Chapter 7: Into the Abyss

A week later, Lyra found herself standing outside a secluded memory dive clinic in the shadowy underbelly of Elysium. The air in this part of the city felt heavier, thick with the weight of secrets and whispers. The clinic was an unmarked building, but its sleek exterior and state-of-the-art security system gave away the wealth and power of its clientele. This wasn’t the kind of place where average people came to retrieve or erase memories. This was for those who paid top dollar to make sure their secrets stayed buried—or recovered things they didn’t want the world to know existed.

Lyra felt a chill run down her spine as she stepped through the front entrance. Kieran was already waiting for her inside, his sharp suit and predatory grin blending perfectly with the sterile luxury of the lobby. He didn’t need to speak to the receptionist; he simply waved her forward, and they were escorted down a series of dimly lit hallways. The further they went, the more the world outside seemed to fa