Chapter One: The Midnight Menu

“Free is always most expensive.” Zhiwei put her folder on the counter. “But you said I had to choose. You never said I had to eat.” Madam Wen's smile paused for half a second. Zhiwei picked up the cookie. It was warm. The unseen breathing sharpened, as if someone in the dark had seized her wrist. “Kiss goes to this one.” A crack appeared in the cookie. Bittersweet fragrance burst through the room, and cool lips seemed to touch hers with impossible restraint. She lifted the brownie. Its gold leaf clung to her ring finger and formed a thin band. “Marry.” Distant wedding bells rang. Her dead phone flashed to life, displaying a bank notification with an absurd number before going black again.