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Sarah Shift by Roysovitch with character designs by phil-cho

PROLOGUE A

Mrs. Ambrose
Monday
7 AM

Sarah woke up, slapped the alarm clock to shut it up. This was reflex. The first thing she did consciously was to look at her hand. A wedding ring, she thought to herself. I am Sarah Ambrose, she mentally told herself. Sarah took a moment to collect her thoughts. She smiled and rolled over to look at her husband. "It is Monday," she reminded him before she swung her legs out of bed and let the rest of her body begrudgingly follow.

"Come back to bed," said Kirby Ambrose, Sarah's husband, his face smashed into a pillow. "I'll call off."

"Hmm. Tempting, but you have that meeting today," Sarah said as she stepped into some sweatpants under the oversized t-shirt that she often used as a nightgown. "Come on," she said as she slapped his backside and walked out of the bedroom.

In the kitchen, Sarah started the coffee pot and put together some quick sandwiches; one peanut butter and jelly, one turkey, and cheese. Coffee was started before she wrapped each sandwich lovingly and placed them respectively in a lunch box and a paper sack.

Sarah ventured to the kid's room to give her daughter Rose a personal invitation to begin the day. Once Rose began to stir, Sarah kissed her on the forehead and helped her get ready for school. When Rose was dressed, mother and daughter joined father at the breakfast nook where he had milk, three different boxes of cereal, and two bowls waiting. As usual, he had forgotten the spoons, but Sarah urged Rose to join her father while she took a detour to the kitchen to track down spoons.

"You forgot spoons," Sarah said as she grabbed them from the drawer.

"I did," said Kirby as he realized the blunder and sighed. "Why do I do that? I always do that."

"It's okay, daddy," said Rose. "Mommy, and I will keep you."

Kirby laughed. "Is that so? That is a relief."

"You teach her that?" Sarah asked as she joined them at the table and gave her husband and daughter a spoon each, saving one for her.

"No," said Kirby, shaking his head. "I thought you did."

"Nope," said Sarah as she grabbed the box of cereal that only she seemed to like.

"I taught myself," said Rose with a hint of protest in her voice. "I am my own person."

Sarah and Kirby laughed. "Indeed, you are," said Sarah, followed by Kirby echoing that sentiment before he and Sarah shared a glance across the table, locking gazes. "We make good kids," said Kirby with a smirk becoming all the more suggestive with each second.

Sarah raised her eyebrow. She lightly shook her head, killing his smile. "You have to go to work," she reminded him. "You have that-"

"Meeting. I know, but-"

"We can talk later," Sarah said with a smile, punctuated with a crunch from a spoonful of cereal, dried strawberries, and shaved almond flakes.

"Tonight?" asked Kirby, pouring his cereal.

"Later," said Sarah, still chewing.

"Tonight is later," said Kirby.

"Talk about what?" asked Rose, very much confused by her parents' conversation.

"How adorable you are," said Sarah, swallowing her cereal.

"What? No. Talk about that now. I want to listen!" Rose said between bites.

And so began a Monday for Sarah Ambrose.

PROLOGUE B

Miss Parr
Monday
11 AM

Sarah woke up. Her hand fumbled on the nightstand, knocking over an empty tumbler and a bottle of pills before she found the cell phone and swiped the screen to silence the alarm. Sarah opened her eyes and looked at her arm. Tattoos, she thought to herself. I am Sarah Parr, she mentally told herself, the world hates me, and I hate the world. Sarah took a moment to collect her thoughts. She let out a harsh growl and climbed over her passed out naked girlfriend. Sarah was naked herself and scanned the floor for signs of her underwear. "It's Monday," she reminded the naked woman as she spotted her briefs under her lovers' knee.

"Come back to bed," said Gennifer Kwon, Sarah's girlfriend of a few months. "You won't regret it."

"I probably won't, but-" Sarah silenced herself, not sure where she was going with that thought. "I'll start the shower," Sarah said as she left the bedside and crossed their studio apartment to the bathroom.

