“No. No, no, no”

Noa’s voice cracked like glass as the monitor screamed its cruel siren.

Flatline.

His world stopped. Again.

“DO SOMETHING!” he shouted, lunging toward the bed, but the medics were already moving defibrillator pads slapped to Rook’s chest, adrenaline stabbed into his arm, hands moving so fast it looked like a blur.

“CLEAR!”

Thump.

Rook’s body jolted.

Noa’s heart nearly exploded with it.

The monitor stuttered then flickered. Then spiked.

A ...