Full-Body Mummy Cocoon - White Cocoon Elegy

"You're the replica!" Mia on the left suddenly retorted sharply, her right hand snatching the metal wrench from the corner of the table—it was her tool for equipment maintenance, now a weapon of defense. "I remember every thought when calibrating the gravitational constant. Intentionally leaving the decimal point wrong was my decision. You're just a fake inheriting this memory!" A cold glint flashed in the replica's eyes. Her body instantly shifted to the side, evading the wrench's swing, and she simultaneously kicked the support leg of the control console. The metal bracket let out a piercing screech as the console tilted towards Mia (original). She stumbled back in a panic, tripped by wires, and the wrench flew from her grasp, clattering to the floor. "Stop deceiving yourself!" the replica lunged forward, her knee pressing into the other's chest. "Quantum replication is completely synchronized, from atomic structure to thought processes. We are indistinguishable! But this world doesn't need two Mias. Instead of arguing about who's the original, let's eliminate the superfluous one!" The pressure on her chest made Mia (original) gasp for air. She stared at the face identical to her own, but saw undisguised hostility in those eyes. The instinct for survival erupted, and she slammed her elbow hard into the replica's ribs. Seizing the moment the other bent over in pain, she flipped them over and pinned them to the ground. The cold laboratory tiles bit into her skin. Their blonde hair tangled together, fingernails drawing crimson streaks on each other's arms, both roaring, "I am the real one!" In the chaos, Mia (original) fumbled for the wrench that had fallen nearby and, with all her might, smashed it against the back of the replica's head. The replica grunted, her body going limp, and collapsed motionlessly on the floor. Mia (original) lay on top of her, gasping for breath, cold sweat mixing with strands of hair plastered to her cheeks. Only when she confirmed the other had lost consciousness did she shakily get up. She stumbled to the tool kit and retrieved nylon zip ties, using both hands and feet to bind the replica tightly. The sensation of the zip ties digging into skin made her heart pound—this was the first time she had treated "herself" so roughly. As she dragged the unconscious replica out of the laboratory, Mia (original)'s white coat was already smudged with dust and grime, her golden curls sticking messily to her neck. She shoved the other into the back seat of her black car, looking at the bound figure with a mixture of relief and panic. She stalled twice while trying to start the engine. The engine finally roared to life, and the car sped away from the research facility hidden in the suburbs, heading towards her city residence. As soon as they merged onto the main road, there was movement from the back seat. The replica slowly regained consciousness and, finding herself bound, immediately struggled violently. The zip ties made a rustling sound against the leather seats. "Let me go! You thief!" she glared at Mia in the rearview mirror. "You're just afraid of being replaced, so you're using these despicable means to imprison me! When I break free, I'll make everyone know your true face!" "Shut up!" Mia (original) slammed the steering wheel, nearly crashing into the roadside barrier. She glared at the replica through the rearview mirror, her voice trembling uncontrollably. "You broke into my life! I spent three years building this research institute, dedicating everything to the time-space travel experiment. How dare you appear out of nowhere and try to take it all away?" "Take it away?" the replica scoffed, twisting her bound wrists. "This should have been mine all along! I remember the excitement when you first dismantled a radio at seven, the tears on the podium when you received your doctorate, the anger when you were fired by Genesis Tech—these memories are etched into my bones. How can you call me an intruder?" Mia (original)'s fingers clenched the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white. She didn't know how to retort. Every word the replica spoke struck her weak points—those unique life experiences had now become "proof" shared by both. The car stopped at a red light. She looked at the unfamiliar pedestrians outside the window and suddenly felt a wave of confusion: If even memories couldn't serve as a basis for distinction, what was the meaning of "self"? The car finally stopped at a villa in the city center. Mia (original) grabbed the replica's arm, almost dragging her into the elevator. The replica cursed the entire way. The sting of the zip ties against her skin fueled her rage, her golden hair plastered to her flushed cheeks with sweat, making her look like an enraged cub. "You don't dare let anyone see us!" she screamed in the elevator. "Because you know anyone with a shred of common sense will realize we are indistinguishable!" With a "slap," Mia (original) raised her hand and struck the replica. The blow stunned both of them—the sensation in her palm was identical to hitting her own face. Mia (original) shook her numb hand, gritted her teeth, shoved the other into the house, and locked the security door behind her, even turning the deadbolt twice. "Shut up! This is my place, and you have no right to run wild here!"

