Vivian nodded slowly, prodding my realization on until I gasped.

I stared at her, blinking hard. "Something to rewind the buildup of Pause inside you."

"And then mass produce the rewinding just like Pause, reversing time, sickness, old age, even." Vivian laughed bitterly, a weird sound coming from her when she'd always been so happy. "As soon as Shane perfects it, he's resigning, and we can leave this place forever."

I tightened my grip on her hand as ...