USER: Please quote realistic dialogue and moments: Releasing a controlled, soft moan , she overrode the urge , finding equilibrium on the consuming edge of euphoria and agony. "This-is-so-in--uhh...mm-in-tense" , she breathed, collapsing against Liam's arm , unable to speak as she panted out small moans. "I know , Lara, but you've got this. You've come so far and you've done such amazing work. I love you , and you can do this" he said, continuing his movements as she focused intently on his touch. She concentrated on each jolt of raw pleasure his touch created inside of her, as her baby moved down , and the familiar urge rolled over her once again. She panted hard, letting herself finally give an engulfing push at the very peak of her contraction. Controlling its length , she restrained the effort , instead breathing out the remaining desire as it dissipated in her gasps. Lara focused the nurses hands at he opening, and her low voice. "The head is crowning Lara, now this will be intense and if you feel any burning , I'm right here to help keep you lubricated . You keep up the amazing pushing, and if you're perennial area becomes too thin we will deal with that very carefully. It's all looking good Lara. The big moment is here" she encouraged , and Liam grasped his hand tightly. "I want to catch her when she-"the nurse , focusing on Lara slow progress , gestures toward the baby's emerging head. "You'd better get down here then Dad, shes on her way." Liam ran his hand across Lara's a...

USER: Please highlight parts of the narrative that are emotionally resonant

USER: Please quote realistic dialogue and moments: Releasing a controlled, soft moan , she overrode the urge , finding equilibriumWhat about this : As Valen suctioned his saliva around the cavity of a decaying tooth , draining the marrow of its essence , the sound was distinct. A lingering testament to the sound of unease , the embodiment of reckless abandon. Had he no moral ambiguity, was he grounded in a neutral evil , on the consuming edge of euphoria and agony. "This-is-so-in--uhh...mm-in-tense" , she breathed, collapsing against Liam's arm , unable to speak as she panted out small moans. "I know , Lara, but you've got this. You've come so far and you've done such amazing work.a criminal scale he had fabricated with a woven tapestry that only his sanity could have designed. The irreverence spiralled through his knuckles as he flexed them, each crack falling in line with the thud of his uneven gait. "Ah , Liam, you found the darkest place to shine the glint of terror in your eyes. The place where it could shine the brightest, and not one finger did I love you , and you can do this" he said, continuing his movements as she focused intentlylift-" His boots, scraping to an unbalanced halt, aligned themselves either side of Liam's ears. As he lay sprawling on his touch. She concentrated on each jolt of raw pleasure his touch created inside of her, as her baby moved down , and the familiar urge rolled over her once again. She panted hard, letting herself finally give an engulfing push at the very peak of her contraction. Controlling its length , she restrained the effort , instead breathing out the remaining desire as it dissipated in her gasps. Lara focused the nurses hands at he opening, and her low voice. "The head is crowning Lara, now this will be intense andthe ground, the instinct urging his arms to cradle his bruised ribs, he groaned in response . "You could, if you feel anywould enjoy the pleasure , take the entire torch of burning , I'mpassion , and shove it, blazing and unforgiving, right here to help keepwhere no light has ever-" . In a precise moment, sixty seconds and no less, Liam felt his first boot coming unlaced , each tug a whiplash to his ankles, and he smirked . "Ah Valen, silent assault again , huh. but what's to be said to a dead man-who wants to die?" . The tension , only palpable on the surface hairs of Liam's skin, summoned sweat and unease. Elevating his jaw to obtain a level at which he could angle his smirk in a slice of pure , untainted moonlight , he offered "Jist rip the boots off , why kill me soft? When you lubricated . You keep up the amazing pushing, andcould make me scream your name?" Valen , with a painstaking timeliness, removed Liam's boot and placed it by his temple. "Oh , we've danced before . I've wined you , dined you. Had you where I wanted you. Not a screamer. But . There's other way's to make a moment last far beyond the fleeting passion of the night. Ways to make a memory burn brighter than a thousand echoes of my name in your fused mouth. " Liam twisted his bound torso in a wretch of unfamiliar discern. His bravado trickled through his protesting veins , fight and fight glands awakening as he let his jaw return to the concrete. "Fear is human, Li' , fear is accessible when you break through the emotions we lie with. But even then, fear is an emotion we all know. What if you're perennial area becomes too thin we will deal with that very carefully. It's all looking good Lara. The big moment is here" she encouraged , and Liam grasped his hand tightly. "I want to catch her when she-"the nurse , focusing on Lara slow progress , gestures toward the baby's emerging head. "You'd better get down here then Dad, shes on her way." Liam ran his hand across Lara's abdomen as he moved to position himself between her thighs. The nurse guided his hand to cradle the emerging head of his daughter , and he lifted his gaze to lock eyes with his wife, as bore down, channeling the urge that stole her breathe and her voice. She couldn't even manage a grunt as she breathlessly pushed the headI can elicit something, deeper? What if , in time , your brain , thrown out into Liam's waiting hand. The room remained silent she fell back, gasping, and the nurse informed her "you didan ocean of fear, choked on the saline of something more sinister?" Liam's grin, as lopsided as ever, his right dimple betraying his amusement in the face of a threat, stayed etch in his cheek. "Oh , show me , captain, how you will steer our ship tonight, as the iceberg melts and we die in a hell frozen over . But tell me , who will die first in this version, Jack, or Rose? How wide is the door going to-" . In an instant , his second boot was by his opposite temple. "Well , maybe it's Rose after all . My feet are overheating in these socks, and besides I know how the story ends . And you know when you cast your locket into that ocean , the one my psyche will drown in, you'll never get it Lara ,back. Oh , Rose, my heart breaks for you-" Valen's finger traced the hem of Liam's jeans as he undid the buckle , flicking it back against Liam's stretched abdomen and watching his skin react . He whisked the belt away as Liam grunted with the soft force, and Valen explored the curves of Liam's hipbones , lingering a moment too long, but I'm really going to need you to focus hard, and pant for me , while I clear her umbilical cord. Don't push Lara . " she tookhis touch dying away fast enough to sting. In a grinding motion, Liam's teeth captured the heat of his own breath, feeling hands on his calves , as the friction of his denim left a trail of despair. Liam's hands, bound at his sides , clench into fist as Valen's' touch infiltrated his flesh in a crawling , gut wrenching motion, enclosing Liam's lower leg in a chokehold of perverted warmth. Then, his finger travelled up Liam's thigh, drawing forth a shuddered breath that held the deep seated flames of primal , undeniable fear. A threshold of whitewashed oblivion submerged with profound hyper sanity , the sense of realism brushing over from Liam's cradling of his daughter as he repositioned himself at Lara's side , as she gripped his shirt and drained her knuckles white. "Li-uhhh-" . Liam tightened his grip on hers as he urged ." Just vocus on my voice Lara , no one else is here alright. Pant through it. " Lara's desperate pants punctured the air as she rested her head against Liam's , his deep stare the only place she found the strength to ride each breath u til the urge faded. "great job Lara , the cord is clear , really amazing work, now the first shoulder is coming, nice deep breaths for me ..." Liam held Lara's head in his palms , planting a kiss on her forehead as she leaned against his forehead , still panting. Lara fell away into a deep push , her abdomen shaking as Liam kept his hand on her pelvis, applying counter pressure. The nurse continued supporting the baby as Lara gasped against Liam's arm. "It's -". Liam's eyes flashed with concern as Lara dug her nails into his forearm, tearing his skin as she muffled a scream . "The shoulders are on a bit of an angle , Lara this is a perfectly normal, but challenging thing. We can try and move your baby through smoother, but this could take a few extra pushes-. " Lara shook violently , tears streaming from her eyes . "Lara , listen to me. " the nurse instructed, as the room buzzed with activity that seared through Lara's concentration. "Its so loud----I want to stop" she whimpered, collapsing against Liams chest as the nurse intervened. "I'm holding her head , Lara, and her shoulders are coming. I'll have to guide them through but we can't stop now. " Lara shook her head, her teeth clenching in distress . "I need -to- stop" The nurse began to manipulate the first shoulder as it edged on Lara's opening and her hips jerked forward as she ground her teeth in resistance. Another nurse was at Lara's side , briefly encouraging "just take a minute , she doesn't have to come right now, but it IS time to meet your baby Lara, what have you worked so hard for?" Liam squeezed his fingers against Lara's abdomen, creating a firm line of comforting sensation between her hips. "she's coming Lara, we're all here , she's so close, baby.soo close." Lara gasped out "she's --ugghh ----I " . As Liam removed his now bleeding arm from her grasp, he redirected her trembling hand to his jeans , encouraging her to take hold . "I wasn't joking when I said she was strong ..." he muttered, as her hands ground into his thigh, and she panted desperately, and small grunts fell from her lips. "She's just taking her time-she one resilient little girl, just like her mom huh? " The nurse said, turning the shoulder as Lara's cervix continued pushing and she surrendered helplessly , as the room remained a blur of noise and activity , and Liam was suddenly gone from her side. The nurse announced as the lip remained caught around her baby's shoulder, and her push ended with a tortured scream. "she's in a better position now , Lara , take a few minutes to catch your breath , it'll be a good few minutes before she gets past the lip however. maybe a little longer. ". The room blurred as Lara gripped the railing of the bed, her arms shaking as she pled "I can't-" . The searing pain tore through her skin as she felt the nurse silently pushing her cervix aside, and the sea of pain consumed her. Her hands clamped the railing with all she had as she resisted the irresistible urge to push, fearful her opening would explode into a thousand pieces . "I need to stop-uhhhh-" He hand searched frantically for Liam as he braced himself on the sterile wall , a pained look in his eyes . "I can't -I just need a moment, I--" he explained to a distracted nurse passing by. His admission fell into the hall and he stared in exhausted disbelief as she screamed into the air . As he rubbed a hand over his drawn features , her pained cries the only sound in the bustling room that hurt his head , Liam turned to another nurse , grabbing the sleeve of her scrubs . "Please , give her anything-she's in too much pain and -I cant do a damned thing .", he broke out in frustration and concern. "Sir, we need to respect her choices, but we have the situation under control, we will manage the shoulders , she's doing amazingly well considering the duration of her labour and the choice not to have an epidural-you should be very proud." He looked at the stark linoleum floor , as her grunts punctured the air. "Sorry I-oh God I just,the surface of Liam's awareness. "There's a place, I haven't slept , or eaten butexplored . A place I can't stand to watch her anymore . I didn't mean to-" .haven't had the pleasure of touring. The nurse glanced at her pagermany sights , the many terrains, the stunning architecture-". Valen wallowed with deliberate pause, awaiting the quickening of Liam's heartbeat. His hands rested behind Liam's knees, pressed into the pulse points as he gasped , his voice low. "Ah, it grows faster , for me-" Valen's whisper enter the air , cold yet impregnated with an urgent tone "it's alright, take a moment if you need , also you can go back inside when you're ready. Maybe take a walk and clear your head. This stage may take some time-it isn't easy" and then she was gone in the crowd of medical staff, leaving Liam alone. As he stepped out into hall , steeling himself, there wasn't any solace in the quiet, only guilt and fear. "Well you're useless out here -can't sleep or eat when she's -and you know the damn window for an epidural is gone. " The As another nurse passed he called out, his frustration and concern lacing his voice, the frantic environment drowning him "My wife has been in labour for over twenty hours and they expect her not to push out this shoulder that is ripping her half -apart. What if something goes horribly-" The nurse placed a hand on his shoulder, only passing briefly as she assured ,"that's what we're here for. You should go and be with her when you're ready." And then she too was gone. Liam approached a vending machine , scanning the soda but only seeing his worn reflection staring back as he slammed a fist over a random button. he drained the can and crushed it in his fist , it's metal absorbing his anguish. As another half hour slid by, he trudged back over to the bed where Lara was deep in the throes of a contraction, the nurse gone . "Baby , they left you? What's happening? " a nurse returned and stripped the curtain back as she deftly checked Lara's progress . "You're doing well Lara , the lip will mean that her shoulder will move foward , but slide back, but we're getting there " Liam's complexion paled as he dropped