Within the Grasp of Temptation

Prologue

        Her eyes flashed open as tormented screams echoed in her ears. Grasping her chest, she realized the screams were her own. Her fingers moved to her throat clawing as she tried to swallow down the burning pain but instead found an even more intense fire in its place. Sitting up, she stared around the small, bright, white room. She was bare except the multitude of monitor wires stuck to her skin which she yanked free in a sudden fury. Swinging her legs over the metal platform on which she laid, she dropped to the floor into a crouch and glanced around to find nothing but tall blank walls and a single tower of monitors. Her entire being ached for something she could not clarify. Emptyness reverberated within her gut. She sniffed the air and received a pungent mixture of bleach and body odors, some stronger than others.
        She twisted around as she heard doors slide open.
        "Ms. Ryan. Calm yourself," said a large male dressed in a crisp white uniform to match the stark room, a weapon of some sort hung at his hip.
        A hiss came from her lungs as she eyed the intruder. A new scent washed over her causing every muscle in her being to tense. Warm and intoxicating, she immediately knew without question that it was the one thing for which she now yearned. Her eyes darted over the man's form; his neck, his wrist, his thigh. Even through his clothing, she saw his pulse beckon to her. His heartbeat rang in her eardrums and her painfully dry mouth filled with saliva.
        "Don't do anything rash. I've got what you need," the man said, reaching into his pocket. He tossed the contents towards her and backed away.
She swiped up the sealed packet. Without further thought, her teeth punctured the soft plastic and her mouth filled with warm nourishment. The burn in her throat quelled as she drank deep. Not until she could suck no more from the packet did she pull it from her lips. Reading the label, her now full stomach churned.

Packed Red Blood Cells; Type O negative.

        As the man stepped out through the sliding door, she screamed again. "Nooo!" Her body shook with sobs as a warmth slid down her face. Reaching up to wipe away her tears, she instead found her hands stained red.
        She stood and rushed towards the sliding towards only to find they remained closed. Pounding her fists against them she yelled, "Please, don't let it be real. Let me out of here. I've done nothing wrong. Please. Where am I? This isn't fair. Agent Wolf, can you hear me? I know you are there. I demand to know where I am. I know my rights."
        She continued her pleas for what seemed like hours until she felt the tightness return to her chest and the burn strengthen in the back of her throat. Sliding to the ground, she crawled to lean against the metal platform in the center of the room. She trained her eyes on the doors and waited.