it felt like an interrogation room. The sleek, minimalist furniture seemed cold and

ou've been more meticulous, more thorough than anyone. How could you miss

ed in my lap. I remained silent. There was nothing I could

pped and harsh. "Effective immediately. You'll be confined to the auxiliary

ation. He was putting me in a cage

oice tight with anger. "The showcase is too important.

voice quiet but cl

e to fight, to argue, to defend myself. My calm acceptance seemed to bother him

say, Elias?" I asked. "Y

gesture of pure exasperation. "I

espect of his peers, and now, fear of losing Seraphina' s admiration. He couldn't comprehend that I might be the one making a sacrifice for

d, turning his back on me to stare out

nd forgotten projects. It smelled of dust and ozone. The isolation was immediate and profound. I

and a familiar, long-dormant allergy to a specific industrial solvent used in the old

was holding a tray with a plate of food and a glass of water. H

the cafeteria," he s

n't hu

command, not a concern. A hollow ge

ore to himself than to me. "She's already streamlined the diagnostic protocols. We're ba

t he had made the right choice. He was replacing me, and he n

e raspy. I could feel my throat starting to sw

is eyes. He saw the weariness on my face, the slight f

d," I lied, fo

me rest," he said, then turned and left, the door sliding s

a. A meal we had shared hundreds of time. Now it just felt like a f