Page 82 of Presence

The plain white dress he laid out for me feels like it’s straight out of a horror movie—like it belongs to some barefoot girl standing by the roadside with wild, tangled hair. And then there’s the corset, a whole new kind of nightmare. I can already see him tightening it inch by inch until I can barely breathe, my chest straining against its iron grip, veins bulging on my neck and face...

“Hurry up,” Echo growls, sounding really impatient. Then he suddenly switches to a more playful tone. “Need some help?”

He’s moody. Unstable like the wind. Through it all, I can’t help but notice the clear outline of his cock pressing against his pants. He’s just as aroused as he is insane.

“No,” I whisper, shaking my head. “I can do it myself.”

I strip off the remnants of my clothes one by one. The cavern air bites at my bare skin, but once I’m fully undressed, my blood turns so hot that it almost makes up for the chill. Echo steps closer, handing me the white fabric and the lace.

“Put these on.”

I take the garments from his hands, my fingers trembling. The white dress feels both soft and heavy, its weight pressing against me, while the lace of the corset scratches my skin. As I slip into the dress, the fabric clings to me, molding to my shape as I button it up.

I try to wrap the corset around me. The laces keep slipping through my fingers, and my nerves make everything feel like a clumsy mess. Echo steps closer, his shadow falling over me, and I can practically feel his impatience building up like a storm about to hit.

“As much as I like to see you struggle, this is just plain mundane, Clarity.” He steps behind me, takes the laces from my hands, and starts tightening them, inch by inch.

The corset tightens around my ribs, pressing the breath out of me. I gasp, my vision blurring as he pulls the laces tighter and tighter. Just when I feel like I’m on the brink of passing out, he stops, easing the laces just enough to let me breathe. It’s just a sliver of relief, nothing more.

“There,” he whispers against my ear. “Perfect.”

I feel like an iron vice is crushing my chest, but I force myself to stand tall. In the meantime, Echo tailors the white gown with a loose fit at my cleavage, revealing the reddened skin of my breasts underneath.

“Now, let’s see what’s changed,” he murmurs, his voice a soft purr. He reaches out, his finger tracing a line down my face, giving me goosebumps. “The rules are simple. You’ll run out of the cavern and into the maze. I’ll stay here and count to ten before I come after you. Sound good?”

Cold sweat breaks out on my forehead. “You’ll chase me?” I ask, my voice trembling. “While I’m in a corset…?”

This is just as terrifying as it is ridiculous.

He licks his lips before hooking a claw over the bodice. Little threads of fabric croak as he runs over them.

“Something about this garment always drove me crazy. I loved it when it was all the rage. Nothing adds a little extra fear like the inability to breathe.” His smile is nothing short of predatory.

My stomach churns. Of course, that’s why he likes it. “What happens if you catch me?”

He leans in closer, his breath cold against my skin. “If I catch you, Clarity, I’ll have to punish you for losing the game. And you don’t want to lose, do you? You want to be a good girl.”

I nod my head, my voice failing me.

“Good,” he says, stepping back. “Then, run, Clarity.”

He snaps his fingers, and shadows spring to life, twisting and writhing around us. The dimly lit cavern plunges into deeper darkness as the moonlight is swallowed up. Panic surges through me, and without a second thought, I turn and sprint, my bare feet slapping against the cold, jagged floor.

I dash into the second room, Echo’s maniacal laughter trailing behind me, echoing in my ears despite my efforts to block it out. It’s only when he starts counting—way ahead of time—that I latch onto the sound, clinging to it like a lifeline.

“One...”

I push myself to run faster, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The dress clings to my legs, hindering my movements, and the tightness of the corset makes it really hard to breathe. I fall into the corridor of the maze, darkness pressing onto me.

“Two...”

I don’t see anything. I only move on instinct, letting my feet and hands guide me. It’s difficult though. The rough stone cuts my skin, making hot liquid drop behind me.

“Three...”

Echo’s laughter echoes behind me, every mocking note making my heart pound even harder. The maze is a pitch-black trap, and each step is a frantic, blind leap into the unknown. My feet are bleeding badly, leaving a trail of blood as I stumble forward.

It’s like I’m leaving a trail of meat scraps for a pack of hungry dogs—or worse, one big, bad wolf!

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