365 X Novels & Stories

The landlord's voice echoed in her head like a bad dream. "Three days , Jessica . If you don't pay, you and your junk are out". Jessica tightened her grip on the cracked envelope in her hand . Another bill. Another threat. Another reminder that no matter how many shifts she worked or how many meals she skipped, she was never going to be enough. The flourescent lights of the diner buzzed above her. She stood behind the counter in her worn uniform, her apron stained with coffee and stress. A customer snapped his fingers impatiently, but her vision blurred. Her finger trembled.

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Steven asked, taking a sip of the squash "Well, it's my favorite too" Vandana smiled taking a seat beside Steven "Oh! We have another thing in common then, aside from the fact they we're both humans" He said and Vandana chuckled The plasma television on the wall was on and the second season of the movie, 365 Days was about to begin: The perfect movie for the perfect weather. "Lest I forget, here's your purse, Beachbody" Steven said, handing Vandana her purse She smiled the moment she heard 'Beachbody'. On getting her purse, she went through its contents.

Then, the kiss – a fleeting touch, a brand of possession, a silent acknowledgment of their precarious arrangement. Uno's words, a low murmur against her lips, were a cruel twist of fate: "Let's keep this 365-day marriage our secret. And don't worry, kissing you is the least I'll do." The veiled threat, the raw power in his voice, sent a shiver down her spine.

Which meant Michael had had time to— The bracelet, I thought. The bracelet he had put on my wrist six months ago. Simple, silver, beautiful in the way he chose things — understated and precise and exactly right. I had looked at it when he fastened it and thought that it was perfect and hadn't questioned why he was giving it to me because gifts from Michael didn't require explanation. The only thing he told me was that it contained trackers and that he would use it to access my location if I ever got missing. I looked down at my wrist.