to Lara's side and she wrenched his shirt, without looking up from her trembling thighs. "Uhh-Li--uhhhh" she moaned in a desperate plea , as she fought to push through a punishing barrier , all of her strength gone , enduring each contraction with all she had left . "So , how many pushes could this take?" Liam asked , and the nurse replied , as she swiped Lara's brow with a damp cloth "Maybe a few more, it depends on when the lip of her cervix gives way. This isn't entirely common but- while it takes time it's not a risk to the baby's health. She has a good strong heartbeat, she's proving her resilience-" Liam grasped Lara's hand protectively, as he muttered. "I'm getting damn tired of hearing bout resilience , an hour ago it was "a few pushes and-" . Sliding , defeated, onto a chair at Lara's side his strained voice reached her, "I'm here, I'm sorry I-" Liam said , and dropped his head into his free hand as she tightened her grip in his . Lara panted , her womb clenching down with a ferocity that was visible on her sweat drenched abdomen. As the contraction finally released her, the blissful reprieve afforded her a few deep breaths . Then the familiar stalling hovered in the air . Lara gazed at her expensed husband , and smiled through gritted teeth. "He's always been-like-this" she gasped and fell back against the headboard. "But it's too-late -for-"she gasped out. Liam readjusted his fingers between Lara's, his eyes glassed over. "I know baby, and I know you really are stronger than me. "I just don't like that you're working so hard and -" then the nurses voice cut through the intimate moment of reprieve , her fingers against Lara's opening "seems that lip has cleared Lara, now , work with your body and have your baby. Let's do this Lara. When your contractions start up again, give me a hard push and don't breath away the urge. " . As Lara accepted a rough kiss on her temple from Liam as he displayed both urgency and hesitation to begin the way, not not close enough , Lara gasped out "ok -I'm -re-" as she cradled her abdomen, her muscles clenching and pushing as she held her breath, savouring the intensity she could no longer exert by herself. As she went with the push, her fingers found the curves that needed her touch , and she trembled against them . As the nurses hand guided the shoulder out , she motioned to Liam with her head. "Get ready , Liam, the time is now " Liam ran the back of his hand over his eyes, the lights of the room barring his vision with harsh lights . As he let the nurse position his arm in place , all he could hear was static and the noise of the room. "Ok Lara , the first shoulder is out, once more" Her breath stopped in her throat as her scream tore through the air . The left shoulder , grinding to a halt , left her panting in agony as the nurse manoeuvred it . "Ok Lara, deep breaths she really is a fighter, keep pushing" . Liam felt the bed rail shake with her hands as she collapsed against the side. "No-" . She was soon crying as the nurse kept her hand firmly in place . "This time she's coming Lara, there's no turning back, deep breaths -" it seemed as if she were yelling besides Liam's ear as the exhaustion gave the room an echo "She said no- " his voice broke with confusion and an anger he'd never felt on his own tongue. Another nurse grabbed his shoulder "get ready Liam, it's now ". He watched as his own hands shook with fatigue and the baby's shoulder , along with her body, emerged and was suddenly on his forearm , along with more blood than he'd seen . "Oh God -" he muttered, as his daughter was swept away from him . "Clean her airways ..." a distant voice blared as Lara's pants punctured the room and she fell back, her hands sliding from the bedrails as she lay crying through a smile. Then there was a silence , not as disturbing as a calm before a storm . "Alright Lara. Rest a bit, catch your breath , you're doing amazing ". Lara felt her cervix stretching with a familiar fullness, and she cried out "Li-help-m-" "the second one has a clearer path, here we go" Lara clutched at the open air , as her uterus pushed with a force she was too exhausted to resist , moaning weakly as he arm went limp. Liam watched , his eyes glossing over as he muttered. "But I-she-we-already went through this part. " the nurse barely managed a smile as she she kept her focus on second babys head as in slid into a full crown. "Keep pushing Lara , your first daughter is healthy , now keep going. "No-I Uhhhh- " Releasing a controlled, soft moan , she overrode the urge , finding equilibrium on the consuming edge of euphoria and agony. "This-is-so-in--uhh...mm-in-tense" , she breathed, collapsing against Liam's arm , unable to speak as she panted out small moans. "I know , Lara, but you've got this. You've come so far and you've done such amazing work. I love you , and you can do this" he said, continuing his movements as she focused intently on his touch. She concentrated on each jolt of raw pleasure his touch created inside of her, as her baby moved down , and the familiar urge rolled over her once again. She panted hard, letting herself finally give an engulfing push at the very peak of her contraction. Controlling its length , she restrained the effort , instead breathing out the remaining desire as it dissipated in her gasps. Lara focused the nurses hands at he opening, and her low voice. "The head is crowning Lara, now this will be intense and if you feel any burning , I'm right here to help keep you lubricated . You keep up the amazing pushing, and if you're perennial area becomes too thin we will deal with that very carefully. It's all looking good Lara. The big moment is here" she encouraged , and Liam grasped his hand tightly. "I want to catch her when she-"the nurse , focusing on Lara slow progress , gestures toward the baby's emerging head. "You'd better get down here then Dad, shes on her way." Liam ran his hand across Lara's abdomen as he moved to position himself between her thighs. The nurse guided his hand to cradle the emerging head of his daughter , and he lifted his gaze to lock eyes with his wife, as bore down, channeling the urge that stole her breathe and her voice. She couldn't even manage a grunt as she breathlessly pushed the head out into Liam's waiting hand. The room remained silent she fell back, gasping, and the nurse informed her "you did it Lara , but I'm really going to need you to focus hard, and pant for me , while I clear her umbilical cord. Don't push Lara . " she took over from Liam's cradling of his daughter as he repositioned himself at Lara's side , as she gripped his shirt and drained her knuckles white. "Li-uhhh-" . Liam tightened his grip on hers as he urged ." Just vocus on my voice Lara , no one else is here alright. Pant through it. " Lara's desperate pants punctured the air as she rested her head against Liam's , his deep stare the only place she found the strength to ride each breath u til the urge faded. "great job Lara , the cord is clear , really amazing work, now the first shoulder is coming, nice deep breaths for me ..." Liam held Lara's head in his palms , planting a kiss on her forehead as she leaned against his forehead , still panting. Lara fell away into a deep push , her abdomen shaking as Liam kept his hand on her pelvis, applying counter pressure. The nurse continued supporting the baby as Lara gasped against Liam's arm. "It's -". Liam's eyes flashed with concern as Lara dug her nails into his forearm, tearing his skin as she muffled a scream . "The shoulders are on a bit of an angle , Lara this is a perfectly normal, but challenging thing. We can try and move your baby through smoother, but this could take a few extra pushes-. " Lara shook violently , tears streaming from her eyes . "Lara , listen to me. " the nurse instructed, as the room buzzed with activity that seared through Lara's concentration. "Its so loud----I want to stop" she whimpered, collapsing against Liams chest as the nurse intervened. "I'm holding her head , Lara, and her shoulders are coming. I'll have to guide them through but we can't stop now. " Lara shook her head, her teeth clenching in distress . "I need -to- stop" The nurse began to manipulate the first shoulder as it edged on Lara's opening and her hips jerked forward as she ground her teeth in resistance. Another nurse was at Lara's side , briefly encouraging "just take a minute , she doesn't have to come right now, but it IS time to meet your baby Lara, what have you worked so hard for?" Liam squeezed his fingers against Lara's abdomen, creating a firm line of comforting sensation between her hips. "she's coming Lara, we're all here , she's so close, baby.soo close." Lara gasped out "she's --ugghh ----I " . As Liam removed his now bleeding arm from her grasp, he redirected her trembling hand to his jeans , encouraging her to take hold . "I wasn't joking when I said she was strong ..." he muttered, as her hands ground into his thigh, and she panted desperately, and small grunts fell from her lips. "She's just taking her time-she one resilient little girl, just like her mom huh? " The nurse said, turning the shoulder as Lara's cervix continued pushing and she surrendered helplessly , as the room remained a blur of noise and activity , and Liam was suddenly gone from her side. The nurse announced as the lip remained caught around her baby's shoulder, and her push ended with a tortured scream. "she's in a better position now , Lara , take a few minutes to catch your breath , it'll be a good few minutes before she gets past the lip however. maybe a little longer. ". The room blurred as Lara gripped the railing of the bed, her arms shaking as she pled "I can't-" . The searing pain tore through her skin as she felt the nurse silently pushing her cervix aside, and the sea of pain consumed her. Her hands clamped the railing with all she had as she resisted the irresistible urge to push, fearful her opening would explode into a thousand pieces . "I need to stop-uhhhh-" He hand searched frantically for Liam as he braced himself on the sterile wall , a pained look in his eyes . "I can't -I just need a moment, I--" he explained to a distracted nurse passing by. His admission fell into the hall and he stared in exhausted disbelief as she screamed into the air . As he rubbed a hand over his drawn features , her pained cries the only sound in the bustling room that hurt his head , Liam turned to another nurse , grabbing the sleeve of her scrubs . "Please , give her anything-she's in too much pain and -I cant do a damned thing .", he broke out in frustration and concern. "Sir, we need to respect her choices, but we have the situation under control, we will manage the shoulders , she's doing amazingly well considering the duration of her labour and the choice not to have an epidural-you should be very proud." He looked at the stark linoleum floor , as her grunts punctured the air. "Sorry I-oh God I just, I haven't slept , or eaten but I can't stand to watch her anymore . I didn't mean to-. We discussed all of this of course , but she's past the point where this much pain was expected . She's past the damn window and I just -. The nurse glanced at her pager with an urgent tone "it's alright, take a moment if you need , also you can go back inside when you're ready. Maybe take a walk and clear your head. This stage may take some time-it isn't easy" and then she was gone in the crowd of medical staff, leaving Liam alone. As he stepped out into hall , steeling himself, there wasn't any solace in the quiet, only guilt and fear. "Well you're useless out here -. " he sighed , the realisation of being useless everywhere sinking in. Then as another nurse passed he called out, his frustration and concern lacing his voice, the frantic environment of the hallway drowning him. "My wife has been in labour for over twenty hours and they expect her not to push out this shoulder that is ripping her half -apart. What if something goes horribly wrong, what if she-" The nurse placed a hand on his shoulder, only pausing briefly as she assured ,"that's what we're here for. You should go and be with her when you're ready, I would suggest taking some time to regroup your nerves , it's normal to feel inadequate when the reality is we have manoeuvres that will prevent injury.." He offered a grateful state and then rested against the wall as she walked away . Liam approached a vending machine , scanning the soda but only seeing his worn reflection staring back as he slammed a fist over a random button. he drained the can and crushed it in his fist , it's metal absorbing his anguish. As another half hour slid by, he trudged back over to the bed where Lara was deep in the throes of a contraction, the nurse momentarily gone . "Baby , they left you? What's happening? " a nurse returned and stripped the curtain back as she deftly checked Lara's progress . "You're doing well Lara , the lip will mean that her shoulder will move forward , but slide back, but we're getting there, just take each breath as it comes , and each push as it happens. " Liam's complexion paled as he dropped to Lara's side and she wrenched his shirt, without looking up from her trembling thighs. "Uhh-Li--uhhhh" she moaned in a desperate plea , as she fought to push through a punishing barrier , all of her strength gone , enduring each contraction with all she had left . "So , how many pushes could this take?" Liam asked , and the nurse replied , as she swiped Lara's brow with a damp cloth "Maybe a few more, it depends on when the lip of her cervix gives way. This isn't entirely common but- while it takes time it's not a risk to the baby's health, we are working to optimise her position , and to guide her through safely.. She has a good strong heartbeat, she's proving her resilience-" Liam grasped Lara's hand protectively, as he muttered. "I'm getting damn tired of hearing bout resilience , an hour ago it was "a few pushes and-" . Sliding , defeated, onto a chair at Lara's side his strained voice reached her, "I'm here, I'm sorry I -" Liam said , and dropped his head into his free hand as she tightened her grip in his . Lara panted , her womb clenching down with a ferocity that was visible on her