EarlI sat at the head of the table, watching as the last of the students filed in. Meredith was the only one already seated, her laptop open, fingers absentmindedly toying with a loose strand of hair.She wasn’t the only student here. She wasn’t supposed to be the only one I noticed. And yet, as the room settled, my attention kept pulling back to her.I pushed the thought aside. "Let’s begin." The chatter died instantly and I leaned forward, lacing my fingers together. "For those of you who don’t know me outside of class, I’m Professor Sherwood. I’ll be overseeing this year’s Cybersecurity Research Initiative. You were chosen because you either applied and met the requirements or because I personally selected you."At this, my gaze shifted, for just a second, toward Meredith. She sat straighter, as if she could feel my eyes on her."Since we’ll be working together, I want names. We’ll start on my right."A boy with dark-rimmed glasses and an easy smirk leaned back in his chair. "Sony
MeredithIt was supposed to be a quiet weekend for me. A Saturday to visit the school library and maybe get some groceries. That was before I got a message from the school board. "Why is the board sending me a message?" I asked out loud.Skye turned around, a cup of ice cream in hand and a confused look lacing her face. "The board? What did they say?"I turned over the phone to her so she could see. My heart was beating fast but I tried to hold my hands steady. If the board was asking to see me, why would it be today of all days? Was it because they saw me with Professor Earl the evening before? Had they seen me flirting with him at the club? Did something happen with my application? I knew it. I knew the fast acceptance was a glitch and I'd been stupid enough to think I was good enough for Sonnydale to give me admission in less than an hour. "You should go." Skye said after a few moments of silence. "Go find out what it is before you die trying to think about it."I went back insi
MeredithThe sun was still high, warm but not harsh, casting a soft light over the pavement as I stepped onto the main road. The place wasn't filled with students like always during weekdays. Just older people like the staff and other workers worked their way through. My mind was still boggled by the events of the meeting, the suffocating air of that boardroom, the way they had spoken about me like I wasn’t even there. Their judgy looks and how I couldn't even say a word. It was like I didn’t matter.I exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over my arm as I stepped onto the curb, scanning the road for a taxi. I just wanted to go back to my dorm, shut the door, and breathe.That's when I felt movement from the corner of my eye. I turned my head just in time to see him, Professor Sherwood, standing near his car, keys in hand, his sharp gaze catching mine across the distance.For a split second, everything else faded. The Reynolds. The CRI. The tension.All that existed was the stretch of space
EarlThe silk of my dress shirt slid smoothly over my skin as I buttoned it up, my movements intentional. The mirror reflected back a man who had long since mastered control of his emotions, of his reactions, of the world around him. But tonight, that control would be tested.I adjusted my cuffs, rolling my shoulders as the fabric settled into place. The crisp white contrasted sharply against the black vest I fastened over it. My fingers moved expertly, the same way they did when handling a gun, a pen, or the fragile balance between patience and vengeance.Reese Keeler’s birthday. A night of champagne and politics, of carefully chosen words and silly role-plays. But that wasn’t why I was going.I slipped on my watch, pressing a button on the side. A single ring later, the call connected."Everything is in place," Isaac’s voice came through, ready as always. "I’ll be inside before the main guests arrive."I adjusted my collar, staring at my reflection. "The girl.""I’ll confirm tonight
MeredithMy heart was still pounding ruthlessly as I stood outside on the balcony, watching the party go on with the air kissing my face. Fucking Skye had made me drink some alcohol I've never tasted before and since then, it was as if I had no control over my actions. I knew what I was doing but a sense of confidence awashed me and soon, I found myself in the arms of a man.Tall and strongly built, I let him lead me on the dance floor. And then our bodies had touched and I'd felt his strong hand hold my waist tightly. I knew then that I'd wanted nothing more than to drown in his touch. He had touched every inch of me without taking off my clothes. Almost as if he knew me to the core. When I pulled away, I half expected him to follow seeing the way his obscured eyes pooled with dark desire. But when he didn't, I just forgot about him and went about my activity. Moments after, I'd seen him walk over to my father and I had been wondering who he was. He'd remove the mask and turned so
MeredithLaughter travelled from the shoreline, wild, and maddeningly out of reach. Girls in bikinis dashed into the waves, boys chased them, splashing, shouting. Freedom. It was right there, and yet, I was stuck under this damn umbrella, my fingers hovering over the laptop keyboard."Meredith, sit up straight," my mother said, adjusting her sunhat as if that was the most pressing issue in the world.I gritted my teeth, shifting my posture. My third attempt at getting into Sonydale, my third chance at breaking free, and I couldn't mess it up. I read through my application one last time, heart pounding, then clicked Send.The moment it was gone, dread crept in. What if they rejected me again? What if I was stuck in this perfect, polished cage forever?"Baby, your dad and I are going to grab some drinks," Mom announced. "Stay put, okay?"Stay put. Like I had a choice.I nodded, watching as my parents walked off, hand in hand, the perfect couple. They had each other. I had no one.A ding
