The silence of Section Zero was heavier than the ocean. It was a suffocating, antiseptic quiet that tasted of ancient dust and ozone. On the flickering monitors, the woman who wore his mother's face leaned closer to the camera lens, her sapphire eyes burning with a digital brilliance that made Arkan’s own vision swim.
"Arkan? Why do you hesitate, my boy? The technician always opens the door. It’s what you were born for," the woman on the screen whispered. The audio feed crackled, carrying a rhythmic humming underneath her words—the same whistle from the first island.
"Arkan! Pull your hand back!" Riley’s voice cut through the trance like a jagged blade. She grabbed Arkan’s shoulder, her fingers digging into his scarred skin with enough force to draw blood. "Look at the status bars! It’s
