al Tech Innovator' s Competition, the single most important day of my young career. My project, a revolutionary neural ne

ere, leaning against the doorframe with tha

midnight oil

ncrete floor. He placed a cold can on my desk, condensation beading o

ilk. "A little something for good luck.

indow flickered to life in the bottom corner of my main monit

ibitor. Prolonged contact will induce progre

p vanished as quickly as it appeared. I had been seeing these strange digital warnings for weeks, fleeting

ing a small smile. My voice was

d, the boy I had trusted with everything since we were kids. He h

Just came to wish you

what I had always thought was genuine af

eveal a delicate silver charm bracelet. A tiny ci

nother red-text warning flashed on my s

neuro-inhibitor. It siphons intellectual property and tran

under his wing as his protégé. The pieces clicked into place with a horrifying, sickening finality.

an' s encouraging smile and Liam' s warm eyes,

om the hallway. A loud, abrasive

that little nerd is i

fe a living hell for years. She burst into my workshop, her

mming a hand on my desk. "You know

epped forward, a frown of disapproval on

in my mind. I looked at the can of Volt-X

e-looking can and the shiny bracelet.

"I don' t have any cash," I said, my voice quiet.

e." I took the bracelet from his stunned grasp and pushed

the bracelet. "Hmph. Whatever. It' s better than nothing." She pocketed

replaced by a flicker of pure fury. He grabb

d, his voice low and dangerous. People in the hallway were starting to stop and wa

a foolish, unappreciative little sister. The pain in my arm wa

part of the peacemaker. He gently

. He then turned to me, his expression soft and pleading. "Chloe, I can get you an

e. I looked from his deceptive face to my brother' s barely concealed rage. Th

ips for the first time. The fear was gone, repla

d void of emotion. I met Ethan' s furious gaze. "

w the look in my eyes and for a second, they both hesitated. It wasn't fear they saw