For months, I felt my husband slipping away. He worked late, traveled constantly, and when he was home, he seemed miles apart. I hoped the news of our baby would bring us closer — but instead, it only deepened the distance.

One night, he came home exhausted, showered, and fell asleep immediately. As I lay beside him, I noticed something strange — a new tattoo at the base of his neck. It was a barcode, dark and mechanical against his skin. My heart pounded as I stared. Why hadn’t he told me? What did it mean?

I snapped a photo on my phone. Instantly, a link appeared. When I clicked it, a chilling message flashed across a dark website: “Property of The Total.” My blood ran cold.

The next morning, when I confronted him, fear flickered in his eyes. “I should have told you,” he whispered. “But I knew I’d lose you.”

He confessed everything. Months ago, desperate to provide for our growing family, he took a mysterious job from an old acquaintance. At first, it seemed harmless — small deliveries, secret meetings. But soon came the ultimatum: join them or disappear.

That barcode wasn’t just ink. It was ownership — a mark that bound him to a dangerous organization. Each line represented the price he’d paid for us — his freedom.