Page 149 of Damsel in Disguise

Ariella goes still. Her grip loosens slightly around where she’s gripping.

“There’s biological material inside,” I provide calmly, as though that somehow makes the sight less grotesque.

“And you created this?”

I nod. “And improved it.”

There’s that dangerous look in her eyes—one that she gets whenever she realizes there are still parts of me she doesn’t understand.

Curiosity tangled with caution.

Fascination fighting against common sense.

“You really are terrifying,” she murmurs.

The strange thing is, she doesn’t sound terrified at all.

We step farther inside while the overhead lights activate one by one. Clinical white illumination floods the room in cold stages, revealing steel surfaces polished clean enough to reflect distorted silhouettes at us.

Finally, Ariella lets herself properly look around the containment chamber.

Metal tables.

Surgical restraints.

Machines sitting dormant beneath shadows.

She freezes quietly, not dramatically.

The reaction hits differently for some reason. I realize what she’s seeing—not a laboratory but a graveyard.

I should explain.

Should redirect her attention.

Should lie.

Instead, I just watch her. Those reactions are becoming addictive in ways I don’t know how to regulate.

“This is what you do down here?”

There’s no accusation in the question. Only quiet disbelief.

I guide us to carry Delilah’s body toward the incineration unit. “Partially.”

“You experimented on people.”

“On Synthètes,” I correct softly.

“That’s not anything better.”

I know it’s not, but I don’t argue with her.

Together, we shove the Synthète remains into the chamber. The body collapses awkwardly against the steel interior before the incinerator seals shut automatically with a hydraulic hiss.

Seconds later, flames erupt behind the reinforced glass.

Orange light flickers violently across Ariella’s face while Delilah’s body begins collapsing inward.