Chapter 7 · Neon Deadline: Glitch Hunt - Chapter 7: Sewer Symphony

"Stop shaking, or I'll give you a reason to," Seth snapped, his hand clamping hard onto my shoulder to keep me from stumbling.

We were waist-deep in the Neon Gutters—the kind of filth that didn't just smell like sewage, but like burnt copper and old mistakes. The water was a thick, oily sludge that clung to my boots, pulling at me like it wanted to drag me down into the dark.

"I'm not shaking. I'm vibrating with the sheer joy of nearly dying twice in one hour," I spat, trying to wrench my shoulder away.

He didn't let go. His grip was like a vice, his fingers digging into the thin fabric of my jacket. He leaned in closer, his breath hot against my ear, cutting through the damp chill of the tunnels. "You're vibrating because your nervous system is fried from that plug-in. If you glitch out now, I'm leaving you for the rats."

"You love me too much to do that," I whispered, though my voice lacked any real confidence.

"Keep talking like that and I'll find a way to make the blood-contract hurt," he countered.

I winced.