Romance

  Aurora&#39;s Perspective
  When the wheelchair passed through the final airlock door and emerged from the building disguised as an ordinary industrial park warehouse, the sudden influx of light made me squeeze my eyes shut.
  It wasn’t the harsh, unforgiving fluorescent glare of the lab. It was sunlight. Afternoon light, warm and golden. It bled through my closed eyelids, painting the world a warm, glowing orange.
  Next came the air. *Oh God, air!* Not the chilled, metallic, sterile taste of the recycling system. Real, outdoor, moving air. It carried the scent of sun-warmed asphalt, of freshly cut grass from a distant lawn, even a faint oily tang of exhaust—smells I usually rolled my eyes at, but which now smelled like heaven.
  I opened my eyes wide, gulping in huge breaths. The cool air, warmed by the sun, hit my lungs and made me cough, but a huge, almost idiotic grin spread across

  Lily&#39;s Perspective
  The phone rang as I was staring into a stone-cold cup of coffee, my mind a tangled, useless knot. Ethan sat across from me, gripping a useless investigative report, his knuckles white.
  When the unfamiliar male voice came through the speaker, introducing himself as &quot;Liam Thornton, of the Northwatch Sentinels,&quot; and stating, &quot;Aurora is with me. She&#39;s safe and being returned,&quot; my ceramic mug slipped from my hand and thudded onto the thick carpet. Dark coffee bloomed into an ugly stain, but I barely registered it.
  *Safe? Aurora is safe?*
  A wave of dizzying, overwhelming relief crashed through the dam of anxiety I&#39;d built over days. I shot to my feet, my voice sharp and trembling, unfamiliar even to me. &quot;Where is she?! Let me talk to her! Now!&quot;
  &quot;She&#39;s right here. Tired, but physically okay. Just a moment, ma&#39;

  Aurora&#39;s Perspective
  Just as my heart threatened to stutter-stop, my mind conjuring every horror-movie vivisection scene, a heated argument erupted outside the door, voices rising as they approached.
  Eric Milton&#39;s voice, shrill and cracking with outrage: &quot;...You can&#39;t! She&#39;s *my* project! *My* discovery! Her data is unique! Give me more time, just a little, and I&#39;ll have a breakthrough! You can&#39;t just take her!&quot;
  Another voice, calm, steady, carrying unshakeable authority. I couldn&#39;t make out the words, but the tone was overwhelming.
  &quot;No! You don&#39;t understand! She&#39;s art! She&#39;s science! You brutish thugs swinging your fists have no concept of her value!&quot; Milton was shrieking now, pure frenzy and defeat.
  Then, more footsteps. Heavy, synchronized boots, moving fast.
  *BANG!*
  The room&#39;s heavy, sealed door flew open

Aurora&#39;s Perspective
  When the wheelchair passed through the final airlock door and emerged from the building disguised as an ordinary industrial park warehouse, the sudden influx of light made me squeeze my eyes shut.
  It wasn’t the harsh, unforgiving fluorescent glare of the lab. It was sunlight. Afternoon light, warm and golden. It bled through my closed eyelids, painting the world a warm, glowing orange.
  Next came the air. *Oh God, air!* Not the chilled, metallic, sterile taste of the recycling system. Real, outdoor, moving air. It carried the scent of sun-warmed asphalt, of freshly cut grass from a distant lawn, even a faint oily tang of exhaust—smells I usually rolled my eyes at, but which now smelled like heaven.
  I opened my eyes wide, gulping in huge breaths. The cool air, warmed by the sun, hit my lungs and made me cough, but a huge, almost idiotic grin spread across my face. Unbidden tears welled up, shattering the sunlight into shimmering halos.
  I was alive.

Chapter 261