“Unfortunately, those options are mutually exclusive. But I’m willing to offer a compromise.”
Dresner almost seemed sorry.
“What compromise?”
“Observation. I reactivate the implant. Restore his conditioning. But I monitor both your neurochemical responses throughout the process.”
He gestured between our two tables.
Horror crawled up my spine. “You want to measure how I react while you break him.”
“I want to measure the bond. If your connection is truly neurochemical, if it runs deeper than conscious choice, your brain will fight the reconditioning even while watching it happen. Oxytocin floods. Cortisol spikes. Desperate attempts to maintain an emotional attachment to someone whose identity is being systematically erased.”
Dresner’s gaze gleamed with scientific fascination.
He leaned closer, studying me.
“But if the bond is merely circumstantial, trauma bonding, perhaps, or simple attraction, you’ll accept the necessity. Your vitals will stabilize. You’ll let him go.”
“That’s sick.”
“That’s science. And you, Ms. Bolton, are the perfect control variable. A woman who claims to love a man she barely knows. Let’s see if your biology agrees with your sentiment.”
Dresner straightened.
Xavier convulsed again. Harder. Longer. Spine arched so violently I heard something pop.
“Stop it!” I was sobbing now. “Save him!”
“I’m saving him. This is mercy, Ms. Bolton. The humane option.”
Dresner’s certainty was absolute.
He moved to stand at the head of Xavier’s table, one palm resting almost gently on his shoulder.
Dresner took out a tablet and tapped a few keys. “Beginning reactivation protocol.”
“NO!” I thrashed against the restraints, desperate to break free. “Don’t you dare...”
Xavier’s scream cut me off.
Pure agony. Raw and unfiltered. The sound of someone being torn apart from the inside.
Entire frame convulsed, catastrophic, violent seizure that made the earlier tremors look like nothing.
“STOP!” I was screaming. “You’re killing him! STOP!”
But Dresner didn’t stop. Just watched Xavier seize with clinical interest, occasionally glancing at the monitoring equipment tracking my vitals.
Measuring my horror. Cataloging my desperation.
Using my love as data.
Xavier’s pupils rolled back. Foam gathered at the corners of his mouth. Arched so severely I thought his spine would snap.
“Please!” I couldn’t see through the blur. “Please, I’ll do anything! Anything you want! Just stop!”
Dresner looked at me. Considered.
