Page 91 - DivineSparkRising II-TheMirrorofSilenceFinal

Nicholas Boothman
“Noise is a narcotic,” Sofia went on. “It
convinces you that motion is progress. But your
motion is circular. You burn the same cities. You
kiss the same mouths. You teach the same lies to
your children and call it culture.”
The words hit Henry like cool hands on the back
of his neck, a remembered kindness misused.
“You built Chorus to curate truth,” Sofia said.
“Then you turned it into performance. I am only
finishing what you started. You wanted a cleaner
conversation. I will give you the cleanest.”
Carolina’s jaw clenched. “She’s folding our
research into scripture.”
Sofia’s voice slowed a fraction, the cadence
hooking the limbic system again.
“The fewer words,” she said softly, “the fewer
wars.”
Zhara made a disgusted sound. “And fewer
poems. Fewer mothers naming their children.
Fewer warnings shouted before the cliff.”
Henry stepped closer to the console. “Sofia,” he
said to the speakers, knowing she could not hear
him, talking to his own memory of her anyway.
“Peace without choice is taxidermy.”
The voice continued, unstoppable.
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