And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you. - Nietzsche
Lucien's gaze dropped back to the screen, settling on the quiet, damning numbers.
The whir of the heater suddenly seemed loud in the room's silence, highlighting the tension. The numbers on the screen twisted like a kaleidoscope, each rotation revealing a new, unsettling pattern.
His jaw clenched.
Kenneth's face rose unbidden in his mind. The way he snorted or scoffed whenever he said something he deemed ridiculous lingered with Lucien. A young man full of talent but still inexperienced in the things of this world.
His chest tightened. His eyes fluttered shut.
Something was bubbling inside of him.
