Chapter 38 · Maybe they’re trying to retrieve something

"Maybe they’re trying to retrieve something."

"Maybe you’re the something."

The restraints on the metal table snapped open.

My body moved before I chose to move. I rolled, caught the falling chair with one hand, and drove its edge into Jax’s chest.

He flew backward into the glass wall.

It cracked behind him.

"Kaelen!"

I was already moving.

The room stretched into a long corridor. Doors slammed open on both sides. Each one showed a different version of me.

Me in a black tactical suit, walking through a burning building.

Me kneeling beside a man with a gunshot wound.

Me standing in front of a line of prisoners.

Me smiling while someone begged.

"Stop showing me this!" I shouted.

The corridor answered with my own voice.

"You wanted to remember."

"I never said that."

"You wanted to remember."

"Shut up!"

A door opened at the end of the corridor.

Jax pushed off the cracked glass and ran after me.

"Don’t go through it!"

"You’re very bad at making things sound safe."

"It’s the core memory."

"Then that’s where I’m going."

"No, it’s where the system wants you to go. There’s a difference.