Chapter 35 · Neon Deadline: Glitch Hunt - Chapter 35: The Deadline Gamble

"Don't move. If you twitch, I'll break your wrist before the glitch even tells me you're doing it," Seth hissed.

His hand was a vise around my wrist, pinning me against the cold, vibrating metal of the ventilation shaft. I could feel the heat radiating off him, that oppressive, dominant energy that always made the air feel too thin to breathe. His chest was inches from mine, and I could smell the sharp, metallic scent of ozone and expensive corporate cologne.

"You're shaking, Seth," I whispered, tilting my head up. I could see the tiny tremors in his jaw, the way his pupils were blown wide. The neural curse was eating him alive again. "The plug-in is the only thing keeping your brain from frying. You really want to risk breaking the only person who can code your cure?"

He leaned in closer, his breath hot against my ear. "You think you're in control because you can see three seconds ahead? You're still just a gutter-rat in a fancy dress, Kaelen. I could end this right now."

"Then do it," I challenged, my heart hammering against my ribs.