Chapter 115.
When Zhi forces himself to open his eyes again, the doctor and the nurse are still frozen in place over him.
At least he’s still alive.
But is it over?
“He shouldn’t be awake this soon,” the nurse says, as if he’s not a person but a machine that turned on too soon.
“Best give him another dose of the anesthesia,” the doctor says.
Zhi doesn’t cry out this time. His fear spikes—but underneath it is something else now.
Anger.
“Screw this!” he whispers to himself. “I quit.”
He uses the immense strength he’s always had in his forearms and jerks himself free from the safety straps holding him down.
He breaks loose with even stronger legs.
Then the gymnast, one of the greatest China has ever produced, is bringing his knees to his chest and springing up and off the table like doing one more ring leap from a balance bar.
Neither the doctor nor the nurse makes any move to stop him as he runs for the door. There is no longer a guard in the room with them.
Zhi is afraid the door might be locked.
But to his surprise, the handle turns easily in his hand.
Zhi doesn’t hesitate, even realizing the cost of what he’s about to do if he leaves this room.
But he can’t stay in here any longer.
He can’t risk them opening him up.
When he steps into the hall, the rush of cooler air hits him like mercy. Finally able to breathe again. To think.
He sucks in a breath, eyes wide, scanning. And then he sees Jack McHenry standing a few feet away, his face pale, his nose still bruised, but his eyes sharp.
Jack doesn’t look surprised to see him.
He looks like he’s been waiting.
“They . . . opened yours too?” Zhi manages, still shaking.
Jack nods once. “After a while. After I . . . After I quit.”
Zhi swallows. “I couldn’t—”
“I know,” Jack says, voice quiet but steady. “I know.”
Zhi looks both ways down the long corridor. Doors. Cameras. Silence.
“You’re all right?” Zhi asks.
“Well as can be expected under the circumstances,” Jack says.
“What about Alek and Tipton?” Zhi asks him.
“Still in their chambers as far as I know,” Jack says.
Zhi nods.
“So now it’s down to two,” Zhi says.
Just not for long.