Chapter 14 · Undercity Broker - Chapter 14: The Line Zero Ledger

Lin's head felt like someone had scooped out the inside and filled it with static. He was on his knees. Concrete under his palms. Blood on his lip—his own, he thought, but he wasn't sure.

"Get up." A woman's voice. Familiar, maybe. "We don't have time."

He looked up. Dr. An stood over him, holding a respirator mask and a crowbar. Her clinic coat was gone. She wore black cargo pants and a tank top, and there was a gun strapped to her thigh. Lin didn't remember her carrying a gun before. Actually, he didn't remember much of anything before.

"What happened?" His voice came out rough.

"You made a trade." Dr. An grabbed his arm and hauled him to his feet. "And now you owe me. We're going to Line Zero. Right now."

Line Zero. The name landed in his brain like a rock through glass. He knew it mattered. He knew it was dangerous. He didn't know why.

"I don't—" He swayed. His legs didn't want to hold him. "I don't remember agreeing to anything."

"Yeah. That's the point." She shoved the mask into his hands. "You burned three months to save someone. Congratulations.