Page 47 of The Long Game

A link followed that. I tapped on it with my thumb, and I was redirected to the site of an energy drink. I didn’t recognize the brand, so I scrolled down, wondering if he’d sent me the right thing.

That’s when the animation kicked in.

A colorful can rolled in, a slogan flashing underneath it in bold letters:CHOOSE ENTERTAINMENT OVER DIGNITY. The can shook then, trembled, as if about to burst, and poof, something materialized at the front.

With a disbelieving blink, I stared at the logo that had just been stamped on the container.

It was a simple illustration, but even that way it was impossible to miss the similarities. I knew what I was seeing. I recognized it. By now, I had watched the clip so many times that I could probably summon my face, jaw unlocked and expression unhinged, if I closed my eyes.

It was my Lady Birdinator face.

And turned out, I was on a can.

Dread and shock swirled inside me, making the few bites of turkey I’d taken turn sour.

MATTHEW:I’ve done some research. It’s a new energy drink company. Pretty small. Vegan. Miami based. Targeting Gen Z for the most part. They have been very smart about it. You wouldn’t make the connection if you haven’t watched the video. But…

ADALYN:But millions of people have seen it.

MATTHEW:I’m sorry.

A wave of nausea hit me straight in the gut at thatI’m sorry. I didn’t want anybody’s pity. Not even Matthew’s. Because that… That made it all worse. I swallowed, trying to push down everything that was bubbling up in my throat.

MATTHEW:You think you can sue?

ADALYN:I’ll talk to my father. I’m sure he’s already seen it and is taking legal action to protect the franchise.

MATTHEW:I’m more concerned about you.

ADALYN:I’m part of the franchise.

I stared at my own words, that sensation in my chest intensifying. But I was still part of it, wasn’t I? I was his daughter, and employee, as much as I’d been temporarily suspended from access to my account and banished. My father would protect me. I knew he’d done that in the past, I now knew that he’d—

One of the bushes across from me moved, capturing my attention.

It moved again, making me narrow my eyes, and then, before I could prepare, something charged out of the bushes.

My phone and sandwich were startled straight out of my hands, and I even heard myself yelp as I shut my eyes, bracing myself for whatever that thing was. A bear? A ravenous rabbit? I’d read about several species of rattlesnakes in the area that were deadly. Whatever it was, it wouldn’t be worse than being claimed as the image of an energy drink whose marketing campaign was based on my demise and lack of dignity.

When seconds ticked by and I wasn’t attacked, I opened one eye.

The chicken in front of me clucked.

“It’s you. You’re Cameron’s pet.” The bird batted her wings and stomped on my sandwich. “Hey. That was my dinner, you know?”

Her head bopped forward, in the direction of the food, as if telling me,Now it’s mine.

“Have at it, then,” I relented, carefully leaning down to pick up my phone and sitting back on the porch step. “I guess it’s only fair after the other day.”

The thing clucked, scratching at the floor.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m sorry, okay?” I said with a sigh. “I was having an odd day. Or fine, maybe it was more of a bad week. Actually, I don’t think the streak of bad luck is over. I seem to be going through a long string of bad.”

Cameron’s pet chicken bobbed her head before pecking at the bread.

“I’m not sure if a chicken should be eating turkey,” I murmured with a frown. “It must be some sort of animal cannibalism.” The thing continued. “Your eggs will come out… strange. Probably.”

“It’s a rooster,” a deep voice said in the distance. “Not a hen.”

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