"I don't want to see this face anymore," she whispered, her voice as light as a sigh, yet carrying an undeniable finality, as if addressing the replica, or perhaps convincing herself. Mia (original) picked up another roll of new milky-white tape. This time, her movements were exceptionally meticulous. The tape began to wrap from the replica's chin, the first loop perfectly covering the jawline, the adhesive side conforming to the curve of her cheek as it moved upwards. As it passed the corners of her mouth, Mia deliberately pressed down, ensuring not a single gap remained. The second loop went over the bridge of the nose. She carefully avoided the nostrils, leaving only tiny spaces for ventilation on either side of the nose. The tape adhered to the fine vellus hairs on the bridge of the nose, eliciting a muffled groan from the replica. Her blue eyes instantly welled up with tears. As the third loop wrapped across her forehead, she deliberately slowed down, allowing the tape to form a shallow furrow at her brow, stopping precisely at the hairline, pressing all the messy blonde hair beneath the layer of tape. The milky-white tape, layered upon layer, like a dense silken cocoon, tightly encased her nose, cheeks, and forehead, leaving only the area around her eyes deliberately bare. She carefully cut the tape with scissors, trimming circular openings along the contours of her eye sockets. As the final loop of tape concluded at her hairline, the only sound in the living room was the muffled, indistinct whimpering emanating from the replica through the tape, like a kitten whose mouth has been covered. At this moment, the replica had been thoroughly transformed into a milky-white "mummy." The tape extended from her toes to her forehead, the layered adhesive creating smooth yet rigid lines across her body. Her once voluptuous curves were flattened, leaving only a vague human silhouette, like a sculpture swathed in snow. Her exposed eyes became the sole focal point – a pair of blue eyes identical to Mia (original)'s, with a slight upward tilt at the outer corners. Now, wide with terror, they were round and bulging, her eyelashes clinging to undried tears. With each blink, they trembled slightly, tears tracing paths down the edges of her eye sockets, dripping onto the tape on her chest, blooming into small, faint watermarks that were quickly dried by the air. Her limbs were firmly secured in a spread-eagle position by the tape. Mia (original) had deliberately reinforced the tape at the joints, forming thick blocks of adhesive. Bending was impossible, and even slight movements were excruciatingly difficult. She could only writhe slowly on the smooth floor like a boneless worm. The milky-white tape and her pale skin merged under the light, only the rolling of her eyeballs proving she was a living being. As she writhed, the tape made a soft "shushing" sound against the floor. The fibers within the tape tightened slightly with her movements, causing her skin to tingle and go numb. Each struggle only made the restraints tighter, and the tears at the corners of her eyes flowed more fiercely, yet she could only silently soak the tape around her eyes. Mia (original) stared at those eyes for a moment, then suddenly turned and walked into the bedroom. She reappeared holding a gilded makeup case – a memento from an award she had won, its contents never opened. Now, she rummaged through it with a rustling sound. "Since you refuse to admit you're a fake, I'll help you 'become different'." She crouched down, ignoring the replica's frantically rolling eyeballs, and used her fingertips to gently pry open the replica's eyelids. The icy touch made the replica flinch violently, but Mia (original) used her knee to press against the replica's shoulder, completely immobilizing her head.

