settled over the house. The students at school w

irst hit, and she knew it. She became withdrawn and irritable around C

her schoolwork and her art. This placid demeanor seemed to agitate Evelyn even more. She

n called Chloe into the studio. Her expression was once ag

sagreement at the exhibition, and I think perhaps I was a bit harsh. I was just worri

past life, Evelyn had "helped" her edit it, twisting her words until her artistic statement so

pression open and receptive. "Wha

l. The academy wants to see intellectual rigor. I' ve taken the liberty of drafting some revisions. It frames

actly as she remembered, a soulless, jargon-filled piece of writing that stri

"Evelyn, this is wonderful," she said, her voice filled with admiration. "You' re s

pliable, dependent Chloe was back. "I'm always her

ion? I get so nervous with the online portals, and I don't want to mess it up. You know all

the submission, she could ensure the sabotaged essay was the one they received. She

hand. "We'll do it together. I'll handle all th

n navigated the academy' s website, her fingers flying across the keyboard. Chloe had

ttle too cheerfully. "And... here goes the essay. And I' ve already s

if she were on the verge of happy tears

tton. A confirmation page appeared on the scre

omputer. She opened her own email account. In the "sent" folder was a

ntal Materials for Chloe [Last N

plained that her mentor, in an effort to be helpful, h

representation of her artistic voice. She had attached her original, passio

ime-stamped work-in-progress photos, scans of her dated sketchbook pages, a

ook into her creative process. She didn't mention Evelyn's sabota

for his unwavering encouragement, and she CC'd him on the email. It was a move that ensured ano

you sent to the academy. I read your original essay. It's brilliant. It's you. I'

e find my conviction," Chloe replied,

Chloe had to do was wait for the committee to spring the trap. She wasn'

as so impressed with her portfolio that they had requested a pr

Chloe told Evelyn, her adoptive mother' s face was a mask of confusi

told a different story. They were filled with the dawning horror of a schemer whose plan has gone terribly, inexp