As she passed the kitchen, Sarah started the coffee pot and grabbed some toaster pastries from the cupboard. She set them next to the toaster and then finished her trek to the bathroom, just as Gen was beginning to stir.

Sarah had just finished washing her hair when she felt a cool breeze on her backside as Gen pulled the curtain back to join her. The two embraced and kissed as Sarah let Gen soak under the water.

When both were washed and rinsed, the lovers retired to the kitchen. Gen handled toasting their breakfast while Sarah poured the coffee.

"You were good last night," Gen said as she tore open the foil and dropped the pastries into their slots.

"I was?" Sarah asked, having a vague idea what Gen was referring to but not at all sure.

"You don't remember?" Gen asked, quick to pick up on Sarah's facial ticks.

Sarah laughed. "Am I that obvious? Sorry. I'm still waking up. Last night for you was last night, for me it was-"

"A bit longer. No. I got you," said Gen.

"Did I drink?"

"You? No. Well, no more than usual. It was a tame night," Gen said as she watched Sarah set up the coffee mugs. "Netflix and chill sort of thing."

"Right," said Sarah, shaking her head. "I remember now. It was a documentary, wasn't it?"

"Yeah. Global warming," said Gen.

"That's right," said Sarah, feeling an urge to feed her inner-protester. "Pieces of shit."

Sarah and Gen laughed.

"So," said Gen as she and Sarah shared a glance across the kitchen, locking gazes, "where you coming from?" Gen asked. The novelty of this weird girlfriend was still entertaining to her.

Sarah raised her eyebrow. She lightly shook her head and sighed. "Homemaker," she said with a second sigh. "I wish I hadn't told-"

"It's fine," said Gen. "I'm glad you did."

"I just-" Sarah dropped her shoulders and sighed. "My mornings are all about finding the groove, you know?" she poured the coffee into the mugs. "I'm happy to talk later. I'll tell you whatever you want, just later?"

"Tonight?" asked Gen, snatching the breakfast from the toaster.

"Later," said Sarah, pouring the second cup for Gen.

"Tonight is later," said Gen.

"Deja vu," said Sarah with a chuckle.

And so began a Monday for Sarah Parr.

PROLOGUE C

Detective Seltzer
Monday
3 AM

Sarah woke up to her bed being rocked by the foot of her partner, already dressed and holding a cup of coffee in each hand. Sarah reflexively reached for her nightstand. She saw the bracelet on her wrist and let out a long sigh. I am Sarah Seltzer, she mentally told herself, I am a detective and the man shaking my bed is my partner, not my husband. Sarah sat up and accepted the offered coffee. "It is Monday?" she asked as she swung her legs out of bed and looked out her window.

"It is."

It was still dark outside. Sarah rolled her eyes as she looked at her wall-mounted clock. "It's 3 AM. I am going back to bed, Kirbs," she said with a scowl even as she stood up and drank deeply from the coffee.

"Can't. Cap wants us at the scene."

Sarah eyed Kirby Ambrose. In another life, they were married. "You can come to bed with me," she said with a teasing grin, not sure if that was the flirtatious nature of Sarah Seltzer or the married devotion of Mrs. Ambrose talking.

"Hmm. Tempting, but Sheriff Kwon already has me on his shit list," said Kirby, drinking his coffee, nearly done with his cup. "Get dressed, and let's go check the scene."

Sarah handed her coffee to Kirby and went to her closet. She compiled an outfit and tossed it on the bed.

"Not going to shower?" Kirby asked.

"I showered three hours ago before I went to bed," Sarah said. "So, what's the case?" Sarah asked as she pulled her night-shirt off and tossed it in a nearby hamper.

"Should I wait in the hall or-" Kirby paused as he took a moment to let his eyes admire something, possibly Sarah's underwear or her body itself. "Turn around?"

Sarah scoffed. "You've seen me naked before," Sarah reminded him.

"When we were dating," Kirby said with a nervous chuckle. "But now... Let's try to keep it professional? For once? Please?"

