Reborn at a cost

na'

ed like paper, c

k reminded me that

overhead, carrying the faint metallic tang of overheated electronic

rsor on my monitor as if it held the answers

ind my eyes. I made a mental

n water, familiar from prison nights, but sharper now, a

at the edge of my mind, b

made myself a cup of instant lemonade. It was bitte

n scraping plastic with a grating sound that set my teeth on edge. The cold l

opened my emails.

eady knew

re folder I had crea

ath hi

's not p

n. Refresh. Re

epancy I had saved

d it. I remem

I don't. N

to recall a dream

ere, but the sub

h the desk, one night, my mind ra

eaving half-moon indents. The

elp. Panickin

ng, be

cut through

coffee in hand

esterday," she said lig

for cracks, guilt, anyth

ue, watchful. Steam from her coffee curled between us, carrying the rich

lied. "Didn't feel

ghtened just

ou missed a lot

rse I

e to pick her up yesterday. And everyone knows

to my screen

ling

aham wants an updated permissions audi

ge

anded like

say why?

about tightening securi

ed away, heels clicking softer tha

e marble floor. I stared at my screen,

e access lo

e it

e discr

me tim

. Except this time, I could

ach twi

n't imag

ow I found it.

t is going on with me?" I groaned, gla

Benn

ia

e. He smelled like cheap cologne and

m brushing the edge, close enough

this morning?" he as

my screen. "He's

different. He's been asking about

on

ne sti

asked c

. "He specifically m

urse

He was grinning, a bead

rest

he do tha

ean... you're good at your job. He probably

That wo

. "Thanks for t

ips, then back to the screen. "If

aro

n't a

d I need

feet draggi

o someone from IT. Brian leaning on Sasha's divider, listening

moving.

t meeting. Standing at the head of the t

in distorted waves; each drum of his fingers s

internal systems," he said. "Effective immediatel

mach d

inued, eyes flicking across the r

t was.

ions?" he

hand. The

iew?" I asked, my voice even

ned. "Internal," he

urse

almly, my heart racing. "Standard protoco

ssed throug

ian's face was d

ened. "Are you questionin

ny," I said, pointing to the goals and mi

ught he might explo

ed," he said. "B

you, Bennett," he said quietly. "You're smart, you

od ran

five minutes lat

ers flexing, trying t

ia

ump

ia

d you could use a lit

good," I said. "I've had

ed, eyes ling

said. "It was about time someone

immediately. Ju

lately," she ad

she mean

ard. I created another folder. Wrote some

ed louder in my head than it should have. The new fo

one around me, but I

urred into

ly the fourth time today. He walked too q

keep looking

on it. It was t

ghts flickered. Rain threatened agai

faintly, reflec

was already plann

e, I had the

ht. Kno

I will str