Free Inescapable (Talented Saga #7) by Sophie Davis

smeared a cool gel across
Cressa’s forehead, and then smoothed a strip of clear, malleable
plastic over the substance. The gel warmed instantly on Cressa’s
skin, which started to tingle after several seconds.
    “ No visible
deterioration,” Dr. Masterson commented, studying images of
Cressa's brain on the monitor. The doctor smiled down at her. “It
appears you truly are an ideal host, Cadet Karmine. I see a bright
future ahead of you.”
    Pride swelled inside of Cressa at the
doctor’s words. That was why she wanted to be Privileged—to cement
her whole family’s place in the Dame’s carefully constructed new
world. In that moment, she agreed with the doctor; the future was
looking bright, indeed.
    “ Are you comfortable?” the
doctor asked.
    “ Yes, ma’am,” Cressa
replied dutifully, feeling almost excited. The lingering tendrils
of fear that tickled her subconscious were easy to ignore now. She
simply focused on the future, and the ultimate goal of attaining
Privileged status.
    Dr. Masterson opened the small compartment
in the right arm tube, directly over Cressa’s elbow. After spraying
Cressa’s skin with a disinfecting agent, she retrieved a syringe
from the refrigeration unit built into the wall beside her.
    “ This first injection is
merely another dose of the telekinetic serum that I gave you
previously, to fortify your abilities. You will likely have greatly
enhanced telekinesis for the next several days, but then it will
settle in.”
    The prick was quick and virtually painless.
Cressa felt an instant surge of adrenaline as the power rushed
through her veins. Beeping sounds came from the monitor as her
heart pounded and her muscles tightened all at once.
    Without warning, fear lanced through Cressa,
quickly decimating the hope and excitement. With the restraints
holding her immobile in their crushing grip, she couldn’t move an
inch, couldn’t guard against the pain, couldn’t fight or flee.
    No. Not again. Tears welled in her eyes until her vision swam
and the two women standing above her became blurs. Please stop, I want to stop. Make it
stop.
    “ It will pass quickly,”
Dr. Masterson assured Cressa. “What you are feeling is all very
normal.”
    Leslie said nothing, watching Cressa as
though she were a fascinating science experiment.
    Her head spinning violently, like a rogue
tilt-a-whirl, Cressa barely heard Dr. Masterson’s next words. “And
this one will give you the ability to manipulate light.”
    Cressa felt the second needle pierce her
skin, sending another rush of chemicals into her bloodstream. The
effects were instantaneous. Her nausea increased tenfold. Pressure
skyrocketed within her, as though her insides were expanding at an
unsustainable rate. Her skull suddenly felt like it was too big,
stretching her skin painfully until she was certain the bone would
tear it to shreds.
    Cressa screamed. She wanted to beg the
doctor to stop, to just leave her alone, but she was no longer
capable of forming words.
    It was just like last time, only so much
worse. The power—it was too much. Her body couldn’t handle it.
    Frightened, dazed, and desperate to end the
agony, Cressa began to thrash wildly, though the restraints
hindered her movements. She felt as though every organ inside of
her was trying to claw its way out. Involuntary spasms rocketed
through her, Cressa’s back arching over and over, causing the
straps to dig painfully into her. Her eyelids flapped open and
closed, open and closed, open and closed in fast succession. The
effect was so disorienting that Cressa felt certain the world was
tilting too far on its axis. Bile blazed her esophagus, as though
it would burn a hole right through.
    I’m going to be
sick, Cressa thought tearfully. I’m going to suffocate in my own vomit, but at
least it will be over.
    Then, just when she couldn’t imagine a
situation more nightmarish than the one she was living through, it
became exponentially worse. The chamber lid descended