The drive back to the city was quiet except for the hum of the engines and occasional bursts of conversation between the Daoist masters. I sat in the passenger seat of Maya's vehicle, watching the forest give way to suburban streets as we made our way toward the central hospital.
"Dr. Hayes," Maya said, breaking the comfortable silence. "I need to ask you something."
I turned to look at her. "What is it?"
"That purification technique you used on Vikram's body. You mentioned extracting souls, including Officer Kent and his team." She paused at a red light. "Are you saying they might still be saved?"
"Their souls are preserved. If their bodies haven't deteriorated too much, restoration is possible."
Maya's grip tightened on the steering wheel. "How long do we have?"
"Forty-eight hours from the time of their deaths. After that, the connection between soul and body becomes too weak to restore."
"Kent's team disappeared three days ago."
