Chapter 31 · Sync Or Die

"Get your hands off me, Kade! I mean it!" Rook’s voice was a jagged edge, but she didn't actually pull away. She couldn't. Her wrist was clamped in my grip, and the Gene-Eater chip in my neck was screaming, vibrating against my spine like a live wire.

"I can't," I spat, my teeth grinding. "It's not me. It's the damn chip. It wants in."

I could feel it—that hunger. Not for food, not for air, but for her. Not her flesh, but the shimmering, corporate-grade chrome woven into her veins. My vision was glitching, red static flickering at the edges of my sight, overlaying her face with a series of hungry, golden prompts: [TARGET DETECTED] [COMPATIBILITY: 98%] [INITIATE SYNC?].

"Sync? What the hell is it trying to sync?" Rook hissed. She tried to wrench her arm back, but I dragged her closer. Our chests collided, the air leaving her lungs in a sharp puff.

"I don't know!" I roared, my voice sounding deeper, distorted. "But if I don't let it take a hit, I'm going to burn out. I can feel my nerves frying, Rook. I'm glitching out!"

She froze, her eyes searching mine.