Page 94 of Matteo

And of course, there was Rain.

I wanted to keep Alaska as far away from her as I could.

My thoughts shifted as the muddled sound of machinery began to whir from outside of the tank. I kept my cool not alerting them to the fact that I could tell the tank was about to be drained, that they were coming for me.

Any small spike in my heart rate would have them looking at me funny.

While I had no idea how many days it had been, I’d been mapping this place in my mind.

Every little chance I got I studied the nooks and crannies within my brain.

There wasn’t much else to be done.

I could feel the water draining from the tank, and slowly my body began to sink until my feet were touching the bottom.

Carefully I peeled the mask away from my face, pulling in deep breaths as cool air stung my skin, leaving me feeling wet. A fan turned on kicking on heat and drying me quickly as I stood in the weird boxer briefs. Anticipation settled into my stomach as I watched the door to the tube creak open. The two technicians entered, their footsteps soft as they stepped intothe sterile tank. Each of them had a metallic baton that glinted under the humming fluorescent lights. At a moment's notice, enough electricity could go coursing through them, enough to bring down a moose.

I heard her then.

With the water gone, nothing was dampening my mind for the moment. They would get me to take a pill that kept the Corsican at bay once out but…

Rain,my Corsican began to stir.She’s here…

I took a breath, my eyes watching the technicians. We can’t make a move just yet.

Our fucking woman…she’s terrified. Can you not feel it?He was getting antsy but I could feel Rain and she was…

There were so many emotions going through her all at once they were starting to make me feel…

Nauseous.

“This way,” one of the techs nodded and gave me a little shove.

I didn’t say anything because I needed to be out of the tank, free and clear before I started fucking everyone up for touching the woman I loved.

The ID badges were shimmering like a piece of candy and I couldn’t wait to grab them but the batons that could be

Finally, we were through the door, the techs walking behind me.

There was no need to ask where we were going because I knew it was past the lab.

Slowly, I walked trying to comprehend that after days, weeks, maybe even months, I could feel Rain.

On both sides of me, in countless tanks, bodies drifted eerily. A chill ran through me as I questioned whether they were conscious of the silent chaos around us. Desperation clawed at my thoughts—who were these figures? Were they replicas of me,soulless shells like my double, or were they like Kenji, dormant Synthetic Corsicans poised to spring to life with a deadly command? The air thrummed with tension, a ticking time bomb waiting to implode.

I took a left, and then another left, walking down the hall that I’d mapped in my mind for days upon days. My steps faltered as I neared an observation window I’d passed a million times.

I’d never bothered looking down there but the compulsion to look this time couldn’t be ignored.

Stopping, I peered through the glass looking downward and caught a glimpse of Rain, strapped to a table and possibly unconscious. My heart began to race.

“Rain,” I breathed, my palms digging into the glass.

My eyes seemed to zoom in and immediately, I could see her chest rising and falling.

Gritting my teeth, I whirled on the technicians who already had their batons sizzling with electricity.

“What the fuck is she doing here?” My voice was low and full of danger.

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