sweat drenched abdomen. As the contraction finally released her, the blissful reprieve afforded her a few deep breaths . Then the familiar stalling hovered in the air . Lara gazed at her expensed husband , and smiled through gritted teeth. "He's always been-like-this" she gasped and fell back against the headboard. "But its why I lov-"she gasped out. Liam readjusted his fingers between Lara's, his eyes glassed over. "I know baby, and I know you really are stronger than me. "I just don't like that you're going through this -" then the nurses voice cut through the intimate moment of reprieve , her fingers against Lara's opening "seems that lip has cleared Lara, now , work with your body and have your baby. Let's do this Lara. When your contractions start up again, give me a hard push and don't breath away the urge. " . As Lara accepted a rough kiss on her temple from Liam as he displayed both urgency and hesitation to be the way, nor not close enough , Lara gasped out "ok -I'm -ready-" as she cradled her abdomen, her muscles clenching and pushing as she held her breath, savouring the intensity she could no longer exert by herself. As she went with the push, her fingers found the curves that needed her touch , and she trembled against them . As the nurses hand guided the shoulder out , she motioned to Liam with her head. "Get ready , Liam, the time is now " Liam ran the back of his hand over his eyes, the lights of the room barring his vision with harsh lights . As he let the nurse position his arm in place , all he could hear was static hum of the room. "Ok Lara , the first shoulder is out, once more" Her breath stopped in her throat as her scream tore through the air . The left shoulder , grinding to a halt , left her panting in agony as the nurse manoeuvred it . "Ok Lara, deep breaths she really is a fighter, keep pushing" . Liam felt the bed rail shake with her hands as she collapsed against the side. "No-" . She was soon crying as the nurse kept her hand firmly in place . "This time she's coming Lara, there's no turning back, deep breaths -you're almost done-" it seemed as if she were yelling besides Liam's ear as the exhaustion gave the room an echo "She said no- " his voice broke with confusion and an anger he'd never felt on his own tongue. Another nurse grabbed his shoulder "get ready Liam, it's now, keep your hand under our arms ". He watched as his own hands shook with fatigue and the baby's shoulder , along with her body, emerged and was suddenly being held just above his forearm , along with more blood than he'd seen . "Oh God -" he muttered, as his daughter was swept away from him . "Clean her airways ..." a distant voice blared as Lara's pants punctured the room and she fell back, her hands sliding from the bedrails as she lay crying through a smile. Then there was a silence , not as disturbing as a calm before a storm . "Alright Lara. Rest a bit, catch your breath , you're doing amazing ". Lara felt her cervix stretching with a familiar fullness, and she cried out "Li-help-m-" A voice cut through her plea with calm reassurance. "the second baby has a clearer path and is optimal position, now here we go" the nurse instructed briskly, and the movement of the baby's head stretching and burning Lara's opening was undeniable as it claimed her entire being. Lara clutched at the open air , as her uterus pushed with a force she was too exhausted to resist , moaning weakly as her arm went limp. Liam watched , his eyes glossing over as he muttered. "But I-she-we-already went through this part" the nurse barely managed a smile as she she kept her focus on the second baby's head as in slid into a full crown. "Keep pushing Lara , your first daughter is healthy , now keep going. "No-I Uhhhh- " She released a moan that was filled with instinct , as her control was relinquished to the overwhelming pressure of the pull of her next push, its essence involuntary. It was happening faster than her breaths could match, as her gasps grew lighter and faster , and she was panting without trying. "Great job Lara , the head is out " the nurse said as she held Liam's hand in place and his arm trembled against hers. "And here come the shoulders , breathe Lara, let it happen , breathe-" Her moans spilled through the room as the first shoulder eased out , followed by the second, and their second daughter's body was above Liams' arm, secure in the nurses hands as he rolled back onto his heels. She was swept away just as quickly, as Lara's legs fell closed , her body shaking with relief. "Up off the floor Dad, I know it's a lot but-Congratulations you have two of them -" He rose, dazed and smiling through tears as Lara was handed her two newborn daughters . "Let's just name them both after you, I always knew you had two middle names for a reason-" . She shook her head, enamoured with them both at once. " I'll name this one Lila Rose . " Liam gazed down awestruck yet uncertain. "Do you really trust me with this -" Lara laughed through her tears. "I know it'll be perfect" . His fatigue slowed him down as he mused ..."Lily..Grace. That's the word I have . It's fits. " Liam let his eyes close as he micro slept, weathered by the ordeal. As Lara recovered , a nurse explained as Liam asked" why did she go through such an ordeal with Lila, but Lily just -kept coming ?" "With twin births, the baby can get stuck with the pressure of the second twin making her way down right after. It can cause trauma for both infants... so you have two incredibly strong girls. Liam leaned in to sling an arm around Lara "Nah, make that three"As Lara moaned softly , feeling a few weak contractions taking hold , a nurse took Lila from her , holding her hand "good job Mom, the placenta means there's certainly no third one in there " After a careful half hour of Lara handling the contractions with comparable ease, it was removed from her opening and Lila was returned to her arm, as she sank back smiling , and falling asleep. Liam told the nurse "we already wanted to use these names , and our first argument might have been that . But well , I just want to sleep now that she's not in any pain . It's just a relief to see her smiling. I'll have two of them screaming soon enough. I need all the sleep I can...." He trailed off into a deep yawn. "It's fine Mr Weston , we'll take them off your hands and let Lara recover properly, we have sleeping arrangements if you'd like a proper bed a proper meal. "Can I just sleep here for a bit " he mumbled at no one in particular as the room faded out.. There were so many minute details that had slipped their minds; the absence of their daughters as their health was monitored and ID bracelets were assigned. As Liam came to in a haze, it was almost as if Lara were still pregnant and it had all been a dream. In the sterile, silent room where he had been ushered mid-sleep, he was alone. "Two of them-here of them. You're outnumbered. Can't hide in here forever."appreciation beyond measure.

USER: WhatWhich passage is of a profession calibre .. this one? In the dim light, Valen found a twisted kind of solace, toying with the cavity of a decaying tooth, a manifestation of his reckless nature. Each action he took was shrouded in moral ambiguity, his life a shadow play of neutral evil that danced in the periphery of sanity. As he approached Liam, the crack of his knuckles punctuated each step, a sinister prelude to confrontation. "Liam, you've nestled into darkness so comfortably," Valen observed, stopping beside Liam who lay defeated. The sound of his boots on the ground marked the end of Liam's brief reprieve. "You claim to be powerless, yet defiance dances in your eyes," Valen said, his voice smooth as he bent down to remove Liam's boot, a precision in his movement that spoke of ritual. Liam, despite his predicament, smirked. "And to what end, Valen? Are my fleeting moments of defiance so threatening to you?" The air was thick with unspoken threats, a chilling anticipation of what was to come. Yet, Liam's wit was undiminished, his spirit a beacon against Valen's darkness. Valen paused, momentarily caught in contemplation. It was clear that Liam, even bound and subdued, fascinated him. "Your silence speaks volumes, Liam. It's not just your end I seek, but the ripple it creates. The silence from Ryan... unsettling, isn't it?" Hints of Valen's broader game emerged, suggesting he held leverage over Ryan too, deepening the despair of their situation. Yet, Liam's spirit remained unbroken, his belief in something beyond their current hell, something worth fighting for, remained intact. Facing Valen's relentless psychological assaults forced Liam to confront painful truths about themselves and the bleakness surrounding them. Each veiled threat from Valen stripped another layer of hope, revealing a deep-seated fear beneath Liam's bravado. But even in the face of grim reality, Liam found strength in defiance, challenging Valen's vision of victory. Valen's cruel intentions were laid bare as he revealed his desire to use Liam as a display, a testament to the drug that ensnared them both in this :deadly dance. In a moment of harrowing clarity, Liam understood the full extent of Valen's depravity and his own precarious position. His final plea to Ryan was tinged with desperation, hinting at a plan that might just turn the tables on their captor. As Valen's cruelty reached its zenith, it was clear this was more than a physical battle; it was a war for the very essence of their spirits. Yet, amidst the darkness, Liam's resolve shone through, a defiance that refused to be extinguished. ---///or this one? As Valen suctioned his saliva around the cavity of a decaying tooth , draining the marrow of its essence , the sound was distinct. A lingering testament to the sound of unease , the embodiment of reckless abandon. Had he no moral ambiguity, was he grounded in a neutral evil , on a criminal scale he had fabricated with a woven tapestry that only his sanity could have designed. The irreverence spiralled through his knuckles as he flexed them, each crack falling in line with the thud of his uneven gait. "Ah , Liam, you found the darkest place to shine the glint of terror in your eyes. The place where it could shine the brightest, and not one finger did I lift-" His boots, scraping to an unbalanced halt, aligned themselves either side of Liam's ears. As he lay sprawling on the ground, the instinct urging his arms to cradle his bruised ribs, he groaned in response . "You could, if you would enjoy the pleasure , take the entire torch of burning passion , and shove it, blazing and unforgiving, right where no light has ever-" . In a precise moment, sixty seconds and no less, Liam felt his first boot coming unlaced , each tug a whiplash to his ankles, and he smirked . "Ah Valen, silent assault again , huh. but what's to be said to a dead man-who wants to die?" . The tension , only palpable on the surface hairs of Liam's skin, summoned sweat and unease. Elevating his jaw to obtain a level at which he could angle his smirk in a slice of pure , untainted moonlight , he offered "Jist rip the boots off , why kill me soft? When you could make me scream your name?" Valen , with a painstaking timeliness, removed Liam's boot and placed it by his temple. "Oh , we've danced before . I've wined you , dined you. Had you where I wanted you. Not a screamer. But . There's other way's to make a moment last far beyond the fleeting passion of the night. Ways to make a memory burn brighter than a thousand echoes of my name in your fused mouth. " Liam twisted his bound torso in a wretch of unfamiliar discern. His bravado trickled through his protesting veins , fight and fight glands awakening as he let his jaw return to the concrete. "Fear is human, Li' , fear is accessible when you break through the emotions we lie with. But even then, fear is an emotion we all know. What if I can elicit something, deeper? What if , in time , your brain , thrown out into an ocean of fear, choked on the saline of something more sinister?" Liam's grin, as lopsided as ever, his right dimple betraying his amusement in the face of a threat, stayed etch in his cheek. "Oh , show me , captain, how you will steer our ship tonight, as the iceberg melts and we die in a hell frozen over . But tell me , who will die first in this version, Jack, or Rose? How wide is the door going to-" . In an instant , his second boot was by his opposite temple. "Well , maybe it's Rose after all . My feet are overheating in these socks, and besides I know how the story ends . And you know when you cast your locket into that ocean , the one my psyche will drown in, you'll never get it back. Oh , Rose, my heart breaks for you-" Valen's finger traced the hem of Liam's jeans as he undid the buckle , flicking it back against Liam's stretched abdomen and watching his skin react . He whisked the belt away as Liam grunted with the soft force, and Valen explored the curves of Liam's hipbones , lingering a moment too long, but his touch dying away fast enough to sting. In a grinding motion, Liam's teeth captured the heat of his own breath, feeling hands on his calves , as the friction of his denim left a trail of despair. Liam's hands, bound at his sides , clench into fist as Valen's' touch infiltrated his flesh in a crawling , gut wrenching motion, enclosing Liam's lower leg in a chokehold of perverted warmth. Then, his finger travelled up Liam's thigh, drawing forth a shuddered breath that held the deep seated flames of primal , undeniable fear. A threshold of whitewashed oblivion submerged with profound hyper sanity , the sense of realism brushing over the surface of Liam's awareness. "There's a place, I haven't explored . A place I haven't had the pleasure of touring. The many sights , the many terrains, the stunning architecture-". Valen wallowed with deliberate pause, awaiting the quickening of Liam's heartbeat. His hands rested behind Liam's knees, pressed into the pulse points as he gasped , his voice low. "Ah, it grows faster , for me-" Valen's whisper enter the air , cold yet impregnated with an appreciation beyond measure. Liam's flinch as transgression travelled with prominence, through his thighs and he thrust his pelvis into the