MeredithThe second I stepped onto Sonydale’s campus, I felt it. Freedom.I could sense it in the chatter of students lounging on the grass, in the music blasting from someone’s Bluetooth speaker, in the couples tangled together on benches like no one was watching.Nobody was watching.Not me, at least. No overbearing parents. No one deciding where I could go, what I could do. I was finally on my own.I clutched the strap of my backpack, breathing in the crisp warm air as I stood in the middle of campus. A mix of excitement and panic churned in my stomach. This is it. I made it.I looked around, trying to take everything in. The massive library with its glass walls. The student centre with its café. The dorm buildings lined up like little brick kingdoms.People walked past me, moving in groups, talking, laughing. Like they’d been doing this forever. Like they belonged.And then there was me.Alone.My stomach tightened. I’d imagined this moment so many times, had pictured myself stepp
Meredith I should have looked away. Fled. But I didn’t.I was frozen, locked in place as he studied me, his head tilting slightly. Not like he was amused. Not like he was interested.Like he was… analyzing me.And then,to my complete horror, he stood up. I turned back toward my drink, pretending I hadn’t just been caught ogling a man who was way out of my league. But it didn’t matter. Because he was already walking toward me.As he approached me, getting so close I could feel the warmth of his body, I realized he was twice my height. He smelled outdoorsy too. As if he was just coming from working in a log factory or from the woods. "You alone here?"His voice was deep, rich, and smooth, cutting through the music like it was meant just for me. It wasn’t a question.I forced a small, tight smile. "What makes you say that?"His lips twitched, not a smile. Just the ghost of one."You’re just sitting here, not participating."I hesitated. "Maybe I like watching.""Hmm." He turned his gla
MeredithMy heart was still pounding ruthlessly as I stood outside on the balcony, watching the party go on with the air kissing my face. Fucking Skye had made me drink some alcohol I've never tasted before and since then, it was as if I had no control over my actions. I knew what I was doing but a sense of confidence awashed me and soon, I found myself in the arms of a man.Tall and strongly built, I let him lead me on the dance floor. And then our bodies had touched and I'd felt his strong hand hold my waist tightly. I knew then that I'd wanted nothing more than to drown in his touch. He had touched every inch of me without taking off my clothes. Almost as if he knew me to the core. When I pulled away, I half expected him to follow seeing the way his obscured eyes pooled with dark desire. But when he didn't, I just forgot about him and went about my activity. Moments after, I'd seen him walk over to my father and I had been wondering who he was. He'd remove the mask and turned so
EarlThe silk of my dress shirt slid smoothly over my skin as I buttoned it up, my movements intentional. The mirror reflected back a man who had long since mastered control of his emotions, of his reactions, of the world around him. But tonight, that control would be tested.I adjusted my cuffs, rolling my shoulders as the fabric settled into place. The crisp white contrasted sharply against the black vest I fastened over it. My fingers moved expertly, the same way they did when handling a gun, a pen, or the fragile balance between patience and vengeance.Reese Keeler’s birthday. A night of champagne and politics, of carefully chosen words and silly role-plays. But that wasn’t why I was going.I slipped on my watch, pressing a button on the side. A single ring later, the call connected."Everything is in place," Isaac’s voice came through, ready as always. "I’ll be inside before the main guests arrive."I adjusted my collar, staring at my reflection. "The girl.""I’ll confirm tonight
MeredithThe sun was still high, warm but not harsh, casting a soft light over the pavement as I stepped onto the main road. The place wasn't filled with students like always during weekdays. Just older people like the staff and other workers worked their way through. My mind was still boggled by the events of the meeting, the suffocating air of that boardroom, the way they had spoken about me like I wasn’t even there. Their judgy looks and how I couldn't even say a word. It was like I didn’t matter.I exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over my arm as I stepped onto the curb, scanning the road for a taxi. I just wanted to go back to my dorm, shut the door, and breathe.That's when I felt movement from the corner of my eye. I turned my head just in time to see him, Professor Sherwood, standing near his car, keys in hand, his sharp gaze catching mine across the distance.For a split second, everything else faded. The Reynolds. The CRI. The tension.All that existed was the stretch of space
