Unwritten Daughter — Director Halloway's Arrival

the burner phone i bought in ohio wouldn't stop shaking in my hand i sat on my bike two miles from the raven guard gate and watched it light up like a slot machine you could answer you hear what she has to say i turned it face down in my jacket here's the thing about the number It isn't love, it's panic

Love shows up on day two I rode the last two miles And stopped at a wrought iron gate With a silver crown worked into it

The guard came out of the booth Took one look at me And physically laughed Delivery's at the south gate, sweetheart

I took off my helmet I'm 5'5", with blonde hair to my waist And a face that gets me carded buying energy drinks I handed him the black envelope without a word

He read it, read it twice Then he keyed his radio in a completely different voice. Director Halloway,

W. Hale is at the North Gate. W. Hale is a woman. Behind me, three trucks of new recruits went dead silent.

Enjoy this. Nick's heard. You'll be hearing that sentence for the rest of your life.

The Ravengard campus is 160 acres of stone and glass, owned by the Thorn Crown. 50 of us in the intake year.

By the end of the trial fortnight, there will be 35. Director Halloway met me on the front steps, holding my file like a man handed a live grenade, with a bow on it.