Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace (Dexter) novel Chapter 417

We landed on the fourteenth floor via the emergency escape, the atmosphere charged with an ominous vibe.

I quickly held back the group, a silent signal to stay alert.

Beside me, Colin was peering down at a laser tripwire, its red beam slicing through the darkness like a beacon of danger.

With a deliberate motion, Colin nudged the beam, and immediately, a click sounded, followed by a tiny steel ball dropping from above. It rolled down its designated path, clattering against the wooden floor tiles which collapsed like a line of dominoes.

As the domino effect continued, the entire fourteenth floor was suddenly bathed in light, revealing an expansive, unobstructed space.

The collapsing tiles eventually spelled out the word "DEATH".

Finn rolled his eyes. "Dramatic much?"

Robin frowned, surveying the floor with caution. "Something's off here."

Then, out of the silence, a little girl's singing floated through the air, eerie and misplaced. "Twinkle, twinkle, little star..."

Not far from us, a girl in a red dress was bouncing a rubber ball, seemingly oblivious to our presence.

"Hey, kiddo!" Finn called out.

The girl kept playing, ignoring Finn completely.

"I'll check on her," Robin decided, moving towards the laser tripwire.

"It's a hologram," Colin halted Robin with a firm grip. "That girl isn't real."

Robin paused, shocked. "Hologram technology has come this far?"

"Given the lighting, the setting, and our current position, it appears incredibly lifelike," Finn added, offering his explanation.

Dexter, curious, picked up a rock and tossed it toward the girl. As expected, it passed right through her, confirming our suspicions of a holographic projection.

"What, did that maniac invite us here for a movie night?" Finn muttered with a scowl.

Bran had been quiet, almost too quiet. Ever since Zoe's death, he seemed to have lost his spark, carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.