immortal and the sadistic captor

In a world where immortality is both a gift and a curse, James is trapped in an endless cycle of torment as the assistant to Pierre, a sadistic magician who saws him in half night after night. His body regenerates from even the most grievous wounds—a power granted by his Path, a mystical force that binds him to this grotesque performance. For three years, James has endured Pierre's cruelty, his flesh knitting back together after each brutal show while his spirit slowly withers. But the Path offers more than just regeneration—it promises ascension. If James can master his Path and climb its ranks, he might finally earn the one thing that has eluded him: freedom. With only two days until his desperate plan comes to fruition, James must navigate the dangerous world of the traveling circus, where every performer harbors their own secrets and every act conceals a deeper truth. As he pushes back against Pierre's tyranny and races toward ascension, James discovers that the price of freedom might be higher than he ever imagined—and that some paths, once walked, cannot be abandoned. A dark tale of survival, power, and the will to break free from chains both physical and metaphysical, this is the story of a boy who refuses to remain broken, no matter how many times he's torn apart.