MeredithIt was supposed to be a quiet weekend for me. A Saturday to visit the school library and maybe get some groceries. That was before I got a message from the school board. "Why is the board sending me a message?" I asked out loud.Skye turned around, a cup of ice cream in hand and a confused look lacing her face. "The board? What did they say?"I turned over the phone to her so she could see. My heart was beating fast but I tried to hold my hands steady. If the board was asking to see me, why would it be today of all days? Was it because they saw me with Professor Earl the evening before? Had they seen me flirting with him at the club? Did something happen with my application? I knew it. I knew the fast acceptance was a glitch and I'd been stupid enough to think I was good enough for Sonnydale to give me admission in less than an hour. "You should go." Skye said after a few moments of silence. "Go find out what it is before you die trying to think about it."I went back insi
EarlI sat at the head of the table, watching as the last of the students filed in. Meredith was the only one already seated, her laptop open, fingers absentmindedly toying with a loose strand of hair.She wasn’t the only student here. She wasn’t supposed to be the only one I noticed. And yet, as the room settled, my attention kept pulling back to her.I pushed the thought aside. "Let’s begin." The chatter died instantly and I leaned forward, lacing my fingers together. "For those of you who don’t know me outside of class, I’m Professor Sherwood. I’ll be overseeing this year’s Cybersecurity Research Initiative. You were chosen because you either applied and met the requirements or because I personally selected you."At this, my gaze shifted, for just a second, toward Meredith. She sat straighter, as if she could feel my eyes on her."Since we’ll be working together, I want names. We’ll start on my right."A boy with dark-rimmed glasses and an easy smirk leaned back in his chair. "Sony
EarlThe evening breeze settled on my skin as I sat on a reclining chair in the balcony, watching the sun set with a glass of my finest whiskey in hand. My eyes took in the beauty of a dark grey sky sprinkled with whites and clothed in an orange hue. The distant honking, the chatter of passersby, and the crazy yelling of drivers all added to the allure of living in the middle of the city. This was why I bought this house. For the view and to help work on my plan. Ah, yes. The big plan. The one I'd been working on since I turned twenty-five and found out who my family's killers were. I took a long sip, the liquid burning the back of my throat and offering something other than the lingering pain of the past. I could still hear it. The screams, the sizzling of flesh and bodies thudding as they fell to the ground. I had been waiting twelve years. Twelve years since I found out the truth. Since I learned the names of the men responsible for the massacre that wiped out my family. Since I
MeredithI buried myself in my laptop the second I got back to my dorm. Skye walked in at some point, took one look at me hunched over my desk, and whistled. "Wow. You look like you’re trying to hack into the Pentagon."I didn’t look up. "Not the Pentagon. Just my professor’s soul."She snorted. "So, you were humiliated.""I wasn’t humiliated," I muttered. "I was… unprepared.""Uh-huh. And now you’re preparing like your life depends on it."I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I just… I don’t want to be caught off guard again."Skye flopped onto her bed, scrolling through her phone. "You know, most people don’t turn into Terminators over a single awkward moment.""I’m not most people.""Clearly."I ignored her and kept reading. By the time the next class rolled around, I was ready.The lecture hall buzzed with conversation as students filed in. I took my seat, opening my laptop, my fingers poised over the keyboard. I wasn’t nervous this time. I was waiting.Ava was already in he
MeredithThe moment class ended, I bolted out the door. I didn’t care where I was going, I just needed to breathe.Because what the hell was that?One night ago, I was sitting next to that man in a bar, talking about hacking and security systems, feeling things I had never felt before.And now? Now he was my professor. And acting like he’d never seen me in his life.I didn’t know whether to be relieved or offended.I exhaled sharply, pushing through the crowded hallway. Then I heard two girls talking about him as they walked before me. I slowed my walk."I heard he used to be some teenage billionaire genius," a voice said.I paused."No way. Professor Sherwood?" another girl asked."Yeah. He was some kind of prodigy. His family owned a cybersecurity company or something, and he took over when he was, like, thirteen."My stomach tightened.They were talking about him."God, no wonder he’s such a robot," the first girl scoffed. "Probably spent his entire life behind a screen. Makes sens
Meredith I should have looked away. Fled. But I didn’t.I was frozen, locked in place as he studied me, his head tilting slightly. Not like he was amused. Not like he was interested.Like he was… analyzing me.And then,to my complete horror, he stood up. I turned back toward my drink, pretending I hadn’t just been caught ogling a man who was way out of my league. But it didn’t matter. Because he was already walking toward me.As he approached me, getting so close I could feel the warmth of his body, I realized he was twice my height. He smelled outdoorsy too. As if he was just coming from working in a log factory or from the woods. "You alone here?"His voice was deep, rich, and smooth, cutting through the music like it was meant just for me. It wasn’t a question.I forced a small, tight smile. "What makes you say that?"His lips twitched, not a smile. Just the ghost of one."You’re just sitting here, not participating."I hesitated. "Maybe I like watching.""Hmm." He turned his gla