Abby

As Karl speaks, my fingers worry the hem of my white chef’s coat, now no

longer pristine but splattered with sauce and tiny stains and the remains of

haphazardly cooked meals. It feels like a perfect representation of my inner

world right now: once untarnished and lily-white, but now stained and weathered

from the trials I’ve been through today.

We’re still standing in the supply closet, and the air feels thick. Karl is standing

over me still, his hand pressed into the door next to my head, sandwiching me

there with his body.

Enter title…

My wolf stirs ever so slightly, but now is not the time; I just found out that Karl

tried to talk to the judges for me, and I’m not sure how to feel about it.

“Abby…” he begins, his voice trailing off for a moment as his eyes search mine.

Finally, he pushes away from the door and crosses the small room, running his

hand through his hair for what feels like the millionth time in the past few

minutes.

“Just tell me, Karl,” I murmur, blinking away the tears that are threatening to

spill.

He pauses, then draws in a deep breath, and turns to face me again. “Abby,

yes, I did talk to Logan; but I never tried to bribe anybody. I hope you can

believe me in that regard.”

whirlwind that this competition

reason to lie to

promised all

Karl. But why talk

takes a deep breath, and I can tell he’s choosing his words

“I told him you’re an incredible chef, Abby. The best here, without

deserve the way he treats

The word hangs

jaw tightens, and he looks away for a brief moment,

me again, it’s as though there’s a

to

out.

he’s got this idea about you, Abby. He doesn’t see things

are putting in your

competition. That’s it.”

I don’t know what to say. There’s a profound mixture

itself around my stomach:

to Logan, but also dread because I know that, whatever

Karl

this

the sous chef?” I ask, my voice barely more than

whisper. “What happened, really?”

shadow crosses Karl’s face. “He was tampering

him in the act, tried to stop

his hand, but I swear, Abby, I never laid a

the truth; Karl, despite all

in this sort

especially not on live

the guards didn’t

shakes his head. “The guards think

if the footage looks… Anyway, it doesn’t matter.

Abby. I won’t be

unblinking, staring at

again: “Contestants, this

in two minutes. I repeat, two

anything, Karl’s hand reaches out and seems to

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