The numbness slowly left me. My stomach churned. Ravenous hunger. Pain consumed my body. My temples hammered. Stress boiled in my blood. But then…
Maia.
Her name shone in my mind. Warmth filled my chest. The longing burned, but its ache held warmth.
This torture was cold. Cruel and senseless.
The pain eased a little. Maia, how were you so strong? How did you do it? The longing pulsed. I wanted to cry. Wanted to ask for more stories about her.
Suddenly, the gate opened. Krrrekk. Metal scraped. Cold. Cutting.
"Los mierdas are back." Denden cackled. "Hey, chica, be strong. Take it easy. We're getting outta this."
The two soldiers entered with rigid postures and empty eyes. They carried a nanodevice. Lethal. Precise.
One of them connected a nanochip to my forehead. Ice pierced my skin.
Silence
ZZZZAP A shock.
Every cell ignited. Sparks exploded behind my eyes. Thunder tore through my spine. Veins tightened, twisted. Impossible to breathe. IMPOSS…
"Hey, chica. Hang in there." Denden laughed. His crazed laughter was a distant echo.
Colors vanished. The world dissolved into light and darkness. And then…
Nothing.