The fluorescent lights hummed their sterile tune, casting a sharp, white glare over Lisa’s immaculate lab. Olivia stood at the threshold, hesitating. The air smelled faintly of disinfectant, and the polished steel counters reflected distorted fragments of her shadow. This place was nothing like the gritty warmth of Ethan’s gym or the cozy chaos of her own apartment. It felt like stepping into the future—and not a friendly one.
Lisa glanced up from a console, her crisp lab coat pristine, her movements precise as ever. “Good. You’re on time.” She tapped a touchscreen, and a series of holographic projections blinked to life—charts, graphs, and what looked like an MRI scan.
“What’s all this?” Olivia asked, her voice tight.
“Baseline data,” Lisa replied briskly. “Your powers aren’t just anom
