Make it pay!

Adele places the vial of Blake's blood on the tray, her fingers steady despite the questions racing through her mind.

She sets up the machine, loading the sample into the scanner. The screen flickers to life, beginning the process of breaking down the blood's composition.

The first test is simple, a standard human identification scan. If Blake is still human, the machine will confirm it immediately. I mean, of course she knows she's not.

The progress bar inches forward, the quiet hum of the equipment filling the room. Adele crosses her arms, watching, waiting.

Then, the results flash onto the screen. No match found.

Her breath stills. That isn't possible. She reruns the test, convinced there must have been a mistake. Again, the machine processes, and again, the same result.

Adele exhales sharply, pressing her fingers against the counter. She isn't ready to accept that yet.

She moves on.