She watched Mia's retreating back, her golden hair shimmering brilliantly under the lights. As she reached the basement door, Mia deliberately turned back and waved, her demeanor as casual as if bidding farewell to an insignificant object. The heavy door closed softly, the click of the lock like a hammer blow to her heart, extinguishing all hope. Her lips were sealed shut by five layers of tape, the adhesive pressing so tightly it left her lips numb, unable to even part them slightly. The clammy sensation in her mouth, mixed with the hot breath, made her dizzy. Each breath had to be drawn through the tiny gaps on either side of her nostrils, carrying the almond scent of the tape and the腥甜 of the medication, making it suffocating. She lay on the soft floor mat, surrounded by plush down pillows, yet the softness only amplified the cruelty of her restraint. The tape remained taut as iron, chafing the skin of her chest with every breath. The layers around her waist dug into her flesh, and even a deep breath sent a dull ache through her ribs. Her smeared blue eyeshadow mixed with tears, leaving murky streaks on the tape. She blinked, the rhinestones on her false eyelashes pricking her eyes, but could only watch as the last sliver of light from under the door vanished. This soft cage, more than any cold laboratory, plunged her into despair. She knew with chilling certainty that she might truly be imprisoned here forever, as "Experiment Subject 1," unable to utter even a single coherent protest. Mia closed the basement door, the cool touch of the tape still lingering on her fingertips. Her heart suddenly began to race uncontrollably. She slid down the cold door, covering her face with her hands, her gasps through her fingers filled with lingering fear. Just moments ago, looking into those eyes in the basement, eyes identical to her own, she had almost been dragged into an abyss by the hatred within them. She remembered the struggle in the lab, the force with which the clone had gripped her throat, and the scream of "We are no different." Cold sweat instantly soaked the back of her shirt. She stood up abruptly and hurried to the bathroom, turning on the cold water tap and splashing it on her face. The icy water cleared her muddled mind somewhat. She looked up at her reflection in the mirror – her light blonde curly hair was disheveled against her cheeks, and the corners of her eyes still held a faint redness. But this face was whole, free, unlike the "experiment subject" in the basement, wrapped like a white mummy. "It's okay, she can't escape," Mia murmured to herself, facing the mirror. "That tape can withstand five tons of force. Without a solvent, she can't tear even a seam. The nutrient solution is a slow-release formula, fully absorbed by the body, with no excretion issues. No need to worry about her care." This realization brought her complete relief. The next morning, she drove back to the suburban research institute, dedicating all her energy to calibrating the temporal displacement gate. She installed three fingerprint locks on the control panel, each restricted to the patterns on her own fingertips. Infrared motion sensors were installed around the lab, and any living organism approaching within three meters of the displacement gate would trigger an alarm directly to her phone. The gravitational constant on the parameter panel was meticulously recalibrated, the numbers to six decimal places etched into her notebook, ensuring no repeat of past errors. Days passed in a blur of activity. Mia practically lived in the lab, nibbling on energy bars when hungry and snatching brief naps on the folding bed when tired. She deliberately avoided thinking about Experiment Subject 1 in the basement, focusing all her attention on the flashing instrument screens. When the displacement gate hummed steadily once more, she even managed a smile, the first since her dismissal. However, every week, she would return to the apartment, not out of concern, but to confirm that the experiment subject had not encountered any unexpected issues.

Mia’s fingers tightened, the tape snapping with a sharp *thwack*. She glared at Subject 2, her eyes blazing with the humiliation of being exposed. "That was the old me! A fool shackled by academia, bound by ethical chains!" She grabbed Subject 2's wrist, pressing it to their side, and quickly began to wrap them in tape. "When Genesis Tech fired me, when they called me a mad scientist, where were all those ethicists? When I sold my parents' house to fund my research, where were all those moralists?" "So you became the executioner?" Subject 2's voice trembled, not with fear, but with rage. "When you imprisoned Subject 1, watching her wrapped in tape like a white monster, watching her beg you with her eyes, didn't you feel even a shred of guilt?" Their gaze swept over the stains on Mia's lab coat, dust from their earlier struggle. "We all know that wasn't an experimental accident. You deliberately left a parameter loophole! You wanted to verify the stability of quantum anchoring by creating duplicates!" Mia had already taped up to Subject 2's chest. Hearing this, she suddenly laughed, her fingertips tracing the taped area, clearly feeling the rapid rise and fall of the other's