The glass doors sealed shut behind Jagger with a faint, almost inaudible hiss.
At once, the walls frosted from edge to center in a smooth sweep of white, cutting the chamber off from the world outside. One moment, he could still make out blurred figures moving beyond the glass, staff crossing between terminals, silhouettes drifting through sterile light. Next, everything vanished behind an opaque wall of white.
Silence rushed in after it.
Adriana and Director Ng took their seats without hurry.
Adriana sat at the head of the table, posture straight, shoulders squared, hands folded neatly in front of her. She looked as if she had been carved into the chair rather than lowered into it. Director Ng took the seat to her right, tablet already in hand, the pale screen glow sharpening the tired lines beneath her eyes instead of softening them.
Jagger remained standing for a second longer.
