inst the fallen leaves. The cold air finally cleared the stifling pressure from her lungs. S

ing alarm shrieked di

d deep work hours severely deviates from elit

Autumn gas

ke someone had driven a physical wedge into her skull. Fragments of the original Autumn's memories-complex

ion. Her knees buckled, and she pitched forward, the he

nds out, bracing

something solid. A strong, rigid arm wrapped tightly a

he nausea was overwhelming. Instinctively, she leaned all her

h her cheek felt l

ed her e

ight beside her. His fa

kin was completely drained of color, leaving him looking like a marble statue. His jaw was locked so tig

dn't let go. He stood frozen, enduring the physical

ACE announced, the alarm

tumn realized she was practically

ned. She jumped back two full steps

aised defensively. "I just... my blood sugar dr

pid, shallow breaths. He looked down at the sle

up at her, his eyes w

his voice a harsh, mechanical rasp. "Do

onse. He turned sharply o

l measured pace. His shoulders were stiff, his arms held slightly

She adjusted her bag and followed h

disappeared inside. Autumn slipped through the doors a moment later. The hallway w

n's re

boots silent against the tile. The restroom door hadn

ath and leaned c

water echoed loudly

s coat and shirt up past his elbow. The faucet was turned on

crubbing

oap into his palm. He was rubbing it furiously up and dow

ual controlled grace. He grabbed a handful of rough brown paper

ed a hand ov

e the top layer of his skin off. Tiny beads of blood beg

, muttering a low, rhythmic string of numbers and chemic

n. His clinical mysophobia is the foundation of his logic structu

ersonality trait. He was deeply, fundamentally broken.

son's frantic s

ction of the cracked door in the mirror. His gaze was ra

ckward, pressing her spine flat against the

water shut o

moved towa

airwell at the opposite end of the hall, throwing herself through the