by Loren Walker
“A padded cell?” Kuri snorted. “That’s your big plan?”
“Actually, it’s my big experiment,” Theron said. “You and your kind, you like experiments, don’t you? Well, this is a replica of the world’s quietest room. I read about it in a science journal. This room is covered with sound-deadening material: insulated steel, concrete and fiberglass. When you’re inside, the only sound is you: your lungs, your heartbeat.”
Kuri huffed again, though his confusion showed on his face.
“Oh, it might sound pleasant,” Theron said. “But in fact, the brain is not used to hearing absolutely nothing.” He gazed into the room, thoughtful. “In clinical studies, the most anyone has lasted inside is 45 minutes. Usually it’s far less time, before the hallucinations and general psychosis takes over. How long do you think you can stand it?”
Kuri’s mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out.
Two guards appeared at the door to the basement. Theron nodded.
The men strode over, took hold of Kuri, and propelled him towards the quiet room.
“No! No!” Kuri gasped, clawing at the doorframe before the bodyguards shoved him inside, and the door slammed shut.
“Go,” Theron ordered the bodyguards. They ducked their heads and backed out.
Theron took a seat, and he activated the screens that measured the room’s temperature, energy output, and brain wave activities.
The sound of fists pounding on walls filled the basement.
about the author:
Born in Ontario, Canada, Loren Walker lives and works in Rhode Island. Her poetry has appeared in the anthologies Routes, Frequency Writers City and Sea, The West Texas Review, and QU Journal. Her debut novel EKO was a finalist in the Half the World Global Literary Award completion, chosen as a Library Journal SELF-e Select Pick, and a Shelf Unbound Notable Indie in 2016.
Get publishing updates, character biographies and custom illustrations at her official site: www.lorenwalker.net
The sequel to NADI is INSYNN.
thank you:
to my family and friends, my eternal cheerleaders.
to my beta reader Jill Corley, whose excitement to read my first draft make me smile every time.
to my editor Lindsay Galloway, and to Deranged Doctor Design, for making NADI look good.
and to you, for buying this book, and sticking with the story – I promise it’s going to be great.