Read Online Inescapable (Talented Saga #7) by Sophie Davis - Free Book Online Page A

she turned to
Gregor, and Cressa noticed a small, beige disc over the doctor’s
right temple. It was no larger than Cressa’s thumbnail and blended
in almost seamlessly with Dr. Masterson’s skin. Curious, Cressa
squinted for a better look. As if sensing Cressa’s gaze, the doctor
quickly smoothed her blue-black hair over the disc and continued
speaking to Gregor.
    “ Cadet Ivan, it is my
understanding that your manipulation abilities are progressing
nicely, and that you are considering a future in our neuro-therapy
unit?”
    “ Yes, ma’am,” Gregor
replied stiffly.
    “ Wonderful,” Dr. Masterson
replied, though her tone was still flat as ever. “There is a newly
minted 2P male in cubicle eight, a Cadet Leonard. The injection
procedure is complete and was successful, though the cadet may be
suffering adjustment rejection. Dr. Wythe is speaking with him now
to determine whether a mental block is appropriate at this
juncture; I believe it would advantageous for you to
observe.”
    “ Thank you, ma’am. It
would be an honor,” Gregor said deferentially. With that, he turned
and headed for cubicle eight.
    Cressa watched him walk away, once again
filling with dread. She’d never heard of a mental block. It sounded
ominous, particularly when used in the same breath as a phrase like
“adjustment rejection.” In Cressa’s mind, the latter was just a
clinical way of saying that Cadet Leonard wasn’t picking up what
the Institute was putting down. Even though Cressa couldn’t recall
meeting the cadet in question, her heart went out to him. Doubts
were normal. Cressa had experienced them herself, as she imagined
every other cadet did. But the Dame demanded one hundred percent
loyalty and devotion, and it appeared her underlings were prepared
to take drastic measures to ensure compliance.
    “ It is already quite late
in the day, it would be best if we got started,” Dr. Masterson told
Cressa.
    Fighting the urge to make a run for it,
Cressa nodded mutely and followed the doctor inside the exam
room.
    The incubation chamber sat in the middle of
the space, looking as harmless and non-threatening as a baby lamb.
Still, Cressa felt as though the machine was taunting her with its
quiet whirring noises and bright buttons. As she engaged in a
staring match with the machine, the sound of Leslie closing the
door made Cressa jump. The glass walls of the room frosted over,
effectively shielding her from the outside world.
    This should have made Cressa feel better; at
least no one aside from Leslie and the doctor would be able to ogle
her while she was locked inside the chamber. Instead, the opaque
walls made Cressa feel trapped. She took several deep, calming
breaths, breathing in through her nose and out through her mouth
like her guru had shown her back home.
    Eye on the prize, she thought. This is
what you’re here for.
    Dr. Masterson pointed to the solitary chair
in the corner of the room, where a medical smock sat folded on the
cushioned seat. “You may change now, Cadet Karmine.”
    “ Yes, ma’am.” Cressa
crossed to the chair, heart pounding a frantic rhythm in her chest.
She pulled the privacy curtain that hung from the ceiling closed
and started to undress.
    “ How did you feel during
your test today?” Dr. Masterson called from the other
side.
    “ Pretty good,” Cressa
lied. The entire time she’d been in that dark room, she’d felt
shaky and on edge. Her stomach had ached and her head throbbed. But
there was no way Cressa was going to admit discomfort. She didn’t
want the doctor to think she was complaining or showing signs of
weakness, just in case those might be grounds for
dismissal.
    “ You did not experience
any trouble at all?” Masterson persisted. “You felt completely
normal?”
    “ Yes, I was fine,” Cressa
answered.
    “ Your vitals indicated
otherwise,” Dr. Masterson replied, the faintest hint of amusement
in her tone.
    Cringing at being caught
in a lie, she slid the strange silky