A Love That Never Was

e, my heart, my soul. Tonight was the night. The Harrison Award ceremony. I had chosen a simple, elegant dark blue dress, a stark contrast to the lab coat I

mered against my ribs. What was that? I wasn't expecting anyone. My lab was

e trembling slightly. No answe

, hulking shadows against the dim emergency lights. They wore dark c

ggling, but they were too powerful. They dragged me from my desk, across the cold floor

voice hoarse with terror. My lab was loc

er's key. She's very accommodating." He held up a familiar silver keycard, the one I had

don't have anything valuable here, just my research.

. "We're here for you. And your precious research." He gestured toward my laptop, the

o my gut. My sister. She had sent them. To "teach me a lesson." T

streaming down my face. "Don't.

arm, twisting it painfully behind my back. I cried out as he shoved me towards

table," the rasp

t with a ferocity I didn't know I possessed, kicking, scratching, biting. I bit the

it into my face. My head snapped back, hitting the edge of a heavy lab equipment w

ange detachment, as if I were floating above my own body. The men, t

sped, his voice high-pitched. "T

her head! Let's

ied footsteps, then the slam of the lab do

ed, but still on. One last desperate act. I felt a surge of adrenaline, a primal will to survive. My head was pounding, the world spinning. I couldn't see the screen, b

distant, tinny sou

rely a whisper. "Help... I'm... I

rustration, not concern. "Cheslie? What is it now? I told you, I'm alre

intered further. "No... not dram

Stop trying to ruin her night for attention. I don't know what kind of stunt this is, but it's not working. Jus

. The line

ouldn't come. They never would. Jetta's wish. She had always wanted me gone. Now, she had her wi