1. What’s wrong?

When we leave the restaurant after our meeting, we have scored a client.

“Woo hoo!” Coraline whoops while pumping a fist in the air, grinning widely, “that’s one in for team COO.”

“Wait, we got a team name?” I ask, amused. We walk down the sidewalk to where our car is parked from the restaurant. There is a spring to Caroline’s step, and she looks downright radiant. It had been a while since I saw her this happy. No, scratch that, I do not think I’ve ever seen her this happy.

And it looks really, really good on her.

“Hell yeah, we got a team name. We make a good team, and good teams need team names,” she replies in a no-nonsense tone, and I can’t help but smile.

“I think I agree with the sentiment,” I shoved my hands into my pockets, letting myself relax, “Gerald is going to be pleased. Finally, some good news”

“Yep.”

We walked a few yards in silence, enjoying the cool air of the night and the moving vehicles Distantly, music was playing from another restaurant that was fancier than the one we were at People chattered away as they walked, going on with their days

I turn to say something to Coraline but notice that she isn’t next to me Startled, I look back to see her standing near a wall, staring at it There is something written on the wall, surely graffiti, with white and light red paint Coraline squints at it.

“What’s wrong?” I ask. She’s only a few paces away from me.

“This sentence,” she mutters, her eyes tracing the letters I look at it closely. With all the curls, it’s hard to read but I can make out the words.

“I will turn her virtue into pitch,” I read, and glance at Coraline, “what does that mean?”

“It is a quote,” she replies, her eyes narrowing. I’ve heard it before Somewhere, I don’t remember…”

my neck stand up. Something in the air changes, and all my thoughts leave

“Run!”

happens so

sidewalks and the street stare at the speeding vehicle which

rolls down.

flashes. It

sounds ring in

I lunge at Caroline.

speeds

to the ground.

lodged in my throat as i

white shirt is still white.

there is a pool of blood around

frightened eyes

her head

me there all by myself. I do not even remember the aftermath of the whole incident. All I remember are people screaming and running for their lives, while some approached Coraline and me to

Her thigh.

Zelt Tech employees. Right there on the sidewalk with hundreds

only moments ago that we were laughing and

hooked to her wrist while the paramedics did their best to lessen the blood loss. There were already so many bandages soaked with her blood, crimson and bright, the oxidizing smell already permeating the air. Her face is ashen, her mouth twisted

cannot believe this is happening right now.

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