Melanie and I walked into the building, with her trying her best to carry the picnic basket we packed: several sandwiches, sides, snacks, and a thermos of lemonade. A surprise lunch date for my boyfriend, who works so hard he forgets to eat. The little things are what keep a relationship fresh and make someone fall even deeper in love. Our relationship hasn't been going on for too long, only six months, but Gary loves me. It's one of those things that a woman just knows. Gary is obsessed with me and would do anything I ask. It was tough to keep my holy mission from Gary, especially because I do care for him. But God's mission comes first.

My heels echo as we walk across the lobby toward the front desk and security. Scott will be at the desk, and Mei-Lim will be in charge of security. Everything is going according to plan. Melanie stumbles sideways, and the basket falls to the floor. She's short enough that the fall from her hand to the ground wasn't very far. I help her up with my left hand and grab the picnic basket with my right.

"Sorry," Melanie said.

"It's alright, darling. It's very heavy, but you're so strong to have carried it the whole way here. You did great. Let's go see Gary," I said.

"GARY!" Melaine roared, running in a little circle.

"Hey, Zoe. What'd you bring today, and is there any for little ol' me?" Scott asked.

Scott is a heavyset Christian man who is the office gossip. He loves three things: God, his husband, and a secret. I won him over the last few months by engaging him in his favorite hobby while making my delicious macaroni salad. The same macaroni salad that is inside the basket in a little container. You have to use full-fat mayonnaise- none of that soy-based alternative stuff. That's the secret to it. And a little bit of sugar and MSG.

"We're going to surprise Gary with a picnic. You know how forgetful he can be. And let's see if I have anything in here," I said, hoisting the basket onto the desk.

I pretend to shuffle things around, looking for something. After I notice Scott rolling his eyes, I grab the container and hold it up. The blue plastic container has a piece of tape on it with "Scott" written in marker.

"It does look like there might be something for you." I smiled.

"Oh, hun. If I weren't already married, I'd be trying to propose to you for this recipe alone," Scott said, wiping away a fake tear.

"You're too sweet, Scott. Thank you," I said.

"Who's working security?" I whispered.

"It's Mei-Lin, and you know she'll be quick as lightning for you."

"Alright," I said, grabbing the basket and offering my hand to Melanie. "Let's go to the checkpoint, and then we can eat."

Melanie hums a little tune as we reach the security checkpoint. The tall, arched ceilings make her humming carry farther like a herald announcing a lord. The ground floor of the building is bare, without furnishings or chairs to sit on while you wait. This is not the kind of place you wait at; either you're supposed to be here or you aren't. The lobby is deserted, and there are never many people working. Besides the desk Scott is at and the security checkpoint behind him, there is nothing except the elevators that bring you up or down.

The security checkpoint has a giant ring hanging from the ceiling above a large platform. It's an extremely accurate sensor that scans for metal objects, combustible or explosive chemicals, as well as anything that looks like a weapon. This isn't the first time we've visited Greg, so I'm familiar with the routine. Don't bring any silverware. Keep all containers plastic and see-through. Absolutely no cleaning supplies, including wet wipes, are allowed. I made the mistake of bringing an alcohol based hand sanitizer that set everything off before. Besides, they'll have plastic utensils in the break room and a dishwasher to clean my containers.

Mei-Lin is standing at her podium, staring at a screen, bored. Two armed guards are stationed at attention. Their black tactical gear bears the letters' BNA' in gold, and they both carry assault rifles with various attachments. Each of their helmets has a blue-screened visor that covers their eyes. Automatic tracking technology synced to their rifles, allowing agents to target nonlethal areas. Mei-Lin notices Melanie's humming and looks up to see us. She smiles and waves as we stop under the ring.

"Hey, Zoe. Hi, Melanie. Remember to stand very still," Mei-Lin reminded us.

Moment of truth. A faint buzzing sound fills my ears, and a wave of goosebumps comes over me. I keep an eye on both armed agents as I count the seconds in my head. Mei-Lin waves us forward, and we step off the platform.

