Chapter 7

My first life as Amy ended abruptly.

It was just before graduation from St. Augustine's.

I'd made one last, desperate attempt to get Ethan's attention.

A carefully written note, confessing my stupid teenage crush.

I slipped it into his locker.

The next day, he found me between classes.

He held up the note, a smirk on his face.

"This is... cute, Amy," he said, loud enough for everyone to hear.

"But really not my type."

He crumpled it up and tossed it in a nearby trash can.

Laughter followed me down the hall.

Finality. Crushing, humiliating finality.

Coordinator 7's voice was in my ear almost immediately.

"Integration Task with Target Alpha: Failure imminent."

That evening, I developed a fever.

Then chills. Then a cough that wouldn't stop.

The Agency called it a "fast-acting, untraceable viral infection."

I called it my first death.

It was swift. Brutal. Lonely.

The world faded to black in a sterile, anonymous hospital room provided by the Program.