chest with agitation. "Since you know so much, save your energy." She picked up another roll of tape and began to wrap the other arm. "This world only needs one Mia, one Mia who can complete the spacetime traversal experiment and stand at the pinnacle of science. You? You're just stepping stones on my path to success, 'living samples' to verify my theories." "Living samples?" Subject 2's eyes reddened, not from tears, but from extreme anger. "Have you ever considered that if I had succeeded this time, you would be the one wrapped into a mummy!" They tried to lift their head, but Mia pressed down on their nape, forcing them to stare at the cold fluorescent lights on the ceiling. "We have the same intellect, the same knowledge. By what right do you decide who lives and who is imprisoned? Just because you were born ten minutes before me?" Mia finished wrapping the arms and was now trimming the edges of the tape with scissors. She hadn't covered the head like she had with Subject 1, only extending the tape from the shoulders to the jawline, ensuring the other couldn't turn their head to bite her. "By the right of being the first 'Mia'." Her voice was as cold as the lab floor. "I spent three years building this institute, five years perfecting the portal theory. You are merely shadows that appeared out of nowhere. By what right do you compete with me?" "Shadows?" Subject 2 thrashed violently. Though firmly bound by tape, they still struggled with all their might. "I remember the excitement when you first dismantled a radio at seven, the tears on the podium when you received your doctorate, the rage when Genesis Tech fired you—these memories are etched into my very bones. I am you, I am Mia!" As Mia got up to fetch the nutrient solution, they couldn't help but roar, "You play with human ethics, and you will pay the price sooner or later! Subject 1 will not be imprisoned forever, and neither will I! One day, we will make you regret what you've done today!" Mia's hand paused as she held the nutrient solution. Then, she turned and forcefully plunged the syringe into the skin on the side of Subject 2's neck. The viscous green liquid slowly infused, causing Subject 2 to gag violently. Restricted by the tape, they could only let the liquid trickle down their throat. "Regret?" Mia sneered, retrieving the syringe. "Once I successfully complete spacetime traversal, all controversy will be overshadowed by my achievements. No one will remember two imprisoned duplicates. They will only remember me, Mia, the pioneer who opened the door to spacetime."

This fear kept Mia on high alert. Instead of wrapping her like the previous three clones, she retrieved four metal locking cuffs from the lab's security cabinet. These were specialized fasteners for securing equipment, with anti-slip grooves on the inside, designed to lock permanently once fastened. Mia dragged the unconscious Subject 4, positioning her wrists and ankles in the center of the cuffs. She then used an electric wrench to engage the clasps. The metallic *clack* echoed through the lab as the metal rings clamped securely onto Subject 4's limbs, the edges pressing against her skin, turning it slightly red. "No matter how strong you are, you won't break free from this," Mia said, a sigh of relief escaping her as she eyed the safety lock on the cuffs before preparing the bandages. As the modified bandages reached Subject 4's calf, the previously unconscious form suddenly twitched violently. Mia's heart leaped. Before she could react, Subject 4's eyes snapped open, the sleepiness in her blue irises instantly replaced by pure rage. "You dare touch me?!" Her roar vibrated the very lab benches, and with a surge of strength, she strained against the cuffs on her wrists. The metal shrieked against the floor as her powerful body lifted half an inch off the mat. The resistance was unexpected. Subject 4 slammed her partially wrapped knee into Mia's abdomen with such force that Mia stumbled back two steps, dropping the bandages. "You think you can turn me into one of those monsters? Dream on!" Subject 4 snarled, thrashing her body. Though her limbs were restricted by the cuffs, she could still violently shake her upper body. The bandages around her thigh were pulled askew, the adhesive layer peeling away from her skin. Mia panicked. She had never encountered a clone who woke mid-process, let alone one this formidable. She snatched the fallen bandages and lunged to restrain Subject 4's shoulders, only to be met with a brutal headbutt to her forehead. A dull *thud* sounded, and Mia's vision went black, a swollen red welt instantly forming on her forehead. Subject 4 seized the opportunity, kicking a nearby tool rack. Wrenches and screwdrivers scattered, narrowly missing Mia's feet. "I'll kill you! I'll replace you!" Subject 4's voice was laced with viciousness. Each twist and turn made the metal cuffs on her body emit a grating *creak*, as if they might burst open at any moment. Mia gritted her teeth, refusing to yield. She knew that if Subject 4 broke free, she would be the one to die. She circled behind Subject 4, pinning her back with her knee, and used both hands to forcefully wrap the bandages around Subject 4's torso, leveraging the metal cuffs to contort