Nirvana Effect

74



Edward was aware of nothing except his cells. He could only sense the burning of his cells and the dying in his body. And of course there was the sensation of his head in Callista’s hands.

The trance had stopped. It had run out. But then something had happened.

He had started it again.

It wasn’t the drug trance, it was something else, something born of necessity, the same sort of necessity that let him perceive that dart so clearly.

As he’d forced himself to focus at Seacrest’s house, so did he force himself into trance now. It was harder. It took all of his will, and something more. But he was doing it. Having gone to that state many times, he willed himself to go there again.

He willed himself to live.

The poison was everywhere in his body.

It was sending him into shock.

He felt his body trying to neutralize it, trying to kill it off. His vitals would give out before his immune system could work.

And yet he willed it. He willed his heart to pump, his lungs to breathe, his vitals to continue, barely.

It was a weak poison. It was biological. It sent the whole body into shock, but it was dying. His body could handle it, if his body had time. His kidneys were slowly neutralizing it, cleaning his blood.

He kept his body going. He kept pushing the blood through his veins. He kept pumping the air through his lungs.

He would live.

These eyes will open. I will see her.

He focused on her hands cradling his head. He heard her praying.