owly, rhythmically rubs the scratched metal casing. The

let the system's micro-expression analyzer read the sub

t flashes in the

anchor: A tarnished brass object. Associated botan

s, staring at the floor. I pitch my voice to a soft,

de a dried begonia flower inside the di

s head

ed in absolute shock. His chest hea

hands clamp down on my shoulders. His grip is brutal, his

ands, his voice cracking. "How

on't pull away. I look up at him, letting

oice trembling. "The image just...

ip instantl

, the red rims stark against his pale skin. The impen

ulders shaking slightly as he fights t

ce explodes in a sho

vel: 85. Tas

th. The sweat on my back turn

around, his face is composed, but his eyes hold a

a long, complex string of characters. A hidd

l, glowing silver microchip. He walks

turns my arm over,He presses the g

. The chip sinks into my skin, leaving behind a fai

Jayson says quietly. "If you are in fatal danger, it will ac

echoes thro

el groans under the impact. He stands up, h

finger at Jayson. "You gave a core shield to a stra

him. "It's my authority. I d

a beneath his skin boils, turning his veins black. The killing int

t like it's a personal insult, his jaw clen

ce I woke up in this nightmare, I feel a tiny shred of genuine

tch upward in a r

n door of the safeh

signaling a friendly override. Someone with the exact

slide back. The

cal suit. Her blonde hair is pulled back tight. He

le

m, locking instantly onto Jayson, then onto me, and