In Another's Skin

His Embered Kiss.

Chapter 6: (Aaira's pov)

I woke up with a start, disoriented and in pain. I was bound to a chair, my wrists and ankles secured tightly, and sharp needles pressing into my thighs. Panic surged through me as I realized I was still in our bedroom, but everything felt wrong.

The old man, same old man stood before me, holding the needles with a twisted smile, pushing them deeper into my flesh. I cried out, begging him to stop, but he only laughed, the sound cold and devoid of mercy.

Aaira: Please, don't! Stop, it hurts!

Old Man: Oh, it's supposed to hurt, my dear. Pain is part of the process.

His voice sent shivers down my spine. I struggled against my restraints, but it was no use. The pain was excruciating, every movement causing the needles to dig in further. My pleas fell on deaf ears as he continued his sadistic work.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and his wife entered the room. She traced an arm around his shoulder, her eyes gleaming with a strange, sinister delight.

Old Woman: What a lovely sight, isn't it? Our precious little experiment.

Old Man: Indeed, my dear. She's coming along nicely.

I tried to speak, to ask why they were doing this, but the pain was too much. Tears streamed down my face as I watched them.

Aaira: Why... why are you doing this to me?

Old Woman: Because, my dear, we need to understand you. Every inch of you.

Old Man: And your pain will help us achieve that understanding.

Their words were a horrifying revelation. I realized they saw me as nothing more than an object for their cruel experiments. Desperation clawed at me, but I was powerless against their sadistic intentions.

Old Woman: Don't worry, darling. This is just the beginning. We have so much more to explore.

Their laughter echoed in the room, mingling with my cries of agony. The bedroom, once a sanctuary, had turned into a chamber of horrors. I fought to stay conscious, to hold onto some shred of hope, but the pain was overwhelming.

***

Suddenly, I jolted awake, huffing and gasping for air. My heart raced, and my body trembled as the remnants of the nightmare clung to me. Jungkook didn't take long to wake up beside me, his eyes wide with concern as he saw my distress.

Jungkook: Aaira, what's wrong? What happened?

I tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come. My breath came in ragged gasps as I pointed shakily towards my big portrait on the wall. The image of the chair from my nightmare was vividly imprinted in my mind, right where the chair in the room was kept.

Jungkook followed my gaze, his worry deepening. He turned back to me, his hands gently cupping my face.

Jungkook: Aaira, look at me. You're safe. It was just a nightmare.

I couldn't respond, my body was still trembling uncontrollably. Jungkook's eyes softened with understanding and concern. He pulled me into a tight embrace, his arms wrapped around me protectively.

Jungkook: Shhh, it's okay. I'm here. You're safe with me.

He tried to calm me, but my mind was still trapped in the terror of the dream. His attempts to soothe me seemed futile as I remained unresponsive, my breath shallow and uneven. Desperation flashed in his eyes as he lightly slapped my cheeks, trying to bring me back to reality.

Jungkook: Aaira, please, come back to me.

His hands collided with mine, as he pushed me into the bed, his hands grabbed mine firmly, the pillow under me fluffed with my weight.