Page 4 of Chalk Outline

She gives me a wary look. “Anything can happen out there.”

“Where do I sign?” I look into Grandma’s cobalt-blue eyes as I pick up a pen and skim it across the stack of papers she has already prepared on the desk.

These walls hold their breath when a new secret is whispered between them, just like when I was a kid. This room, this office, is the heart of her world.

My grandmother’s underground prison holds dangerous criminals from across the globe—all are locked in filthy dungeons just like their vile records. Her trained teams gather crucial information from these prisoners, potentially saving thousands of lives that are threatened nearly every day.

The prisoners are forced to fight in a game of survival for the chance to live another day. The truth is, they’ll never get out of there.

At first, I flinched at the idea, but then, on second thought, these criminals will butcher and destroy anything good, beautiful, innocent, and vibrant, just for the sake of it. So why kill them easily after everything they’ve done?

I had to join Grandma’s secret and influential organization—BLACKBIRD.

According to her, a dystopian future isn’t imminent, but it’s close enough that we should start preparing for when it happens. We need to brace for the worst because it’s only a matter of time.

I believe her.

“Are you sure this is what you want to do?” She tucks her copper-red hair behind her ears, shooting me her famous composed look that flashes murder when looked at closely. “Don’t make a rush decision. This may be a family business, but this is not the life I wanted for you.”

Too bad it was thrust upon me.

Being the granddaughter of Romina Bishop has been a major challenge throughout my life. She is one of the most powerful women in the world, operating top-secret facilities worldwide while maintaining her anonymity. Romina raised me single-handedly in my parents’ absence.

My parents are contract killers who travel all over the world, moving from one target to the next. I was destined to bear the family secret, whether I liked it or not.

“I’m aware,” I don’t blink for a second, determined to prove to her that I want this and am ready. “I need to get away as far as possible.” I need to become someone else, chase different things, and breathe different air.

I tasted the wholesome part of my life with my husband. Now, I’m at the point where I survive because I don’t feel like I’m truly living. I feel like I’m in a stranger’s body, trying to find answers, but I’m running out of time. If I stay here, I will continue searching for him, but I will never find him because he’s gone. After three years, a part of me still expects him to walk through the door, even though it’s impossible.

“You’ve never been on a mission before and will be all on your own. Did you read the terms of the contract?” The hint of concern in her sharp tone is tangible. I know how much she cares for me and will do anything to protect me. That’s why she has to let me go, too. I can’t be her sheltered little girl anymore.

“I have.”

“We’ll go over a few things together.” She grabs the paper and starts reading parts of it aloud. “You will go to an undisclosed location and protect an underground secret facility for three hundred and sixty-five days. There will be no human contact during that time. No reception. The necessary supplies and equipment will be provided to you at that location. You are not to leave your lookout tower unless there is an emergency such as a fire, supply shortage, extended power outage, or extreme danger that could result in death.”

“That’s very reassuring,” I smirk.

“Smartass.” She flips to the next page and slides it in front of me. “Fill out the form. Attach a health declaration, sign an NDA, and acknowledge you’ve read and accepted the risk form.”

I drop my gaze and fill out the blank sections.

Name: Winona Bishop.

Age: 29

Technically, I will be in a week.

Address: 4 Crane Street, Salem, Massachusetts.

Occupation: Former 911 dispatcher.

Allergies: Bees.

I spread my signature everywhere she points.

“You already have my health declaration, so are we done?”

“Yes, but one more thing.” She pulls open her desk drawer and drops the contract inside. “There’s the element of surprise. No one, except for my most trusted operators, knows the location of this facility. Don’t resist them when they show up. I’ll do my best to give you a heads-up.”