1. Into the rabbit hole “I can’t believe we’re actually doing this,” said Sophie to her friend as the taxi closed in on their destination. “If you get past the initial impression, it’s actually pretty cozy, and the food is fantastic,” Tina answered, looking lazily through the cab window at the evening strollers thinning out as the neighbourhoods were getting worse. “The food. " “Yeah, kinda like pork, but more delicate. Healthier, too, or so they say.” ...
Warden was uneasy. It wasn’t about the execution itself—god knows he oversaw too many of them, and as inhuman as it sounded, he was no longer bothered. It wasn’t about the secrecy either—the situation was what it was, and you either went along with it, or ended up on the other side of that big window. Still, something felt more wrong than usual. Part of it must have been the man who joined him on this occasion - or rather, the person who sent him. The little, restrained, perpetually smiling man sat straight, holding his briefcase filled with strange tools in his lap and sharing his attention between the monitoring screens and the preparations happening on the other side, calm and unflinching, like a lizard. ...
Preparations [Sunday. Before dawn] Sam stood in the elevator’s corner, covering her chest with the free hand, more for warmth and comfort than to hide from him. She was cold, but still sweating, feeling like a bobblehead figure – head both heavy and floating loose; she had to lean it against the wall to prevent dizziness from overwhelming her. He turned sideways, weapon ready, watching Sam and the entrance. “Drink!” a sharp command set her straight. ...