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 has become, I

reason to lie to me

he promised

why talk to him? What

a deep breath, and I can tell

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

don’t deserve the way he

word hangs

away

me again, it’s as though there’s

he wants to tell me but

out.

about you, Abby.

see that you are putting in

competition. That’s it.”

don’t know what to

around my

to Logan, but also dread

nothing Karl can say

this doomed

with the sous chef?” I ask,

whisper. “What happened, really?”

“He was tampering with the

the act, tried

I swear, Abby, I never

telling the truth; Karl, despite all of

hurt anyone in this sort

not on

guards didn’t believe you?” I

think I’m lying. The

looks… Anyway, it doesn’t

Abby. I won’t be

floor unblinking, staring at my feet. Outside, I can hear

to life again: “Contestants, this is

the stage in two minutes. I repeat,

can say anything, Karl’s hand reaches

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