"What's that?"
"What else? Your eviction slip," she says loud enough for Tessa to hear.
"Matron, but you know I just left my job. Where the hell will I go?"
"For the fifth time," she reminds me. "And we had a deal. I take it you do remember our deal?"
"Yes," I drag the response.
Who told me to open my big mouth during negotiations?
"Good. I'm glad that's settled."
"How long?" I ask, knowing I'll find a way to twist her arm later on.
"Twenty-one days."
"That's September 23rd. At least give me till the end of the month."
"I take it you want that shortened? Especially since you missed yesterday's inspection."
Matron Caine presses the red slip of paper onto my swollen breasts and turns to leave.
"Any chance you'll grow a heart before then?"
"Get a job and keep it. We'll see."
"What if I get one but don't have the taxi fare to get to work?"
Caine turns around, feet on the second and third steps down, her snowed-on hair glistening.
"That's the Mary I know. Always finding ways to make yourself a worthy cause, aren't you?"
"So that's a yes."
"The last time I checked we were still into charity."
"Charity, my ass."
"Mary!" Matron Caine sucks her teeth. "I can arrange things for today if you'd like that."
"All right; all right. No need to swing into dictator mode. September 23rd it is."
YOU ARE READING
NINE TIME MACHINES: Do you want to undo your entire life on planet earth?
FantasyThere is a war coming! In it, Lilith and the impostor God must battle for all human minds on earth. But one girl can stand in the gap for all humanity. However, to prove worthy for this feat, Mary must begin shadow work to take the mark upon herself...
