Chapter 23 · The Ghost in the Machine

"Ten. Nine. Eight."

The voice from the screen wasn't a recording. It was a threat.

Rowan hit the wall hard, his spine snapping against the cold metal. He couldn't breathe. The countdown echoed through the sterile room, bouncing off the walls like a hammer.

"Get back!"

Mara’s palm slammed into his chest, shoving him away from the console. Her hand was scorching, her grip bruising. She didn't even look at him. Her eyes were locked on the monitor, where a version of Rowan—older, colder, with eyes that had watched a thousand cities burn—stared back.

"Mara, I don't—I didn't do this!" Rowan yelled. His voice cracked.

"Shut up!" she hissed. She stepped between him and the screen, knife out. The blade caught the dim red emergency light. "You're the one on the screen, Rowan. You're the one who just called this city a playground. You wanna tell me that's a glitch?"

"Seven. Six."

Rowan lunged, trying to see past her. "I don't remember that! I don't remember any of this!"

Mara spun. It was a blur. She didn't use the knife—instead, she grabbed his collar and slammed him back into the wall.

The impact knocked the wind out of him.