Chapter 6

The surgeon's scalpel cut into my body, and in that moment, I remembered what Nolan had once said: "Garrison is loyal and righteous, but once she sets her mind on something, she'll stop at nothing."

In truth, since Nolan's departure, Garrison had been scheming how to exploit my ability to be reborn.

He was waiting for an opportunity, waiting for a reason to convince himself.

And Krystal became that perfect reason.

The surgery was a success.

My soul floated in the hospital corridor, watching as two people were wheeled out of the operating room.

One was Krystal, with a stable heartbeat. The other was me, my body hollowed out.

"Captain White has been saved," the nurse said, "The transplanted organs are in excellent condition."

Garrison breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes red-rimmed.

He held Krystal's hand, keeping vigil for an entire night.

I hovered beside him, watching as he tucked in Krystal's blanket. His hands were steady, as if afraid of causing her pain.