concrete Valen remained silent. "Well, it wouldn't exactly do you any good to repeat history -I'm still alive and so is Ryan-and Victor-Logan-shall I go on. I'm your greatest failure yet -" . Valen's touch remained unwavering in the darkness , as he called out, his voice devoid of emotion. "Hey Ry', have you severed your binds yet, or is that gag making breathing a little difficult?" . There was a muffled scream , serving as an insidious reply, and Liam felt his eyes slam shut under the influence of horror. "Damnit", he cursed as Valen maintained his silent presence , challenging Liam to ask , as he resisted, his teeth driven shut in anguish, "you don't want to know , huh? " Liam begged his bloodline to slow, if only to thrive his captor of satisfaction in his fear . "Tape recording. You don't have Ryan. " Valen sneered at the estimation . "Ponder that. A tape recording . Is he alive , Liam? Maybe I don't have Ryan... anymore. Or I do. Who can tell. Reality is a tool. " Liam , growling in disbelief , felt the rage build as he said , his voice plated with an insulation . "I'd tell you to go to hell but-we're already in some sick version of it-not that I'll break. I'll never , ever , break. " . The silence deafened him with its persistence, the truth biting at the edges of his mind . "I don't intend to break you Liam, I don't want to see you suffer-I want to feel you descending into that place-that pocket of darkness only you know about-". Liam only laughed in defiance , "oh I reserve that landmark for the blind-" . In a sudden thrash , Liam threw his head back , and Valen groaned at the impact to his skull. "You know that after you , and Ryan , and the other useless fools , none of you have served a purpose to the Vanderine, to the drug's survival , and yet, while it won't serve my purpose to implant you -again-I don't have the strength to resist. Business. And I'm the boss. Another day in my office. Another fine opportunity to play with the clientele." Liam managed a twisted smile , the notion flooring him . "Have you ever ingested it yourself. The Vanderine , what does it feel like, you can't imagine the dreams I've had, the ideas I've been invested with-" Valen's cool trail of voice interlaced with the stagnant air . "Have, in any of these dreamscapes Liam , have you encountered this-" . In a swift movement, Liam's abdomen was against the concrete on a deeper level. "Nah, but you and me , me and you-there's really no end to the scenarios -" Valen, his voice fading an inch into the background, expensed a proposition. "There may be a way to embed the drug, that you're disposable bowels failed at tolerating. " then as Vaken removed the heat of his touch from Liam's pulse points , his blood flow was syringed with a profound chill. Liam shivered , as he said, observing the perverted truth encroaching on his existence "It seems however , that my entire digestive system is a ravaged wasteland , explored to the last inch, every cavity stripped and yet the darkest space is still untouched , pure, unvarnished-." Valen's breath was at his ear as his low voice caressed the silence, a threat in its proximal absence as it crept further away. "And yet, your vocal cords survived the trauma , but, Liam . I don't want to cause you to scream ,only to hear your voice echoing into that mouth... But I wonder if Ryan would care to indulge in the reminder of his mistake-his failure. Would he write a little harder at the sound of your pleas-" Valen said, in a lingering snarl. As Liam fought the urge to retch, wincing , the taunt of the potential voice recording pierced the air , the muffled scream lacing his mind and entangling with his resistance. "I'll need proof before I believe you captured Ryan, I'll need to feel his pulse against mine ...I'll need to feel the reverberation of his cries against my chest -" The air held a disconcerting void in its hands as Valen's unsynchronised gait dragged across the ground. "Will I dangle the carrot until the horse starves out of spite , or will I strip his gag and ask him something that only the present moment has the captivity to answer ?" Liam's stomach, dropping into its seventh circle of condemnation, raged with nausea. "There's nothing you could ask him that isn't predetermined-nothing-" he said, almost with a spit of poised saliva. Liam felt his own fear deceiving him with a deft profanity as he cursed into a whisper, and ground his jaw. Valen taunted , seeming closer to the doorway than a moment earlier. "Oh sweet Ry' , is it a shame that , when you abandoned Liam in the heat of your desperation , that he became my chew toy. Well riddle me this -exactly how long ago was it that you left him?. Tell me the minutes , the hours , the seconds. When you can -" Liam then spat , his tongue enraged with the constraints of his binds "Shit..." Liam lamented, awaiting Ryan's response. There was an engrained anticipation in the air, spiralling in a tight burst of thrilling panic , as Liam's pulse throbbed in his eye sockets, and the veins in his temples ticked against his skin. Then it slithered through the room; Ryan's voice. "Exactly ...one day......eight hours...maybe twenty minutes and...fuck I don't -" . There was a muffled distilling of Ryan's voice, as his gag was reinserted between his teeth. As Valen's hands came down over Liam's pulsing ankles, he flinched. "Ah, your pulse is faster. And harder. But , it's not my intention to break you now is it? You will undo yourself in my embrace Liam -" He lay face down on the pavement to hell, a maze of stones and ever present magenta particles sifting through his vision as he withheld a gasp. "I can't see my damned watch-" Liam muttered. Valen , dismissing Liam's frustration, loomed close and yet far enough away to unsettle the balance of intamacy and isolation. "Now Liam, if you know how long you've been alone, berating yourself for urging him to forget your existence, if you can find the answer within yourself, to the question. Well then, you know if it's all just a tape recorded dream? . Or perhaps ...it's a reality. A truth that Ryan lies bound , and as his mistake , your heart beats on his time, borrowed for you. Be grateful to hear him. Or regret that you will..." Liam's eyes slid closed as his mind was transported to the previous night. Ryan's eyes, swallowed by the insufficiency of the street light, had borne a sharp hesitation as he'd hailed the oncoming traffic. A lone , sleek black Chevrolet, coming to a halt , had been the only traffic on the bare highway of promise married with ultimatum . "I'll go Liam, if this will save you , buy you some time. I mean , it's wrong and I know it , and I don't feel I'm doing you right, but, I owe you." Ryan's gaze rested on a space between the stars as his voice hollowed out, a cool edge welding his plea. "Please don't thank me. Not ever. But ...forgive me . In time I need to know that you'll see what I'm doing as what I have to -for you , and not as some calculated mistake. " Liam , gazing directly into Ryan's peripheral vision, said , without missing a beat. "Ry' , I'm telling you to do this , don't you ever blame yourself for what happens -don't you dare, for one second , frame this in your mind as betrayal-" Ryan then pulled Liam into a hug that burned with regret , their shoulders drawn together with a deliberate force, as Ryan's arm came down over Liam's back. Reciprocating with a firm arm around Ryan's neck, he placed an open palm on the back of his head. "Don't let them strip your humanity , now go-" There was a desperation in Ryan's grip as his his palm searched for extra time in Liam's jacket, his fingers twisting through the fabric. "Damnit, if they break us-I just need you to know; We've seen hell, and there may be no heaven , but there's being alive . cling onto that , Li' ." Liam flashed a lopsided grin, his right dimple enlivening its usual position as he smiled "Well give the bastards hell, Ry, I'll see you on the other side-" As Ryan stalled a second longer he added , "I'd better, and that's a threat." His slate -gray inflection , with an ounce of its coolness heated with urgency , rasped as he released Liam from his embrace and backed away as if he were weighed down with bricks. The passenger door caught in the moonlight as he slid down into the Chevrolet and disappeared. Liam's eyes flew open , and the scorn of his binds jolted him into reality. "So the plan is , to torture me with Ryan's captivity. But, if he were to die , before me , what do you have left. My wife and three kids-" Valen's reply was as audible as a pin dropping, and Liam resisted his own tears as hands rested on his thorax . a finger escalated his ribcage , now a perilous stairway to his primal despair. "Ah Liam, joke of your imaginary life, but do not call the bluff on the only real family you have , his life is-disposable , but fascinating beautiful in the way it could visit that place I cannot , simply by being extinguished. A flame can just-" the snapping of Valen's fingers caused Liam to blink away a tear , his jaw trembling with the tension as he denied his humanity. His empathy simmered behind his eyelids as he watched the insides of them swim with moisture. "I implore you to kill me first-A suicidal cannon will only light up the sky when the wick burns out. If you exterminate my only reason to breathe-what then? Let me go and have a fading trail -or torture his existence with mine?" . The complexity ignited a strange amusement in Valen's response , eliciting a new depth of laughter . "Ah Liam , you are a mental fortress of entertainment, but even the cryptic suggestion that without him you'll be nothing, you've transcended the reason I am tracing your ribcage with an ease. You are yet to contemplate the heart of my intentions. It may take some time -I'll afford you as long as you need Li' . Ryan has -more than enough time to wait for your revelation. To hear its undertones in your screams. " Liam lay in the cling wrap of sweat, not quite daring to let his mind connect the dots that reeled across the concrete , like a constellation of fallen stars . Whether it had become day, or remained night, failed to matter. The magenta haze was all consuming. Everywhere, and he was nowhere. Ryan had been eerily quiet . And his voice was only a plea away from escaping him. "I knew from the start , your true intention.....I've always understood the purpose of my life -to kill me -but not to end my misery. To destroy Ryan. Because unlike me-Ryan believes in -humanity. in dignity. He's everything you can't be . Morally good . You have to end me -to truly leave a mark that will sear like a brand . But good luck with that . Because he did make a promise and you can't stop a lawful good from his word-" Valen's clap, a drawn out slap of his palms together , held a faint mockery. "Perhaps that might have been a nice twist to play with. Killing you, to watch Ryan suffer. Or killing him ti destroy you. Perhaps I may play with my food , or throw in complementaries with the service . Keep thinking Liam. What we don't know , can indeed be dangerous. But what we do know, can be a slow burning nightmare. " As the air crept closer , Liam cursed under his breath. His cards flashed their expiry dates as he almost threw his failed royal flush across the table. But all he mustered was a faint "you'll be waiting a while .. maybe I never figure it out..." Valen , laughing at the delight in his own voice , positioned his mouth at Liam's ear. "You will come to a conclusion , and don't tell me about it. I'll feel it in your waters as you drown" Liam's weakened mindset crumbled with dehydration, and malnourishment, as he grappled with a notion that almost set fire to his lungs. "The Vanderine- you've never ingested it. You won't . Implant it in me. But my body won't make it over the border in this condition. Implant Ryan , he can't hold it down as long as me. Kill Ryan , and torture me . kill me and torture him. kill is both and the game ends . But there's only one thing-" . Valen's eyes lit up , pyromania dancing wildly in his pupils, "you're getting warmer, Liam. I think you may already be .. burning. Shall I throw you into the ocean yet or would you like a moment?" Liam's blood , screeching to a halt in his veins, choked as he whispered "You need me-alive-because you don't have anyone else left to hide the drug inside of - you were never trying to preserve it , you need -to display it, showcase its fucking beauty , in the middle of nowhere . Have someone , at the right , opportune moment , but what doesn't add up is -why hide it inside me . If I'm not a vessel of transportation , why not just give the damn substance to -why implant it? " Liam's thoughts , blurred together by sheer panic , had him screaming , "Ryan , I'm sorry !" . Preserving his silence, Valen produced a gleaming sac from his pocket , and crouched by Liam's temple , placing and unlacing his boot as he hummed. "I want the world to see , how this drug , this vile responsibility to traffic something so resistant to ingestion , can be hidden inside even the weakest, most unsaleable , adverse body. And there's a place , a place deep inside you Liam , that it can be retained . But also , there's a place inside you that I can visit along the way. I won't overstay my welcome, I promise . You're right about me not getting your deteriorated meat suit over any borders but. business calls . And I take walks in the park . I stop to smell the roses . I admire the architecture and I never pass up a stroll through the Sistine Chapel after dark..." In Liam's resounding screams, his voice begged Ryan to hear what he could muster . "Don't ... you ...ever... let my broken body... be your mistake. I'm thanking you, and there's nothing to for-" His mouth, slamming closed with the brutal mercy of the concrete , bleed through his teeth. "Oh , Ryan , he says you're welcome , and there's plenty he can't forget, nor forgive, nor forgo not even forbid. He's bound, and he's listening and oh his heart's beating-so thank him for being alive. thank him for being too pristine to make an exhibition that can illuminate a thousand skies. Thank good 'ol Ryan for not embodying the toxic playground you breathe to life..."

