The question hung in the air, settling over us like a fog that refused to lift. The room felt too small, too tight, like the walls were closing in with every second that passed. I wanted to speak, to say something that would break the spell, but my mind was a storm of confusion and fear.
Dr. Brennan watched me with an intensity that made my skin prickle. “Connor, have you ever felt… different?” she asked, her voice gentle but probing.
Different? Sure, I had my quirks. I liked to read old sci-fi novels and I was the only one in my friend group who didn’t like TikTok. But this was something else, something deeper. I shook my head slowly, unsure of what she wanted me to say.
“This isn’t an accusation,” she added quickly. “But sometimes, when things like this happen, there are… signs.”
