Page 84 of Pretty When She Breaks

FORTY-FIVE

KAOS

Right.

I was feeling good. Really fucking good.

Actually, for the first time in a long time, my mind was singing.

I could focus.

Intense focus.

Like a hundred-eyed monster staring at a single quivering rat.

When I focused like this, I could ignore the gnawing shame and just act.

I hummed as I pulled my work clothes from my bag. Dark blue overalls, lined with pockets everywhere. Work boots. My favourite tool belt, which I repacked with everything I was going to need. And a vest with that shiny reflective stuff on it.

It was better than a VIP access card, because when I was dressed like this, not only would no one stop me, but no one would even remember me.

I tied back my hair and tucked it under my yellow beanie.I didn’t have to change any of my piercings, because they were all nonconductive.

Right.

Time to do some shit.

But first, goggles.

Couldn’t do shit without my goggles.

I adjusted them over my eyes and slipped out of the villa, keeping to the camera’s blind spots.

Sorry, vest, you’ll have your chance to “shine” once we aren’t near Laurel’s house.

Once I was out of the garden areas, I simply walked through the casino, keeping to the staff and maintenance corridors. No one gave me a second look.

It took me a bit of exploring, but eventually, I found what I was looking for—a quiet, empty corridor with panelling that let me slip inside the walls.

New, shiny, polished buildings were built tight and clean, with no extra spaces. But this building was old. It needed lots of fresh air from all the smokers. It had elevators they’d decommissioned and secret tunnels beneath the floors.

Lots of space for a happy little worm like me to wriggle inside.

I snapped my goggles over my eyes and fitted my respirator to my face.

I scrambled my way up and turned on my headlight before crawling along, checking the map Laurel had labelled to make sure I was headed in the right direction.

I started humming again as I marked my path in UV chalk.

Up this way, that way.

Round the bend.

I only had to take apart one ventilation shaft.

Right.

I should be close.