A deconstruction of dark romance set within a psychological thriller, wrapped in an erotic horror story, inside an urban fantasy setting, infused with sci-fi elements, and sprinkled with plenty of nerdiness. I can't guarantee you'll like it, but you definitely haven't read anything like it before. Fair warning - the erotic horror elements are pretty hard. ------ Samantha is ambitious, determined, and strong - a habitual overachiever. But happy? Never. She returns to her hometown and her old best friend, hoping for a weekend of respite, perhaps even a fresh start. Instead, she finds herself thrown into mortal danger, left hovering one breath from death. But survival is only the beginning. Saved by a man whose intentions are anything but clear, Samantha undergoes a procedure far worse than dying, losing herself, layer by agonizing layer. She awakens in the Bright Room reborn - a mystery, both to her captor and herself. To reclaim her life, she must confront impossible questions. Is freedom worth becoming a monster? Can she exact vengeance on the one who saved her? And does she truly want to? For you if you love: Strong, complex women who never back down; moral ambiguity; intense psychological drama; power struggles; trauma explored deeply; twisted relationships that make typical love/hate dynamics look tame. Not for you if: You're young or easily triggered - this story doesn't look away when bad things happen. Note: the cover is temporary, working on a proper one (though similar). ----------- If you are reading this story on any other platform other than Wattpad you are very likely to be at risk of a malware attack. If you wish to read this story in its original, safe, form, please go to https://www.wattpad.com/user/paleverse . Thank you.