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ly bit through the thin fabric of her secondhand blazer. She wrapped her arms
lack and imposing. The sheer scale of the property made her stomach drop. A wave of intith. His hand rested casually near his tactical belt. "Identification. Appointm
id out her driver's license. The plastic edges were frayed. She handed it to the guard. He did not
mile-long driveway. Manicured hedges lined the asphalt like green walls. Her cheap heelling in the hospital bed. Maya stared at the image. Her racing heartbeat began to slow down. The tightness in her ches
her instantly. The air smelled of expensive floor wax and fresh lilies. T
essed in a flawless black uniform. Her sharp eyes scanned Maya from head to toe. Her gaze l
handing Maya a plastic badge. "The other candidates are in the West Wing wa
tight cliques. They wore tailored designer suits and pristine heels. They whispered to each
ed. "Oh, listen to that accent," the woman sneered, her voice loud enough for her clique to hear. "Did you get your degree f
her eyes fixed on the blank wall ahead. She mentally ticked off the neonatal resuscitation algorithm: warmth, positioning, clearing the airw
double doors opened. A team of private nurses walked in. They
your evaluation is a comprehensive medical screening. The Beaumont family requires absolute biological purity for anyone in proximity to
trage. The nurses began handing
Her trauma-induced aversion to clinical settings flared instantly. The smell of the nurses' st
g her paper gown onto the floor. "My father is a litigator. You'll be hearing from him!" another added, st
er kitchen counter. She saw the final notice from Pippa's care facility. She forced
tiny and blindingly white. She pulled the thin privacy curtaining hit her bare skin. Goosebumps erupted along her arms and legs. She felt entirely s
t introduce himself. He snapped on a pair of latex gloves. Th
rs, her reflexes. His hands were cold and clinical. Maya bit the inside of her cheek. S
upper arm. "Make a fist," he commanded. He took three vials of blood. "W
ed. She reminded herself that every single drop of blood was a dow
ball to her vein. He marked a harsh green check on Maya's file. He th
cheap plastic buttons of her blouse. The lingering adrenaline made
ting area. Only twenty candidates remained. The r
into slight surprise when she saw Maya still standing ther
gment. "The remaining candidates will immediately proceed to the psycho
htly. She stepped forward and walked through the d
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