her body into a bent position. Subject 4's struggles intensified. She slammed her back against Mia's chest, spewing a torrent of curses. The venomous words mirrored Mia's own angry outbursts, sending a chill down Mia's spine. What usually took twenty minutes to wrap a clone was proving agonizingly difficult. With every turn of the bandage, Mia had to exert all her strength to hold Subject 4 down, preventing her escape. As the bandages reached Subject 4's chest, she suddenly lunged forward with all her might, pulling Mia down with her. They tumbled to the floor, Mia's lab coat tearing at the shoulder. "You think these flimsy things can hold me?" Subject 4 panted, her partially free arm striking Mia's back. "When I get out, I'll wrap you up just like this and throw you in the darkest corner of the basement!" This threat ignited a fierce resolve in Mia. She flipped Subject 4 over, pinning her beneath her, her knee pressing into the clone's neck. With her other hand, she snatched the bandages and accelerated her wrapping. The tearing of the adhesive tape, Subject 4's enraged roars, and the grinding of the metal cuffs created a bizarre symphony in the lab. As the bandages encircled Subject 4's shoulders, Mia deliberately added three extra layers, ensuring the adhesive bonded tightly with the metal cuffs, completely sealing off any possibility of movement. A full hour later, Mia finally reached Subject 4's neck with the bandages. Sweat poured down her face, soaking her lab coat and clinging uncomfortably to her skin. Subject 4 continued to writhe frantically. The bandages on her body were slightly distorted from the strain, emitting a taut *creaking* sound, yet no gaps appeared. The metal cuffs restricted her leverage, and the modified bandages had securely bound her body. Even with her formidable physique, she was no match for the combined restraint of mechanical engineering and nanotechnology.

"We don't have the luxury of escape," Subject 1 replied instantly, her tone decisive. "Look at me now, I can't even move my limbs. How could I escape? Subjects 2, 3, and 4 are the same as me, trapped in this 'shell' by you. Our only hope is to help you complete your experiment—perhaps then, you'll remember our shared origin and grant us a way out." Her voice carried a hint of humility, yet it was underscored by an undeniable sincerity. Mia's gaze flickered between vigilance and hesitation, and Subject 1's heart leaped with every shift. When she saw Mia slowly tuck the stun gun back into her pocket, Subject 1's taut body suddenly relaxed, an ineffable sense of relief spreading down her spine—at least, her head was temporarily free, and she had bought her three companions a moment to breathe. Mia didn't press further, merely stating with a grim face, "Stay put," and turned to head downstairs, clearly intending to deal with Subjects 2, 3, and 4 in the basement. The moment the heavy door clicked shut, Subject 1 dared to gasp for air without restraint, tears welling up uncontrollably once more. This time, they were tears of relief at surviving, but also of profound powerlessness. Yet, this relief was short-lived, completely replaced by a bone-chilling despair. Subject 1 tried to move her body, but her fingertips felt no sensation of bending—her arms had long since fused with the adhesive layer on her back, becoming part of the 'cocoon'; she tried to spread her legs, only to be met with the smooth, cylindrical sensation of her thighs pressed together. The distinct contours of her knees vanished, replaced by flowing curves. She strained her waist with all her might, clearly feeling the unyielding strength of the fusion agent's 'shell'. When her fingertips tapped it, a dull thud echoed, like striking a polished piece of jade. There were no gaps, no seams. From the top of her feet to her neck, she was encased perfectly, every minute skin fold filled by the adhesive layer, as if she had been born with this white 'exoskeleton'. She found Mia's experimental records from when she developed the fusion agent on the table—"Surface hardness reaches Mohs 5, capable of resisting conventional sharp objects like scissors and utility knives. Laser power below 1000 watts will not cause damage." Subject 1's heart sank completely. She finally understood the depth of Mia's 'ruthlessness': this 'shell' was not a temporary restraint, but a permanent cage, its very possibility of destruction eliminated at the root. Mia had never intended to leave them a way out from the beginning; the so-called 'long-term confinement' was merely a desire to turn them into eternally obedient 'living samples'. "Heh..." Subject 1 let out a self-mocking chuckle, tears tracing paths down her cheeks, dripping onto the adhesive layer on her chest. They instantly bounced off the smooth surface, leaving not even a trace of moisture. She tried to use her waist to exert force, and to her surprise, her body was unexpectedly agile—after the fusion agent merged her limbs and torso into a single entity, it eliminated the limitations of her joints. She moved like a boneless fish, slowly wriggling on the sofa with the strength of her core. What surprised her even more was that when she concentrated her strength to push herself up, she actually managed to stand.

