The man snapped his fingers. The sound cracked through the dead air of the lab.
"Haven't you always wondered," he said, voice even but carrying weight, "how your father managed to build so many things? From the system in your head… to that machine behind you that just gave your friends their powers?"
The snap did more than punctuate his words. Liam's chest loosened. His muscles unclenched. He stumbled forward half a step, realizing the invisible grip holding him down was gone. The restriction vanished like it had never been there.
He exhaled hard, dragging air through his lungs as if he'd been underwater. His fists flexed automatically, knuckles tight and ready. His eyes didn't leave the man.
