Beyond the Script

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