An internship? At West Corp?"
My father sat at the kitchen table, a half-eaten sandwich in front of him. For the first time in weeks, the heavy shadow on his face lifted just a fraction. He looked at the high-tech, holographic invitation Garder West had sent.
"They saw my scores in physics and mechanical engineering," I lied, the words tasting like ash. "It’s a specialized program for high schoolers. It’s... it’s what Daniella would have wanted me to do, Dad. To keep moving forward."
He sighed, a long, weary sound, and reached across the table to squeeze my hand. "She would be proud of you, Vic. Just... be careful. Those big-city corporations, they work you to the bone. Don't forget to eat. And keep your phone on. I'm still a cop, and I don't like you being out late."
"I promise, Dad."
I felt the Watch pulse against my wrist, a guilty rhythm. He was hunting a ghost in the streets, while I was becoming one.
The Hidden Floor
The headquarters of West Corp was a glass-and-steel monolith that pierced the clouds. But my internship wasn't in the shiny offices on the top floor.
Garder West led me to a private elevator. He pressed his thumb against a hidden sensor, and the floor dropped—not up, but deep underground. The doors opened to a hangar that made my home world look primitive.
"Welcome to the Division, Victoria," West said. "You aren't here to get coffee. You’re here to survive."
Three people stood in the center of a sparring ring, watching us. They didn't look like interns.
"The girl with the junk on her wrist finally showed up," a boy with white-blonde hair said. He was tossing a coin, but it wasn't gravity moving it—it was tiny arcs of blue electricity dancing between his fingers. "I'm Avan Oliver. You might have heard of me. Usually, people see a flash of lightning and then they wake up in the hospital."
"Ignore him," a tall, calm boy said. His skin had a faint, iridescent shimmer, like the inside of a seashell. He stood by a massive tank of water that seemed to ripple toward him as he spoke. "Leon Smith. My people are from the deep trenches. We’ve been watching the surface for a long time. West says you’re the key to stopping the storm."
The third person didn't speak. She stood in the shadows of the rafters, her presence felt more than seen. She dropped down silently, landing like a cat. She wore a sleek, matte-black tactical suit. Her eyes were as cold as Garder West’s.
"This is my daughter, Elizabeth," West said. "In the field, she is Nightshadow. She doesn't like mistakes. And she doesn't like outsiders."
Elizabeth stepped into my personal space, her gaze raking over my silver Watch. "You think because you fell out of the sky with a shiny toy, you're a hero? You’re a liability, Vega. You don't have the discipline of an assassin, the power of an Atlantean, or the speed of a bolt. You’re just a girl in mourning."
I felt the violet rivers in my blood spike. The Watch turned hot. I didn't back down.
"I'm the girl whose sister died protecting her," I said, my voice steady. "And I'm the girl who’s going to make sure that doesn't happen to anyone else. You want to see what this 'toy' can do?"
Avan let out a low whistle. "Oh, I like her. She’s got spark."
West stepped between us. "Save it for the training drones. We have a week to turn you into a team. Because Doctor Science isn't waiting for you to finish your 'internship.' He’s already sent his first scout."
31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQfeFn8esv
31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI72uJMvRQr
and then Add to home screen.