CHAPTER 109: FORCE AWAKENING

The stone chamber was bare. Smooth walls, smooth floor, no furniture except for three simple stone benches pushed against the far wall. The air felt cool, still. Fin stood near the center. Arachne, Scarlet, and Meg stood opposite him.

"Arachne," he said. "You’re first."

She stepped forward without hesitation. She stood straight, facing him, hands loose at her sides. Fin raised his right hand, the one marked with faint, intricate green lines. He placed his palm flat against her sternum.

Green light flowed from his hand, sinking into her chest. Her posture remained unchanged. Her breathing stayed even. A faint shimmer pulsed beneath her skin for a few seconds, mirroring the lines on Fin’s arm, then faded. He pulled his hand back.

"Done," he stated.

She bowed her head slightly. "Thank you, my Lord." She stepped back, resuming her position near the wall.

"Scarlet," he said.

Scarlet swaggered forward, arms crossed. She stopped in front of him, raising an eyebrow. "Alright. Hit me."

He placed his hand on her chest, same position as Arachne. Green light flowed again, brighter this time, less easily absorbed. Scarlet’s body tensed instantly. Her jaw clenched, teeth grinding audibly.

Sweat beaded on her temples, darkening the roots of her red hair. Her hands, still crossed, gripped her own arms tightly, knuckles turning white. Her breathing grew shallow, hitching slightly. A low grunt escaped her lips, quickly suppressed. The muscles in her neck corded. She trembled, a fine vibration running through her arms and legs.

Fin kept his hand steady, the green light pulsing. Scarlet squeezed her eyes shut for a beat, then forced them open, glaring defiantly past Fin’s shoulder. The trembling intensified, then slowly subsided as the green light dimmed. Fin withdrew his hand.

She swayed slightly, taking a quick, sharp breath. She uncrossed her arms slowly, rubbing her chest where his hand had been. "Okay," she rasped, her voice rough. "Not pleasant. But... doable." She shot him a look, "thanks boss." then turned and limped slightly back towards the wall, leaning against it heavily.

Fin turned his gaze to Meg. She stood watching, her expression tight, hands clenched at her sides.

"The book was clear," he said, his voice flat. "This isn’t a boost. It’s forcing something. The pain will be extreme. You could die. You could be crippled."

Meg met his gaze. She nodded once, sharply. "I know. Do it."

He motioned towards the center of the floor. "Lie down."

She hesitated for a fraction of a second, then walked to the spot he indicated and lay flat on her back on the cool stone floor, arms stiffly at her sides. She stared up at the ceiling.

Fin knelt beside her. He placed his left hand flat on her forehead, fingers brushing her hair. He placed his right hand, flat on her sternum, directly over her heart.

"Don’t fight it," he instructed quietly. "Just endure."

He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them. They glowed faintly green. Energy flowed from both his hands. Not just the steady green of the boosts. Silver light mixed with it, swirling, unstable. It didn’t sink into Meg smoothly; it pushed, forcing its way beneath her skin.

She gasped, her body arching abruptly off the floor. Her eyes flew wide, staring blankly upwards. A choked sound escaped her throat. Her entire body began to tremble violently, limbs jerking uncontrollably against the stone. Sweat broke out across her forehead instantly, soaking her hair, plastering it to her skin. Her face flushed deep red, veins standing out starkly on her neck and temples.

Fin kept his hands firmly in place, his own brow furrowed in concentration. The energy flowed, insistent, brutal. Meg’s back arched again, higher this time, her heels drumming against the floor. Her teeth clenched so hard her jaw muscles bulged. A thin trickle of blood appeared at the corner of her mouth where she bit her lip.

Arachne watched, motionless, her face pale. Scarlet pushed herself off the wall slightly, her usual nonchalance gone, replaced by a frown.

The trembling became full convulsions. Meg’s limbs thrashed, her head turning side to side weakly against Fin’s restraining hand. The air around her shimmered, distorting faintly. Muffled sounds tore from her throat, raw noises of pure agony. Her eyes rolled back slightly, showing only whites.

Fin leaned closer, his own breathing growing heavier. Sweat beaded on his forehead now. The green lines on his arm pulsed erratically, mirroring the chaotic energy pouring into Meg. He maintained the pressure, forcing the combined silver and green light deeper, tearing through unseen barriers within her.

Suddenly, a new light flickered beneath his right hand, inside Meg’s chest. Faint at first, a tiny spark of pale white, almost lost in the swirling storm of Fin’s energy. It pulsed weakly, fighting against the overwhelming influx.

Meg screamed, a high, thin sound cut off abruptly as her body went rigid, every muscle locking simultaneously. She stopped breathing. Her face turned pale, lips tinged blue.

Fin didn’t pull back. He pushed more energy, focusing it directly onto the flickering white spark. The green and silver light intensified, burning almost white-hot where his hands touched her.

The chamber filled with a high-pitched whine. The white spark flared violently, pulsed once, twice, then stabilized, shining with a steady, soft white light from within Meg’s chest.

The overwhelming energy flow from Fin abruptly ceased. The green and silver light vanished. He pulled his hands back sharply, gasping slightly, leaning back on his heels.

Meg collapsed fully onto the floor, limp as a rag doll. Her body shuddered once, then went still. Air rushed back into her lungs with a ragged, desperate gasp. Her eyes remained closed. Color slowly returned to her face. She lay motionless, except for the shallow, rapid rise and fall of her chest.

The faint white light beneath her sternum pulsed gently, rhythmically, in time with her heartbeat.

Fin stayed kneeling beside her for a long moment, watching her breathe. He reached out slowly, placing two fingers against her neck, just below her jawline. Her pulse felt rapid, thready, but steady. He withdrew his hand.

He pushed himself slowly to his feet. He swayed slightly, running a hand over his face, wiping away sweat. He looked down at Meg’s still form, then turned towards the other two women watching from the wall. His face was drawn, pale.

"It’s done," he said, his voice quiet, rough with exhaustion. "She has a core."