Sirius stumbled through the narrow hall, barely supported by the nurse his echo had captured. The woman's hands trembled, her steps unsteady, yet she continued guiding him toward their destination. It hadn't taken long to convince her to bring him here—the lifeless, soul-rattling stares of Philo's echo and the Abomination had been enough to crush any resistance she might have had. As they entered the cold, sterile room, Sirius's gaze immediately locked onto the large life-support pod in the center. His heart clenched painfully.
Lying inside, his cousin Xander appeared motionless, hooked up to a complex system of buzzing machines. Cables and tubes intertwined with the pod like a grotesque web, pulsing with artificial life. His cousin looked peaceful at first glance—too peaceful, Sirius thought, given what they'd endured. He stepped forward, leaning in closer, eyes narrowing as suspicion crept into his mind.
