Chapter 23 · The Choice

"Iris, don't move." The surgical arm dropped a scalpel into Vera's hand, then locked its joint with a hard metallic click.

Iris couldn't move if she wanted to. Restraints crushed her wrists and chest against the tilted table. Blood from the cut on Vera's forehead slid into her eye as she stared at the blade.

"Vera." Iris pulled against the straps. Pain shot up her arms. "Look at me."

Vera didn't.

The wall screen flashed: 03:18.

"Removal protocol is active," Alpha said through the speakers. His voice glitched every few words. "Override authorization confirmed."

"Yeah, I got that part." Iris forced air into her lungs. Her chest felt packed with broken glass. "You going to stop her?"

Alpha went silent.

"He won't," Dad said. His voice filled the lab, smooth and calm. "The heart was never hers to keep. You know that now."

Vera's fingers tightened around the scalpel. The blade made a tiny circle in the air.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Don't apologize yet." Iris kept her eyes on her sister. "Tell me what he promised you."

Vera flinched.

Dad answered for her. "The heart was designed for Vera. Her genetic profile matches the neural interface.