Miranda and Olivia stood a few meters behind the glass, now visible through the internal partition.
"We'll monitor blood pressure, calcium levels, and body temperature throughout. If anything dips, we'll respond instantly," Selwood added.
The nurse gently began the catheter insertion — right arm first.
The nurse looked to see a wince, but Izan sat there calmly as the tube settled in.
The machine beeped softly and then hummed to life.
A pulsing, cycling rhythm, like the quiet sound of breathing through machinery.
Blood flowed.
Dark red.
Winding through the clear tube.
Into the machine. Spinning. Filtering. Returning.
Izan didn't show any displeasure.
Not when Komi was staring through the window like she wanted to put him back in her womb to save him from whatever the machines were doing to him.
One hour passed.
When Izan mentioned his fingertips tingling, a calcium supplement was adjusted into the IV line.
Two hours passed.
No breaks. No complaints.
