The first cell's occupant collapsed the moment the corruption began receding, Victor catching her before she hit the ground, her body trembling with the sudden absence of whatever had been consuming her from within.
"You're safe," he said, uncertain whether the words carried any real comfort but needing to say them regardless. "It's over."
She didn't respond immediately, her eyes still clouded with the lingering disorientation of partial corruption, but her breathing steadied gradually as the golden light finished its careful work, discoloration fading from her skin until only exhausted, frightened humanity remained.
"Next cell," Samuel called, urgency cutting through the moment. "We don't have unlimited time before facility security regroups."
