Chapter 6 · She's The Beacon

"Don't you touch her! Get off the plate, Zero, NOW!" Kael's hand locked around my wrist and yanked so hard my shoulder popped.

The floor under me was humming. Light crawling up my legs. Cold metal rising to meet my boots.

"Unit Zero, remain stationary for recalibration," the pit voice said, flat and bored. "Non-compliance will trigger pain correction. Stay still."

"Screw your correction," I spat. My legs wouldn't lock. That white buzz was back behind my eyes, the circuits misfiring all the way down my spine.

Kael dragged me sideways off the glowing plate. His jacket sleeve ripped against my cheek. He smelled like sweat and hot wire.

"Can you stand? Hey, look at me!" he shouted right in my face. "Zero! Eyes on me!"

"I can stand! Let go!" I shoved him, but I needed his arm to stay upright. My knees kept folding.

"You can't stand for shit," he snapped. "You're seizing. Hold onto me."

"I don't need you to carry me!"

"You do right now, so shut up and hold on!" He threw my arm over his shoulder. His body was solid, hot through his shirt. Too close.