Chapter 14 · Vessel Twelve

The thing in the tank smiled at her with her own mouth.

"Ellie."

That name hit like a fist. Nobody called her that. Nobody except Mom, and Mom had been dead six years.

Elara's hand was still pressed against the glass. The pressure pushed back. Warm. Alive.

"No." She jerked away. "You don't get to—"

The lights went red.

Silas was already moving, crossing to a wall panel Elara hadn't noticed. His fingers flew over the keys. "Boundary slip detected. Core integrity at seventy-two percent."

"What does that mean?" Nora's wrench was still in her hand, knuckles white.

"It means the process is accelerating." Silas didn't look up. "She's resonating."

Elara could feel it. A hum in her teeth. A pull behind her ribs, like something inside her was trying to crawl toward the tank.

Toward herself.

The door slammed open.

Kane came through fast, gun already drawn. His eyes swept the room, locked on Silas, then snapped to the tank.

To her.

His face went white.

"Elara, get away from that."

She was already backing up. "Kane—"

"Now." He moved between her and the tank, weapon trained on Silas. "Whatever you're doing, stop it."

Silas's mouth twitched.