or open and stepped out, his leather shoes echoing sh

he pressed the red button. She practically fell out of

doors. He pressed his thumb against a glowing biom

for the top floor. The elevator shot upward

assive penthouse. The walls were floor-to-ceiling glass, th

risp uniform stood waiting

e, overly eager smile the second s

t into Brenda's hands. He pointed a long fing

ted Ella's dietary restrictions and sleep schedul

e slid out a solid black metal credit card and tossed it onto th

lver watch on his left

ving for an overseas assignment.

es widened in pure panic, and she

nd walked straight back into the elevator. The steel

The penthouse fell into a suffocating silence. Ella st

oor, the fake smile melted off Brenda's face.

long, dark hallway. "The last roo

and disappeared for hours. When she returned,

the greasy, processed meat on her plate. Her stomach churned, bu

n the food began to b

Her skin burned. Thick, angry red hives covered her arms

t like lead. She stumbled down the hallway

inside. The volume of the television instantly

the wall, hitting the hardwood flo

zing sound tore from her chest. Black s

or under Javier's strict "pest control and asset pacification" directive, j

floorboards. Her eyes rolled back,

her door and stepped out, yawnin

on the floor, her face a terrifying s

a scr

ocket and dialed 911. Ten minutes later, the wail of ambulan