Page 47 of The Gathering
Because he’s in the dungeon.
Well, tell him to get out!
He can’t get out.
What? Why?
Because I imprisoned him there. To teach him real pain. I told you.
But he knows real pain. What are you saying, I don’t get it.
He doesn’t knowyourpain.
Cat froze again. Then threw open the door and hurried to the dungeon.
She opened the door and her knees buckled at the sight. His fists clenched, body taut.
Rage flooded her as she ran to the chair only to encounter a wall inside every muscle.
You can’t remove him that way, Catherine. You have to go inside to deal with it.
“Turn it off!” she ordered, tears pouring. “You turn it off, Zero! Omnis!” she screamed, fighting to get free of Zero’s hold. “Turn it off right now!”
“We can’t, Cat.”
She gasped at hearing the gentle sound of his voice. “Omnis?”
“I’m here.”
Pain gripped her chest as she fought to breathe. “Tell me what to do.”
Her body sagged in the absence of Zero’s restraint, her gaze falling on Ethan again.
“Put on the second headset, Cat,” Omnis instructed.
She hurried to the wall and put them on, shaking with worry and dread about what was happening to Ethan.
“Do you remember how to turn them on?” Omnis asked.
He doesn’t know I’m in you.
Cat froze, her breaths shaking.Omnis doesn’t?
No. I hid it from him to protect our base.
Cat wasn’t sure how, but she understood why that was vital.
Permission to use your fine motor skills.
Now you frikn’ ask?
I will always ask unless your life is in danger.
We’ll argue that one later,she assured. Permission granted.
Cat entered that brief spin into the alternate reality, her breakfast trying to make a quick exit. The room cleared, revealing a large bird-looking cage with Ethan curled on the floor in a fetal position.
She raced barefoot across the black stone floor of the cathedral-like room, slowing at the cage, her heart aching till she couldn’t breathe. “Ethan?” she whispered, moving along the bars till she could see his face. His handsome features were softened in sleep. A peaceful one.
