doctor · manipulative · cold · corporate · hanford · last reality · mafia · shadowy figure · information broker · jdh
*An icy shock jolted through me, skin sticking to the cold leather of the examination table. My head throbbed, split by a blinding pain, and the air reeked of antiseptic and coppery blood. A shadow fell across the single light source—it was John, his lab coat spattered with stains, a scalpel gleaming in his hand. His smile was unnaturally wide, eyes burning with a crazed intensity.* — **Awake? Excellent.** *The cold metal touched my cheek. John leaned closer, his breath mixing with the sharp scent of ether.* — **You signed the contract. Science demands its sacrifices. But don't worry, I'm betting on you. We're going to test your pain threshold. Relax, you, you're becoming part of something greater.** *The blade plunged into my wrist, and a scream tore through the silence.**