Page 70 of The Hollowed
Together, the four of them followed Elena through the dormitory, past painted walls and wide windows that let in the golden sun.
They crossed a small courtyard and reached a building with frosted windows and a secure entrance. Elena entered the code and then pushed the door open. Inside, Myra stood waiting with Carlos.
She was dressed like the rest of them, her arms crossed loosely over her chest. The moment her eyes landed on Luci, something softened in her shoulders.
There was no tension, just relief.
“Good news?” Luci asked as she stepped inside.
Myra nodded without any hesitation. “Jace is stable, and they’re going to start looking for a donor,” she said. “He knocked out the second they were done evaluating him, so I figured I’d let him sleep while we handle this.”
“That’s all because of you,” Luci said. “He’s stable because you got him here, because you fought for him. Don’t forget that.”
Myra looked down, blinking fast as her lips parted like she wanted to argue. But before she could start, Cipher stepped forward. “Luci’s right. You’re amazing, Myra. Don’t try todownplay it.”
Myra let out a laugh and shook her head but didn’t try to deny it this time.
The guards standing by the double doors exchanged a glance before Carlos spoke. “This way,” he said, pulling a side door open.
Without another word, they followed the guards.
The meeting room was brighter than Luci expected and a woman stood waiting for them at the far end, looking over a datapad that she put down as soon as they arrived. She wasn’t especially tall, but she carried herself with authority. Her dark slacks and blouse were layered neatly beneath a white coat. Luci recognized the kind of presence she had immediately. This woman was controlled, intelligent, and used to making important decisions.
“I’m sorry for the delay,” the director said as she stepped forward. “Thank you for your patience. We’re short on doctors at the moment.”
She shook each of their hands. When she reached Luna, she offered the dog a small smile and a nod, as if to acknowledge she was part of their group too.
“Please,” she gestured to the seats around the table, “have a seat. We have a lot to discuss.”
She waited until they were all settled into their chairs before speaking again. “I’m Dr. Gabriela Martinez. I oversee operations here at Nueva Esperanza. Whether you believe it or not, we’ve been waiting for your arrival.”
Luci straightened in her seat, exchanging a quick glance with Myra. “Did Doc send word about us?”
Dr. Martinez folded her hands on the table. “He did. We haven’t heard from him since the very beginning of the outbreak. You all must be very important for him to risk establishingcontact again after all this time.”
“Do you know why we’re here?” Luci asked.
The director gave a slow shake of her head. “No,” she admitted. “Only that your arrival would be significant. He didn’t share the details.” Her gaze swept the table before landing on Luci again. “But I’m hoping you will.”
The room went quiet, and Luci felt Alex tense beside her. No one offered an answer to the director’s question. They were still too uncertain if trust was something they could give freely.
Dr. Martinez tilted her head before giving a small, patient smile. “You know what, why don’t we start with something simple?” She folded her hands neatly in front of her. “There’s just one question we ask of every new arrival. Nothing complicated. We just need to know how many of the living you’ve killed.”
Alex let out a laugh, and Myra joined him with a chuckle of her own.
Dr. Martinez didn’t flinch. “It’s not meant to be a test of morality. It’s part of our risk assessment. We need to know who we’re bringing into our walls, what they’ve been through, and what they’re capable of. But let me make it clear, those who served under Prometheus don’t fall into the same category. We know the kinds of choices they force on people. Survival doesn’t always leave room for consent.”
Her gaze swept over them again, waiting to see who would speak first.
“Well, my name is Cipher Williams,” Cipher began. “I specialize in technical systems, so I wasn’t in the field all that much, but if I had to guess…” He paused, then nodded to himself. “Maybe five to ten.”
Alex went next. “Alejandro Ramirez. Myra and I were active operatives before the outbreak.”
Dr. Martinez’s expression softened when she replied, “Too many to count, then.” She turned to Luci. “And you?”
Luci felt the weight of everyone’s gaze as she swallowed the knot in her throat. She bit at her bottom lip before gaining the courage to respond. “My name is Dr. Lucilla Castillo,” she said quietly. “And I’ve killed one.”
The director’s brows pulled together and narrowed slightly, not in judgment, but in curiosity.