"You brought a lot of apples today. There's like a dozen of them in there," she laughed.

"You know what they say; an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Why don't you take one? I just picked them up at that farmer's market the next town over," I said, holding out an apple.

"What the hell, sure," she responded. "Just grab your visitor's badges and head on up."

I pick up the two lanyards with our pictures and names on them. Zoe and Melanie R, I remember all those months ago when I thought of this plan and asked Him for assistance. He always provides for the worthy. We put on our badges and step into the elevator. BNA elevators are large; they have to be to fit certain Neuvohumans, so it's a little funny how small we look inside the room-sized lift. Forty floor buttons, and below the buttons is an unassuming piece of metal that slides open when certain badges touch it. Not yet. I press the button for the twenty-first floor. The elevator rises soundlessly, and it's nearly imperceptible that we're moving; it feels so stable.

"Miss Ze, I mean Zoe, can I please have it? I feel sad, and I don't want to feel sad," Melanie said.

"Quiet. I told you already that you have to wait. Good girls can wait; bad girls can't, and they get punished. Are you a good girl or a bad girl?" I whispered.

"I'm a good girl," Melanie said sadly.

I live to enact His grand design. She's suffering from withdrawal, and it's only been getting worse. I had to use makeup to cover up the effects it's having on her. He told me to stop using my power on her for the few days leading up to today. Who am I to question His will? The elevator dings, and the doors slide open to the floor where Greg works. I check Melanie, and she's put her happy face back on. Good. I don't want to have to leave her, but I will if I have to.

"Think you can show everyone the dance you've been practicing?" I asked her.

"Dance party!" She yelled, taking off as fast as her little legs would take her.

Twenty-eight employees work on this floor, including Greg's boss. And all of them work in data management. Greg was very happy to gush about his job after a night of passion. They work together with branches in other cities to keep the BNA database current. Mostly cataloguing Cowls, their crimes, and prisoner data. They are just one tiny piece of the BNA puzzle, but that works in my favor.

I reach into the basket and pull out a sandwich and the lemonade pitcher. The office is set up so that senior analysts have their own offices, while the twenty juniors share a cubicle space—first the cubicles, then the offices. Melanie is doing an excellent job of holding people's attention. Twelve of Greg's coworkers are clapping for her and are enraptured by her cute dance routine.

Eight might need a second sandwich. I grab a second one and stroll over to a young woman, who is pretty and, most likely, driven to prove her worth is unrelated to her attractiveness. I place my basket down gently next to her, take a large bite out of the sandwich, and wash it down with the lemonade. My plan requires me to walk a tightrope, but it's for His goal. I wait until I've fully swallowed to say hi. I shake her hand and make a little small talk, transferring the mixture of cyanide and GHB that my body is absorbing. It took a lot of experimenting to find out I could transfer poisons and how to do it safely. Every person is different, so I'd rather overdose than risk someone surviving. All of you are lucky martyrs who will be sacrificed for the good of the world.

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Melanie continues to be adorable and captivating as I finish touching the final person. I'm getting full, but it's only a minor inconvenience. Grabbing the next sandwich, I tear a chunk off and pop it in my mouth. Then goes the lemonade. Rinse and repeat, exactly as I envisioned and planned. I'm not rushing because I can't afford any mistakes. I'm making small talk between snacking and taking a second to transfer the concoction brewing in my stomach. My routine takes me thirty minutes, and Melanie looks quite tired now.

I tousle her hair and give her a hug. Something makes a thump behind me, causing me to turn and look. It's the pretty woman's head hitting her desk as she slumps in her chair. Others start to sway in place, and one of them falls to the floor.

"Did I do good? I'm good, right? Please make the hurt stop," Melanie cried into my chest.

"Yes, you did great, honey. But there are a few more things we need to do before I can make the pain go away. Let's go say hi to some more people."

