𝐀𝐔𝐑𝐎𝐑𝐀
Despite everything, I felt my lips twitch with something that might have been a smile, and Dr. Voss caught it immediately.
"There we go," she said softly.
She helped me onto the platform and I lay back against the cold metal surface, staring up at the ceiling while technicians moved around me with quiet efficiency. Straps came across my chest, arms, and legs, securing me in place. The Core pulsed faster in response to my rising panic.
"Easy," Dr. Voss murmured, her hand finding mine and squeezing once. "Breathe. It's going to be loud and uncomfortable, but not as painful as you might expect."
I didn't believe her, but I focused on breathing anyway because it was the only thing I could control.
Zayne appeared in my field of vision, looking down at me with those hazel eyes that saw everything and understood nothing that mattered.
"We're ready to begin," he said, and it wasn't a question.