"Turn around if you want," Sarah said with a chuckle of her own. "But I am just putting on clothes. Not like I am giving you a lap-dance. Come on! Tell me about the case!"

"Runaway. By the train yards. Found dead," Kirby said, reciting it from memory.

"Farrow girl?" asked Sarah, buttoning up her shirt.

"Probably. Description I got seems to match," said Kirby. "You called it. Figures she would turn up on our caseload."

"She didn't run away," Sarah said, shimmying into her pants before dropping onto the corner of the bed to put on her socks. "She was abducted... And now murdered."

Kirby eyed the two coffees, trying to decide which was his own. He chose wrong with the first sip but played it off, hoping Sarah did not notice. She did. "Why, uh, don't we investigate the case before solving it, eh, Detective Seltzer?"

Sarah chuckled as she slipped into her shoes and then accessorized with holster, gun, and badge. "That is less fun," she said, reclaiming her coffee. "And I saw you sip my coffee..." she said as she walked out of her bedroom with Kirby in tow. As he followed, she stepped backward and licked the edge of the lid with the drinking spout.

"What are you-?" Kirby trailed off with a chuckle.

"It is like we made out now," Sarah said with a wink and a snicker as she turned to walk forward, leading the way out of her apartment and pausing beyond the doorway to lock the door behind her partner.

"What are you? Twelve?" Kirby asked with a scoff. "I swear... Are you like this in your fantasy where we're married?"

"Why do you think you married me?" Sarah said, kicking the door closed and locking it with her key. "And it isn't a fantasy. It's so real."

"Yeah?" Kirby asked as Sarah joined him in the stroll to the elevator. "What's the update there? Did I get that promotion yet?"

"You nailed the interview," Sarah said, sipping her coffee. "I was very happy for you… so I nailed you."

Kirby chuckled as he shook his head and pushed the button. "That is good. How's Rose?" he asked as they waited for the elevator to open.

"She's good. Charming as ever," Sarah said, followed by a sigh. "I wish you could meet her. She has your sense of humor."

"She sounds lovely," Kirby said with an awkward pause following.

"You want to have another kid."

"Excuse me?"

"My Kirby. Well, that Sarah's Kirby. You're my Kirby," Sarah chuckled. "He wants to have another kid. I told him we would talk about it later. He keeps bringing it up. Any ideas to get him to drop it?"

"Uh... You're on your own there. I don't want to have one kid, so your Kirby sounds like a complete fool."

"You want kids. Don't lie," Sarah said as the elevator finally opened. "You just got to find the right woman first."

The two stepped in and let the doors close, thus beginning a new case for Detective Sarah Seltzer.

PROLOGUE D

Darla
Monday
12 PM

Sarah woke up to the sound of a key in the lock. Looking at her hand and seeing all the scars, she cursed under her breath. I am the Sarah that doesn't exist, she told herself, I have no life. Quickly, Sarah sprang out of bed and scrambled out of the bedroom. She shoved open the window and haphazardly rolled out the window and onto the fire escape. Sarah crept to peer into the window of the living room. She saw the apartment's owner, Kirby Ambrose, coming home for lunch.

"Right," Sarah told herself, "it is Monday. He eats lunch at home on Mondays."

Sarah sighed and began her descent down the fire escape. The last eight feet were a drop that was becoming increasingly hard on her knees. It was a warmer morning than it had been the previous three mornings, but it was later in the day.

Sarah walked out of the alley and checked the pocket of her jeans. She felt the comforting touch of money on her fingertips and decided to enjoy a warm meal.

As she crossed the street to her favorite diner, she stopped to spy a newspaper dispenser on the curb. The headline read 'JESSICA FARROW FOUND ALIVE.'

Huh, Sarah thought. That was odd, she told herself before shrugging it off and moving on to get her meal. The peculiar lingering soon left her once she had replaced it with a decent helping of pancakes and warm maple syrup, courtesy of the twenty-dollar bill Kirby had left on his nightstand.

This was just another day in the life of the runaway.

