I return to my room, which is thankfully devoid of Bao, who is most likely at lunch with Avi. 

I had just spent the entire night in the infirmary and, after hours spent soothing others' pain, I try to focus on my own problems-- like what the hell happened yesterday.

I hop into the shower, my mind still jumping back to that moment, my fingers on the trigger, the face behind the gun, the way that face softened slightly in recognition.

“I know you.” I whisper to the empty shower room. “Why do I know you?”

Not how, but why. Why did I get brief glimpses of my past before the Academy when no one else did? Why did I wake up in a cold sweat every night with a stranger’s name on my lips? Why did it feel like I already knew the answers to my questions?

"Delusions."

"Wha-" I begin. I'm sitting in an interrogation room, the cold metal of the chair digging into my back and a bright light shining on my face. "I don't understand...."

"Connor, what your 'friend' has been telling you are simply delusions." The Animated doctor chuckles. "He is a sick, sick boy, playing a twisted game on you. He is doing it for attention."

"You're lying," I growl. He wasn't like that.

"Where's your proof, child?" The Animated looks at me with wide eyes, clearly trying to psych me up. "Besides, it is not like it affects you anyway. You are not arcane."

I frown. Is this what an interview is like? Am I being... tested? But why would they send in an Animated? They must know I can't read it.

"But your friend is."

I start. "What? No, he isn't," I say rather quickly. "What would make you think that?" That's when I feel it, the fear. It's behind the Animated standing in front of me. It's behind the wall. Something about the emotion feels so familiar to me.

"What makes you say that, Connor? How would you know? He was tricking you, after all."

The fear gets stronger, and then suddenly explodes into pain. I can barely contain my reaction as it envelopes me.

"What is wrong, Connor?" The Animated asks.

"Shut up," I say through gritted teeth. The pain continues like a knife in my stomach. Someone is being seriously hurt behind that wall. I find myself panting and gripping onto my chair.

"You are obviously distressed. What might be causing this?"

That's when it hits me. "Erik." I couldn't stop it from slipping out.

"What about him?" It blinks innocently.

I jump out of my chair and shout, "Stop it, you bastards."

The Animated steps in front of the door as I try to get out. "Connor, you're being hysterical."

I shove the stupid robot, but it remains glued in its place. The pain increases, and I fall to the ground screaming. "Stop hurting him, please." I blink away my tears and stare at the Animated. "Please, I'll do anything."

"Anything?" The Animated raises an eyebrow. "Tell me, Connor. What is happening in the other room?"

"Stop it, please," I whisper, the pain overwhelming me. "Stop."

"What is happening?" The Animated asks again.

I look up into its synthetic eyes and make a decision. "You're hurting Erik."

Its face betrays no emotion as it continues, "And how do you know?"

"B-because... I'm an empath."

The Animated finally grins wickedly, turning to the door and knocking. A soldier steps inside, and I gasp.

"It's... you." The man who brought me. The man with the green coat.

"Yes, Connor, it's me. Please, call me Heron."

____

"Delusions."

"What...?" I wake up in my cot, staring at the ceiling.

"I said, 'concussion?'" Bao repeats. 

Frowning, I look around at the room. How did I get here-?

"You passed out in the shower. Hanson found you."

"I-"

"If you won't tell me, I'll get Merrick to fucking pry it out of your mind."

My head still whirling, I sit up. Erik. I think. The name circles around my head, but whenever I reach for the meaning, it flies away. All I can remember is... blue.

Bao snaps his fingers and I snap back into reality. "So?"

"So what?"

"Are you going to tell me? What happened at the ambush? Why weren't you with us? What were you doing in that theatre?"

"Do you... really want to know?"

Bao gives me a look, emphasizing how dumb I am currently being.

"Ah, okay." I rest my head on my knees and take a deep breath before looking him in the eyes and saying, "I've seen Catalyst."