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      A novel, unexpected sense of amazement takes over—quickly followed by a healthy dose of nervous apprehension. Your mood instantly switches and, suddenly, you’re marveling at all around you, your eyes darting left and right over the vast stretch of land that extends far beyond their line of vision.   Holy hell…   This. Compound. Is. Insane.   High-rise after high-rise after high-rise interspersed over a vast, enclosed terrain.   Talk about a gated community.   Only the gate feels like it’s a thousand miles away from the… Читать далее

      You suck in a deep, mangled breath, willing your heart to calm itself, blinking rapidly at the screen and trying to steel your nerves as it continues to vibrate.   You answer on the third one. “Hello?” you blurt into the receiver, feigning absent strength in your voice.   “Hello,” a male voice responds on the other end—one that obviously does not belong to Richard Zane. “Is this Miss Constance Myers?”   A sense of disappointment instantly fills you, and you hate that it does; the tension… Читать далее

      Your eyes dart up to the door, and then between Michaela and Peyton.   You arch your brow suspiciously, more so at the former. “You have more stuff planned?”   “Nuh uh,” she shakes her head as she takes another sip. “You expecting someone?”   You promptly set the highly-disconcerting paper aside, groaning as you struggle to your half-asleep feet. “Not even a little bit.”   Another knock follows.   “Just a sec!” you call out, worming your way to the door.   You swing it open…and… Читать далее

      You trail down the hallway leading to your apartment, feeling simultaneously uneasy and relieved—the latter only a result of finally being in your own private space where you don’t have to deal with unwelcome surprises and talkative co-workers who won’t shut up about said surprises.   You fish for your keys like a sloth, your motions sluggish even though you’re not physically tired.   But mentally? Heh. All the way out of it.   You step inside, ready to do nothing other than collapse in your bed…and… Читать далее

      You step inside your unit’s office—well, former unit as of this moment, you guess—feeling even more baffled about your sudden placement at this random company you’ve never even heard of. And being back at the place that you actually signed up—and want—to be in makes it all the more depressing.   You can’t even begin to accurately describe just how disappointed you are. And Covington’s little “extra credit” session after the meeting didn’t help one bit, nor offer any actual clarity on the matter. In fact, you… Читать далее

      You take a deep, silent breath as you settle into the same chair you did earlier, clasping your hands in your lap as if you have to physically brace yourself for whatever’s coming.   It’s amazing how the same, exact action can feel poles apart under different circumstances.   And I thought I was nervous before…   “You look like you have something to say,” Covington commences, offering you his undivided attention.   As confused as you feel, there’s no reason to beat around the bush.  … Читать далее

      You stand there, engulfed in a crowd of strangers…completely frozen.   All the cheering instantly stops, the room falling dead silent.   Your eyes go wide impulsively, every inch of you startled to oblivion as you look ahead.   You…you could have sworn you just heard your name.   But…that’s impossible.   For a second, you’re absolutely positive you misheard; that your imagination is playing a cruel, untimely trick on you. But Covington’s confirmative gaze finds you through the assembly, his eyes settling on yours.   “Come… Читать далее

      Your stomach growls as you scurry off the bus, angry at you for not putting any food in it which, you know from experience, is always a huge mistake. But, thanks to an exceptionally tardy slumber, you ended up smacking the snooze button one too many times, almost missing your designated commute, and the last thing on your mind during this morning’s frenzy was breakfast.   You practically run inside the building, looking and feeling crazy with the stack of binders huddled awkwardly between your arms. With… Читать далее

        Приостановка. Всего, полная подвеска. Только так можно описать это чувство. Этот феномен. Все внезапно останавливается. Ваши легкие. Ваши конечности. Твое сердце. Даже само время. Суровый, почти животный взгляд заполняет всю линию вашего зрения, глядя на вас сверху вниз. Тщательное изучение. Изучение. Проникновение. В течение нескольких секунд без движения и меры вы безмолвно смотрите в самые исключительные, захватывающие дух глаза, которые вы когда-либо видели… И в потрясающее лицо человека, которому они принадлежат. В голову приходит одинокая, единственная мысль:… Читать далее