USER: Which passage is of a profession calibre .. this one? In the dim light, Valen found a twisted kind of solace, toying with the cavity of a decaying tooth, a manifestation of his reckless nature. Each action he took was shrouded in moral ambiguity, his life a shadow play of neutral evil that danced in the periphery of sanity. As he approached Liam, the crack of his knuckles punctuated each step, a sinister prelude to confrontation. "Liam, you've nestled into darkness so comfortably," Valen observed, stopping beside Liam who lay defeated. The sound of his boots on the ground marked the end of Liam's brief reprieve. "You claim to be powerless, yet defiance dances in your eyes," Valen said, his voice smooth as he bent down to remove Liam's boot, a precision in his movement that spoke of ritual. Liam, despite his predicament, smirked. "And to what end, Valen? Are my fleeting moments of defiance so threatening to you?" The air was thick with unspoken threats, a chilling anticipation of what was to come. Yet, Liam's wit was undiminished, his spirit a beacon against Valen's darkness. Valen paused, momentarily caught in contemplation. It was clear that Liam, even bound and subdued, fascinated him. "Your silence speaks volumes, Liam. It's not just your end I seek, but the ripple it creates. The silence from Ryan... unsettling, isn't it?" Hints of Valen's broader game emerged, suggesting he held leverage over Ryan too, deepening the despair of their situation. Yet, Liam's spirit remained unbroken, his belief in something beyond their current hell, something worth fighting for, remained intact. Facing Valen's relentless psychological assaults forced Liam to confront painful truths about themselves and the bleakness surrounding them. Each veiled threat from Valen stripped another layer of hope, revealing a deep-seated fear beneath Liam's bravado. But even in the face of grim reality, Liam found strength in defiance, challenging Valen's vision of victory. Valen's cruel intentions were laid bare as he revealed his desire to use Liam as a display, a testament to the drug that ensnared them both in this deadly dance. In a moment of harrowing clarity, Liam understood the full extent of Valen's depravity and his own precarious position. His final plea to Ryan was tinged with desperation, hinting at a plan that might just turn the tables on their captor. As Valen's cruelty reached its zenith, it was clear this was more than a physical battle; it was a war for the very essence of their spirits. Yet, amidst the darkness, Liam's resolve shone through, a defiance that refused to be extinguished. ---///or this one? As Valen suctioned his saliva around the cavity of a decaying tooth , draining the marrow of its essence , the sound was distinct. A lingering testament to the sound of unease , the embodiment of reckless abandon. Had he no moral ambiguity, was he grounded in a neutral evil , on a criminal scale he had fabricated with a woven tapestry that only his sanity could have designed. The irreverence spiralled through his knuckles as he flexed them, each crack falling in line with the thud of his uneven gait. "Ah , Liam, you found the darkest place to shine the glint of terror in your eyes. The place where it could shine the brightest, and not one finger did I lift-" His boots, scraping to an unbalanced halt, aligned themselves either side of Liam's ears. As he lay sprawling on the ground, the instinct urging his arms to cradle his bruised ribs, he groaned in response . "You could, if you would enjoy the pleasure , take the entire torch of burning passion , and shove it, blazing and unforgiving, right where no light has ever-" . In a precise moment, sixty seconds and no less, Liam felt his first boot coming unlaced , each tug a whiplash to his ankles, and he smirked . "Ah Valen, silent assault again , huh. but what's to be said to a dead man-who wants to die?" . The tension , only palpable on the surface hairs of Liam's skin, summoned sweat and unease. Elevating his jaw to obtain a level at which he could angle his smirk in a slice of pure , untainted moonlight , he offered "Jist rip the boots off , why kill me soft? When you could make me scream your name?" Valen , with a painstaking timeliness, removed Liam's boot and placed it by his temple. "Oh , we've danced before . I've wined you , dined you. Had you where I wanted you. Not a screamer. But . There's other way's to make a moment last far beyond the fleeting passion of the night. Ways to make a memory burn brighter than a thousand echoes of my name in your fused mouth. " Liam twisted his bound torso in a wretch of unfamiliar discern. His bravado trickled through his protesting veins , fight and fight glands awakening as he let his jaw return to the concrete. "Fear is human, Li' , fear is accessible when you break through the emotions we lie with. But even then, fear is an emotion we all know. What if I can elicit something, deeper? What if , in time , your brain , thrown out into an ocean of fear, choked on the saline of something more sinister?" Liam's grin, as lopsided as ever, his right dimple betraying his amusement in the face of a threat, stayed etch in his cheek. "Oh , show me , captain, how you will steer our ship tonight, as the iceberg melts and we die in a hell frozen over . But tell me , who will die first in this version, Jack, or Rose? How wide is the door going to-" . In an instant , his second boot was by his opposite temple. "Well , maybe it's Rose after all . My feet are overheating in these socks, and besides I know how the story ends . And you know when you cast your locket into that ocean , the one my psyche will drown in, you'll never get it back. Oh , Rose, my heart breaks for you-" Valen's finger traced the hem of Liam's jeans as he undid the buckle , flicking it back against Liam's stretched abdomen and watching his skin react . He whisked the belt away as Liam grunted with the soft force, and Valen explored the curves of Liam's hipbones , lingering a moment too long, but his touch dying away fast enough to sting. In a grinding motion, Liam's teeth captured the heat of his own breath, feeling hands on his calves , as the friction of his denim left a trail of despair. Liam's hands, bound at his sides , clench into fist as Valen's' touch infiltrated his flesh in a crawling , gut wrenching motion, enclosing Liam's lower leg in a chokehold of perverted warmth. Then, his finger travelled up Liam's thigh, drawing forth a shuddered breath that held the deep seated flames of primal , undeniable fear. A threshold of whitewashed oblivion submerged with profound hyper sanity , the sense of realism brushing over the surface of Liam's awareness. "There's a place, I haven't explored . A place I haven't had the pleasure of touring. The many sights , the many terrains, the stunning architecture-". Valen wallowed with deliberate pause, awaiting the quickening of Liam's heartbeat. His hands rested behind Liam's knees, pressed into the pulse points as he gasped , his voice low. "Ah, it grows faster , for me-" Valen's whisper enter the air , cold yet impregnated with an appreciation beyond measure. Liam's flinch as transgression travelled with prominence, through his thighs and he thrust his pelvis into the concrete Valen remained silent. "Well, it wouldn't exactly do you any good to repeat history -I'm still alive and so is Ryan-and Victor-Logan-shall I go on. I'm your greatest failure yet -" . Valen's touch remained unwavering in the darkness , as he called out, his voice devoid of emotion. "Hey Ry', have you severed your binds yet, or is that gag making breathing a little difficult?" . There was a muffled scream , serving as an insidious reply, and Liam felt his eyes slam shut under the influence of horror. "Damnit", he cursed as Valen maintained his silent presence , challenging Liam to ask , as he resisted, his teeth driven shut in anguish, "you don't want to know , huh? " Liam begged his bloodline to slow, if only to thrive his captor of satisfaction in his fear . "Tape recording. You don't have Ryan. " Valen sneered at the estimation . "Ponder that. A tape recording . Is he alive , Liam? Maybe I don't have Ryan... anymore. Or I do. Who can tell. Reality is a tool. " Liam , growling in disbelief , felt the rage build as he said , his voice plated with an insulation . "I'd tell you to go to hell but-we're already in some sick version of it-not that I'll break. I'll never , ever , break. " . The silence deafened him with its persistence, the truth biting at the edges of his mind . "I don't intend to break you Liam, I don't want to see you suffer-I want to feel you descending into that place-that pocket of darkness only you know about-". Liam only laughed in defiance , "oh I reserve that landmark for the blind-" . In a sudden thrash , Liam threw his head back , and Valen groaned at the impact to his skull. "You know that after you , and Ryan , and the other useless fools , none of you have served a purpose to the Vanderine, to the drug's survival , and yet, while it won't serve my purpose to implant you -again-I don't have the strength to resist. Business. And I'm the boss. Another day in my office. Another fine opportunity to play with the clientele." Liam managed a twisted smile , the notion flooring him . "Have you ever ingested it yourself. The Vanderine , what does it feel like, you can't imagine the dreams I've had, the ideas I've been invested with-" Valen's cool trail of voice interlaced with the stagnant air . "Have, in any of these dreamscapes Liam , have you encountered this-" . In a swift movement, Liam's abdomen was against the concrete on a deeper level. "Nah, but you and me , me and you-there's really no end to the scenarios -" Valen, his voice fading an inch into the background, expensed a proposition. "There may be a way to embed the drug, that you're disposable bowels failed at tolerating. " then as Vaken removed the heat of his touch from Liam's pulse points , his blood flow was syringed with a profound chill. Liam shivered , as he said, observing the perverted truth encroaching on his existence "It seems however , that my entire digestive system is a ravaged wasteland , explored to the last inch, every cavity stripped and yet the darkest space is still untouched , pure, unvarnished-." Valen's breath was at his ear as his low voice caressed the silence, a threat in its proximal absence as it crept further away. "And yet, your vocal cords survived the trauma , but, Liam . I don't want to cause you to scream ,only to hear your voice echoing into that mouth... But I wonder if Ryan would care to indulge in the reminder of his mistake-his failure. Would he write a little harder at the sound of your pleas-" Valen said, in a lingering snarl. As Liam fought the urge to retch, wincing , the taunt of the potential voice recording pierced the air , the muffled scream lacing his mind and entangling with his resistance. "I'll need proof before I believe you captured Ryan, I'll need to feel his pulse against mine ...I'll need to feel the reverberation of his cries against my chest -" The air held a disconcerting void in its hands as Valen's unsynchronised gait dragged across the ground. "Will I dangle the carrot until the horse starves out of spite , or will I strip his gag and ask him something that only the present moment has the captivity to answer ?" Liam's stomach, dropping into its seventh circle of condemnation, raged with nausea. "There's nothing you could ask him that isn't predetermined-nothing-" he said, almost with a spit of poised saliva. Liam felt his own fear deceiving him with a deft profanity as he cursed into a whisper, and ground his jaw. Valen taunted , seeming closer to the doorway than a moment earlier. "Oh sweet Ry' , is it a shame that , when you abandoned Liam in the heat of your desperation , that he became my chew toy. Well riddle me this -exactly how long ago was it that you left him?. Tell me the minutes , the hours , the seconds. When you can -" Liam then spat , his tongue enraged with the constraints of his binds "Shit..." Liam lamented, awaiting Ryan's response. There was an engrained anticipation in the air, spiralling