The Hollowed / Season 1, Episode 7
Knee Deep in Secrets
Jake’s boots scuffed against the polished tile of the Wellness Hub corridor, the echo bouncing off the sterile white walls like a trapped animal. His left knee throbbed with each step, a dull pulse that felt less like pain and more like something knocking from the inside, begging to get out. He’d skipped the morning dose again—third day in a row—and the fog in his head was thinning, but it came at a cost. His skin itched under the wristband, the plastic warm and tacky from sweat, and his reflection in the glass door ahead seemed to hesitate a fraction of a second before matching his stride. He stopped walking. So did the reflection. But for a heartbeat, he swore its head tilted just a hair to the left while he stayed still. “Move it, Sutter,” a voice barked behind him. Carl, another volunteer, shuffled past, his own wristband blinking green in time with some unseen rhythm. Carl’s eyes were glassy, rimmed red like he hadn’t slept in days, but his mouth was set in a tight, obedient line. “They’re waitin’ on us in Room 6. Don’t wanna be the one they notice, do ya?” Jake grunted, dragging his gaze from the glass. “Yeah, yeah. I’m comin’.” His voice sounded rough even to himself, like he’d been chewing gravel. He...