All Chapters of Proximity Hazard: Chapter 1 - Chapter 7

I understood systems long before I trusted people. Systems were honest. They behaved exactly as designed, and when they failed, you would know it. Predictably. You could map the fault lines if you paid attention and found a solution that did not need guesswork.People failed quietly. They disappoint you and still act as if nothing happened. I’m fucking done with that.The door sealed behind me with a low hydraulic sigh, the sound swallowed almost immediately by walls built to absorb more than noise. I kept my pace as I stepped forward. If I slowed down, people would think I don’t belong here and start asking questions. Questions wasted time.The air inside was cool and clean, filtered to the point of sterility. My boots barely made a sound against the floor. But that was intentional. I appreciate knowing when I’ve been heard.Cameras were where I expected them to be. Mostly. Upper corner. Secondary angle. Overlapping coverage. Clean work. No blind spots—unless you knew exactly where t

Sleep never just happened for me.Sleep was something I negotiated with. Like a hostage situation where I’m both the hostage and the negotiator, and everyone involved is exhausted, armed, and deeply irritated.Unit C, Room 6, was exactly what Director Sato—Jeremy promised: functional. Bare. Bolted-down bed, desk, and closet. The kind of space that said we can move out in thirty seconds if we have to.Perfect.I unpacked and lined my things the way I always did. Slowly. Methodically. Not because I’m tidy, but because order is a language my nervous system understands. Toiletries in one row. Clothes folded tightly. Shoes were paired like they were ready to be grabbed and shoved into a bag at a moment’s notice. I looked at my closet and told myself I was settling in. That was a lie I told myself every time I moved somewhere new. Settling in implies I’m laying down roots. I don’t do roots.I finished, stood there for a second, and stared at the door as if it might suddenly grow teeth.Then

The kitchen was quiet in that early morning that felt borrowed.Soft light spilled through the tall windows, turning the counters pale gold. The compound hadn’t fully woken yet. No clatter. No voices. Just the hum of the appliances and the faint sound of coffee brewing somewhere behind me. I looked around to see who turned on the coffee machine, but I didn’t see anyone.“Must be on a timer,” I mumbled.I padded across the floor barefoot, hair twisted into a messy knot that hadn’t survived sleep, wearing one of my tanks and shorts. Nothing fancy. Nothing sexy. Comfortable.I didn’t expect anyone else to be there, so when I turned and nearly collided with a wall of heat and muscle, my breath caught sharp and stupid in my throat.Reid Calder.He stood just inside the doorway, sleeves pushed up, hair still loose like he hadn’t decided whether to control it yet. Morning light cut across his face, catching in those green eyes that didn’t soften just because the sun was out.He stopped too.