Page 157

“What was that?” Seth asked, frantically looking around.

Dr. Strauss put down the instrument and snapped off his blue gloves, rushing out of the room. But Khalani’s body still quaked.

In the back of her mind, it felt like she was waiting for something…orsomeone. But she had a hard time recallingwho.

Losing her memory. Her identity…

Your name is Khalani. Your name is Khalani.

She repeated the phrase, fighting to remember who she once was.

When the terrifying sound of Dr. Strauss’ footsteps returned, her shaking intensified into full-blown tremors. She bit her lip so hard that blood painted her teeth.

“The rebels have broken into the camp,” Dr. Strauss snarled, rushing to the computers. “Activate the remaining subjects.”

Seth paled. “But, sir! They’re not ready.”

“Do it!”

Seth jolted and scrambled to a keyboard, typing furiously.

It sounded like water boiling behind her.

Khalani managed to tilt her head ever so slightly and found the pods the prisoners were floating in were slowly being drained of whatever blue liquid was inside them.

Her muscles shook as the glass casings opened and the prisoners stepped out, completely naked.

They stood like statues, eyes vacant, droplets of water tracing down their skin, pooling on the floor.

“What are your orders?” Seth asked, gulping as his eyes darted to the motionless bodies.

“Have them attack the rebels.” Dr. Strauss’ focus remained locked on the computer screen.

Seth turned, swallowing nervously. “But what about—”

He jolted, blood seeping out of his mouth. Her eyes widened as Seth collapsed to the floor, a massive knife protruding from his back.

A broader figure stepped through the doorway.

The dim lights above flickered, casting brief flashes of light across the intruder’s bloody face and white uniform.

“Takeshi,” she whispered, his name returning to her like an answered prayer.

His dark eyes locked onto Khalani strapped to the gurney, and the energy was sucked out of the room.

In an instant, Takeshi wrenched the knife out of Seth’s back and rushed to her side, sawing through her bindings.

It was only then that she noticed the tremor in his hands. His cold eyes roved over her body, searching for injuries.

Physically, he wouldn’t find any, thanks to the advanced medicine she’d been continuously administered. But her mind…

“I’m so sorry, Khalani. I came as fast as I could.” His expression was broken beyond repair as he looked down on her.

But all that repeated through her sluggish brain was one thing.

He came for her.

He didn’t abandon her like she’d nearly given up on herself.