Chapter 11: Assassination Attempt
Darkness swirled in his mind like ink spreading through water. He felt like he was floating—awake but not really there. A quiet hum buzzed through his body, a feeling he couldn't explain.
The Pythea System... integration...
Something shifted. The weightlessness around him lessened, replaced by a slow pull.
A blast of cold hit him. The liquid around him drained away in a steady rush. His back was now pressed against cold metal, sending a shock up his spine. His lungs ached, forcing him to take a breath—air rushed in too fast, too sharp, making him cough hard.
He opened his eyes.
Soft blue lights blinked above him, casting a faint glow on the smooth metal walls. The steady beeping of machines filled the quiet space. His skin tingled with leftover energy, every nerve buzzing like an overworked motor.
Where am I?
Orion pushed himself up, his breathing shaky. His arms felt... different. Not lighter, but stronger. His movements were quicker, sharper. His hands shook as he curled his fingers, confused by the strange feeling of his body moving faster than his mind.
Memories hit him in scattered pieces. The forest. The bear. The chase. But what happened after? He should be dead.
His pulse spiked.
Something wasn't right.