Read Nano Contestant - Episode 1: Whatever It Takes for Free Online Page A

two.”
    Ivan paused. “Catch your breath, Roland. Then we have to keep going.”
    Skylar’s words were slow to reach Roland’s brain, but he finally heard her. He forced himself to remember. Remembering shifted the pain out of focus and brought him the distraction he needed. He focused to take two short breaths and then grunted to go on. He started to exhale again.
    Ivan rolled the ball forward again, rotating it as he went.
    Roland thought about Pinnacle and his blood began to boil. He began sweating all over again. With each turn of Ivan’s ball, Roland could feel the needle curving like a rat’s tail. His stomach churned as it fought against the tidal wave of pain rushing throughout his body. He extended a third finger.
    “Level three, Ivan.”
    Ivan stopped rolling the ball. “Rest for a second, Roland. We are almost there. I’m about to hit the optic nerve.
    Roland wheezed through his nose. The pain was making the room spin. He drew in a couple of sharp breaths and then forced himself to take a slow deep one. The air in his lungs felt good. His body greedily devoured the oxygen. An image of his father being led out of the courtroom flashed through his mind. Roland knew he couldn’t let his father die. He grunted to let them know he was ready. He steeled himself and began to exhale.
    Ivan began rolling his ball forward again. “I reach optic nerve in 3.. 2.. 1.. Target reached!”
    Nothing Roland could have done would have prepared him for the absolute shock of the needle lodging into his optic nerve. He yelled through clenched teeth. Every muscle in his face wrenched itself tight in an involuntary reflex reaction to the pain. Roland strained against all his restraints. His peripheral vision went dark as tunnel vision set in. The darkness edged its way in to offer Roland a sweet release from the pain. Roland squeezed every last ounce of strength he had to fight it.
    Skylar watched Roland as the excruciating pain began to overwhelm him. She could see every muscle in his body pulled tight. Skylar heard a loud popping noise. She looked in disbelief at Roland’s right hand. He had snapped the wooden block in half!
    Ivan stopped rolling his ball. “He is at level four now. Get him to breathe now, or he will pass out!”
    Skylar got her face as close as she dared to Roland’s and began shouting his name and yelling for him to breathe.
    “Pretty Girl, give him oxygen now! O2 mask on back of chair!”
    Roland’s left eye began to twitch. He felt himself going towards the darkness and release. Then he heard a sound from far off. Someone was calling his name. It was Skylar! She was telling him to breathe deep. He forced himself to focus on the sound and then he felt something touch his nose. He began to inhale. The air was different. It was cold and crisp. The darkness began to recede. It was gone after a few more breaths. He could see a blurry outline of Skylar’s face with his left eye. Roland grunted.
    Ivan lifted the helmet briefly. “Roland is ok, da? Good. I hope you not pass out. Ivan not want to start over. Ivan is tired.”
    Roland managed a growl in response.
    “Ok, we make delivery now, da?” Ivan pulled his helmet back down.
    Roland took in a deep breath, not sure what to expect after his last experience.
    Skylar watched as the plunger on the syringe began to slowly move forward.
    Ivan pushed his hands inside his holographic ball again and began moving his fingers around to configure the delivery. The hologram lit up from the inside wherever he touched it. “Ok, delivery has begun. Breathe slow and deep, Roland.”
    Roland could feel the thick liquid begin to ooze into his eye ball and onto the optic nerve. At first it felt cold, which was a welcome change after the fiery hell he had just been through. He could feel goosebumps on his arms and legs. Roland concentrated on his breathing. The cold flow of the delivery agent made the nerves in his head tingle down to his spinal column. He listened to