Claire didn't look at him right away. Her fingers drummed against the stone railing, quiet taps against the night.
"I was part of a recon unit," she began. "It was a really small team, real stupid missions. You know the type—'check out this anomaly, report back, don't engage.' That kind of thing."
Michael didn't say anything. He just listened.
"We got sent to investigate this weird rift," she continued. "Nobody could explain it. Our sensors went haywire when we got close. They told us to pull back, but we were already too far in."
She let out a breath, more a tired exhale than a sigh.
"I walked too close. Thought I could mark the edge for data. Next thing I know, I'm falling—except not really. It was more like being yanked, like something reached out and dragged me in."
Michael glanced over. She wasn't shaking, but her hand had stopped tapping.
