Chapter 22 · The synchronization window is collapsing. We need to pull her out

Mira touched the desk controls. The recording jumped forward.

A man's voice replaced Evelyn's. Young. Nervous. Familiar in a way Celine couldn't place.

"The synchronization window is collapsing. We need to pull her out."

Evelyn answered, "No."

"Dr. Zhao, we're past the safe limit."

"The data is finally clean."

"She's seizing."

"Increase the current."

Celine's stomach turned.

Mira stared at her. "Still think the file is fake?"

Celine couldn't answer.

The man's voice rose. "If we keep the channel open, she'll lose her baseline."

"Then record the loss."

A chair scraped. Someone cursed.

Then Celine's voice. Closer to the microphone now. Breathing hard.

"Mom, stop."

Celine gripped the edge of the desk.

The next words came after a long pause.

"I said stop."

That was her. She knew it. Not from the sound. From the break in the sentence. The panic she tried to hide by forcing her voice lower.

Mira stepped closer. "You were there."

"I don't remember."

"You were there."

"I don't remember!"

The office went silent except for the security team hitting the door again.

Celine's head throbbed. Images flashed behind her eyes. White immersion tanks. Black cables hanging from the ceiling.