Sentinel 10, The Edge of Destiny

This was the point of no return.

She stared blankly at herself in the mirrored wall of the elevator as it slowly made its way to the third floor. She was not cheered by her reflection: she looked as bad as she felt.

 The doors opened onto the dimly lit, carpeted hallway, but Amanda hesitated. She still had time to turn back. For one agonizing moment, she racked her brain for another solution, but there was none. There was no turning back.

She stepped out as the doors were closing and froze: there he was, standing in the hallway, his condo door open behind him, wearing the same damn grey suit he always wore. So much for the element of surprise. She didn’t even care to guess how he’d known.

He took a few steps toward her. He looked terribly anxious. “Amanda, it’s obvious that something has happened.” His voice shook a little as he said the last words. “It must have been extraordinary to make you come here, to me.”

She neared him, all the while searching for the humanity in his eyes. As she got closer, she was relieved to find it there—they were blue, and full of puzzled concern. She said one word only: “Overload.”

His face twitched as if something hit him. He said nothing but took her hand. As soon as he touched her, his breathing accelerated; he paled, then blushed. Amanda cringed and jerked her hand back. This was precisely what she had been afraid of! His interest was physical; it was written all over his face.

“What am I doing? I never should have come,” she whispered, turning away. But in so doing, she reeled a little and had to catch herself by throwing a hand against the wall.

Proctor quickly moved to stand in front of her. “Amanda, wait! I’ll do whatever you want. No one and nowhere else is safe for you now. I am safe.” He peered into her face. “Please, come inside. I will do everything I can to help you, I promise.