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,

lie to me

he promised all those weeks

Karl. But why talk to

breath, and I can tell he’s choosing his

chef, Abby.

you don’t deserve the way

The word

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

again, it’s as though there’s a newfound resolve

eyes, like there’s something that he wants to tell me but he can’t get it

out.

Abby. He doesn’t see things clearly. I just…

make him see that you are putting in your heart and

competition. That’s it.”

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

dread knotting itself around

to Logan, but also

me are, nothing Karl

this doomed

chef?” I

whisper. “What happened, really?”

was tampering with the

I caught him in the act, tried to stop him. I

swear, Abby, I

the truth; Karl,

sort of context.

especially not on live

guards didn’t believe

think I’m lying. The sous

Anyway, it doesn’t matter. They’re

be here when you

unblinking, staring

life again: “Contestants, this is your two

in two minutes.

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