Into the Black Hole

Chapter 26: The Other Half

On my first day of work, the NeuroQueue team acquaints me with the lab, the codebase, and resource documents. There are around one hundred scientists and engineers on this team, all specialized to complete a specific portion of the device. While a few extroverted workers bombard me with questions—many of which are unusually personal rather than about my dissertation—most serenely focus on their job. My manager guides me through a hospital where they conduct experimental treatments on patients with neurological disorders.

Boss and Felix weren't lying about the sick. There are eighty-seven of them total, kids included, which is an abnormally high number on a ship that has no more than ten thousand occupants. Maybe the researchers gathered these patients from outside for this specific project.

After hours of feigning work mixed in with fixing overfitted machine learning models, modifying formulas that update the learning rate after each epoch, and answering queries surrounding NeuroQueue's filaments, the clock displays eighteen-three-six. Time to go.

I turn a corner leading to my cabin's hallway and bump into a hard chest. Firm hands wrap around my elbows, preventing me from tripping. "I'm so sorry—" my throat closes when I raise my head. Alluring eyes from my nightmares bore into mine, freezing my blood.

"Not a problem," Boss barely whispers, and yet his voice carries down the hall like a melody. His smile is almost genuine. "I was looking for you, actually." He releases one of my elbows to graze my cheek with his knuckles. My fingers become fists to steady my trembling hands. "Your wound has already healed."

"Doctor River dabbles in alchemy," I explain, pressing against his abdomen so he takes the hint. I'm pleasantly astonished when he lowers his hands and steps back. Crossing my arms, I lean against the nearest wall. "What do you want?"

"I want to... apologize for how I behaved when we first met," he begins, sincerity oozing out of him. "I was having a bit too much fun and didn't stop to think how my actions would affect you. I am truly sorry."

I study his expression for a moment. The downturned eyes, softened eyebrows, repentant set of his lips. He's really laying it on thick. Straightening, I move to sidestep him. "Apology not accepted."

He blocks my path. "Wait."

I give him a "what?" look.

"Please, I'll make it up to you," he implores.

"Really?" I drag out.

He tilts his head like a docile wolf. "Hold out your hand."

Warily, I comply. Taking out a thin, aqua box that looks like a cigarette lighter, he dispenses an opaque pill into my palm. Okay. "What is this?"

Boss slides the box back into his pocket, clarifying, "It'll take your stress away. Loosen you up. Although," he leans in as if he's divulging a secret, "I recommend only taking it after midnight, preferably away from people, mirrors, and sharp objects."

"Huh," I say, grabbing his hand with my free one and dumping the pill into his palm. However, he seizes the opportunity to clasp his long fingers around my hand. I jerk back, but his grip is merciless.

He pulls me closer to him, eyes toying with mine as he smirks. "Okay, fine. What do you want? I'll give you anything."

"I want to go home."

"Ooh, anything but that," he overemphasizes as though the mere thought is painful. "I told you, after NeuroQueue is complete, you can go home. What can I do for you until then?" He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.

"You can stop harassing me."

His smile fades, and he scans my face for a minute, eyes lingering on every feature. Unbeknownst to me, I start to admire his high cheekbones, prominent jawline, and hunter eyes before recalling he's the enemy. He loosens his grip, enabling me to step back, the contact between us severed. He holds his hands up, resigned. "Okay." He doesn't move, so I make a wide arc around him and stride to my door. Before I open it, I peek back to ensure he isn't following me. I expect him to, but he doesn't. He stands stationary in the hallway, a statue facing the other direction.