Chapter 24 · Forbidden Sync

"Stay out of my head." Vala's fingers locked around my jaw as the neural rig bit into my temples. "Kai, if you fight the sync, your brain cooks."

"Then take the damn thing off." I tried to shove her away, but my arms were strapped to the surgical table. The restraints cut into my wrists. "You said this was a cure."

"I said it might keep you alive."

"That is not the same thing."

Her face stayed close to mine. Too close. I could feel the heat of her breath against my cheek, quick and controlled, like she was trying to scare her own body into obedience. The rig hummed above us, blue light pulsing across the metal arms.

Behind her, Doc slammed a cartridge into the side of the console.

"We have forty seconds," he said. "Maybe less."

Vala didn't look back. "Until what?"

"Until the Void finishes eating his neural map."

My stomach dropped. "You said that was a metaphor."

"I lied," Doc snapped. "Everybody lie down here. That's how we got into this mess."

The bunker shook.

Dust spilled from the ceiling.