Alpha Alden

ez

late, stained by nothing but the mellow sunlight. Shop windows we pass are all wiped crystal clear, and everything standing on display is not tainted by a f

She seems very forward and abrasive. Yet at the same ti

ard is the only flaw on her face for that fleeting moment. “I was born and raised in the

She glances at me, and I noti

house is not easy. Neither is moving into a home, settling in and then being torn away from it. As much as this Pack unnerves me, I want to stay here. More than anything. All of a sudden, m

ies if I was seen. The photo is old, but it is distinctively me. Anyone brushing past us could glance at it. Someo

usly leaning over. I shoulder my backp

ve seen this, I’ll have to show Avia. And then off we will go to another Pack, to start a ne

I turn to look for any sense of concern, I s

away. I eye an alleyway to my left. I can surely find my way back is I dis

Alden is pursuing me, but I never knew it was this prevalent? I’m just one of Time’s many travelers. Can’t he just leave me alone for a week, at least? I lean against the rough alleyway wall. The o

trust,” she says sourly. Immediately my breath catches, as her intent

want to do this. You don’t know us, you do

he mutters. “You deserve

close to trapping me against the wall, is sinister. She looks like Time the night he branded me. She should be

my fist. Right across the right side of her face, and her nose. She stumbles back, grabbing at h

miling; it’s sickening. “It’s a shame

than be confrontational. Melia pushes me back against the wall so hard, it’s jarring. My teeth c

against her neck. She rais

and, she pushes a cloth against my nose and mouth. The smell is overwhelming, fillin

night

ing my eyes. I feel them clasp my arms, and my instincts kick in. I burst through the surface, water spraying everywhere as I gasp for air. “What in the world?” I

off

in a small cube room, with whitewash walls and linoleum floors. Three other people are in the room. Two wearing thick white coats, neither looking a

re am

rders, motioning for me

bothered, or is even looking. I’m more concerned by where I am. The strange woman with the green eyes and ha

” I ask. I’ve been given a slip-on dress item. It’s a p

ked hair behind my shoulders. I feel is seep through my outfit, chilling

ly got me,

he room. I can tell immediately she is the debriefing officer I was told about. A clipboard is tucked in the nook of her arm, a p

k into a tall chair I’m forced to clamber onto. “Here I’m referred

re am

ng to save you,” she explains. Somehow, I don’t believe that. Only because everything around me seems like a way to keep me

you remo

xact recipe, but we believe we are close to it,” she explains. The smile on her

to save many fro

oard from the wall. On it, is a list of words I can barely make sense of. All t

, pointing at each day. “Each of these pills do a different thing. We have found they do the best at

for a moment. “Why do yo

ls me, pushing the board away from her. “Which you will have

mouth agape. “I’m glad.

A woman who wears a similar mask the the one who bathed me

osages. I cannot promise they will be nice. Open your mout

these symptoms before I p

and their symptoms. You will receive that after you take the pill,”

en. I wouldn’t press us.” I know I shouldn’t. it would be foolish of me to do so. Something worse may ha

s with a sickening sm