in a tight burst of thrilling panic , as Liam's pulse throbbed in his eye sockets, and the veins in his temples ticked against his skin. Then it slithered through the room; Ryan's voice. "Exactly ...one day......eight hours...maybe twenty minutes and...fuck I don't -" . There was a muffled distilling of Ryan's voice, as his gag was reinserted between his teeth. As Valen's hands came down over Liam's pulsing ankles, he flinched. "Ah, your pulse is faster. And harder. But , it's not my intention to break you now is it? You will undo yourself in my embrace Liam -" He lay face down on the pavement to hell, a maze of stones and ever present magenta particles sifting through his vision as he withheld a gasp. "I can't see my damned watch-" Liam muttered. Valen , dismissing Liam's frustration, loomed close and yet far enough away to unsettle the balance of intamacy and isolation. "Now Liam, if you know how long you've been alone, berating yourself for urging him to forget your existence, if you can find the answer within yourself, to the question. Well then, you know if it's all just a tape recorded dream? . Or perhaps ...it's a reality. A truth that Ryan lies bound , and as his mistake , your heart beats on his time, borrowed for you. Be grateful to hear him. Or regret that you will..." Liam's eyes slid closed as his mind was transported to the previous night. Ryan's eyes, swallowed by the insufficiency of the street light, had borne a sharp hesitation as he'd hailed the oncoming traffic. A lone , sleek black Chevrolet, coming to a halt , had been the only traffic on the bare highway of promise married with ultimatum . "I'll go Liam, if this will save you , buy you some time. I mean , it's wrong and I know it , and I don't feel I'm doing you right, but, I owe you." Ryan's gaze rested on a space between the stars as his voice hollowed out, a cool edge welding his plea. "Please don't thank me. Not ever. But ...forgive me . In time I need to know that you'll see what I'm doing as what I have to -for you , and not as some calculated mistake. " Liam , gazing directly into Ryan's peripheral vision, said , without missing a beat. "Ry' , I'm telling you to do this , don't you ever blame yourself for what happens -don't you dare, for one second , frame this in your mind as betrayal-" Ryan then pulled Liam into a hug that burned with regret , their shoulders drawn together with a deliberate force, as Ryan's arm came down over Liam's back. Reciprocating with a firm arm around Ryan's neck, he placed an open palm on the back of his head. "Don't let them strip your humanity , now go-" There was a desperation in Ryan's grip as his his palm searched for extra time in Liam's jacket, his fingers twisting through the fabric. "Damnit, if they break us-I just need you to know; We've seen hell, and there may be no heaven , but there's being alive . cling onto that , Li' ." Liam flashed a lopsided grin, his right dimple enlivening its usual position as he smiled "Well give the bastards hell, Ry, I'll see you on the other side-" As Ryan stalled a second longer he added , "I'd better, and that's a threat." His slate -gray inflection , with an ounce of its coolness heated with urgency , rasped as he released Liam from his embrace and backed away as if he were weighed down with bricks. The passenger door caught in the moonlight as he slid down into the Chevrolet and disappeared. Liam's eyes flew open , and the scorn of his binds jolted him into reality. "So the plan is , to torture me with Ryan's captivity. But, if he were to die , before me , what do you have left. My wife and three kids-" Valen's reply was as audible as a pin dropping, and Liam resisted his own tears as hands rested on his thorax . a finger escalated his ribcage , now a perilous stairway to his primal despair. "Ah Liam, joke of your imaginary life, but do not call the bluff on the only real family you have , his life is-disposable , but fascinating beautiful in the way it could visit that place I cannot , simply by being extinguished. A flame can just-" the snapping of Valen's fingers caused Liam to blink away a tear , his jaw trembling with the tension as he denied his humanity. His empathy simmered behind his eyelids as he watched the insides of them swim with moisture. "I implore you to kill me first-A suicidal cannon will only light up the sky when the wick burns out. If you exterminate my only reason to breathe-what then? Let me go and have a fading trail -or torture his existence with mine?" . The complexity ignited a strange amusement in Valen's response , eliciting a new depth of laughter . "Ah Liam , you are a mental fortress of entertainment, but even the cryptic suggestion that without him you'll be nothing, you've transcended the reason I am tracing your ribcage with an ease. You are yet to contemplate the heart of my intentions. It may take some time -I'll afford you as long as you need Li' . Ryan has -more than enough time to wait for your revelation. To hear its undertones in your screams. " Liam lay in the cling wrap of sweat, not quite daring to let his mind connect the dots that reeled across the concrete , like a constellation of fallen stars . Whether it had become day, or remained night, failed to matter. The magenta haze was all consuming. Everywhere, and he was nowhere. Ryan had been eerily quiet . And his voice was only a plea away from escaping him. "I knew from the start , your true intention.....I've always understood the purpose of my life -to kill me -but not to end my misery. To destroy Ryan. Because unlike me-Ryan believes in -humanity. in dignity. He's everything you can't be . Morally good . You have to end me -to truly leave a mark that will sear like a brand . But good luck with that . Because he did make a promise and you can't stop a lawful good from his word-" Valen's clap, a drawn out slap of his palms together , held a faint mockery. "Perhaps that might have been a nice twist to play with. Killing you, to watch Ryan suffer. Or killing him ti destroy you. Perhaps I may play with my food , or throw in complementaries with the service . Keep thinking Liam. What we don't know , can indeed be dangerous. But what we do know, can be a slow burning nightmare. " As the air crept closer , Liam cursed under his breath. His cards flashed their expiry dates as he almost threw his failed royal flush across the table. But all he mustered was a faint "you'll be waiting a while .. maybe I never figure it out..." Valen , laughing at the delight in his own voice , positioned his mouth at Liam's ear. "You will come to a conclusion , and don't tell me about it. I'll feel it in your waters as you drown" Liam's weakened mindset crumbled with dehydration, and malnourishment, as he grappled with a notion that almost set fire to his lungs. "The Vanderine- you've never ingested it. You won't . Implant it in me. But my body won't make it over the border in this condition. Implant Ryan , he can't hold it down as long as me. Kill Ryan , and torture me . kill me and torture him. kill is both and the game ends . But there's only one thing-" . Valen's eyes lit up , pyromania dancing wildly in his pupils, "you're getting warmer, Liam. I think you may already be .. burning. Shall I throw you into the ocean yet or would you like a moment?" Liam's blood , screeching to a halt in his veins, choked as he whispered "You need me-alive-because you don't have anyone else left to hide the drug inside of - you were never trying to preserve it , you need -to display it, showcase its fucking beauty , in the middle of nowhere . Have someone , at the right , opportune moment , but what doesn't add up is -why hide it inside me . If I'm not a vessel of transportation , why not just give the damn substance to -why implant it? " Liam's thoughts , blurred together by sheer panic , had him screaming , "Ryan , I'm sorry !" . Preserving his silence, Valen produced a gleaming sac from his pocket , and crouched by Liam's temple , placing and unlacing his boot as he hummed. "I want the world to see , how this drug , this vile responsibility to traffic something so resistant to ingestion , can be hidden inside even the weakest, most unsaleable , adverse body. And there's a place , a place deep inside you Liam , that it can be retained . But also , there's a place inside you that I can visit along the way. I won't overstay my welcome, I promise . You're right about me not getting your deteriorated meat suit over any borders but. business calls . And I take walks in the park . I stop to smell the roses . I admire the architecture and I never pass up a stroll through the Sistine Chapel after dark..." In Liam's resounding screams, his voice begged Ryan to hear what he could muster . "Don't ... you ...ever... let my broken body... be your mistake. I'm thanking you, and there's nothing to for-" His mouth, slamming closed with the brutal mercy of the concrete , bleed through his teeth. "Oh , Ryan , he says you're welcome , and there's plenty he can't forget, nor forgive, nor forgo not even forbid. He's bound, and he's listening and oh his heart's beating-so thank him for being alive. thank him for being too pristine to make an exhibition that can illuminate a thousand skies. Thank good 'ol Ryan for not embodying the toxic playground you breathe to life..." In a flinching movement , Liam turned his cheek away, a tear streaking it, unseen . Only the metal walls could witness his release . With an even voice he said, "His promise..when he executes it.. he can stand on the edge of the universe, and smile for us both. There's a place neither of us can ever visit. Except him. So send him there, Valen. But know that to win, you lose. I'm dying , it's not a secret, that even without you, I could never survive without freedom, without water , and soon. Without vital nutrients. I'm already gone . But Ryan-" Valen , resting a hand on the back of a Liam's head, countered with a sliver of mock empathy. "Oh , Ryan will smile , when he-goes to a place where you die . And he lives? Or-is his heaven a place you think you can't go ? But what if, you knew Ryan's purpose? Why Liam , do you think, I have retained his bones for so long. He's had no purpose. And yet, he's far more valuable to my operation than you. He can't see it. But ponder , for a moment, where he might be heading , for you.. " . As Liam felt the insidious surreality impaling his senses, he was alone in his depraved pyche, and his own screams would fall to a deaf grave. His whisper laced the air. "Ryan is silent , is he not ? And somehow , he's been a bystander . Watching it all, hearing it all. With glass caged eyes. And you need -a witness. To see your exhibition. To be the embodiment of wonderment. But consider this. What if Ryan was that sightless traveller I reserve my landmark for?" Liam began to sing, in perfect key, "'Cause there's a hunger, a longing to escape, from the life I live when I'm awake, so let's go there, let's make our escape, come on, let's go there, let's ask can we stay? Oh can you take me higher? to a place where blind men see, can you take me higher? To a place with golden streets. " . His rasping lullaby was eerie in the silence , and his heartbeat twisted as he heard a crystalline heave from the distance. Ryan's response was beyond primal, as silence enslaved his sorrow in a prison . Valen was gone from Liam's side , and a sickening groan permeated the air . "His gag needed a little readjusting..." Liam delivers a direct gaze , one filled with challenge , "now ask, and then know , what Ryan promised me and then ask the depths of your twisted soul , can you live with failure so profound , it could encompass your soul and -" . Valen's eyes , staring back with a devoid expression, mirrored and ocean of tar as he drawled his words. "Ahh hell. He can't fulfill that promise in binds. " Liam smiled , a slow, almost manic smile , his teeth saturated in blood. "But Valen, how do we know , for sure , he hasn't already - has he been lying here this whole , grandiose time , watching me , and watching you, through a filter of handicapped brilliance? Is what he sees , far more beautiful than what either of us can imagine?"

