a

sen

g upright in bed. Sweat had molded my nightdress to my

consequences, but I expected those superstitious beliefs to be outd

om the past, we were no longer living in an era where a single ruler-the Alpha-presided over the future of a community irr

, and I had learned from Meredith that they descended from a line of

spered on every local's lips, and nobody dared to gossip about them loudly for fear of repercussions. These people

was still the same jobless individual, working odd jobs to get by until I could secure a stable job that matched my

My heart felt pinpricked, with pain spearing through it. I d

ouldn't make out in the darkness and blurriness. The snarls and tension had coaxed a s

, had been converted into a makeshift bedroom for myself. I didn't possess many belongings, having sold most of them along with the house to clear some o

the time displayed on the grandfather clock in the corner; it was almost morning-5:30

in now that I had woken up. It often took me longer to fall asleep, unlike Meredith, who dozed off immediately once she lay

ob hunt, hoping I might encounter a stroke of luck. Persistence, they say, is the key

irs and a three-seater cushion, all arranged around a short, circular dark mahogany table with sturdy, arched le

ice. Meredith took on the higher portion of the bills, thanks to her family's contribution,

h, but the pay was barely enough to cover my needs. The labor was often more than the r

job vacancies, searching for an

She looked professional and attractive in her attire, her long,

ous figure, while she was slim and tall, with rich golde

te assets that made her look smart and poised in her attire. Unlike me, whose curv

fter all. However, I sometimes wished I could be tall

excitement infectious despite the

e in response. "M

e before leaving for work. I listened to the whir of the percolator, focu

e said, han

inhaling the rich arom

n the chair across from me as she waited for her coffee to coo

bing my undereye to relieve the strain of st

uck so

rm is dry." I was thinking of loading another pa

s of encouragement. "I heard from a sourc

owning in disb

ely. That must be the reason why the

ng gigs, had mentioned working with them and broke down in tears. She claimed she had resigned after a week due to mounting p

was just thinking... one man's poison is another man's cure. You can't ass

d stories from three of the endless list of staff they've emp

l you try," she said

frustration with my increasing debts. "Is this your way of telling m

need money, and those jobs won't make a dent in your growing expenses. If anyone can su

them the bird without direct confrontation. Working close

re you've dealt with," Meredith continued, her words laced with convict

After Meredith left for work, I sat alone in

pressure? What if I ended up l

in me, reasoning that the pay was attractive and

what more pressure could derail my me

my mind: I