was a strained breath.
"She said stop."
That voice was different.
Closer.
Sharper.
There was concern underneath it now.
Something she could hold on to.
The other woman didn't sound concerned at all.
"Look at me."
Silence.
Then—
"Trust me."
The words weren't meant for her.
She realized that immediately.
They were meant for the woman who had noticed.
The woman who could end this.
For several agonizing seconds, nobody moved.
That hesitation frightened her more than the pain.
Because somebody knew.
Somebody saw her.
And still—
they waited.
She lifted her trembling hand again.
YOU ARE READING
Submission Part 2 - Consequences
FantasySubmission came with rules. Trust came with consequences. Sovereign and Allure thought they understood the game they were playing-but some games started long before either of them realized they were pieces on the board. A familiar face has returned...
