na'

it ever was-someone calling to remind her of yet another failure, another placement gone wrong, another person who didn't w

fucki

ased to inform you that you've been shortlisted for the interview at Blackw

e phone, gripping it so hard her knuc

impatient now, like she had better things to do than convince some fu

lizing the woman couldn't see her. "Yeah

er reflection in the grimy mirror. A hundred thoughts crashed through her head, a whirlwind of disbelie

estr

ng mess this up, Elena. She repeated the mantra over and over, like it was a spell that could som

wa

thes hanging in her closet. Nothing there screamed "hire me." Nothing there screamed success. She had to get som

lk herself out of it. She ignored the snide looks from her neighbors as she passed, their

, rows and rows of glossy, perfect clothing she couldn't even dream of affording. She sc

ere?" she muttered, shoulders hu

, tucked-away boutique. It wasn't fancy, not by a long shot, but it had a few pieces that looked..

hi

king reject. After a deep breath, she forced herself to step inside. A bell tinkled, and an

here was something in her eyes. Judgement. Like she

for a job interview. Something..." Professional? Pre

little. "You've come to the righ

a war. The outfit was simple-a navy blouse and a pencil skirt that hugged her curves without being too tight. She'd even let th

spered to herself. "

t felt surreal, like they belonged to someone else. Someone confident. Someone worth something. Not a girl who

red, curling up on the bare matt

th fear and hope and memories she tried

r, whispering her name, taunting her. She could feel something behind her, a presence that made h

ut there was no answer. Just that presence, cre

. Deep, smooth, and filled with mal

shaking. The words were still ringing in her e

lutching her head. "W

eams, but this one... this one was different.

pro

never

e her whispered that she was being hunted-that somewhere, out

ered fiercely.

e. Tomorrow, she'd walk into that interview with her head held high. And whoever the

done r

aybe she'd look like a mess. Maybe she'd fail. But she'd be damned i

didn't belie