Time was meaningless to Atlas. It felt like yesterday—and perhaps tomorrow, all at once—that he had come for her, running through the blasted-open door in his haste to finally find her in this life.
Atlas lifted Vesperin. She was unconscious.
Distantly, a Rogue roared. They would not come for them. Not with Atlas’s presence here, with his true Nova. The Rogues were entranced by the Celestial Nova, yet knew not to come too close.
In an echo of the time before, he walked up the sidewalk to her front door, this time with her in his arms. Inside, dust caught in the dull light that filtered in through the shattered windows.
Here, it was like time had never passed. It stood still, waiting for both Atlas and Vesperin to return.
In her bedroom, the paint was faded. The carpet was stained a faded brown from her blood.
The Celestial placed Vesperin down gently on her bed. Her head lolled to the side, white hair fanning out on her dust-tipped pillow.
He stroked the back of his hand over the side of her cheek. "It is almost over, Vesperin."
Kit slammedhis hands against the glass. "Let."Slam. "Me."Slam. "Out."Slam.
He would not stop.
They had taken her from him again. After he had?—
Taken from her.
Every time he recalled how she felt under him, trembling, his half-metal, frozen heart cracked.
The fog had made them sleep.
Kit had fought harder than her. She passed out first. Even the Phoenix was not invincible. He had fallen unconscious, only to wake up alone.
Vesperin—his fingers twitched as he slammed his fists against the mirror—had been taken from him. Again.
"Why?" Kit roared. "She ismine! You can’t have her!"
Shadows surged up suddenly. He barely paid them mind. The mirror wavered, then cracked beneath his palms. Kit seethed, slamming his fists against it with everything inside him. He would not stop.
With a guttural roar, the glass mirror shattered—revealing the startled face of a female doctor. She fumbled for the desk before her, pressing a red button. A siren blared, a flashing red light filling the room. She stood slowly, backing up against another door. Her eyes never left Kit’s.
He had not dressed fully. He wore only his pants. The broken glass cut his feet and his left hand as he swiped it away and hopped over the ledge with ease. He left bloodied footprints on the spotless white floor as he surged toward her, taking her neckin his right hand. He lifted her, slamming her against the door. Her feet left the ground as she struggled.
"Where is she?" Kit demanded.
The scientist shook her head, unable to speak.
Kit released his hold, just a bit.
"They took the subject for observation after you engaged with her," she croaked.
Kit lowered his face to hers, seeing his dark eyes reflected in her wide, frightened stare. "Engaged? You mean raped?"
She shook her head. "It is science." Her hands scrambled for purchase on Kit’s wrist. "There is always sacrifice."
Kit snapped her neck. The body dropped to the ground. He stepped over it and broke the door handle, pushing it open to reveal a long white hall, lit neon from the warning lights.
They never learned. The Phoenix could not be contained.
If they were scared of him, they should be scared of themselves, because he was what they made him to be.
His shadow stretched before him. And behind him, in his wake, were only red footprints.