Sarah Shift by Roysovitch with character designs by phil-cho

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Sarah Shift by Roysovitch with character designs by phil-cho

PROLOGUE A

Mrs. Ambrose
Monday
7 AM

Sarah woke up, slapped the alarm clock to shut it up. This was reflex. The first thing she did consciously was to look at her hand. A wedding ring, she thought to herself. I am Sarah Ambrose, she mentally told herself. Sarah took a moment to collect her thoughts. She smiled and rolled over to look at her husband. "It is Monday," she reminded him before she swung her legs out of bed and let the rest of her body begrudgingly follow.

"Come back to bed," said Kirby Ambrose, Sarah's husband, his face smashed into a pillow. "I'll call off."

"Hmm. Tempting, but you have that meeting today," Sarah said as she stepped into some sweatpants under the oversized t-shirt that she often used as a nightgown. "Come on," she said as she slapped his backside and walked out of the bedroom.

In the kitchen, Sarah started the coffee pot and put together some quick sandwiches; one peanut butter and jelly, one turkey, and cheese. Coffee was started before she wrapped each sandwich lovingly and placed them respectively in a lunch box and a paper sack.

Sarah ventured to the kid's room to give her daughter Rose a personal invitation to begin the day. Once Rose began to stir, Sarah kissed her on the forehead and helped her get ready for school. When Rose was dressed, mother and daughter joined father at the breakfast nook where he had milk, three different boxes of cereal, and two bowls waiting. As usual, he had forgotten the spoons, but Sarah urged Rose to join her father while she took a detour to the kitchen to track down spoons.

"You forgot spoons," Sarah said as she grabbed them from the drawer.

"I did," said Kirby as he realized the blunder and sighed. "Why do I do that? I always do that."

"It's okay, daddy," said Rose. "Mommy, and I will keep you."

Kirby laughed. "Is that so? That is a relief."

"You teach her that?" Sarah asked as she joined them at the table and gave her husband and daughter a spoon each, saving one for her.

"No," said Kirby, shaking his head. "I thought you did."

"Nope," said Sarah as she grabbed the box of cereal that only she seemed to like.

"I taught myself," said Rose with a hint of protest in her voice. "I am my own person."

Sarah and Kirby laughed. "Indeed, you are," said Sarah, followed by Kirby echoing that sentiment before he and Sarah shared a glance across the table, locking gazes. "We make good kids," said Kirby with a smirk becoming all the more suggestive with each second.

Sarah raised her eyebrow. She lightly shook her head, killing his smile. "You have to go to work," she reminded him. "You have that-"

"Meeting. I know, but-"

"We can talk later," Sarah said with a smile, punctuated with a crunch from a spoonful of cereal, dried strawberries, and shaved almond flakes.

"Tonight?" asked Kirby, pouring his cereal.

"Later," said Sarah, still chewing.

"Tonight is later," said Kirby.

"Talk about what?" asked Rose, very much confused by her parents' conversation.

"How adorable you are," said Sarah, swallowing her cereal.

"What? No. Talk about that now. I want to listen!" Rose said between bites.

And so began a Monday for Sarah Ambrose.

PROLOGUE B

Miss Parr
Monday
11 AM

Sarah woke up. Her hand fumbled on the nightstand, knocking over an empty tumbler and a bottle of pills before she found the cell phone and swiped the screen to silence the alarm. Sarah opened her eyes and looked at her arm. Tattoos, she thought to herself. I am Sarah Parr, she mentally told herself, the world hates me, and I hate the world. Sarah took a moment to collect her thoughts. She let out a harsh growl and climbed over her passed out naked girlfriend. Sarah was naked herself and scanned the floor for signs of her underwear. "It's Monday," she reminded the naked woman as she spotted her briefs under her lovers' knee.

"Come back to bed," said Gennifer Kwon, Sarah's girlfriend of a few months. "You won't regret it."

"I probably won't, but-" Sarah silenced herself, not sure where she was going with that thought. "I'll start the shower," Sarah said as she left the bedside and crossed their studio apartment to the bathroom.

