Dear God.
He sounds completely composed.
Like none of tonight rattled him at all.
Like Avery didn’t die.
Like children didn’t remember.
Like he didn’t lose control.
Clay’s entire body goes rigid beside me.
Gabriel quietly chambers another round into his rifle.
Wu continues calmly from above the embankment.
“You are frightened right now. That’s understandable.”
I hate that voice.
That calm.
That fake gentleness.
It makes my skin crawl.
“You’ve experienced severe memory destabilization and emotional overload,” Wu says smoothly. “Your judgment is currently compromised.”
Clay leans closer to my ear.
“Don’t listen to him.”
Too late.
Not because I believe Wu.
Because part of me remembers believing him once.
And that terrifies me.
Wu’s voice softens further.
“Sentinel can still help you.”
Gabriel actually laughs quietly beside me.
Cold.
Dangerous.
“Still selling poison.”
Wu ignores him.
“Hannah, the others with you are not equipped to handle what you are becoming.”
Clay’s hand tightens around mine.
