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

reason to lie to me right now.

he promised all those weeks

know, Karl. But why talk to

breath, and I can tell he’s choosing his words with

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

you don’t deserve the way

word

and he looks away

it’s as though there’s

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

out.

Abby. He doesn’t see

are putting

competition. That’s it.”

heart races, and I don’t know what to say.

knotting itself around my stomach:

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

nothing Karl can say

of this

sous chef?” I ask,

whisper. “What happened, really?”

crosses Karl’s face. “He was

in the act,

but I swear, Abby, I never laid a

the truth; Karl, despite all

sort of context. Not in

not

the guards didn’t believe you?”

think I’m lying. The sous chef might

Anyway, it doesn’t matter. They’re

be here when you

the floor unblinking, staring at

“Contestants, this is your

stage in two minutes. I

Karl’s hand reaches out and seems to

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

Comments ()

0/255