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She knows my name?I reach under my dress for my gun—she kneels on my wrist until a scream rattles out of my mouth. My voice breaks from the pitch; she doesn’t try to muffle it. Whoever she is, she doesn’t care if I yell until I'm hoarse. She knows the walls are soundproof.

“Easy easy,” she croons once my scream fades into a low groan. “It’s going to be okay.” From the inside of her boot, she slips out a gun smaller than my own. The barrel glows a pretty silver in the office lights. It’s cold on my temple. Like a snowstorm. I haven’t felt that kind of weather since I left Alaska. “It’ll all be over soon.”

“Alph—” I utter, then I wheeze; Chalay has clamped her hand to my throat, strangling me, cutting off my airway.Alphabet,I think in a panic. Spots of color swim in my vision.

Alphabet alphabet alphabet.

I can barely keep my eyes open from the pressure building in my skull. Chalay watches closely; a cat playing with its prey, aware it can snuff out its life anytime it wants.

Please... not like this... not when I’m so close.

This woman is a stranger. But I’m sure of one thing.

She's going to kill me.

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End of Part 2