Chapters tagged cbt

by Levantin

Chapter 67

The cordless drill sat heavy in my grip, the high-pitched whine of the motor echoing off the bare walls. The white plastic casing of the first camera was anchored firmly above the frame of the hallway door. Sweat traced down from my temples, gathering along the lower rims of my...

by Levantin

Chapter 74

The coffee machine in the kitchen gurgled softly while thin morning light cut through the blinds. Quarter to seven sharp, the table was set: fresh fruit, two mugs, the plate positioned with exact alignment just as she demanded. With every step, the base ring of the resin fixture...

by Levantin

Chapter 90

The stairwell of the Altbau smelled of floor wax, cold stone, and the distant aroma of sautéed garlic drifting down from the second floor. That scent had once marked the familiar threshold to comfort, but today every single worn wooden step felt like a calculated sentence. My th...

by Levantin

Chapter 117

The autumn wind struck my face with full as I emerged from the subway entrance into the open air. My body was a single field of high voltage: the dried layers of wax pulled at the fine hairs across my chest, the dried wine clung with a sweet, tart stickiness to my skin, and...

by Levantin

Chapter 155

The delicate brass bell above the heavy glass entrance of \*Maison Beauté\* rang out with a sharp, piercing chime. On that Monday afternoon, the Charlottenburg institute was filled to the last seat. Muted lounge beats drifted through the ornate, high-ceilinged rooms, mingling wi...

by Levantin

Chapter 157

When we stepped inside the flat, the heavy door latched shut with a dull thud. Loona ignored me completely at first. She set the case containing the lace lingerie onto the hallway console, slipped out of her shoes, and walked into her bedroom without a word. I remained standing...