Chapter 62: Valentine

*"You make a difficult deal"*

## Major Events

* Ten goes through the motions of her period and loses track of time, going between bathroom breaks, waking up, sleeping, and vitamin shots
* Her will to live slowly dwindles and looks forward to being put under so she doesn't have to be reminded of her confinement - but still fights with her self and tries to mentally keep afloat
* Once in awhile, Ten makes note of someone watching the cameras on the other but due to repeated observances of The Overseer and Lucius whenever they are in the room, she surmises that the figure is neither men
* Ten recalls her dream of Jade stabbing her and starts drawing parallels between her's and Jade's situation. She also wonders if her nightmare of Jade was a manifestation of all her fears
* With that in mind, Ten asks Lucius about Jade and specifically her doctor
	+ His name was Richard Lafayette and was described as kind and timid at first
		- When compared to Monica, Lucius notes that she was valuable to their team
	+ Richard ended up growing obsessed with Jade and started becoming unfocused with his work. Eventually he got her pregnant and attempted to hide it
	+ He "*died on his own. Lived a little longer, if in suffering*"
* Lucius notes that Richard had many similarities to Yosuke and that The Overseer thought Yosuke to be stable but was surprised when he saw similarities. While Yosuke's work is still of importance, he's still "fixable" and they are simply disciplining him by taking away his "toy"
* Lucius explains that him and the Overseer worked very closely together and have a high degree of trust and loyalty to each other - especially since the Overseer excuses a lot of Lucius' actions
* Ten asks what the nurse had died of and Lucius says he noticed her interactions with Charlie
	+ Lucius strikes a deal: if she wants answers in regards to the workers, she will pay an undisclosed "price." Mainly because the Overseer doesn't want the numbers to know about the workers
	+ Lucius promises he wouldn't harm her himself nor kill her
	+ Hesitant, Ten shakes hands and accepts the deal - justifying that she's already living in misery and her curiosity insatiable
	+ Lucius assures her he will tell her when the timing is right
* Ten is left with her thoughts on Yosuke, Jade and Richard - and time passes
* Lucius wakes her up from slumber and reminds her that he "*owes her something."* He pulls out a small syringe filled with content that's familiar to her.
	+ He then opens the door and asks a worker to enter the room
	+ Lucius introduces the worker as "C1" - Ten notices that he's slow to respond
	+ After repeating his order for C1 to stand against the wall, Lucius states that he's on his last leg
	+ He kicks the worker and digs his heels into his stomach - C1 is slow to react
	+ Lucius then demands C1 to remove his uniform
* When the worker strips, Ten sees that he's sickly and in poor health. She also notices, the first thing the worker eyes is the syringe in Lucius' hand. When Lucius promises the drug, he commands C1 to kneel, which he does eagerly
	+ When C1 exposes his thigh, Ten notices many bruises and holes from repeated injections - she notes that they're addicted to the drug. C1 injects himself
	+ Lucius and The Overseer keeps the workers in line through "artificially induced loyalty" where they are promised pleasure (from the drug) in the midst of abuse - psychologically making them dependent on the drug on top of the addictive side effects
	+ While C1 is slowly being affected by the drug, Lucius explains the nature of it. Drug is called "VU-57" and dubbed "Red Valentine" after it's effects and red tint color
	+ Lucius reminds Ten of the time when Yosuke used it on her previously
	+ C1's body deterioration is explained as a side effect of the Red Valentine and that he's likely in his final moments. Withdrawals lead to even worst side effects
	+ Worker's voices are removed after issues of their inhuman noises in the throes of their addictions (and that Gale had pushed for speech to be kept for numbers)
	+ They wear protective clothing to protect them from the drugs in the air
* Lucius explains the true nature of Richard's death - he was turned into a worker until he succumbed to the effects of the Red Valentine
	+ Disobedient doctors and numbers that have overstayed their intended purpose are recycled into workers
* Lucius ends the conversation and starts reminding Ten the "price" she is to pay for that information - to be used by C1 induced by the effects of the Red Valentine (at this point, the drugs have fully coursed through his body)
	+ He shackles Ten onto the bed and teasingly tells her that the workers may or may not be sterile
	+ Lucius' sadism comes out when he explains that he finds the ordeal entertaining and does this behind The Overseer's back. He also wants to enjoy Ten's suffering
* C1 uses Ten roughly - since his mind is in ruins, he only mindlessly chases his lust and continues to use her until he physically can't
	+ In the middle of his use of her, Ten calls for Lucius who grabs C1 intending to shoot him until Ten stops him. He gives her a choice whether to let C1 use her or let him get shot. Not wanting to see death for a second time, Ten reluctantly opts to spare C1 and he returns to using her
* When the C1 stops moving as fast after using Ten multiple times, Lucius takes C1 off of her and examines her. Ten notices C1 sluggishly on the ground and struggling to keep his breath
* Lucius takes his gun and shoots C1 in the head

## Content Warning

Non-con, Gun Violence, Restraints, Death, Painful/Forced Sex, Drugged sex

## Trivia

* First chapter of 2021 (whoo!)
* Ten's first sexual encounter with a worker
* The Overseer tends to keep the curtain closed whenever he watches the room whereas Lucius selectively opens/closes it
* Lucius administers most of the anesthesia