New Keys, New Targets — Pulse Chapter 1 (Free)

Fresh paint. Floor-to-ceiling windows. A vision board filled with rings and targets. In Chapter 1, Olivia steps into her Colorado Springs apartment—and unknowingly into a life where every minute is planned and nothing goes as planned.

Training. Online classes. A dream she’s chased for years. But something else is moving beneath the surface—quiet, patient, inevitable. This chapter feels safe. It isn’t.

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ONE

Colorado Springs, Colorado

            Olivia "Liv" Streeter stood at the threshold of her new apartment, key in hand, and took a moment to appreciate the life she had built. The space before her was an elegant fusion of functionality and modernity, decked out with sleek lines and neutral hues. She had traveled far from her small-town roots in Traverse City, Michigan—metaphorically and literally—and her surroundings marked the distance she'd covered.

As she stepped over the entrance, the door closed behind her with a soft but reassuring click, sealing off the world outside. She inhaled deeply, absorbing the new-apartment scent—a blend of fresh paint and untainted upholstery. It was a smell that spoke of new beginnings.

Sunlight poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, filling the living area with a warmth that offset the chill from the snowy mountains visible in the distance. To her right stood a glass dining table, its polished surface reflecting the ambient light. It was adorned with a minimalist vase holding a solitary, proud tulip—a welcoming gesture from the property management. Adjacent to the table was the kitchen, replete with stainless-steel appliances and a marble countertop, offering her all the culinary freedom she might ever need.

The living room was dominated by a sectional sofa, upholstered in charcoal fabric, aimed at a sleek, wall-mounted 65-inch OLED television. Off to the side, an Eames lounge chair and ottoman sat in a nook by the window, a cozy spot for reading or contemplation. The furniture, while sophisticated, seemed to invite comfort and relaxation, a small sanctuary for Liv as she chased her Olympic dreams.

Her eyes eventually settled on her new training station—situated in a quiet corner of the living room. Here, a NordicTrack treadmill faced a wall adorned with a vision board. Pictures of Olympic rings, targets, and biathlon competitors, intermingled with snippets of motivational quotes. Above them, the words "Believe to Achieve" were stenciled in bold, black letters.

Her gaze finally shifted toward her laptop, strategically placed on a walnut wood writing desk. As if on cue, the laptop chimed, signaling a new notification. Walking over, she tapped the trackpad and read the message on the screen: "Winter Semester Classes at University of Colorado Starting Soon!"

Liv sighed and felt a pang of reality cut through the euphoria of the moment. Juggling her Olympic training regimen with her academic commitments was going to be a Herculean task. Majoring in International Finance was no joke, and neither was competing at the Olympic level.

She took a deep breath and walked over to her phone, which was resting on a wireless charging pad. She opened the calendar app and started blocking out her training schedule, online classes, and dedicated study hours. She was plotting her life down to the minute, each tap on the touchscreen an incremental step toward her twin goals: an Olympic medal and a college degree.

As she settled into her new routine, Liv couldn't shake off a subtle but growing sense of apprehension—a hazy premonition that the courses charted on her calendar were intersecting with lines of fate she couldn't yet see.

For Olivia Streeter, the pulse of destiny was accelerating, even if she didn't know it yet. Soon, the discipline and skills she was honing would be called upon for stakes far higher than she could possibly imagine. But for now, in the tranquility of her apartment, all that lay ahead was promise. And that was enough.

If you feel the tension building, you’re right.
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