Nikki stumbled backward, her spine hitting the edge of the walk-in closet doorframe. But she didn't register the pain.
Her chest heaved. Her hands gripped her own hair as a violent pain ripped through the center of her skull.
Adonis was off the bed in a microsecond. The data-pad shattered on the floor as he closed the distance, his massive hands gripping her shoulders to keep her upright.
"Nikki." His voice was a sharp, commanding rumble. "Why are you behaving this way? Identify the threat."
"My head," Nikki gasped, squeezing her eyes shut. It felt like someone was directly prying her brain open.
[SYSTEM ALERT.]
[CRITICAL FRAGMENT DISCOVERED.]
[CORE MEMORY LOCKED. RETRIEVAL IS YOUR FINAL OBJECTIVE.]
Nikki opened her eyes, staring at the God of War through a blur of tears. "I'm missing a memory," she choked out, her fingers digging desperately into the thick fabric of his shirt. "Adonis, it feels like a massive hole in my brain. I don't know how to fix it."