As she passed the kitchen, Sarah started the coffee pot and grabbed some toaster pastries from the cupboard. She set them next to the toaster and then finished her trek to the bathroom, just as Gen was beginning to stir.

Sarah had just finished washing her hair when she felt a cool breeze on her backside as Gen pulled the curtain back to join her. The two embraced and kissed as Sarah let Gen soak under the water.

When both were washed and rinsed, the lovers retired to the kitchen. Gen handled toasting their breakfast while Sarah poured the coffee.

"You were good last night," Gen said as she tore open the foil and dropped the pastries into their slots.

"I was?" Sarah asked, having a vague idea what Gen was referring to but not at all sure.

"You don't remember?" Gen asked, quick to pick up on Sarah's facial ticks.

Sarah laughed. "Am I that obvious? Sorry. I'm still waking up. Last night for you was last night, for me it was-"

"A bit longer. No. I got you," said Gen.

"Did I drink?"

"You? No. Well, no more than usual. It was a tame night," Gen said as she watched Sarah set up the coffee mugs. "Netflix and chill sort of thing."

"Right," said Sarah, shaking her head. "I remember now. It was a documentary, wasn't it?"

"Yeah. Global warming," said Gen.

"That's right," said Sarah, feeling an urge to feed her inner-protester. "Pieces of shit."

Sarah and Gen laughed.

"So," said Gen as she and Sarah shared a glance across the kitchen, locking gazes, "where you coming from?" Gen asked. The novelty of this weird girlfriend was still entertaining to her.

Sarah raised her eyebrow. She lightly shook her head and sighed. "Homemaker," she said with a second sigh. "I wish I hadn't told-"

"It's fine," said Gen. "I'm glad you did."

"I just-" Sarah dropped her shoulders and sighed. "My mornings are all about finding the groove, you know?" she poured the coffee into the mugs. "I'm happy to talk later. I'll tell you whatever you want, just later?"

"Tonight?" asked Gen, snatching the breakfast from the toaster.

"Later," said Sarah, pouring the second cup for Gen.

"Tonight is later," said Gen.

"Deja vu," said Sarah with a chuckle.

And so began a Monday for Sarah Parr.

PROLOGUE C

Detective Seltzer
Monday
3 AM

Sarah woke up to her bed being rocked by the foot of her partner, already dressed and holding a cup of coffee in each hand. Sarah reflexively reached for her nightstand. She saw the bracelet on her wrist and let out a long sigh. I am Sarah Seltzer, she mentally told herself, I am a detective and the man shaking my bed is my partner, not my husband. Sarah sat up and accepted the offered coffee. "It is Monday?" she asked as she swung her legs out of bed and looked out her window.

"It is."

It was still dark outside. Sarah rolled her eyes as she looked at her wall-mounted clock. "It's 3 AM. I am going back to bed, Kirbs," she said with a scowl even as she stood up and drank deeply from the coffee.

"Can't. Cap wants us at the scene."

Sarah eyed Kirby Ambrose. In another life, they were married. "You can come to bed with me," she said with a teasing grin, not sure if that was the flirtatious nature of Sarah Seltzer or the married devotion of Mrs. Ambrose talking.

"Hmm. Tempting, but Sheriff Kwon already has me on his shit list," said Kirby, drinking his coffee, nearly done with his cup. "Get dressed, and let's go check the scene."

Sarah handed her coffee to Kirby and went to her closet. She compiled an outfit and tossed it on the bed.

"Not going to shower?" Kirby asked.

"I showered three hours ago before I went to bed," Sarah said. "So, what's the case?" Sarah asked as she pulled her night-shirt off and tossed it in a nearby hamper.

"Should I wait in the hall or-" Kirby paused as he took a moment to let his eyes admire something, possibly Sarah's underwear or her body itself. "Turn around?"

Sarah scoffed. "You've seen me naked before," Sarah reminded him.

"When we were dating," Kirby said with a nervous chuckle. "But now... Let's try to keep it professional? For once? Please?"

