**Chapter 5: Aftermath**

The silence that followed was oppressive, a heavy blanket that suffocated the lab. Viper stood behind Sage, her chest heaving with exertion, her eyes scanning the destruction she had wrought. Sage's body was a canvas of bites, bruises, and scratches, a topography of pain and pleasure. Blood trickled from a cut on her forehead, dripping onto the desk with a slow, steady beat. Sage lay against the desk, her body trembling, her sobs muffled against the surface. Viper's gaze roved over her, a mix of emotions swirling inside her. She felt a twisted sense of pride, a dark satisfaction at the destruction she had created. But alongside that was a growing sense of unease, a creeping realization of what she had done. Viper's eyes lingered on the marks she had left on Sage's body, the evidence of her own darkness and vulnerability. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she took in the full extent of her actions. The lab around them was quiet, the only sound Sage's ragged breathing and the steady drip of blood onto the desk. Slowly, Viper moved around the desk, her eyes never leaving Sage's body. She reached out, her hand hesitating for a moment before gently brushing a strand of hair out of Sage's face. Sage flinched, her eyes fluttering open as she gazed up at Viper. For a moment, they just looked at each other, the air thick with tension. Viper's gaze was searching, trying to find something in Sage's eyes, something that would make sense of what had just happened. But Sage's expression was a mask, a mixture of pain and fear that Viper couldn't quite read. Without a word, Viper scooped Sage up in her arms, cradling her close as she carried her to the bed. Sage's body was limp, her head lolling against Viper's shoulder as she was placed on the mattress. Viper pulled the blankets up around her, her hands gentle as she tried to comfort her. As she stood back, looking down at Sage's pale face, Viper felt a pang of regret. She didn't know what had just happened, or what it meant. All she knew was that she had hurt Sage, and that she couldn't take it back. The darkness that had driven her was still there, lurking just beneath the surface, waiting to pounce. Viper's eyes lingered on Sage's face, her mind reeling with questions. What had just happened? And what would happen next? She didn't have the answers, but as she looked down at Sage's vulnerable form, she knew that she had to try and make things right.