Chapter Eleven: Zack’s Memories

Chapter Eleven: Zack’s Memories

The alcove was silent except for the faint hum of machinery in the distance. I sat with my knees pulled to my chest, trying to make sense of everything Lena and the Overseer had told me. Zack’s sacrifice. My supposed purpose. It all felt impossibly heavy, like a weight I couldn’t escape.

The quiet was broken by a strange sensation in my mind—a flicker of light, followed by a sharp, static hum. I winced, clutching my head as the sensation grew stronger. It wasn’t pain, exactly, but something foreign, something… opening.

Images flooded my mind, unbidden and vivid. I wasn’t in the alcove anymore. I was walking down a busy street toward a building that seemed to loom over the rest of the town. Its sleek, corporate design was identical to those I’d seen in old footage—every town had one, built and maintained by the corporation. It served as a hub, selling tech, dispensing drugs, and connecting directly to their health system. Everyone relied on it, whether they wanted to or not.

Zack’s body moved with purpose as he approached the building. The resistance had already tested him, confirming what they suspected: his rare blood type made him the perfect candidate for hybridization. They’d supported his decision, even if they didn’t entirely agree with it. Zack wasn’t just walking to the corporation’s HQ—he was walking toward a choice that would change everything.

Inside, the building was sterile and cold. Rows of kiosks hummed with activity as people waited to be served, their faces a mix of hope and desperation. Zack bypassed them, heading directly to a private consultation room. The receptionist barely glanced at him, scanning a small chip on his wrist before waving him through. The room he entered was small, with walls lined with monitors displaying endless streams of data.

A man in a lab coat greeted him, his expression practiced and professional. "You must be Zack," he said, extending a hand. "We’ve been expecting you. Please, have a seat."

Zack complied, his movements steady despite the gravity of the moment. "I’ve already been tested," he said. "You know I’m a match. Let’s not waste time."

The man’s eyebrows lifted slightly, but he nodded. "Very well. It’s rare to see such… determination. You understand what this means, don’t you? Once the process begins, there’s no turning back."

"I understand," Zack replied.

The man’s expression softened, just for a moment. "Few people would make such a sacrifice," he said. "We’ll begin the preparations immediately."

The scene shifted again, like a channel changing. I saw Zack’s face reflected in a sterile, white room filled with machines. His expression was calm, resolute, as he prepared to give up his body for the chance at something greater. Nearby, a technician adjusted the machinery, their movements precise and practiced. The faint hum of the equipment filled the air, almost masking the sound of Zack’s steady breathing.

"We’re ready," the technician said, stepping aside to reveal the centerpiece of the room—a sleek, cylindrical pod surrounded by glowing monitors. Zack stood, his gaze fixed on the pod as if staring into the future itself. He placed a hand on the edge, the cool metal making his resolve feel tangible.


For a moment, his calm wavered. "Tell Lena… tell her to keep them safe," he said quietly, addressing no one in particular. His voice carried a weight that seemed to linger in the air even as he stepped into the pod, the lid closing with a soft hiss.

The last thing I saw before the memory faded was Zack’s face, illuminated by the faint blue light of the pod’s interior. His eyes closed, and for a brief moment, he looked at peace, as if he’d finally found his place in the grand, unyielding machine of the world.


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