"Turn around if you want," Sarah said with a chuckle of her own. "But I am just putting on clothes. Not like I am giving you a lap-dance. Come on! Tell me about the case!"

"Runaway. By the train yards. Found dead," Kirby said, reciting it from memory.

"Farrow girl?" asked Sarah, buttoning up her shirt.

"Probably. Description I got seems to match," said Kirby. "You called it. Figures she would turn up on our caseload."

"She didn't run away," Sarah said, shimmying into her pants before dropping onto the corner of the bed to put on her socks. "She was abducted... And now murdered."

Kirby eyed the two coffees, trying to decide which was his own. He chose wrong with the first sip but played it off, hoping Sarah did not notice. She did. "Why, uh, don't we investigate the case before solving it, eh, Detective Seltzer?"

Sarah chuckled as she slipped into her shoes and then accessorized with holster, gun, and badge. "That is less fun," she said, reclaiming her coffee. "And I saw you sip my coffee..." she said as she walked out of her bedroom with Kirby in tow. As he followed, she stepped backward and licked the edge of the lid with the drinking spout.

"What are you-?" Kirby trailed off with a chuckle.

"It is like we made out now," Sarah said with a wink and a snicker as she turned to walk forward, leading the way out of her apartment and pausing beyond the doorway to lock the door behind her partner.

"What are you? Twelve?" Kirby asked with a scoff. "I swear... Are you like this in your fantasy where we're married?"

"Why do you think you married me?" Sarah said, kicking the door closed and locking it with her key. "And it isn't a fantasy. It's so real."

"Yeah?" Kirby asked as Sarah joined him in the stroll to the elevator. "What's the update there? Did I get that promotion yet?"

"You nailed the interview," Sarah said, sipping her coffee. "I was very happy for you… so I nailed you."

Kirby chuckled as he shook his head and pushed the button. "That is good. How's Rose?" he asked as they waited for the elevator to open.

"She's good. Charming as ever," Sarah said, followed by a sigh. "I wish you could meet her. She has your sense of humor."

"She sounds lovely," Kirby said with an awkward pause following.

"You want to have another kid."

"Excuse me?"

"My Kirby. Well, that Sarah's Kirby. You're my Kirby," Sarah chuckled. "He wants to have another kid. I told him we would talk about it later. He keeps bringing it up. Any ideas to get him to drop it?"

"Uh... You're on your own there. I don't want to have one kid, so your Kirby sounds like a complete fool."

"You want kids. Don't lie," Sarah said as the elevator finally opened. "You just got to find the right woman first."

The two stepped in and let the doors close, thus beginning a new case for Detective Sarah Seltzer.

PROLOGUE D

Darla
Monday
12 PM

Sarah woke up to the sound of a key in the lock. Looking at her hand and seeing all the scars, she cursed under her breath. I am the Sarah that doesn't exist, she told herself, I have no life. Quickly, Sarah sprang out of bed and scrambled out of the bedroom. She shoved open the window and haphazardly rolled out the window and onto the fire escape. Sarah crept to peer into the window of the living room. She saw the apartment's owner, Kirby Ambrose, coming home for lunch.

"Right," Sarah told herself, "it is Monday. He eats lunch at home on Mondays."

Sarah sighed and began her descent down the fire escape. The last eight feet were a drop that was becoming increasingly hard on her knees. It was a warmer morning than it had been the previous three mornings, but it was later in the day.

Sarah walked out of the alley and checked the pocket of her jeans. She felt the comforting touch of money on her fingertips and decided to enjoy a warm meal.

As she crossed the street to her favorite diner, she stopped to spy a newspaper dispenser on the curb. The headline read 'JESSICA FARROW FOUND ALIVE.'

Huh, Sarah thought. That was odd, she told herself before shrugging it off and moving on to get her meal. The peculiar lingering soon left her once she had replaced it with a decent helping of pancakes and warm maple syrup, courtesy of the twenty-dollar bill Kirby had left on his nightstand.

This was just another day in the life of the runaway.

Sarah Shift by Roysovitch with character designs by phil-cho