I knock on the first door until I hear a man's voice yell to come in. I'm out of sandwiches, but I still have plenty of pasta salad. Once more, I eat, drink, and poison my way one by one through the senior analysts, entering their offices and delivering death like a grim reaper until there are only two left. Greg and his boss are all that's left. The juniors are all on the ground, dead. The GHB prevents them from thinking straight or acting right, while the poison kills them.

"Zero, or do you prefer Zoe now?"

He's back. I can hear his voice, and it does something in my brain, a jolt of electricity that goes through my whole body.

"I am your humble servant, and you can refer to me however you'd like," I said.

"I can see that you've been busy. I knew you would succeed. You are doing so well; I'm proud."

I nearly faint from happiness. He believes in me the way I believe in Him. I will fulfill my mission and realize His vision for the world.

"The child must be tested. I know you care for her, but the world I desire cannot be one that coddles. Even the children must earn their spot. If you are unwilling to do this, then you must leave her behind."

"What do you ask of me, God?" I asked.

"Some are born strong, born with the nature needed to adapt and survive. Some are not born strong, but they have the motivation and willpower needed to destroy their weakness. And some are born weak and are happy to remain there, leeching off of a society that keeps them safe. You belonged to the second category, and it is through your tenacity that you survived a rebirth of suffering and pain. Find out which category she belongs in."

I look at Melanie, and the motherly urge to protect and shield her from pain is pulling on me. But I am his Chosen, and nothing in the world comes before that. I knock on Greg's door and then open the door. Greg's eyes light up as he sees me. Greg's thinning black hair, brushed over to cover the bald spot at the crown of his scalp. His bushy mustache, which covers his upper lip, and his hazel eyes, which radiate warmth and safety, are his standout features. He's a kind, lonely man who was so eager for love, he couldn't see it wasn't real.

"Melanie, let's say hi to Greg," I said.

"Hi, Greg."

"Hello, ladies, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Greg asked.

"I wanted to have a picnic date, but you're always working. So I brought the picnic to you," I said, smiling at him.

"I thank God every day that I was able to meet you," he said.

"It is with His light that all will find their path," I said.

"Amen," Greg agreed.

I put the basket on the ground and go over to embrace him. I kiss him on the cheek, and he pulls me onto his lap, kissing me on the mouth. His breath is sugary, most likely from the sweet tea he drinks all day.

"Ewww. Gross," Melanie complained.

Greg laughs, a deep booming sound that vibrates from his chest through my body as he holds me. I grab a pen off his desk, hiding it in my palm, and then stabbing it down into the side of his neck. Melanie gasps, and Greg sputters out gibberish. His eyes are wide and confused, like a deer in the headlights. His brain can't fathom what is happening to him. He drops me while reaching for the pen lodged into him. I grab the desk to arrest my fall and stand up. I'm waiting for him to attack me and trigger my power, but he doesn't. His hand grazes the pen, making him grunt in pain. He isn't thinking of harming me, even as he comes to terms with the fact that I stabbed him.

"Melanie, it's time to make the pain go away," I said.

"Thank you. My body hurts, and I'm tired," Melanie said, reaching her hand out for mine.

"Not yet, sweetpea. First, I need you to be a brave girl and do something."

Looking over his desk, I see a pair of scissors. I take them, and he mumbles something. I offer the scissors to Melanie, and she takes them but looks confused.

"God needs something from you. You have to prove to him that you're worthy. You need to destroy the weakness inside of you. And the only way to destroy your weakness is to become strong. The strong take, and the weak give. Greg is giving you his life, and it's your job to take it," I said soothingly.

"I don't wanna. Mister Greg looks like he's in pain, too," she said.

"He is, and you need to take the pain away. If you don't, then I won't make your pain go away."

Greg attempts to get up, and I place my hand against his face, pumping my chemical into him. He falls back into his chair, his scared eyes starting to relax as his pupils start dilating. A few tears fall down his cheeks, disappearing into his moustache. I look over at Melanie, my surrogate daughter, and see she's crying. Ever since I first killed her parents and took her with me, I have used my power on her constantly. It's been three days without it, and I think that the dam that's held all her emotions at bay is breaking. Either she will rise and choose strength, or she will break.

