Page 2 of Twist Me

It would be my chance to be seen for the first time in the department instead of just coasting along as ‘the good girl.’ He said no one had anything ill to say about me…but nothing good to say either. I barely knew anyone despite working with them for years. Merideth was someone I could call a friend, but we had zero in common.

“Can I count on you?” the captain continued, snapping me back to reality.

My heart rate picked up. I knew in my gut that going undercover would change my life forever. Would I come back out of this assignment as myself at all? I stared at the now blank screen behind him. Nothing extraordinary had been written there. I’d lived a cushiony life. I did my work, and until now, the thought of turning away from that to become someone else was terrifying.

But I had no other option if I wanted to stay in this profession.

“Of course, Captain. I accept.”

Sinking back into reality,I realized these civilians’ zombie-like stares were nothing compared to what was waiting for me atHospital Twelve. The folder from my desk flashed in my mind. Even today, my fear of opening it weighed heavy on my soul.

Refusing to look in my direction, the blonde behind the counter tried to shove the coffee over to me. The cup dropped on the ground and splashed warm, foaming liquid all over my pants.

Audible gasps popped up from everyone around us, and expectant eyes waited for my reaction. I started to brush it off, but then I realized this was the perfect time to practice my cover. That sick feeling in my gut deepened as I turned my practiced cold gaze toward her.

“Excuse you,” I barked, smacking my hand on the counter, the thud eliciting a jolt from the cashier as if I’d slapped her.

“I’m so sorry?—”

Hating the words ready to fall out of my mouth, I took a quick breath and fully immersed myself into my character. I was no longer Ezello Lavita but Zelle.

“You will be sorry. Stop sniveling now because you’ll pay for each droplet you’ve spilled. Be careful, little girl.” Driving home my point, I grabbed a random coffee from someone else’s hand and started to walk away. “Usually, I take my payment in blood.”

I felt ill when I heard the gasping and whispers meld in with the girl’s cries, but I pushed forward and headed to the exit. Davidson’s lackey was outside waiting with handcuffs. Everyone cheered when he shoved me around, stretching my arms painfully behind my back. A few teenagers with smartphones started recording the interaction and hooted at their lucky break.

God, I despised the lure of social media.

The metal on my wrists was icy cold, and with a loud click, they were snapped shut. Goosebumps rose along my flesh. As the cuffs dug into my skin, it confirmed my suspicions…I’d made a mistake. I stared at my blurred reflection in the window of thesquad car. There were so many cruel faces glaring at me behind my back. I guess I could act like a psychopath after all.

After arriving at the station,I watched Meredith teetering on her heels and clacking her gum. I tried my best to sit down at my station without her seeing me, but the chair squeaked with my weight. Noticing me instantly, she popped up and stared at me over the cubby divider. Her big fake eyelashes looked like spiders, and her eyes were as wide as saucers.

“Breaking news. A hot little number just sold her innocent soul to some delicious devils!”

I sighed and shook my head, my ears ringing from her shrill volume.

“Chicka, I am gonna need you to take your excited energy down about ten levels, yeah?”

Merideth thought she was so funny. Now was not the time to try and get a reaction out of me, but this was Merideth. She was known for being the most dramatic person in the department.She blew a bubble, giggling. After sneaking a peak around the corner, she rolled her chair around the cubby block, past the small walkway, and toward mine. She flew at me like a high school football star, smashing into the rolling chair beside me and using those heels to wheel herself back to face me.

“Girl….”

Ignoring her, I continued reading through my folder. The big, ominous, red dossier had me on edge this past week, but now I had no choice but to read it.

Talk about being depicted as a truly depraved individual.

God…

The assault and brutality Iallegedly inflicted on the criminal, aka the victim, was nasty. How was I supposed to gloat as expected when reading the words made me gag?

“I’m so fucking jelly!” Meredith continued, and her squeals were at an all-time high.“You do realize you get to meet the infamous unhinged triplets? I’m beyond disappointed and feeling a bit…murderous that I wasn’t picked for this undercover operation.”

I sighed and set the folder down in my lap, finally eyeing Meredith in all her fake plastic doll glory.

“I don’t care about who is in there, Mer. I am only there for one thing. To find out where the patients are magically disappearing to and how they are showing up dead.”

Meredith pouted. I detested her gossip.

“I don’t understand how an angel like you is put on undercover duty at Hospital Twelve. I mean, come on…it’s not fair. You won’t even flirt with those sexy devils.”

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