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The Replacement
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2026-04-14 15:00:00I sat in the chair across from Val, my heart still thumping against my ribs. The silver pen he gave me felt heavy in my hand. He was watching me with a look that made me feel like an insect under a glass jar. He didn’t seem to care that I had been snooping. He just seemed happy to have me where he wanted me.
"You look a bit pale, Raine," Val said. He took a slow sip of his water, his eyes never leaving mine. "Is the air in here too thin for you?"
"I’m f
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