**Chapter 12: The Bargain**

Kieran trudged along beside Ellie, his eyes fixed on the ground as he tried to avoid the stares of passersby. He couldn't believe he was still trapped in this nightmare, forced to endure her cruelty and humiliation. As they walked, he gathered his courage and decided to try and reason with her. "Ellie, can we talk?" he asked, his voice low and hesitant. Ellie raised an eyebrow, her expression intrigued. "What is it, Kieran?" she asked, her tone dripping with amusement. Kieran took a deep breath and plunged ahead. "I was thinking, maybe we can work out some kind of bargain. I'll do extra chores, or behave, or whatever you want, if you'll just ease up on the humiliations." Ellie laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "You think you can bargain with me, Kieran?" she asked, her eyes glinting with contempt. "You think you're in a position to make deals?" Kieran felt a surge of desperation, but he refused to give up. "Please, Ellie, just listen," he begged. "I'll do anything. I'll be your foot slave, I'll wear whatever you want, I'll do whatever tasks you give me. Just please, stop humiliating me in public." Ellie snorted, her expression dismissive. "You think I'm doing this for my own amusement, Kieran?" she asked. "You think I'm just cruel and heartless?" Kieran shook his head, feeling a sense of confusion. "I don't know what you want, Ellie," he admitted. "But I know I can't take much more of this. Please, have mercy." Ellie stopped walking and turned to face him, her eyes blazing with intensity. "Mercy?" she repeated, her voice dripping with disdain. "You want me to have mercy on you? You're my brother, Kieran. You're my property. And I'll do what I want with you." Kieran felt a chill run down his spine as Ellie's words hung in the air. He realized, with a jolt of fear, that she was enjoying this. She was enjoying his humiliation, his suffering. And she would never stop, not until she had broken him completely. As they stood there, Ellie's eyes seemed to bore into his soul, searching for something. Kieran didn't know what she was looking for, but he knew he couldn't give it to her. He couldn't give her the satisfaction of breaking him, of reducing him to nothing more than a plaything. With a surge of determination, Kieran straightened his shoulders and met Ellie's gaze. "I won't give up," he said, his voice low and steady. "I won't break." Ellie's expression didn't change, but Kieran saw a flicker of interest in her eyes. She seemed to be studying him, weighing her options. And then, with a cold, calculated smile, she reached out and grasped his arm. "Let's go," she said, her voice dripping with menace. "We have a lot more to do today, Kieran. And I have a feeling you're going to enjoy it." As Ellie led him away, Kieran felt a sense of despair wash over him. He knew he was trapped, and he didn't know how to escape. But he also knew that he couldn't give up. He had to keep fighting, no matter how small the chance of victory seemed. And so, with a sense of grim determination, he followed Ellie into the unknown, ready to face whatever humiliations lay ahead.