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.”

nod, because despite the whirlwind that this competition

Karl has no reason to lie to me

he promised all those

know, Karl. But why talk to him? What did you

and I can tell he’s choosing his

him you’re an incredible chef, Abby. The best here,

you don’t deserve the way he

word

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

When he faces me again, it’s

there’s something that he wants to tell me but he can’t

out.

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

make him see that you are putting in your

competition. That’s it.”

races, and I don’t know what to say.

around my

talk to Logan, but also

me are, nothing Karl can say

this doomed

with the sous chef?” I ask,

whisper. “What happened, really?”

Karl’s face. “He was tampering

caught him in the act, tried

but I swear, Abby, I never laid

he’s telling the truth; Karl, despite all of his overpowering

anyone in this sort of context. Not

not on

didn’t believe you?” I

head. “The guards think I’m lying. The sous chef might

the footage looks… Anyway, it doesn’t

I won’t be here when you get

unblinking, staring at

to life again: “Contestants, this is

in two minutes. I

I can say anything, Karl’s hand reaches out and seems to hover

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255