Chapter 23 · Bleed the Grid

"Step away from the console, Evelyn." The Director's gun pressed against the side of her head before she could reach the emergency release.

She froze with one hand inches from the red switch. Behind the reinforced glass, Nolan's body jerked inside the radiation chamber. White light crawled over the cables attached to his neck and wrists. Every flash made the neural contract burn through Evelyn's palm.

"You people really need a new greeting," she said.

"Move your hand."

"No."

The gun dug harder into her skin. "That wasn't a request."

Across the control room, Director Vale stood in a gray Authority coat with one sleeve darkened by blood. He looked older than the last time Evelyn had seen him, but his eyes were still sharp. Still cold. Still fixed on Nolan like he was equipment that had stopped working.

The Director glanced at the chamber. "The purge has already started. If you trigger that release, the system will finish what it began."

"You mean the memory wipe?"

"I mean the containment failure."

"Call it whatever helps you sleep."

"I don't sleep much. People like you keep breaking into my facilities."

Evelyn kept her eyes on Nolan.