#10: Home

The cafeteria was vast, with professional artists and trainees alike taking long tables. Trainees gawked and speculated over their heroes, and even technicians they didn’t recognise. However, for ethical reasons, the professionals had to stay on the other end of the room. Aaron Kovatar disagreed with separate lunch times, as in previous traineeships, trainees snuck into the lunch break to meet the professionals.

The room smelled of primer, and under the walls were paint-covered cloths. Every time Karu entered, he kept his inhaler close at hand.

He made tea for himself and Toren in the kitchen, conversing with those who retrieved their lunch at that point. They took a lilac, not yet painted wall, and scanned over everybody’s heads. Matt asked a technician a quick question, then sat between the two groups.

Funny. Jeff sat alone at the end of the trainees, his head down until the sound of Matt’s chair shuffling beside him. Then, Karu found the notebook on the table. Jeff jotted something down, and took a bite of his chicken wrap. He smiled, but bowed again, only lifting it to answer Matt’s questions. Thank goodness Matt tried to keep a conversation, but it fell flat with Jeff.

Karu sat across the table, keeping Tor on the trainee side. “You’re writing now?”

Tingles ran through Jeff at the timbre of Karu’s deep, but bright voice. “Always at lunch,” he said. “It’s the only time I focus.”

“I like your notebook,” said Tor. Glittery and deep purple, it matched Jeff’s sneakers.

“Thanks.”

“This might sound stupid, but are you a nightwalker?” asked Karu.

“Yes I am,” he replied. “You don’t sound stupid at all.”

“Tor’s taken an interest in the scene.” Karu sipped his boiling-hot tea. “Where do you find your glitter stuff?”

Jeff laughed. It was inappropriate to directly ask a child personal questions. He felt doubly nervous if Tor was the one asking. “I found this at an ordinary stationery store. It was 800 Hang.”

Karu nudged Tor. “Told you it’s not that expensive. If I discouraged him from finding a spirit home, I’d be a hypocrite.”

“You’re goth, right?” asked Jeff.

“That’s right.”

“Do you summon spirits?”

Karu nodded. “I’m not afraid to say it. Most of us do. It’s not as dangerous as people make it out to be.”

Jeff simpered. “Weirdest spirit you’ve ever summoned?”

“Havu, Mother of The Third Sex,” he answered. “But never The Third Sex herself.”

“Cool,” Jeff stammered. “I’d love to join a séance one day.”

Karu grinned. His teeth were blinding white and braces straight. Everyone knew he had braces when he was a teenager. “I’d do it if Aaron let me.”

The break ended, and each class returned to their sectors. Karu led his students into the studio, but jumped at the sight of a stranger in the recording room. Well, not a stranger.

She had youthful blue skin and dark blue hair, and she wore a green velvet cape. What signified her, though, was her dark glare. Karu winced, closing his eyes, then opening them to find she stayed in place.

Those behind Karu stopped as well. They made comments, but Karu maintained eye contact with her.

Tor moved to the front, and his chest caved in. “What is she doing here?”