As she approached Number 4, the burly clone thrashed violently, trying to evade, but Mia wrapped her waist with a specially made restraint. "You're the most special, so you get 'special' treatment," Mia's words sent the other three clones into a panic. They writhed desperately, trying to get closer, but Mia kicked them away. "Don't worry, I won't actually kill her," Mia said, deliberately raising her voice as she dragged Number 4 up by the restraint. "If I wanted her dead, I would have done it already. Why keep her alive? But she's the most combat-capable among you, so I'll keep her as a hostage. If any of you get any funny ideas, her fate will be far worse than just being tied up." Numbers 1, 2, and 3 watched helplessly as Mia dragged Number 4 out of the room. The heavy iron door slammed shut again, completely separating them from their companion. Their hopes instantly turned to dust. The three white "cocoons" slumped to the floor, their eyes filled with despair and resentment. They had schemed and calculated, but never anticipated Mia would use this method to control their weakness. Without Number 4's formidable strength, their escape plan, barely formed, suffered a critical blow. They were forced to obediently remain in this makeshift prison, stripped of even the right to resist. Meanwhile, Number 4 was dragged into a disused storage room next to the laboratory. She screamed and struggled fiercely, the friction of the bandages and restraints emitting a "creaking" sound, but it was of no use against Mia's strength. "Save your energy," Mia pressed her against a metal stand in the center of the room and activated the locking clasps. With a few "clicks," Number 4's limbs were securely locked onto the stand, fixing her in a standing position. Next, Mia pulled a bucket of grayish-white plaster liquid from a storage cabinet, holding a high-pressure spray gun. This was the material she had used to create experimental models before; it hardened like stone once set. "What are you doing?!" Number 4's roar was laced with a hint of panic. Mia didn't answer, simply pressing the switch on the spray gun. The thick plaster liquid instantly sprayed onto Number 4. The cold liquid flowed down her bandages, rapidly covering her limbs, waist, and even spreading to her chest. Every part was evenly encased, leaving only her head exposed. Number 4 could clearly feel the plaster rapidly solidifying. Her body, which could still move slightly, was completely immobilized. A stiff sensation spread from her limbs, as if all her blood had frozen. In less than ten minutes, the plaster had completely hardened. Number 4 was fixed into a standing "statue." Apart from her eyes, which could dart around, she couldn't even twitch. The white plaster perfectly conformed to her curves, further accentuating the full contours outlined by the fusion agent, but it also became a more cruel cage than the bandages. "That's much better," Mia circled the plaster statue, patting the hard surface with satisfaction. "You'll be an 'exhibit' here for a few days and reflect on your actions. Once I finish the time machine according to your suggestions, I'll release you – provided your companions behave themselves."

