Warning: Even when the first few chapters will be relatively light, the subsequent chapters could trigger some people. Themes like torture, human experimentation and even SA of a minor, discretion is adviced.

The Starvation Experiment.

Violet's body trembled as she leaned against the cold, unforgiving wall of the glass cell. Every breath felt shallow, her chest tight with a dull ache that never seemed to fade. The hunger was relentless, a gnawing void in her stomach that had twisted into a searing pain. Her ribs jutted sharply under her thinning skin, and her hands shook so badly that she could barely hold them still.

Her lips were cracked, her throat dry to the point that swallowing felt like sandpaper scraping down her esophagus. Her head throbbed in waves, each pulse a reminder of how little her body had left to give. She couldn't even remember the taste of food—just the phantom memory of chewing, of swallowing something solid.

Across the cell, Dash was slumped on the floor. His skin was pale and clammy, his once-lively blue eyes dull and unfocused. Violet's heart broke at the sight of him. Every shallow rise and fall of his chest was a battle.

She tried to speak, but her voice came out as a cracked whisper. "Dash... stay with me, okay?"

He didn't respond.

Her head jerked up at the sudden hiss of machinery. A small compartment in the wall opened, revealing a single, stale piece of bread. Its scent—faint and dry—reached her, and her stomach twisted violently in response.

The bread might as well have been a feast. Every fiber of her being screamed for it. Her vision blurred as her instincts surged forward: take it, eat it, survive.

The scientist's voice echoed through the intercom. "Subject A 002, this ration will sustain one of you for the next 24 hours. Choose wisely."

Violet stared at the bread, her breath shallow and ragged. She felt like a wolf being taunted with a scrap of meat, the promise of relief just inches away. Her fingers twitched, desperate to grab it and devour it in one ravenous bite.

But then her eyes fell on Dash.

He lay on the cold floor, his chest barely moving with shallow, uneven breaths. His once-vibrant skin was pale and gaunt, his cheeks hollow. He didn't even have the strength to look at the tray. Violet's heart wrenched as she thought about his metabolism—faster, burning through whatever reserves he had left. He didn't stand a chance if he didn't eat.

Dash's chest barely moved, his breaths so shallow they were almost imperceptible. His arms were limp at his sides, and his head hung forward. He looked like he was already slipping away.

The smell of it hit her again, stronger now, and her stomach twisted violently, the pain nearly bringing her to her knees. She closed her eyes, her body screaming for relief, for sustenance. Every instinct, every survival mechanism told her to eat.

But Dash needs it more.*

Her hands shook as she broke off the smallest possible piece, barely the size of a coin. She hesitated for a moment, staring at the crumb in her hand. *It's not enough. It won't stop the hunger.*

But she forced it into her mouth anyway, her jaw aching as she chewed. The tiny piece barely registered, dissolving into nothing against the cavernous emptiness inside her. The rest of the bread remained in her hands, heavy as lead.

With agonizing slowness, she crawled toward Dash, each movement a battle. Her knees scraped against the cold floor, her body trembling violently with the effort.

"Dash," she whispered, her voice breaking. She shook his shoulder weakly. "Here... take this."

Dash's eyelids fluttered open, his gaze unfocused. He looked at the bread in her hand, and his brow furrowed in confusion.

"No," he rasped, his voice barely audible. "You need it. You'll—"

"Shut up," Violet croaked, tears streaming down her face. "You're taking it."

"I can't... Vi, I—"

"Eat!" she snapped, her voice cracking with desperation. "You have to eat, Dash. Don't argue with me."

With one hand she pressed the bread to his lips. He hesitated, his body too weak to resist, and finally took a bite.

Dash stared at her, tears welling in his sunken eyes. As he chewed slowly, tears spilled down his cheeks.

"I'm sorry, Vi," he choked.

Violet's chest tightened, but she forced a weak smile. "It's okay, Dash. This... this is what big sisters do. I've got you."

Dash bit into the bread, and the sound of him chewing was agonizing to Violet. Every bite felt like a dagger in her stomach, but she kept her gaze on him, forcing herself to stay strong.

As Dash ate, with tears still falling from his cheeks. The memory of their kitchen at home came rushing back to him—the pancakes, the laughter, the warmth of their family. Now, here he was, eating while his sister starved beside him.

"I hate them," Dash muttered through a sob, his voice trembling. "I hate them for doing this to us."

"I know," she whispered. "But we're going to get through this. Together."

Dash swallowed the last of the bread. With the little strength he regained he reached out weakly, gripping her hand. "I'll make it up to you, Vi," he promised, his voice shaking. "I swear."

Violet didn't respond, too weak to speak. But she squeezed his hand, letting him know she heard him, even as the pain in her stomach became a constant, gnawing ache.