PTE

ly, dragging Isla from a sle

out blindly for her p

move her way closer to something she had always dream

ainst her feet, and rubbed at her eyes. "Okay, Isla,

l, a small piece of nor

ipped slowly, letting the warmth spread through her hands and chest. Outside, the city moved ind

ed the night before, and the co

y for this?"

, though her voice had a sma

rises. People eat each other a

id firmly. "I'm n

ure if she was afraid or jus

detail around her. It had kept her alive, kept her moving, but it

d to her cheeks. She pulled her coat tighter, try

y wet reflection on the sidewalk seemed sharper

the building towered over her, all

her back against the cold metal door

t".She said

to make

polite smile. "Good morning, Ms. H

her coat and holding he

ction in the steel doors, trying to project confidence even though he

and she stepped

road shouldered, and very composed. Isla felt a flicker of something inside he

voice smooth and measured

I appreciate your time," she

ir across from him.

ir, she noticed the subtle

surfaces, the quiet efficiency of the few people moving behi

flicker in his eyes,something that was part cu

ken, and she felt it pressing

wed your resu

is on paper. Tell me about a time you faced a c

on paper. I have learned to navigate situations where I had no control, where the rules weren't clear an

expression. "Instincts can be dangerous," he said.

nly thing keeping you alive," she

htly, eyes narrowing.

ce interrupted from across the room. "Excuse me, Mr.

ria G

ick hair, designer coat, sharp e

idn't realize we were entertaining new hires today,

llenge. She straightened in her chair, refusing to let it show. "No distraction," she

ee." And with that, she turned and left, h

e, and Isla noticed the sl

ention to her, his gaze intense. "You

urmured. "It's nec

questions, answers, discussions of strategy

gh she tried to focus on the conversation, she couldn't ignore the subtle feeling

will be in touch," he said,formally controlled. But Isl

im a polite smile. "Thank you

started again, light this ti

her mind wander, thinking of the stra

elt familiar, though

ace where she had been. Her voice, her posture, the spark in her eyes,

e building, Charles Whitman observed eve

yone, more than he should.

the light rain, the city l

lace she always wore wasn't there again. She

ust gave up saying to herself,"Probably I left it at ho

d, unaware of how closely her life was

new that this was