I was still kneeling beside Nine when the door to the small, cramped space creaked open. The light from the hallway sliced through the shadows like a knife. A pair of doctors walked in, their steps sharp and determined, faces unreadable, and their voices muffled in the background of my thoughts. But I couldn't look away from Nine. I couldn't tear my eyes from him, not even when the room seemed to shrink, suffocating with their presence.
The space was small. Barely enough for us all to fit comfortably, but I didn't have the luxury of choosing where we were. There was no bed, no cushion, just the hard, unforgiving floor. Just like the others here—tucked away, shoved into corners, forgotten.
The doctors didn't even glance in my direction as they came in. They were focused on their work, indifferent to the situation. Like this was just another task in their day.
One of the doctors approached Nine first, bending down to check his vitals. His hands moved quickly but without care, his fingers cold as they brushed across Nine's limp form. The other doctor was just behind him, adjusting something on a nearby table, gathering equipment. Neither of them spared a moment to look at me. I wasn't even sure if they saw me as anything more than another face in the background. Another person in their way.
I held my breath, my heart pounding in my chest as the first doctor slid a needle into Nine's arm. My pulse quickened at the sight - My stomach twisted, but I fought the urge to scream at them. I couldn't let them see how much this was hurting me. If I showed any weakness, if I gave them any hint of how much I hated what they were doing, they'd use it against me.
The doctor didn't even flinch as the needle slid into Nine's skin. His eyes didn't even flicker with the smallest bit of remorse. Just business as usual.
"Vitals are stable," the doctor muttered, almost as if he was checking an appliance. "But he's still non-responsive."
I watched as the needle was pulled out and the doctor moved on, not sparing a second glance at Nine. They were already moving on to the next task, as if Nine's body was nothing more than an object to be managed, not a person to be cared for.
I felt the air in the room grow thick, suffocating. I wanted to lash out, to yell, to do something—anything—but the words caught in my throat. I was trapped, powerless in this moment, with no way to change what was happening. The other hybrids were just watching, silent, broken. They knew better than to make a sound. They knew that any attempt to speak up, to challenge what was happening, would only lead to more punishment.
The second doctor finally turned to me, his eyes scanning me quickly, as if sizing me up. I couldn't read his expression—no warmth, no malice, just a blank, calculating look.
"Rhea," he said, his voice flat. "The boss is expecting an update. You should report to him before the day is out." His eyes flicked toward Nine briefly, then returned to me. "There's nothing more we can do for him here. Just leave him to rest."
Leave him to rest. I almost laughed at the words. They treated him like he was a piece of furniture, something that could be shoved into a corner and forgotten.
But I couldn't say that. Not now. Not in front of them.
Instead, I just nodded, though my jaw was clenched so tight I thought I might break my teeth.
The doctor gave me a brief look, as if to say don't make a scene before turning away. They moved quickly, efficiently, preparing to leave.
But as they passed, I heard one of the doctors speak to the other, their voices lowered.
"The boss won't like this," one of them muttered. "He expected more. He wants to see progress. If the hybrid doesn't respond soon…" The voice trailed off, but the implications were clear. If Nine didn't wake up, if he didn't become what they wanted him to be, they would toss him aside just like they had done with the others.
I flinched, the cold wave of dread washing over me.
When they were gone, the door clicked shut behind them, and I was left alone again with Nine, the silence heavy in the air.
I swallowed hard, pressing my hand against Nine's hair, trying to soothe him even though I knew he couldn't feel it. My wolf was still pacing inside of me, restless, furious, desperate to do something. But we were stuck here. Trapped.
I'm here, Nine, I whispered inside my mind. I won't let them take you again. I'll get you out of here.
But as I said it, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was lying to myself.
I wasn't sure what I was capable of anymore. The facility, the boss, the system—they were too big, too powerful. And Nine… Nine was slipping away, his body growing more fragile with every passing moment.
But I wouldn't give up. Not on him. Not on the bond we shared, even if he wasn't awake to feel it. He needed me, and I wasn't going to leave him behind.
Nyx let out another low sound in the back of my mind. A growl, but with an edge of something softer beneath it. We were still here. And we'd fight.
We'll fight, I promised.