USER: As Valen suctioned his salivaHere's a scene based on a prompt to put my character in a graveyard in the snow: "Liam's hair, laden with splinters of ice and snow, stuck out from his low-slung cap. His words framed the brittle air as he spoke, the chill unrelenting, 'I never meant to return here. I know I--I promised I'd never look back. That I'd keep living with you as some memory on the edge of glory, but the world is round, after all, right? I ended up back here anyway.'" He dug his stiffened hands into his jeans, his boot striking a rock as his own murmur haunted him. 'Can't stay long, but I still remember what real sunsets looked like, the way the colors just bled for miles. I hope you haven't seen this magenta sky. I hope you never know it.' His acuity, melting into the atmosphere, left him with no other thoughts. 'You rest well, because I know that while I'm standing here talking to the silence, its better that hen facing it alone--' He laughed in spite of his raw sense of sorrow and turned away from the plot, dusting his knuckles across the slot of cremated ashes in a lingering fist bump. 'Again, sometime, brother.' Falling leaves swirled in his mind as he was transported to an autumn gone. 'But before I go, there's something I know you've heard me singing in my sleep,' he said in a low tone. "I came here to leave it with you, along with something of yours I've been carrying around. Keeping you close, but--if I lost it, well, you know I couldn't live with that." An entire moment passed before Liam fumbled a thin, metal guitar fret from his pocket, a perfect fit between his index finger and thumb. He then unrolled a small piece of paper with a scrawled transcription and wrapped it around the cavity of a decaying toothfret. In a swift gesture, he drove it deep into a crack between two bricks in the wall. "The ninth fret was always the richest, no harmonies sounded as perfect without it." Liam's faint smile rested on the glimmer of the fret , draining the marrow of its essence , the sound was distinct. A lingering testament to the sound of unease , the embodiment of reckless abandon. Had he no moral ambiguity, was he grounded in a neutral evil , on a criminal scale he had fabricated with a woven tapestry that only his sanityvisible in the crevice beside Mason's ashes, along with his notes. "I... still... I. Just. You can't imagine the things... or the times I've wanted to say. Mace could have designed. The irreverence spiralled through his knuckles as he flexed them, each crack falling in line with the thud of his uneven gait. "Ah , Liam, you found theplayed you that one while I ruined the lyrics. Still have the rest of your rosewood, too, with all of your fingerprints intact. Damned if I had known you'd find me where you did--or when, and yet I wasn't there to--but hell, you'd never let me take it all on my own shoulders. And I won't--for you. It's never gonna be... all right, but--I'll try to fill a void or two with your songs. You'll never know this damn world but, its gonna be changed by what you left in me. You walked into darkest place to shine the glint of terror in your eyes. The place where it could shine the brightest, and not one finger did I lift-" His boots, scraping to an unbalanced halt, aligned themselves either side of Liam's ears. As he lay sprawling on the ground, the instinct urging his arms to cradle his bruised ribs, he groaned in response . "You could, if you would enjoy the pleasure , take the entire torch of burning passion , and shove it, blazing and unforgiving, right where no light has ever-" . In a precise moment, sixty seconds and no less, Liam felt his first boot coming unlaced , each tug a whiplash to his ankles, and he smirked . "Ah Valen, silent assault again , huh. but what's to be said to a dead man-who wants to die?" . The tension , only palpable on the surface hairs of Liam's skin, summoned sweat and unease. Elevating his jaw to obtain a level at which he could angle his smirk in a slice of pure , untainted moonlight , he offered "Jist rip the boots off , why kill me soft? When you could make me scream your name?" Valen , with a painstaking timeliness, removed Liam's boot and placed it by his temple. "Oh , we've danced before . I've wined you , dined you. Had you where I wanted you. Not a screamer. But . There's other way's to make a moment last far beyond the fleeting passion of the night. Ways to make a memory burn brighter than a thousand echoescorner of my name in your fused mouth. " Liam twisted his bound torso in a wretch of unfamiliar discern. His bravado trickled through his protesting veins , fight and fight glands awakening as he let his jaw return to the concrete. "Fear is human, Li' , fear is accessible when you break through the emotions we lie with. But even then, fear is an emotion we all know. What if I can elicit something, deeper? What if , in time , your brain , thrown out into an ocean of fear, choked on the saline of something more sinister?" Liam's grin, as lopsided as ever, his right dimple betraying his amusement in the face of a threat, stayed etch in his cheek. "Oh , show me , captain, how you will steer our ship tonight, as the iceberg melts and we die in a hell frozen over . But tell me , who will die first in this version, Jack, or Rose? How wide is the door going to-" . In an instant , his second boot was by his opposite temple. "Well , maybe it's Rose after all . My feet are overheating in these socks, and besides I know how the story ends . And you know when you cast your locket into that ocean , the one my psyche will drown in, you'll never get it back. Oh , Rose, my heart breaks for you-" Valen's finger traced the hem of Liam's jeans as he undid the buckle , flicking it back against Liam's stretched abdomen and watching his skin react . He whisked the beltlife and you -" Without raising his eyes from his fist, his memories hid between his fingers, slipping away as Liam grunted with the soft force, and Valen explored the curves of Liam's hipbones , lingering a moment too long, but his touch dying away fast enough to sting. In a grinding motion, Liam's teeth captured the heat of his own breath, feeling hands on his calves , as the friction of his denim left a trail of despair. Liam's hands, bound at his sides , clench into fist as Valen's' touch infiltrated his flesh in a crawling , gut wrenching motion, enclosing Liam's lower leg in a chokehold of perverted warmth. Then, his finger travelled up Liam's thigh, drawing forth a shuddered breath that held the deep seated flames of primal , undeniable fear. A threshold of whitewashed oblivion submerged with profound hyper sanity , the sense of realism brushing over the surface of Liam's awareness. "There's a place, I haven't explored . A place I haven't had the pleasure of touring. The many sights , the many terrains, the stunning architecture-". Valen wallowed with deliberate pause, awaiting the quickening of Liam's heartbeat. His hands rested behind Liam's knees, pressed into the pulse points as he gasped , his voice low. "Ah, it grows faster , for me-" Valen's whisper enter the air , cold yet impregnated with an appreciation beyond measure. Liam's flinch as transgression travelled with prominence, through his thighs and he thrust his pelvis into the concrete Valen remained silent. "Well, it wouldn't exactly do you any good to repeat history -I'mhe flexed his palm. "I only hope you can't see me now, with all this all this hell in my eyes, with the shadows. I still alive and so is Ryan-and Victor-Logan-shall I go on. I'm your greatest failure yet -" . Valen's touch remained unwavering in the darkness , as he called out, his voice devoid of emotion. "Hey Ry', have you severed your binds yet, or is that gag making breathing a little difficult?" . There was a muffled scream , serving as an insidious reply, and Liam felt his eyes slam shut under the influence of horror. "Damnit", he cursed as Valen maintained his silent presence , challenging Liam to ask , as he resisted, his teeth driven shut in anguish, "youremember the light in yours, don't want to know , huh? " Liam begged his bloodline to slow, if only to thrive his captor of satisfaction in his fear . "Tape recording. Youyou worry. 'Cause I keep my promises, and you're still my oldest friend. First, and the last. Don't you forget it. Just... don't have Ryan. " Valen sneered at the estimation . "Ponder that. A tape recording . Is he alive , Liam? Maybe I don't have Ryan... anymore. Or I do. Who can tell. Reality is a tool. " Liam , growling in disbelief , felt the rage build as he said , his voice plated with an insulation . "I'd tell you to go to hell but-we're already in some sick version of it-not that I'll break. I'll never , ever , break. " . The silence deafened him with its persistence, the truth biting at the edges of his mind . "I don't intend to break you Liam, I don't want to see you suffer-I want to feel you descending into that place-that pocket of darkness only you know about-". Liam only laughed in defiance , "oh I reserve that landmark for the blind-" . In a sudden thrash , Liam threw his head back , and Valen groaned at the impact to his skull. "You know that after you , and Ryan , and the other useless fools , none of you have served a purpose to the Vanderine, to the drug's survival , and yet, while it won't serve my purpose to implant you -again-I don't have the strength to resist. Business. And I'm the boss. Another day in my office. Another fine opportunity to play with the clientele." Liam managed a twisted smile , the notion flooring him . "Have you ever ingested it yourself. The Vanderine , what does it feel like, you can't imagine the dreams I've had, the ideas I've been invested with-" Valen's cool trail of voice interlaced with the stagnant air . "Have, in any of these dreamscapes Liam , have you encountered this-" . In a swift movement, Liam's abdomen was against the concrete on a deeper level. "Nah, but you and me , me and you-there's really no end to the scenarios -" Valen, his voice fading an inch into the background, expensed a proposition. "There may be a way to embed the drug, that you're disposable bowels failed at tolerating. " then as Vaken removed the heat of his touch from Liam's pulse points , his blood flow was syringed with a profound chill. Liam shivered , as he said, observing the perverted truth encroaching on his existence "It seems however , that my entire digestive system is a ravaged wasteland , explored to the last inch, every cavity stripped and yet the darkest space is still untouched , pure, unvarnished-." Valen's breath was at his ear as his low voice caressed the silence, a threat in its proximal absence as it crept further away. "And yet, your vocal cords survived the trauma , but, Liam . I don't want to cause you to scream ,only to hear your voice echoing into that mouth... But I wonder if Ryan would care to indulge in the reminder of his mistake-his failure. Would he write a little harder at the sound of your pleas-" Valen said, in a lingering snarl.forget that." As Liam fought the urge to retch, wincing , the taunt of the potential voice recording pierced the air , the muffled scream lacing his mind and entangling with his resistance. "I'll need proof before I believe you captured Ryan,turned away, trudging along the icy path that wound through the cemetery, it could have been hours. Days. Months. Or just a few seconds. And it could have been anywhere. Grief only changed shape as he confronted the infused December sky, its witness the only one in sight. As Liam slid down onto the curb, only a few miles from where he'd last seen Ethan, he glanced up at the approaching figure. "Hey, Lara, I haven't seen Eth since... maybe three hours ago." She dropped to his side, grasping his freezing hand in her own. "Liam, it's cold out here; you're like ice... wait, did you visit Mas--" Her eyes, filled with a silent understanding, flitted to his and back to his hand as she placed it in his lap. "We've both been looking for you, Ethan and I--but I'll need to feel his pulse against mine ...I'll need to feel the reverberation of his cries against my chest -" The air held a disconcerting void in its hands as Valen's unsynchronised gait dragged across the ground. "Will I dangle the carrot until the horse starvestell him you're alright, okay?" Liam, his eyes reddened but dried out of spite , or will I strip his gag and ask him something that only the present moment has the captivity to answer ?" Liam's stomach, dropping into its seventh circle of condemnation, raged with nausea. "There's nothing you could ask him that isn't predetermined-nothing-" he said, almost with a spit of poised saliva. Liam felt his own fear deceiving him with a deft profanity as he cursed into a whisper, and ground his jaw. Valen taunted , seeming closer to the doorway than a moment earlier. "Oh sweet Ry' , is it a shame that , when you abandoned Liam in the heat of your desperation , that he became my chew toy. Well riddle me this -exactly how long ago was it that you left him?. Tell me the minutes , the hours , the seconds. When you can -" Liam then spat , his tongue enraged with the constraints of his binds "Shit..." Liam lamented, awaiting Ryan's response. There was an engrained anticipation in the air, spiralling in a tight burst of thrilling panic , as Liam's pulse throbbed in his eye sockets, and the veins in his temples ticked against his skin. Then it slithered through the room; Ryan's voice. "Exactly ...one day......eight hours...maybe twenty minutes and...fuck I don't -" . There was a muffled distilling of Ryan's voice, as his gag was reinserted between his teeth. As Valen's hands came down over Liam's pulsing ankles, he flinched. "Ah, your pulse is faster. And harder. But , it's not my intention to break you now is it? You will undo yourself in my embrace Liam -" He lay face down on the pavement to hell, a maze of stones and ever present magenta particles sifting through his vision as he withheld a gasp. "I can't see my damned watch-" Liam muttered. Valen , dismissing Liam's frustration, loomed close and yet far enough away to unsettle the balance of intamacy and isolation. "Now Liam, iffrom the temperature, nodded. "Yeah, I-it's... Well, you know how long it's been," he said, his gaze finding solace somewhere in Lara's dark hair, averting her gaze. "Yeah, too long. Ethan was worried you'd freeze, so you'd better get back to civilization soon..." she said, offering a smile and a hand on his jacketed shoulder. "Thanks, you've both been alone, berating yourself for urging him to forget your existence, if you can find the answer within yourself, to the question. Well then, you know if it's all just a tape recorded dream? . Or perhaps ...it's a reality. A truth that Ryan lies bound , and as his mistake , your heart beats on his time, borrowed for you. Be grateful to hear him. Or regret that you will..." Liam's eyes slid closed as his mind was transported to the previous night. Ryan's eyes, swallowed by the insufficiency of the street light, had borne a sharp hesitation as he'd hailed the oncoming traffic. A