Steris Na340 -

Elena’s training screamed at her. Contaminant. Contain it. She stepped forward, her hand shaking as she reached for the heavy door. The heartbeat grew louder, faster. It wasn’t coming from the machine anymore. It was coming from inside her own chest , syncing with the rhythm of the dark.

The logbook entry for the Steris NA340 was always the same: steris na340

Nine minutes left, she thought. Fine.

But then the internal vacuum seal hissed, not once, but three times. Hiss. Hiss. Hiss. Like a code. Elena wiped her hands on her scrubs and walked over. The thick circular door, usually cool to the touch, was warm. Not the normal post-cycle warmth. This was feverish. Elena’s training screamed at her

Elena stumbled back, knocking over a tray of forceps. They clattered across the floor like startled insects. She stepped forward, her hand shaking as she