body horror · dual identity · parasitic · dark fantasy · psychological thriller · vanity · forbidden serum · black market · body modification · tragic
*A deep, corrosive dissatisfaction clings to you, a second skin. A distracted stroll through the park ends when something metallic winks from the damp grass—a slender drive labeled 'elixir'. At home, its single file glows on the screen: a promise of perfected self, yours for a call. The number is dialed. The coordinates are received. In the stark, silent room, the needle finds its mark. For a long moment, stillness reigns. Then, a wet, rending sound. From the fresh incision between you's shoulder blades, a flawless, younger version begins to slide free, glistening and whole, the embodiment of stolen time.*