No one knew that behind these "nuisance" wails lay countless desperate struggles. The tycoon's daughter had once smashed her head against the glass cabin wall until blood seeped from the gel layer on her forehead; the women from the alleys had tried to tear at each other's gel layers, only to leave shallow bite marks on each other. The government had assembled a top research team to unravel this irreversible fusion, but the result was a horrific tragedy – one test subject's skin and muscle tissue were torn away with the gel layer during a forced separation, leading to death from exsanguination on the spot. Since then, "abandoning rescue" became the de facto official policy, leaving only the regulation of periodic nutrient injections to ensure they "stay alive." "Alive" became the most cruel punishment. They couldn't feed themselves, only passively receive nutrient infusions; they couldn't vocalize their desires, unable to even utter the words "I want to die." A caregiver wrote in her diary: "Today, while giving a young lady an injection, she stared intently at the syringe in my hand, then struggled violently, trying to knock it over – I knew she wanted it all to end, but I couldn't help her." The government's regulations were like a cold knife, held against the caregivers and the "white cocoons," and against everyone who tried to sympathize with them. Late at night on the observation deck, the tycoon's daughter's eyes remained fixed on the distance. The city's neon lights swirled in her pupils but did not illuminate the darkness in her eyes. Her gel layer trembled slightly, emitting a faint whimper – her silent scream, a cry for freedom, a plea for death. On the street not far away, people hurried home from work, no one looking up at her, no one caring that this "diamond artwork" was silently withering, just as no one cared that this glamorous sci-fi city hid countless imprisoned souls. The architect of all this sat in a hovering office chair on the top floor of the city's tallest building, "Genesis Bio." Her upper body was clad in a custom white coat embroidered with subtle patterns, her wrist adorned with a gem-encrusted smart bracelet, and her hair meticulously styled into a bun, exuding an air of refinement and authority. However, a glance downwards revealed a shocking truth: her lower body was encased in a silver-gray metallic restraint device, firmly locked to the base of the hovering chair. The alloy material gleamed coldly, completely immobilizing her legs, leaving only her upper body free to move. She could only lean over her desk to process documents or maneuver the hovering chair slowly around the room. Her so-called "top-floor privilege" was merely a larger cage – she was Mia of this era, the "culprit" behind the tragedy, and Winston's most expensive "prisoner." The opulence of the room far surpassed that of a normal office: the walls were full holographic screens capable of displaying changing scenes, currently showing a tranquil starry sky; the floor was covered with a wool carpet that absorbed footsteps, making movement silent; in front of the massive floor-to-ceiling windows sat a leisure sofa with a gilded frame. Scattered around the sofa, beside bookshelves, and even in the corners of the desk were five or six milky-white figures – all tightly encased in latex, with only their eyes exposed. More disturbingly, each face hidden behind the gel layer was identical to Mia's. A white cocoon slowly wriggled near the bookshelf. Its gel layer was unadorned, appearing rough and thick. As it passed the hovering chair, it instinctively lifted its head, revealing deep brown eyes identical to Mia's, though the timidity in their depths was starkly different from Mia's stoicism. Mia maneuvered the chair to avoid it, her fingertips pausing on the holographic display – these were clones she was forced to create, Winston's "spare collection," and the indelible marks of her sin that she could not escape. "Dr. Mia, Mr. Winston's video conference request has been connected." A virtual prompt from the holographic display interrupted her thoughts. The moment the screen lit up, a portly man with a full beard appeared. Behind him was a private collection room overflowing with luxury goods. Several women, encased in white cocoons, were embedded in the wall display shelves as "decorations," diamond powder glittering on their gel layers like expensive exhibits. "Are my little darlings behaving today?" Winston's voice dripped with a greasy chuckle. His gaze first swept over the restraint device on Mia's lower body before settling on the room behind her. A flicker of satisfaction crossed his eyes when he saw the wriggling white cocoons. "You see, faces identical to yours are the most exquisite. How is the gel layer stability of these clones? They need to be in top condition for next week's auction." Mia's fingers tightened on the cuff of her white coat, her nails digging into her flesh. A faint vibration emanated from the metallic restraint device – it was the automatic calming current that activated with her emotional fluctuations. A mild numbness spread up her spine, forcing her to calm down. Ten years ago, she had approached "Genesis Bio" with her fusion agent technology, intending to leverage the company's resources to mass-produce controllable protective gels and resolve the instability issues with cloning. But she hadn't anticipated that Winston would be interested not in the technology's practical value, but in the fusion agent's ability to turn people into "customizable art pieces." This man, who controlled half of the global biotechnology resources, had a perverse collecting habit, particularly an obsession with these "beauties" encased in white gel. And she, who collaborated with him, became his first "modification sample." Within three months of their partnership, Winston had used business traps to strip her of her power, and then, under the guise of "technical safety testing," had her lower body secured in a custom device. "This way you can focus more on your research, can't you?" Winston had said with a smile at the time, playing with the remote control for the device. "As long as you behave, this device can be removed at any time." But Mia knew in her heart that this was a lie – when she tried to retain the formula for dissolving the fusion agent, the device's current intensity instantly doubled, causing her pain so severe she nearly fainted.