Chapter Five: The Price of Seeing

“Even evacuation needs a contract,” Qiao said, breathless but alive. “Give me forty seconds.” Lin approached the Prism. With every step it showed a new failure: Qiao shot, Bai burned to ash, Old Zhou inside an Obsidian laboratory. Then Shen emerged from behind a pillar, gun aimed between Lin's eyes. “Remove the glove,” Shen said. Bai's paper charms unfolded. Obsidian's guards took aim. If Zero appeared, every relic in the hall would bow. “Your sister didn't die in an accident,” Lin said. “The Prism can follow a relic's trace into the past. Han tested the Helios Heart on her.” A number appeared beside the golden machine in Shen's vision: 0319. Shen shifted half a step and shot the guard behind Lin just as the man fired a tranquilizer.