"Please. Please, don't make me. I've been a good girl, and I don't wanna," she pleaded.

"Melanie, either you end his suffering or I leave you here," I said coldly.

"I can't. I don't wanna hurt Mister Greg," Melanie sobbed, falling to the ground.

One last chance, Melanie.

"I'm going to walk away to handle something. If I come back and you haven't done it, then you'll be alone forever," I said, grabbing the basket and shutting the door behind me.

I leave Greg and Melanie behind, her cries muted from outside the room. I walk down the hall and take a left to end up in front of Greg's boss's office. I don't knock or speak; I barge in. She looks up, confused, and I take two giant spoonfuls of macaroni and drink the remaining lemonade. I don't bother pretending or saying anything; I grab her face in my hands, activating my power. She tries to grab a stapler to defend herself, but my other ability activates, and she drops it, becoming subservient. The extra dosage works quickly, and she seizes, falling over. I rifle through her jacket for her badge and rip it out of the inside pocket.

I couldn't figure out which finger the scanner would need, despite my research, so I'll take all of them. Hoisting the body up, I put her back into her chair. She has a nice, sturdy-looking mahogany desk. I pull the center drawer out and jam her hands inside. The drawer slams shut on her wrist, but no matter how many times I slam it shut, they won't break the way I want. Her corpse is still, and I remove her hands from the desk, leaving them to dangle at her side. The wrists are bruised, but I still need the fingers detached. She doesn't have much in the way of weapons, but she has a framed photo on her desk of a man. Boyfriend? The picture shatters when I crack it over my knee, scattering shards of glass onto the ground. It's bloody work, but I grab a shard and slice a circle around the base of the fingers continuously. Multiple times, the shard I'm clutching cuts me or breaks in my hand. Every time I get an injury, I transfer it to her. I keep shredding enough around the skin, muscle, and cartilage until I can see the white of her bones. I yank the finger back and forth until I manage to tear it off. My hands are drenched in blood, and I use it to write a message on her desk: He hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter. Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcasses, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.

"I dedicate these sacrifices to you. May their lives empower you and serve as a tribute," I said.

"I accept your offering. You have found what you need to complete your task. Go and see that my will is done."

I ditch the basket and take my bloodied shirt off. Greg's boss is similarly sized to me, so I take her jacket and zip it up. It wouldn't do for God's Chosen to strut around half-naked. Her fingers go into my left jacket pocket, and her badge goes into the right. Exiting her office, I stop outside of Greg's office on my way to the elevator. I open the door to check on Melanie. Greg's throat has the scissors sticking out of the front of it, and his desk is covered in a spray of blood. I can't find Melanie anywhere.

"Melanie. Melanie, where are you? Sweetheart, I'm here. Where are you?" I shouted.

Slowly, a girl appears in front of me. Her skin is gray, her white hair is slightly floating, and she has pitch-black orbs for eyes. The outfit she's wearing is similar to what Melanie was wearing, except the dress and shoes are black, with white splatter patterns on them. She looks like a ghost.

"Promise you won't leave anymore?" The little girl asked.

"Melanie? Is that you?" I asked.

"Mhmm. I did it, but he wouldn't stop bleeding. It went everywhere and got all over my dress and shoes. And then I remembered my mommy and daddy are gone, and you left me. My heart was hurting, and then my head started hurting, and I just wanted it to stop."

I'm rushing the little girl before she can finish again and clutching her like she's the last bit of warmth in the world. She's not crying, but she does hug me. She proved her worth and triggered at the same time. She's talking differently, less emotionally and more cold, even numb.

"Then the pain stopped, and my clothes changed. I have powers like you do, Miss Zero. I'm a good girl, but if I change back, the hurt will come. Please make the hurt go away, Miss Zero," Melanie said.

I kiss the top of her forehead, not letting go of her.

"I'll make the pain go away, I promise. You don't have to worry about your old mommy and daddy anymore, and you don't call me Miss Zero or Zoe. Call me Mother, and know that your Mother loves her children," I said.

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