Chapter One - Day 178

Charlie’s heart pounded as he watched Lina sleep, her brown curls scattered across the pillow. She looked peaceful, breathing slowly and evenly, likely drugged the same way he had been when they brought him here. His mind raced, but the only thing he could think to do was whisper into the silence.

“What is this? What is she doing here?”

The answer appeared on the screen in crisp, glowing text.

THIS IS YOUR REWARD. REMEMBER?

Charlie furrowed his brow, confusion and frustration bubbling inside him. “What reward? What are you talking about?”

YOUR 10K CALORIE DAY.

The words sat on the screen, plain and casual. Charlie tried to piece it together, dragging the memory back into focus. The cupcakes. The heaviness in his gut afterward. The message flashing on the screen congratulating him on reaching 10,000 calories. It was weeks ago at least, maybe longer.

“That was forever ago,” Charlie muttered. “I forgot about it.”

IT TOOK SOME TIME TO FIND THE RIGHT MOMENT.

Charlie’s pulse quickened as he glanced back at Lina, lying still and unaware of her new reality. A knot tightened in his chest, anger building alongside disbelief. He shook his head, trying to grasp what kind of twisted logic they were operating on.

“How is this a reward?” His voice rose to a harsh whisper as he turned toward the screen. “You kidnapped one of my friends and dumped her here. How is that supposed to be a reward?”

For a brief moment, the screen went dark, as if considering his outburst. Then, the words returned.

DON’T YOU THINK HAVING A COMPANION WILL MAKE THINGS EASIER?

Charlie’s fists clenched, heat spreading across his face. He stared at the screen, fury mounting. Easier? He didn’t even know what that meant anymore. His life had become an endless blur of meals and isolation. The last thing he wanted was to drag someone else into it, especially Lina.

“No,” Charlie snapped, shaking his head. “Are you insane? I don’t want this! Send her back!”

The screen didn’t hesitate: IT’S TOO LATE FOR THAT.

--- --- --- --- ---

Charlie sat at the small table, his leg bouncing uncontrollably as he waited for Lina to wake. It had been over an hour since he woke, and she was still asleep. He worried maybe something was wrong. Was she meant to still be knocked out? His eyes drifted back to her every few moments, half hoping she'd stay asleep a little longer, just so he could delay the inevitable. His heart raced. What would she think of all this? Of him?

She was going to be scared, there was no question about that. Waking up in a strange room, knowing nothing, trapped like he had been. And no matter how many times he told himself that it wasn’t his fault, the guilt still gnawed at him. She’s here because of me, he thought. Whether he wanted this or not didn’t matter. They had taken her because of him.

Would she blame him? The thought made his stomach twist. His mind raced with worst-case scenarios: Lina screaming at him, accusing him, hating him. But that wasn’t the only thing on his mind, and he hated himself for it. What is she going to think of how I look?

Charlie shifted uncomfortably in his chair, rubbing a hand over his beard. It had grown out thick and scruffy after months without proper grooming. He ran his fingers through his hair again, trying to make it sit right, but it was pointless. Everything about him felt off, foreign.

What really worried him, though, was his body. He could only imagine her reaction when she saw him like this, so much heavier than before. Even now, the oversized clothing they’d given him didn’t hide the new softness that clung to every inch of him.

What’s she going to say when she sees me like this?

Charlie glanced at the bed just as Lina stirred, letting out a soft groan. His heart jumped into his throat, and he stopped breathing for a moment, watching as she shifted under the covers. She rubbed her face and rolled around a bit, her expression groggy and confused.

"Lina?" Charlie called softly, keeping his voice low and careful, not wanting to startle her.

Her eyelids fluttered open, brows furrowing as her gaze slowly swept the room, trying to make sense of where she was. Charlie could see worry seeping into her expression with every passing second. She jumped slightly when her eyes landed on him, her chest rising and falling faster. After a moment of fear, her expression gave way to recognition, and then returned to confusion. She blinked in disbelief.

“...Charlie?” she whispered, her voice raspy with sleep.

He gave a small, awkward nod, feeling heat rise to his face under her stare.

Lina’s brows drew tighter, and her gaze flickered over him—his broader frame, the fullness in his face, the way his belly pressed softly against his shirt even as he sat slouched in the chair.

Charlie looked away, embarrassed under her scrutiny. He tugged at the hem of his shirt, wishing it were longer, baggier, anything to hide what he'd become.

“What...” Lina shook her head slowly, as if trying to clear the fog from her mind. Her confusion melted into alarm. “What’s going on? Where are we?”

Before Charlie could respond, Lina pushed herself up on shaky arms, her breath quickening. “What is this?” Panic flickered in her eyes as she looked around again, now fully awake. “Charlie, what’s happening? What are we doing here?”

Charlie opened his mouth to answer, but the screen came to life, drawing both of their attention.

WELCOME, LINA.

Lina's gaze snapped to the screen, her eyes wide with disbelief. “What the fuck…”

Charlie ran a hand down his face, dreading what was about to unfold.

The words on the screen shifted. LINA, YOU HAVE BEEN BROUGHT HERE TO SERVE AS CHARLIE’S COMPANION AND FEEDER.

For a moment, the room was completely still. Charlie stared at the words, his heart sinking into his stomach. He couldn’t believe what he was reading.

“What?” both he and Lina said in unison. The screen had told him she was there as a companion, a sick reward. Not to… feed him.

Lina’s voice cracked. “What the hell does that mean?”

The screen, mercilessly indifferent, continued: YOU WILL PROVIDE HIM WITH COMPANY AND ASSIST IN HIS PROGRESS TOWARD HIS GOAL WEIGHT.

Charlie felt the ground fall out from under him. He slumped forward, burying his face in his hands. “Oh my God…”

Lina’s breathing grew erratic as she read the words on the screen and shook her head. She didn’t seem to understand any of it. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, gripping the edge of the mattress as if it could anchor her to reality.

She looked at Charlie, her eyes filled with panic and disbelief. “Charlie? I don’t get what I’m doing here. What does that even mean?” Her voice rose with each word. “Charlie, can you say something? What the hell is going on?!”

Charlie could barely lift his head, his mind reeling. “I… I don’t know,” he whispered, feeling utterly helpless.

Lina’s expression twisted in anguish. She began to walk toward the bathroom, making the same assumption Charlie had, and met the same disappointment.

“Where the hell is the door? Charlie, we have to leave!” Her hand clutched her chest, as if trying to calm her heart, likely going a million miles a minute. She ran to Charlie and pulled on his arm as tears started to stream down her face. “Charlie, please! How do we get out of here?” Lina began sobbing as she looked around in fear, clutching his arm as if it were the only safe object in the room.

Charlie felt sick. His hands trembled, limp in his lap as Lina fell to his feet and tugged at his arm. Guilt clawed at him. How could he explain this to her? That there was no way out and no one to save them? What could he possibly say to make her feel better?

Lina dropped her head into her hands, her breathing ragged. “I want to go home…” she breathed between sobs.