You stumble to your feet and throw the feral book back into its protective case. "Gabriel!"
He still doesn't respond.
His eyes are wide, pupils blown. He trembles as if hooked to live current. His mouth gapes, screaming in silence.
This isn't pattern lock. Something—someone other than the two of you—is forcing the dimensional breach to stay open.
Gabriel's in danger of losing his mind.
If you choke off the flow of energy, the conduit won't be able to sustain itself. You need to pinch the conduit shut and hope Gabriel's fine after.
With cold, fumbling fingers you rifle through your metal cards. A flash of synesthetic bronze signals the pattern you're after. You hold it in front of you. Your hand barely trembles.
The pattern floats into your mind. You shut your eyes, the better to focus on the pattern. You fight off memories—this will not end like it did with Manish—and pinch your thumb and forefinger together. The motion's not necessary, but it helps you visualize what you want to happen.
Your hand shakes like you've pinched a flag snapping in the wind. Some other intelligence is fighting to hold the conduit open and in place.
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