Page 267 of Light Leech

“Ease off, BB.” She continued to speak over his attempt to defend himself. “Merging for entry. Pulling you into the neurocore right… now.”

I felt myself disconnect from reality, while still recognizing that I had left a part of myself there. I stood with a violet outline, though the form didn’t match my own.

Ralia. We moved in sync down a wide corridor with dark, pixelated walls. They matched the pattern above and below us with red light lines along the corners of the walls, floors, and ceiling. Each step pulsed with subtle light.

“Welcome to the neurocore, Pet.”

Chapter nine

Mecha-beef

My vision returned as I looked around the room. Everyone was waiting for a response.

Ralia disconnected me from the neuroset.

“It didn’t work?” I asked.

She disconnected her own. “Oh, it worked. We’re in. Check your interface.”

I did as she replied and saw a small outline of myself in the bottom right corner.

Accessing core. It read, pulsing with a faint blue light.

“See it?” she asked.

I nodded and exited the neurospace.

“As long as that is blue, you’re good.”

“And if it’s not?”

“If there is nothing, you’ve merged your minds back together. If it’s freaking out like some kind of a glitch, one of us has zegged up.”

“So don’t do that,” Boyband said.

I glared at him. “Like you have any say in it?”

Footsteps entered the monastery.

“Do you want to share with more people than us?” Ralia asked.

Boyband shook his head.

“Then drag her away to feed before Abbas and Akna can complain, unless you want to share with her.”

He pulled Kalacia down the hall, away from the entrance.

“Don’t forget our molars!” Ralia sighed and raised her eyes as Boyband left the room. “One day maybe things’ll click for that kid.”

I turned to Naoma. Both of us opened our mouths to talk, but in that second of hesitation, Abbas and Akna entered.

“Reporting from Haven Health,” Abbas said, lacking enthusiasm.

“Soo, how’d it go?” Ralia winked at Akna. “Abbas stay in line?”

She smiled, nodding with more enthusiasm than I expected.

“That good, huh?”