Like a centipede wedged between her nape and spine, the electronic locks sealing her neural interface were being undone layer by layer. The molecular mask that completely obscured her head, thick and foreboding like a veil, split apart. After being plunged into darkness and oblivion, utterly losing all control over her body, the sensations returned to her with a jarring immediacy. The woman clad in a jumpsuit prison uniform finally stood once more under sunlight. But for a brief moment, she was stunned, completely at a loss, not knowing where she was, or who she even was.
"Move forward."
Suddenly, someone behind her shoved her forward with force. It startled her into stumbling, and her legs gave out, sending her sprawling to the ground. Worse yet, there were stairs just ahead, and she rolled down them uncontrollably, her body thudding at the bottom with a heavy crash. She hit the ground so hard that her head was split open, blood streaming down her face.
