A shadow crossed his face. "I've seen them done. On friends."
The elevator doors slid open before I could ask what happened to these "friends." We stepped into a hallway that was somehow even more pristinely white than the lobby.
Suite 418 turned out to be a large laboratory with various arcane equipment I couldn't begin to identify. In the center stood what looked like a dentist's chair from hell, surrounded by crystals on mechanical arms.
Oh fuck this shit up a alley way.
The gnome from the other day stood near the equipment, looking just as dysfunctional. "Ah. Nearly eight minutes late, Fenric?"
"Apologies, Doctor. Ms. Winter required additional persuasion."
Dr. Thornwick turned to me, studying my face with scientific curiosity. "Fascinating. The markings have progressed to the secondary phase already. And we are sure she has no family history of prophecy?"
"None," Fenric looked down at his tablet to double check.
Who were we kidding? This was probably the hundredth because the guy was so anal.
"I'm standing right here," I pointed out.
Thornwick gestured to the chair. "Please, sit. We have much to explore."
I glanced back at Zane and Rook. Zane gave me an encouraging nod, while Rook just stared impassively.
"They can stay," Thornwick correctly interpreted my hesitation. "Though they must remain behind the observation line."
A faint yellow line on the floor marked a boundary about ten feet back from the chair. Zane and Rook stepped behind it, with Fenric joining them after giving Thornwick his tablet.
"Now, Ms. Winter," the doctor said as I reluctantly sat in the chair, "I understand you've been having visions. Dreams with prophetic significance."
"I don't remember any dreams," I lied, my heart pounding. I was sticking to it.
Thornwick furrowed his brow before moving his glasses up his nose. "That's what we're here to determine."
He pressed a button, and the crystal arms whirred to life, positioning themselves around my head.
"This will allow us to view any prophetic imaging stored in your memory," he patted my hand. "Even those you've repressed or forgotten."
"Wait!" My panic surged. I couldn't let them see. The older me had warned me, whispered things about the chalice and choices.
"Beginning evaluation sequence," Thornwick ignored my protest as he flipped a switch.
The crystals around my head began to glow, and I felt a strange pressure behind my eyes, like someone was gently but insistently pressing on my skull.
"Mild discomfort is normal," Thornwick was watching monitors. "Just focus on relaxing."
Relaxing was the last thing on my mind. My heart hammered against my ribs as I felt something slithering through my thoughts, invasive and cold.
I don't want this. I don't want them to see.
The blue symbols on my arm flared suddenly, bright as a spotlight.
"Interesting reaction," Thornwick muttered, adjusting something on his console. "The prophecy markings are responding defensively. I've never seen this pattern before."
The pressure in my head intensified, becoming painful. I gripped the armrests, knuckles turning white.
"Doctor," Fenric's voice came from beyond the yellow line, "her readings are spiking to dangerous levels." It almost sounded like the jerk was concerned.
"Just a moment more," Thornwick's eyes were fixed on his screen. "I'm seeing something rather unusual."
