Chapter 27 · Traceless - Chapter 27: Twin Echo

The door to room 47 doesn't have a lock. Just a sensor pad smeared with something dark that might be blood or rust or both.

Layla presses her palm against it. Nothing happens. She tries again, harder this time, and the panel flickers once before the door slides open with a hiss that sounds like it's been holding its breath for years.

The room's smaller than she expected. White walls. White floor. A single med pod in the center, cables snaking out from its base and disappearing into vents along the ceiling. The pod's glass is fogged, but there's a shape inside. Human-sized. Not moving.

Layla takes one step in. Then another. Her heart's doing something weird in her chest, like it's trying to sync with a rhythm she can't hear.

Cole grabs her wrist. "Wait."

"She's in there."

"Could be a trap."

"It's not." Layla pulls free and walks straight to the pod. Up close she can see the frost patterns on the glass, the condensation beading at the edges. She wipes a hand across the surface and the fog clears just enough.

A face. Her face. Eyes closed. Breathing slow.

Layla's knees go soft.