The gravity returned.
Kael fell.
He fell straight into the blood ocean below him. His body was sinking fast in the thick blood like it was swallowing him whole.
He started to panic.
He tried to scream, but the blood rushed into his mouth. He tried to breathe, but there was no air.
His arms flailed wildly, he was kicking uselessly as he sank deeper and deeper. Every movement of his only dragged him further down. His chest was burning. His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would tear itself apart.
He thought," I can't breathe".
The blood pressing in from every direction. It felt heavy, warm and suffocating.
Kael tried to reach upward desperately, even though he couldn't see a surface anymore. The red around him was slowly turning thicker, heavier and darker almost black. The sound faded and the pressure increased.
His movements became weaker and slower.
His hands stopped reaching, legs stopped kicking.
The panic faded because his body was giving up.
Kael sank.
He stopped, his body was no longer moving.
Still he was drowning motionless in the endless crimson dark, as if he had died.
OBSERVATION ROOM
After 35 minutes-
The monitors still remained steady.
"There's no change," Rubin murmured. "Vitals are normal."
Jake stared at the glass, he was feeling unease creeping into his chest.
"…Something's wrong," he said quietly.
Inside the chamber, Kael's body was still not moving, and he wasn't awake yet.
Rubin tilted his head slightly. "You're just imagining it."
"No," Jake replied. "I'm not."
Inside the Resonance Trial Chamber, Kael's body lay completely still. Too still. His chest barely moved. His face was pale beneath the glass.
Examiner Holt stood at the control panel now, his fingers were moving faster than before. His calm expression was cracking.
"Neural response isn't syncing," Holt muttered. "That shouldn't be happening."
He adjusted settings, increased stimulation and tried to override the manual.
But nothing happened.
"Wake him," Jake said sharply.
"I'm trying," Holt replied.
Seconds passed and then another minute passed but kael didn't move.
Jake's jaw clenched and without another word, he turned and slammed his fist against the side door.
"Open it."
"Lieutenant Clinton—!" Holt began.
But Jake didn't wait, he opened the side door, entered in the chamber room and with a sharp burst of force, he tore the reinforced door apart. The alarms blared instantly.
Jake saw that Kael was still laying there, lips slightly parted not not breathing.
Jake shouted ,"Kael!"
But no response.
Jake pressed his ear to Kael's chest but he couldn't hear the heart beat.
Rubin stepped into the chamber silently, watching without expression.
Holt stood frozen near the controls, his face pale. "…I—I'm sorry, Mr. Clinton."
Jake didn't answer.
He punched hard at Kael's chest once.
"Breathe," Jake growled. "Don't you dare—"
But suddenly, Kael's body jerked with a gasp .
A deep and violent breath tore into his lungs, as if the air itself had stabbed him. He coughed hard, his body was arching as oxygen flooded back in.
Jake and Holt froze and Rubin's eyes narrowed.
Kael sucked in another breath, then another. His eyes snapped open and for five seconds, three of them saw something unexpected.
They saw Kael with glowing red eyes
Then they faded back to normal after five seconds.
But no one spoke.
The alarms slowly died down.
Kael was still laying there, breathing heavily, he was confused and frightened, but alive.
Holt swallowed hard. "I… I'll get the report."
He turned quickly and started working on the monitor.
Rubin remained silent, watching Kael like a broken machine that had restarted by mistake.
Kael looked between them weakly. "…What happened?"
But no one answered.
Minutes later, Holt returned, holding a thin digital tablet. His hands slightly trembling as he handed it over.
"The results," he said quietly.
Jake took it and saw the report and then he paused.
Rubin leaned in and read it as well.
-
Physical condition: Extremely weak
Neural compatibility: Inconclusive
Rin presence: None detected
-
Silence slammed in the room.
Jake was still staring at the words.
Rubin straightened slowly.
"…So," he said calmly, "he's normal."
Kael became frighten. "What…?"
Rubin grabbed Kael by the collar and yanked him upright.
Jake didn't move.
"Normal humans are not allowed here," Rubin said coldly. "You don't belong in Aerin."
Kael panicked. "Jake—!"
But Jake didn't speak.
Kael looked at him desperately. "You said you'd take responsibility!"
Jake's eyes were still on the report.
He said nothing.
That silence hurt Kael more than any words.
Rubin dragged Kael out of the chamber without resistance. Kael struggled weakly, shouting Jake's name again and again—but Jake remained still.
Kael's chest tightened.
"He betrayed me."
Rubin threw Kael into a small, dark cell and slammed the door shut.
"You'll be executed in two days," Rubin said calmly. "Sleep while you can."
There was no light and Kael was alone in the cell.
The cell was so small, that he couldn't lie down. He could only sit, knees pulled to his chest.
While Jake, was sitting alone, in the observation room.
The screens were dark now.
His head hung low and eyes were fixed on the floor.
"I took responsibility. I'll train him. I'll watch him and if he loses control—if he becomes a threat, then I'll be the one to end that Kid's life."
The words were echoing in his mind.
He clenched his fists.
But then Jake stood up and walked out of the observation room.