It hurts like Alex says, but Neil manages. He barely shifts from the alignment of thin skin, from the pinpricks, the uncomfortable sensation of thread pulling through one's own flesh. The man only sets his jaw and forces his ragged breaths through his nose.

His vision blurs. The skin covering the rest of his face and body starts to feel warm, almost comfortably so. Neil thinks that he might fall asleep, despite his preferences. If he isn't careful, he might go back to those unwanted dreams.

He wonders if he actually has a choice in the end.