Silence fell in bars.
Black rectangles rained like iron winters, each one a shudder that clipped the world shorter. A child’s laugh vanished mid-breath. A woman’s cry broke off and returned as air. Sal mouthed errata and got only ache.
The blank ceiling leaned lower, pleased.
The Reviser’s voice slid under the ribs, neat and triumphant:
—Silence is cleaner.
The ampersand between the two Lenas stretched thin, blue filament straining. One bar struck between them; another tried to land on Dominic’s mouth and failed only because his blade was already there, a strip of stubborn steel holding back a slab of hush.
Mireya slammed her staff. Sparks died on contact with the bars, smothered.
Kael tried to curse and grinned instead, because the word wouldn’t come and his teeth would have to do.
