walk-in closet. It was larger t

el, Dior. They were trophies, not clothes. Kason had bought them to drape o

ored th

tucked in the corner, was a battered canvas duffel bag. It was a relic from El

t the frame with his arms crossed. He was wat

e trash bag?" he

two plain black t-shirts and a pair of jeans. She folded

elvet jewelry box o

onds stay. They belong to

ce glittered under the recessed lightin

sed it co

ver locket nestled in the corner of the box. It

o of a woman with kind eyes stare

ocket shut and shove

ld, but inside, the hardware had been modified. The original Elease had secretly taught herself the basics of coding, a desp

he bag and zipped it up. T

son. She was wea

ound," s

all before, Elease. The scars don't

. She simply stripp

ng across his face. The scars on her back were wors

leggings she had grabbed. She slipped

ked up

on didn't move. He blocked her

e was louder now, edged with frustration. "You think thi

ooked up

science, Kason," she

ion, a subtle shift of weight that allowed

rabbed her arm. His gri

ur," he hissed. "Don't be lurkin

tened. She calculated the angle of his wrist, the pressure

er voice dropped an o

hat Kason released her instantly. He stepped back,

s, jagged sound. "Yo

it," Eleas

ay. Her footsteps were si

e wall. Kason looked like a prince. Elease was

pa

thinking she was ha

turned the frame face d

shui," she

the heavy

a cent!" Kason yelled from the hallway

r slamm

l. It was the soun