CHAPTER 22
The sound of the lift doors opening snapped me out of my trance. I was calmer, but a barb of fear lodged deep in my chest. Doctor Ling kept talking to me, determined for me to cling to the present as much as possible. I could see in her eyes that she feared for me, that whatever was coming next would make or break me.
I focused my energy on not drifting away. I looked around at the black-clad soldiers and tried to concentrate on every single detail to anchor me to the here and now. My trolley lurched forward with the sergeant major at the front, leading me to wherever we were going.
The sounds hit me first. The noise of dozens, possibly hundreds of people, all talking at the same time, busily trying to say their piece. It sounded like a packed office block with people all in
