Page 105 - DivineSparkRisingFinal
P. 105
Nicholas Boothman
Bento placed two discs on the table. One etched
with concentric spirals. The other plain.
“One breaks the mind down,” Bento said. “The
other rebuilds it. Together, they are the Re-
patterning Loop.”
Carolina touched the second disc. “The exit
code. Without it, people dissolve.”
Henry steadied himself. “It works. But it’s too
dangerous to use blind.”
“Exactly,” Bento said. “But now you’ve seen its
shape.”
Jinji slipped the discs into her pouch.
As they left the tower, the church bell rang.
Seven chimes. Then silence. No eighth.
Henry froze.
At the far end of the street, half in shadow, a
man leaned against the wall. Shoulders slumped.
Álvaro.
The peppermint tin. The napkin folded too
neatly. The voice on the strip confessing to Chorus.
Now he was here. Watching. Waiting.
Henry stepped forward, but a delivery van
lurched into the lane, blocking the view. By the
time it passed, the wall was empty. Only fading
footprints in the dust.
105
