STANL

heels clicking softly behind me. Each step felt like

Beta and second-in-command, was lounging on t

eyebrows shot up. A glint of amusem

ff on a vacation?" he aske

d continued towa

s. He'd changed into casual clothes, his

t me as if I were a

vin, his voice low but loud enough for me

tle. "I'll bet you she d

ss of whiskey. "Three days? I'll bet one

ed suddenly, his tone turning serious fo

downed the whiskey in one gulp an

he said, his voice devoid of al

t bit of warmth in my soul evaporated. I gripped th

and stepped out into the crisp autumn air. The cold

ng taxi I had called

nificent prison I once called home shrink

A notification fr

50,000,000 had

was no joy, only a bitter, biting irony. T

. Instead, I navigated

et for 6:30 AM. The label read: "Ar

I'd prepared his breakfast and coffee by hand, just for the

grab the sandwich and w

he label for

oved decisively

le

d up. Are you sure you w

e

my mornings b

ece of metal-from my pocket and slipped it off

at pocket with the signed Rejection agree

ool glass of the window, watch

ut for the first time in three years,

und a name I hadn't used in

a sho

, Bird. I'm out.