Fake It Till You Ace It

rting her weight as they walked out of the shop. He pulled t

arm away. "I can walk, Iv

gentle but entirely immovable. He kept his hand firmly

sinesses. Plywood boards covered the win

slumped. The fear of ending up exactly like thos

ergy. His chest tightened. He ne

e the megaphone? I got it for twenty bucks. I w

with irritation. She reached up and smacked the bac

t. He rubbed the back of his head, but a small,

ed the int

odge Charger sped around the corner, its tires squealing against the asphalt. Th

bottle flew out of t

s from Brenda's feet. Shards of brow

hoved her behind his back, shielding her body with his own. His eyes track

gging into the fabric of his

ut of his eyes and gave her a reassuring pat on the sh

er. The hairs on the back o

ets were leaning against a brick wall, smoking. They weren't looking

hem instantly. They

n's veins. His heart hammered against his ribs. He

ce change. He couldn

ically lifting her off her feet, and forced her to

caying concrete building. The exterior pa

PLOYEE ENTRANCE. Iverson pulled it open, and they stepped into a dimly lit, industri

er elevators. A yellow plastic sign

haking finger down a dark hallway to their left.

around her as they walked down

. They flickered violently, buzzing with a sharp

so his sneakers made zero noise. He was listeni

oors of the freight elevator.

The elevator was on the third fl

he hea

oor at the entrance of

cle in his body instantly coiled

own the narrow hallway. It wasn't one person. It was multipl

i

e massive metal doors sl