Chapter 12 · Reset Protocol - Chapter 12: The Hand Vera Can't Control

"Don't touch me." Vera backed into the corner where the steel wall met the broken vent shaft. Her right hand was shaking. Not the normal kind. The bones were moving under the skin.

Mark stopped three feet out. Close enough to see the veins in her wrist turning black. Far enough that she couldn't claw his throat if she lost it.

"How long?" he said.

"Since the last reset." Her voice was tight. "It started in my fingers. Now it's up to my elbow."

Lucas stood by the door, one hand on the frame like he was ready to bolt. His eyes kept flicking between Vera's hand and the corridor behind them. "We need to move. The core door's two levels down and the patrol sweep hits this sector in four minutes."

"I'm not going anywhere." Vera pressed her back harder against the wall. Her right arm hung at her side, fingers twitching. "You go. Shut it down. I'll stay here and make sure I don't rip anyone's face off."

Mark took one step closer. "That's not how this works."

"You don't get to decide that." She jerked her chin at Lucas. "He remembers, right?