Why wasn’t it working?
“You don’t. You embrace the easy. For once, pretend not to care. Let the problem find you.”
“Ms. Thorne, there’s a woman in your lobby,” her secretary, Mica, called. “She’s… arguing with a shadow.” Only Hard Problems by Jennifer Estep -ePub-
The client was older, with silver hair and a voice like gravel. “They call me Mama Sorel. I need you to find my son. He vanished two weeks ago. The police think he ran off, but his shadow didn’t move with him.” She gestured to the shape pooling at her feet. “This one’s been hunting him. I think it wants to kill me next.”
The shadow led her to the Marais district, where the air smelled of rotten magnolias. Lila tracked it to an abandoned laundromat, its dryers whirring like possessed organs. Inside, a hooded figure waited—her son? Why wasn’t it working
Lila’s power surged—the kind she’d only used once before. Her skin glowed with electric blue, and the ground cracked as her strength activated. But this time, the power fizzled.
By Jennifer Estep (A fictional work inspired by the author’s signature dark fantasy style) Prologue: The Impossibility of Easy For once, pretend not to care
Incorporate elements like humor, action, and character development, which are trademarks of Estep's writing. Maybe include a twist where the real challenge isn't what it seems. Also, considering the ePub format, the story should be concise but engaging, suitable for a short eBook.