Chapter Three: Level Zero Is Not a Floor

Ying pointed to the voice terminal. A damaged audio file appeared. Its timestamp was 18:40, seven days in the future. Voiceprint identification read: LIN LI. AGE: TWENTY-SIX. “I’m nineteen,” Lin said. “The system knows,” Ying replied. “The future doesn’t.” The recording began. Through electrical noise came a voice almost identical to Lin’s, but exhausted, as if it had traveled through years of dust. “If you hear this, Black Tide has begun again. Don’t trust the coordinates. They only lead you to the first door.” An impact drowned out the next words. The voice returned as a desperate shout. “Lin, listen to me. Don’t repair the wheel. Every fracture you close lets Shepherd take one person from us. We aren’t sending a distress call.