Page 109 of Monster. Me.

"I highly doubt that," the man replies before approaching me.

"Good afternoon. My name is Rhett Godrick. I am an attorney who represents Mr. Blue Lowen. We’ve come to you with a proposal that may interest you."

"I’m listening," I say, blinking in mild shock.

Whatever Blue Lowen has to offer will be infinitely better than what awaits me under Lomax. My heart starts pounding because I can feel that something important is happening.

"In the contract you originally signed with Mr. Blue Lowen, there was a clause that may interest you. It stated that if you chose to terminate your agreement with Welrun, or if that agreement were terminated early for any reason, your contract with Mr. Blue Lowen could be reinstated and continued under its original terms."

"Really? Well, that’s perfect, because as Dr. Lomax informed me, Welrun terminated my contract the moment I escaped," I say this, feeling a powerful shiver running through my entire body, adding a note of satisfaction to my tone as my eyes dart toward Lomax.

"Exactly. At this moment, a narrow window has opened for you. Within five days of that event, you may sign the original contract and restore it to full effect. This would require fulfilling the remainder of your obligations to Mr. Lowen, meaning remaining available to him for the next six months. After that, just as the original contract provided, you would be eligible for release, with the understanding that you would continue wearing an ankle monitor."

I fell silent for a moment, feeling stupid because I turned my back on them earlier and ran off to something supposedly better.

After I was removed from Beta Activation, Blue offered me a place in his Alpha Activation program. The offer didn’t include two million dollars, but Blue was willing to arrange a lifetime stipend for me after the program ended, even if I would have had to wear an ankle monitor for many years.

Yet, I short-sightedly left because the Welrun contract was far more tempting. But not everything that glitters is gold.

"Would I have to stay locked up in a laboratory?"

The lawyer smiles mysteriously.

"I think you’ll be pleased with the arrangement. Mr. Lowen would expect occasional blood samples and a few other tests, but nothing particularly demanding."

I swallow.

With every word, his proposal sounds better and better. Incredible. The last days went by in the darkness; has the wind in my sails suddenly changed direction?

But how? I was heading into a bottomless vortex! I’m still afraid to believe it.

"Would I still be allowed to work? I already have something in mind, a job near Rainbow Spring…"

"I believe that can be worked out with the prosecutor, so that the limits of your ankle monitor allow you to maintain employment."

Too good to be true.

I squeeze my eyes shut, and Marlow’s face appears before me, along with his words:

I choose you.

Could those words suddenly become reality?

"Then I agree," I say at first in a whisper, my gaze fixed on the lawyer’s face.

Then something unlocks inside me.

Fuck, this is it.

I take a breath, grab hold of this gust of opportunity, and speak much more firmly.

"Of course I agree! I’ll sign the renewed contract."

Dr. Lomax grinds his teeth.

He clearly never expected things to turn out this way and for Blue Lowen’s lawyers to become involved.

But one question remains.