Cruel Devotion

1: Th

the dinner party,

. He didn't text. He didn't

uld feel him in

e a storm that hadn't

ost of the

im. Avoidi

adn't explored. The air changed here - less curated, le

e saw t

White

lo

have been th

ty was loud

- she'd seen where she kept the old skeleton

eak them out. Another thre

ck clicked,

use wa

rned t

the doo

epped

was cold

't been touc

ut covered. Lined with shelves, clos

ot

am

ip

nn

of

ol

Pictures of her walking to class.

n coat. The s

laughing - and realized someon

omach

th

saw

hers

ther

wo

ies. Blon

ere older, s

were mor

ole

ers. Notes. Clippings. Printed

closer, he

the form:

pered it

behind her nearly

That.

n

-

2: Th

fr

nd shook just slig

od in th

s weren

ere fu

fury she'd seen a

n't perf

was

slowly, shutting t

ldn't be

le down on the de

t answer r

otographs. Stared at the wo

e said. "She was

kled. "You've d

es

wa

't offe

appened

't turn.

use o

hought she cou

ed at I

s jaw tightened, the faint tremble in

ot

st leave," Ivy

aid no

oser. "What ha

- slowly - and ther

age. Pos

tract," he said. "

didn't fo

parted. T

portant," he said. "That fr

t him. "Peop

ping only when there w

at can't lov

le

of you, Ivy," he said

ooked

ve?" she whispered. "A l

ot to touch, but to

on," he said. "Cruel

hen h

apo

plana

o of the wor

oti

-

: The

t sleep t

given her, covers pushed aside,

lah

he files. The

voice echoing

every

ered. Dressed in the shar

straight int

his desk like he'd

Delilah,"

You'r

ng to disapp

hair, eyes narrowed. "A

aking

rest sharpen

care that you're twisted, or possessive, or th

lted hi

" she continued, "you're goi

pa

he

around

in front

do you

your cameras. I want to see the people you work with. The companies

be

ano

ending anymore,"

id. "But I'm

shifted in

rov

ira

ething

pped c

gh to feel

g a dangerous

ou," she

smi

, deliberate

ox said. "We'll

- not reli

hing

ng like

-