Racing the clock
925 Words
Episode Two
Adele’s finger trembled as she flipped through the documents again.
Once.
Twice.
Still nothing.
Her breathing turned uneven, shallow, as if the air in the room had suddenly thinned.
It couldn't be missing now.
She dropped the documents back into the bag and turned them upside down on the bed.
Everything spilled out in a rushed heap—folded documents, a pen, her old ID card, her wallet, receipts she didn't remember keeping.
But not what she needed.
A cold wave of panic crept up her spine.
“No… no, no,” she whispered under her breath.
Her hands moved again faster now, then she paused suddenly.
Think.
Think.
Her mind rewound sharply.
Last night, she remembered sitting on the bed exhausted, going through her documents and arranging them carefully before placing them inside her bag.
She was sure she was careful.
Her mind drifted slowly towards the small drawer beside her bed.
She checked inside, turned the contents of the drawer over.
Still nothing.
She looked at her phone to check the time again. It was 8:34 AM.
She thought to herself, why was everything against her this morning, even if time itself was not on her side?
Her roommate turned slightly on her side of the bed.
“Are you OK?” she asked.
“Yes I am, just looking for something,” Adele responded. Not wanting to disturb her sleep.
“OK,” her roommate responded, then she went back to sleep.
Her phone rang again, she checked the caller and saw it was the same strange number.
Adele answered immediately, trying to steady her voice so that she wouldn't sound as if she had just run a marathon.
“Hello”
Then a voice calm but firm, still sounded like the voice that called earlier.
“We are calling to confirm your attendance for today's interview. Are you still coming? “
Adele swallowed.
“Yes,” she answered hurriedly. “Yes, I am on my way.”
“Good, we will be expecting you."
The line went dead.
Adele lowered the phone slowly.
Suddenly, her eyes darted towards the edge of the bed, a sliver of white paper peeked out, she took a step closer, her breath catching slightly, lifted the pillow up and there it was.
The document she had been searching for, her student work authorization document.
Relief flooded through her.
For a brief moment she allowed herself to breathe.
She grabbed her bag, double-checked everything in one quick sweep to be sure nothing was missing, then she dashed out of the room.
Her bag hung tightly against her shoulder as she hurried down the corridor. Her footsteps quick and uneven. Every second now felt louder than the last.
8:43 AM
She checked her phone again.
Her grip tightened.
“Very late," she said to herself.
She descended the stairs almost too quickly, one hand brushing the wall for balance. Her mind was already ahead of her body—calculating distance, time and traffic.
Nothing about this morning felt like it was on her side.
Outside the building, the air hit her immediately—slightly warm, the street was noisy, alive with movement. Cars honked in the distance, people shouted across the street, vendors called out to customers.
Adele didn't stop.
She crossed the road quickly and waved down the nearest bike rider.
“Where to?” The man asked.
She gave the address, her voice sounded rushed.
He nodded,
“Get on”.
She climbed immediately, adjusting her bag as she settled behind him.
The bike jolted forward.
The wind hit her face as they sped through the street of Place de Lais.
Adele kept her eyes forward, but her mind was everywhere at once.
The bike swerved slightly between vehicles, moving through gaps only familiar to someone used to the roads. Adele held on tightly, her body tensed but silent.
The bike slowed at a junction.
Traffic.
Adele's stomach dropped
A long line of cars stretched, barely moving. Her rider clicked his tongue.
“Hold on, traffic is bad here.”
Adele swallowed hard.
She checked the time again.
8:51 AM
Her heart began to pound harder, each second felt like forever.
After what felt like forever, the traffic finally loosened.
The bike shot forward again.
Adele exhaled sharply, relief and fear mixing together in her chest.
Buildings changed as they moved closer to the business district — taller structures, cleaner roads, quieter surroundings. The energy shifted.
This was no longer the chaotic part of the city.
This was where decisions were made.
Where people like her were either accepted or rejected.
Her grip tightened again.
The bike slowed.
“Here,” the rider said, pointing ahead.
A tall building stood in front of them—glass, steel, structured and intimidating.
Adele looked up.
For a moment, she forgot to breathe.
This was it.
She checked the time one last time.
9:54 AM
Her heart skipped.
She quickly paid the rider, almost dropping her phone in the process.
Then she stepped forward.
The entrance loomed ahead.
She stood still for a moment, just before the entrance.
People moved past her—confident, composed like they belonged here.
Adele adjusted her bag on her shoulder again, suddenly aware of everything—her clothes, her hair, the faint sheen of sweat on her skin.
For a brief second, doubt crept in.
Do I belong here?
Her grip tightened.
No.
She hasn't come this far to turn back now.
She straightened slightly, inhaled deeply, and stepped forward.
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