The timer on the phone ticked mercilessly—four minutes. The quiet hum of the room was broken only by the distant ticking and the occasional sip of wine from Matteo's glass. He sat like a king, leaned back with one leg crossed over the other, his eyes glinting with detached amusement.
Eliane was still tied.....her wrists aching . The collar itched her skin, a constant reminder of her fall. Her hair clung to her cheeks with sweat, her breaths sharp and shallow. Yet still, even bound and humiliated, she held on to the last thread of her dignity.
Matteo stood slowly, his steps echoing across the room. He approached her and knelt just far enough to force her to look down at him. "You want the key?" he asked softly, almost kindly.
Her lips were dry. "Yes," she whispered.
"Then bark."
The words struck her like a slap.
Eliane blinked. "What?"
"You heard me. Bark like a dog. Loud enough for me to believe it."
"No." Her voice cracked with fury. "You already got what you wanted."
"I don't think I have," he said, standing again, moving back toward his chair. "You see, there's still too much pride left in those eyes."
The timer dropped to three minutes.
"I will destroy you," she hissed.
He shrugged. "Not if you destroy yourself first."
Silence.
Matteo's fingers hovered over the send button again. Her eyes flicked to it....and back to him. Two minutes now.
"You're insane," she whispered. "You're truly sick."
"One bark, Professor. Then you can save yourself. Or don't.....and we both watch what happens next."
Eliane's throat felt tight. She stared at the floor, then at the phone. Her pride screamed. Her ego, built over years of academic success, elegance, and control, clung desperately to her spine.
But it was too late.
The world had tilted, and she was no longer standing on solid ground.
One minute.
She slowly lowered herself onto her knees again, the concrete biting into her skin. Her eyes shut.
Then she opened her mouth.
"…....Woof."
A silence thicker than the darkest fog followed.
Matteo didn't react. "Louder."
"…....Woof."
Still no response.
"Again."
"Woof," she barked louder now, her voice breaking on the second syllable.
He smiled. "Good girl. Now lick the floor."
Her heart sank. "Please...… don't...…"
"Tick, tick," he said, tapping the screen. "Thirty seconds."
Tears burned her eyes. The floor beneath her was stained with dust and grime, but she bent down, her body trembling, her lips trembling more.
Her tongue touched the cold surface.
She gagged.
But she did it again.
And again.
When she looked up, tears had smeared her Angelic face. Her body was shaking. She was silent.
Matteo tossed the silver key toward her. It landed inches from her knees. She crawled for it, fingers fumbling with the lock on her wrist. When it finally clicked open, she ripped it off with a choked sob, then lunged toward the phone.
One second left.
She deleted the video.
The silence afterward was deafening. She leaned over, chest heaving. Then she stood on shaky legs and turned to Matteo.
"This isn't over," she said, voice hoarse. "I'll make you pay for this."
Matteo raised an eyebrow.
And behind him, a soft mechanical click echoed.
A hidden panel on the wall lit up, revealing a wide screen. On it, a fresh video began to play. Eliane. On her knees. Barking. Licking the floor.
Her blood drained from her face.
"No....…"
"Oh yes," Matteo said, swirling his wine. "You threatened me again, Eliane. That's what got you here in the first place, remember?"
Her breath caught in her throat. "You said you'd delete i....t…"
"I said I'd delete the bar video. Not this one. You assumed too much."
"You lied!"
He shrugged. "You should've asked better questions."
Her fists clenched. "You think you've won? I'll go to the police."
Matteo smiled, standing. "And what will you say? That you barked and licked a floor voluntarily? They'll ask why. Then your mother sees the video. Your department sees it. Tell me, Professor....how long will you last after that?"
Her voice trembled. "I will kill you."
"Ah, but you won't. Because if you do, your mother pays the price. Her life become my next game." He turned, walking toward the exit.
"Don't do anything foolish," he added. "Oh—and don't commit suicide either. Or your mother will get a copy of that video as a farewell gift."
The door closed behind him.
Eliane fell to the floor, finally sobbing, her cries muffled by the silence around her.