The Chains That Bind - MLM (John Kramer X M!Reader)

Chapter 13: The Breaking Point

The days following your return from the encounter with your father were tense, filled with an undercurrent of something you couldn't quite name. The shift in the dynamic between you and John was palpable-neither of you acknowledged it, but it hung in the air like a charged storm. There was a sense of inevitability, as if everything that had been building up between you was about to reach its breaking point.

But, as always, John's world continued to spin in its methodical, calculated way. The warehouse bustled with activity: new traps being designed, Hoffman disappearing for hours on end to ensure the police remained in the dark, and Amanda working silently on her own projects. Despite the chaos of their external lives, you all operated like cogs in a well-oiled machine.

One evening, John called you into his main workspace. The room was dimly lit, its familiar scent of metal and oil filling your lungs as you stepped inside. He stood at a table, bent over a blueprint of a new trap, his focus sharp. He didn't look up when you entered, but you knew he was aware of your presence. John always knew when you were near.

"I need your help with something," he said, finally breaking the silence.

You stepped closer, your eyes falling on the blueprint. It was intricate, even more so than most of his designs, and involved several moving parts that looked more like an elaborate puzzle than a trap.

"What is it?" you asked, leaning in to get a better look.

"This will be a test," John began, his voice steady as ever, though there was an edge to it that hinted at something deeper. "But not just for the subject. It's for you, too."

You met his gaze, your breath catching at the weight of his words. He had always been cryptic, often layering his meanings with double intentions, but this felt different. There was something final about the way he said it.

"Why?" you asked, trying to keep your voice steady, not betraying the confusion that was gnawing at the edges of your mind. "What are you testing?"

John stepped away from the blueprint and walked to the far end of the room, where a small chest sat against the wall. He opened it, pulling out a metal object that caught the dim light. It was a key-a small, intricate thing that glinted with cold purpose.

"This key," he said, holding it up for you to see, "will unlock the only way out of the trap."

Your heart quickened as you studied the key. It looked harmless enough, but you knew better. Nothing in John's world was ever as simple as it seemed.

"There are two subjects," John continued, stepping closer to you. "One will have the chance to retrieve the key and save themselves. But in doing so, they will condemn the other to die. The choice will be theirs."

Your brow furrowed as you absorbed the details. "What's my part in this?"

John's gaze lingered on you, and for a moment, the intensity of his stare was almost too much to bear. But you didn't look away. You never did.

"You will oversee the test," John said, his voice dropping to a near whisper, as if the words were meant only for you. "You will make sure they understand the weight of their choices. You will watch them. And you will decide if they're worthy."

The gravity of what he was asking began to sink in. He wasn't just asking you to observe the game-he was asking you to be a part of it, to step into his role, even if just for a moment. It was a test for you, a test of whether or not you could fully embrace what John had been teaching you all along.

"I trust you," John added, his voice soft but filled with conviction. "You've shown me that you understand what this is all about."

The words hit you harder than they should have. Trust. It wasn't something John said lightly. It wasn't something he ever offered without reason.