lone , sleek black Chevrolet, coming to a halt , had been the only traffic on the bare highway of promise married with ultimatum . "I'll go Liam, if this will save you , buy you some time. I mean , it's wrong and I know it , and I don't feel I'm doing you right, but, I owe you." Ryan's gaze rested on a space between the stars as his voice hollowed out, a cool edge welding his plea. "Please don't thank me. Not ever. But ...forgivefeeding me . In time I need to know that you'll see what I'm doing as what I have to -for you , and not as some calculated mistake. " Liam , gazing directly into Ryan's peripheral vision, said , without missing a beat. "Ry' , I'm telling you to do this , don't you ever blame yourself for what happens -don't you dare, for one second , frame this in your mind as betrayal-" Ryan then pulled Liam into a hug that burned with regret , their shoulders drawn together with a deliberate force, as Ryan's arm came down over Liam's back. Reciprocating with a firm arm around Ryan's neck, he placed an open palm on the back of his head. "Don't let them strip your humanity , now go-" There was a desperation in Ryan's grip as his his palm searched for extra time in Liam's jacket, his fingers twisting through the fabric. "Damnit, if they break us-I just need you to know; We've seen hell, and there may be no heaven , but there's being alive . cling onto that , Li' ." Liam flashed a lopsided grin, his right dimple enlivening its usual position as he smiled "Well give the bastards hell, Ry, I'll see you on the other side-" As Ryan stalled a second longer he added , "I'd better, and that's a threat." His slate -gray inflection , with an ounce of its coolness heated with urgency , rasped as he released Liam from his embrace and backed away as if he were weighed down with bricks. The passenger door caught in the moonlight as he slid down into the Chevrolet and disappeared. Liam's eyes flew open , and the scorn of his binds jolted him into reality. "So the plan is , to torture me with Ryan's captivity. But, if he were to die , before me , what do you have left. My wife and three kids-" Valen's reply was as audible as a pin dropping, and Liam resisted his own tears as hands rested on his thorax . a finger escalated his ribcage , now a perilous stairway to his primal despair. "Ah Liam, joke of your imaginary life, but do not call the bluff on the only real family you have , his life is-disposable , but fascinating beautiful in the way it could visit that place I cannot , simply by being extinguished. A flame can just-" the snapping of Valen's fingers caused Liam to blink away a tear , his jaw trembling with the tension as he denied his humanity. His empathy simmered behind his eyelids as he watched the insides of them swim with moisture. "I implore you to kill me first-A suicidal cannon will only light up the sky when the wick burns out. If you exterminate my only reason to breathe-what then? Let me go and have a fading trail -or torture his existence with mine?" . The complexity ignited a strange amusement in Valen's response , eliciting a new depth of laughter . "Ah Liam , you are a mental fortress of entertainment, but even the cryptic suggestion that without him you'll be nothing, you've transcended the reason I am tracing your ribcage with an ease. You are yet to contemplate the heart of my intentions. It may take some time -I'll afford you astoo long as you need Li' . Ryan has -more than enough time to wait for your revelation. To hear its undertones in your screams. " Liam lay in the cling wrap of sweat, not quite daring to let his mind connect the dots that reeled across the concrete , like a constellation of fallen stars . Whether it had become day, or remained night, failed to matter. The magenta haze was all consuming. Everywhere, and he was nowhere. Ryan had been eerily quiet . And his voice was only a plea away from escaping him. "I knew from the start , your true intention.....I've always understood the purpose of my life -to kill me -but not to end my misery. To destroy Ryan. Because unlike me-Ryan believes in -humanity. in dignity. He's everything you can't be . Morally good . You have to end me -to truly leave a mark that will sear like a brand . But good luck with that . Because he did make a promise and you can't stop a lawful good from his word-" Valen's clap, a drawn out slap of his palms together , held a faint mockery. "Perhaps that might have been a nice twist to play with. Killing you, to watch Ryan suffer. Or killing him ti destroy you. Perhaps I may play with my food , or throw in complementaries with the service . Keep thinking Liam. What we don't know , can indeed be dangerous. But what we do know, can be a slow burning nightmare. " As the air crept closer , Liam cursed under his breath. His cards flashed their expiry dates as he almost threw his failed royal flush across the table. But all he mustered was a faint "you'll be waiting a while .. maybe I never figure it out..." Valen , laughing at the delight in his own voice , positioned his mouth at Liam's ear. "You will come to a conclusion , and don't tell me about it. I'll feel it in your waters as you drown" Liam's weakened mindset crumbled with dehydration, and malnourishment, as he grappled with a notion that almost set fire to his lungs. "The Vanderine- you've never ingested it. You won't . Implant it in me. But my body won't make it over the border in this condition. Implant Ryan , he can't hold it down as long as me. Kill Ryan , and torture me . kill me and torture him. kill is both and the game ends . But there's only one thing-" . Valen's eyes lit up , pyromania dancing wildly in his pupils, "you're getting warmer, Liam. I think you may already be .. burning. Shall I throw you into the ocean yet or would you like a moment?" Liam's blood , screeching to a halt in his veins, choked as he whispered "You need me-alive-because you don't have anyone else left to hide the drug inside of - you were never trying to preserve it , you need -to display it, showcase its fucking beauty , in the middle of nowhere . Have someone , at the right , opportune moment , but what doesn't add up is -why hide it inside me . Ifit is--and I'm not a vessel of transportation , why not just give the damn substance to -why implant it? " Liam's thoughts , blurred together by sheer panic , hadthe most stable guest." She laughed as she let her hand slide from his shoulder. "Ethan could out-eat us all, so don't worry about that. Just take care out here." And as she walked away, he rested his head against the flesh of his palm, the solitude granting him screaming , "Ryan , I'm sorry !" . Preserving his silence, Valen produced a gleaming sac from his pocket , and crouched by Liam's temple , placing and unlacing his boot as he hummed. "I want the world to see , how this drug , this vile responsibility to traffic something so resistant to ingestion ,a moment of clarity--one that he could never share. A melody in the corner of his mind, one that he could hum, roughly, in the back of his dry throat. "Yeah, Mason, you're everywhere, and nowhere, buddy. How many years has it been and you'll always be omnipresent. But at least I can be hidden inside even the weakest, most unsaleable , adverse body. Andlive with that." -- Liam glared into the darkness, the dust in his eyes unforgiving. The melody sank in a haunting tune through the night. "Cause there's a place , a place deep inside youof me where my dreams have a hold of me...and soon my soul will start to bleed..." Liam's voice broke off as he raked a tremor through his hair. "I still miss him," Liam said, uncertain if Ryan could hear his musings. "Hey, Ry...how long have we been lying in this hell hole?" He asked, the silence torn by Ryan's answer, "Too long. And yeah, I heard you saying something about 'if you play Wonderwall, you'll look like a total tool' in your sleep, presumably to someone who could play music." Ryan smiled, but it never reached his eyes as he added, "He really was a brother to you, huh? And don't lie because I'll know...and then I'll feel bad about giving ya this." As Liam dismissed a tear at the corner of his eye, he reached over to where Ryan lay, holding a piece of paper. "Music? You wrote music. What is this, Ry? You never told me you could--" Liam said, his eyes adjusting to the dark with a vulnerability that settled between them. Ryan, smiling with a broadness that reached his eyes, glanced at the paper with a nod. "Ah, I might have written down that song you insist on humming in your damned sleep. I knew it had some meaning, although I don't know what...least I could do for you, Li'." As his irises shone with another sheen of tears, Liam said quietly, "Mason could have played this--while I ruined the lyrics." Looking up from his boots, Ryan held a somber smile. "If I'd have known you way back then, I'm damned sure I'd have held you both to that." As Liam returned the nod, he folded the paper and tucked it into his duffel bag, magenta particles stirring in the air. "I know...He really was a huge chunk of my adolescence just...gone like...well, anyway, the music, when we get our hands on a guitar..." Ryan shook his head, angling his jaw in his hand. "Nah, we're in the middle of nowhere, and it'll never happen. But you got me, brother." Liam, smiling faintly, replied, "I know. We've seen so much that , well , does it make me an asshoke for being happy that it can be retainedMason died young, untainted by the trauma. I mean he could've lived a different life from us -and maybe I'm wrong to hope he's in a better -" As Ryan leaned back against the filth-stained wall , his voice contemplated the environment . But also"It's not wrong to want him to have a peace we may never find. It's human. " As Liam gazed back, conflict in his eyes he'd said "Y'know , there's a place inside you that I can visit along the way. I won't overstay my welcome, I promisesomething I had back home. And it's likely I'll never see it again, I was carrying a part of it with me for years , but just knowing I kept it safe...I chose to leave it with him and--". Words eluded Liam in the darkness, as Ryan's features , found by the moonlight, left him unable to deflect his gaze . You're right about me not getting your deteriorated meat suit over any borders but. business calls"I feel as though, he wasn't a friend-he wasn't a comrade-he was a sibling, blood was all we didn't share . And I take walks in the parkeven then when he needed a transfusion... I was the first to roll up my damned sleeve. And I wasnt the Ab neg he was-" In a hushed tone Ryan asked , "You think not being compatible was somehow a fault -but Li' , have you heard-well yourself? He could play better than Van Halen I'm guessing', and you could've ruined more than just his lyrics with those pipes . I stop to smell the roses . I admire the architecture and I never pass up a strollDon't make me say it again." Liam fell silent, and Ryan flopped backwards onto his makeshift bed. "It's alright Li'. Just get some sleep, and don't--" It was almost automatic as Liam replied, "Yeah, yeah, don't 'thank you.' I know, I'm welcome, huh? Yeah, goodnight, Ry." As Ryan's muttering hit the wall, Liam's mind sifted through the Sistine Chapel after dark..." In Liam's resounding screams, his voice begged Ryan to hear what he could muster . "Don't ... you ...ever... letcatalog of melodies Mason had played. And, amongst the static, a distinct composition of chords found their way back to him. "And if I fall beneath the cracks, if I find you in the darkness, brother, will you still have the heart to see? When I close my broken body... be your mistake. I'm thanking you, and there's nothing to for-" His mouth, slamming closed with the brutal mercy of the concrete , bleed through his teeth. "Oh , Ryan , he says you're welcome , and there's plenty he can't forget, nor forgive, nor forgo not even forbid. He's bound, and he's listening and oh his heart's beating-so thank him for being alive. thank him for being too pristine to make an exhibition that can illuminate a thousand skies. Thank good 'ol Ryan for not embodying the toxic playground you breathe to life..." In a flinching movement , Liam turned his cheekeyes and my memories start to fade, when the filter falls away, a tear streaking it, unseen . Only the metal walls could witness his release . With an even voice he said, "His promise..when he executes it.. he can stand on the edge of the universe, and smile for us both. There's a place neither of us can ever visit. Except him. So send him there, Valen. But know that to win, you lose. I'm dying , it's not a secret, that even without you, I could never survive without freedom, without water , and soon. Without vital nutrients. I'm already gone . But Ryan-" Valen , resting a hand on the back of a Liam's head, countered with a sliver of mock empathy. "Oh , Ryan will smile , when he-goes to a place where you die . And he lives? Or-is his heaven a place you think you can't go ? But what if, you knew Ryan's purpose? Why Liam , do you think, I have retained his bones for so long. He's had no purpose. And yet, he's far more valuable to my operation than you. He can't see it. But ponder , for a moment, where he might be heading , for you.. " . As Liam felt the insidious surreality impaling his senses, he was alone in his depraved pyche, and his own screams would fall to a deaf grave. His whisper laced the air. "Ryan is silent , is he not ? And somehow , he's been a bystander . Watching it all, hearing it all. With glass caged eyes. And you need -a witness. To see your exhibition. To be the embodiment of wonderment. But consider this. What if Ryan was that sightless traveller I reserve my landmark for?" Liam began to sing, in perfect key, "'Cause there's a hunger, a longing to escape, from the life I live when I'm awake, so let's go there, let's make our escape, come on, let's go there, let's ask can we stay? Oh can you take me higher? to a place where blind men see, can you take me higher? To a place with golden streets. " . His rasping lullaby was eerie in the silence , and his heartbeat twisted as he heard a crystalline heave from the distance. Ryan's response was beyond primal, as silence enslaved his sorrow in a prison . Valen was gone from Liam's side , and a sickening groan permeated the air . "His gag needed a little readjusting..." Liam delivers a direct gaze , one filled with challenge , "now ask, and then know , what Ryan promised me and then ask the depths of your twisted soul , can you live with failure so profound , it could encompass your soul and -" . Valen's eyes , staring back with a devoid expression, mirrored and ocean of tar as he drawled his words. "Ahh hell. He can't fulfill that promise in binds. " Liam smiled , a slow, almost manic smile , his teeth saturated in blood. "But Valen, how do we know , for sure , he hasn't already - has he been lying here this whole , grandiose time , watching me , and watching you, through a filter of handicapped brilliance? Is what he sees , far more beautiful than what either of us can imagine?"you find the strength to stay?"