26
I instantly realize that George initiated Assimilation—the strange, empathetic mind meld that Frederick and I engaged in on the Island.
An avalanche of anxiety hits me, quickly evolving into a tornado of debilitating fear. It’s as if I received a shot of adrenaline directly into the fear center of my brain. Rationally, I know this is due to my fear combining with any trepidation George is feeling, but that doesn’t make it better. Fear is never rational.
I try fighting it, but as soon as I regain some semblance of sanity, I feel a wave of emotion that I can best describe as rejection. It’s my negation of what George is trying to do to me, and his version of the same emotion. We both feel as if the sanctity of our minds is being violated. Describing the feeling is difficult. All I can
