Aubrie had settled into a new pattern in life. During the day, she was Miss Sanders, a barista at the Paracosmic Café. In the evenings, she was a night class student, hoping to get a high school diploma. And at night, she became Bubbles, wanderer and heroine of Soporifick.

After discovering the red vinyls, the teenagers had not known what to do with them. Most of the vinyls seemed to play the most banal of secrets, nothing particularly useful or interesting. So they chose to ignore the vinyls for now. That is, after they had checked whether or not certain girls at Nocoeur High had a crush on Geno (they did not).

In Soporifick, they continued Geno’s old patterns – patrolling at night and rescuing victims that had fallen through a mirror or been snagged by some other, less common andaht.

They also fought any andahts they came across, with varying degrees of success. White Noise and Glitched Lover were largely unaffected by Rella’s lightning-like powers, so they were difficult to handle. But that didn’t stop them from trying.

Now that they had been working with each other for weeks, the trio had become good friends and their shenanigans in Soporifick had painted their mythic counterparts as paragons of courage in schools and, as time passed, even the population at large.

Regardless of the good they were doing though, Aubrie still couldn’t let go of the distinct feeling that she and the other two could still be doing something more. There had to be something they could do with the vinyls, other than creepily listen in on other people’s secrets.

However, without an obvious target, without a goal, she didn’t know what. So she was left with a vague feeling of dissatisfaction.

She was currently at the Paracosmic. Morning shift. With the first rush of the day over, things were slow and there wasn’t much to do. Aubrie supposed at least at the Paracosmic, things made sense and fit together well.

Too well. She had already completed any tasks she could think of and was left with nothing to do. After a while, she took out her workbook and started revising. Yes, she was on the clock, but there was literally nothing else to do. And this was a good environment for studying. It was peaceful, with the sunlight streaming in through the café windows and the radio was playing something cheerful and upbeat. It was perfect.

Aubrie was sure glad she could listen to Radio Pop during her shift.

The radio used to be tuned to City In Blue Radio, but she had been able to convince Ms Silvey to at least let her change the station during her shifts, since she worked more efficiently and focused while listening to more modern music.

Apparently, the radio was now sometimes tuned to Radio Pop even outside her shifts.

The quiet was interrupted when at 9:30, the customer walked in that always came every Wednesday at 9:30. Aubrie greeted her with a smile, quickly stashing her workbook away.

“Good morning, Ms Knightley. Would you like a medium-sized sunshine latte?” she asked. The lady grinned at her.

“Don’t you know it,” she said enthusiastically, giving her finger guns.

Aubrie gave the lady a finger gun back and started preparing the drink. As she did, she asked, “Anything else today?”

“Ah, hm…” Ms Knightley paused, looking at what was available in the display cabinet. She considered her options carefully. “I think… I’ll take a bag of mini chocolate-chip cookies too, if you please.”

So, not one of the unusual snacks. “Is it for Emmy?” Aubrie asked.

“Well, is it my usual order?” Ms Knightley cheekily asked.

“Good point,” Aubrie agreed. “I’ll put in something extra. Tell him to share them with friends,” she said, filling a small paper bag with mini cookies.

“Hm, you still think he has friends,” Ms Knightley muttered quietly.

“He’s a good kid. It’s only a matter of time until someone else notices too,” Aubrie answered. Ms Knightley smiled appreciatively.

“You’re right,” she agreed after some hesitation. She tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear. The background music changed to rock, making Ms Knightley jolt with surprise. “That’s not City In Blue Radio,” she commented, looking at Aubrie with confusion.

“I sometimes change the station during my shift,” Aubrie told her. “This is Radio Pop. From five to eleven, it runs Morning Music with Pamham.”

“Pamham?”

“It’s a nickname,” Aubrie answered, shrugging. “She hosts a popular afternoon show Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.”

“You’re like a walking ad,” Ms Knightley muttered. “I don’t like what’s playing.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, Ms Knightley,” Aubrie replied. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Oh, listen to what you like girl,” Ms Knightley scolded her.

“I’ll bear that in mind too,” Aubrie cheerfully replied. “Here’s your order.” She held out the sunshine latte and bag filled with mini cookies.

“Thank you. Have a good day, Ms Sanders,” Ms Knightley said, heading out.

“I hope your day is out of this world!” Aubrie replied with a wave.

“Still trying for a tagline?” Ms Knightley asked, amused. Aubrie gave her another finger gun and Ms Knightley just laughed as she left.

It was quiet in the Paracosmic again. Aubrie cleaned the counter once more, but after that, there was nothing to do. She got out her workbook again and got back to studying, with music and occasionally Pamham’s voice for company.

“And that was ‘Painted Second Face’ by Over-Analysed Dreams, from their new album ‘Moonlight Idea’,” said Pamham. “I have to say, I think I’m gonna have to pop into the nearest store at lunch and get that album. Of the songs we’ve played, every single one of them has been a bop! But what do you think? We’ll only know if Over-Analysed Dreams still has everyone enraptured if you call in and tell us what you really think. For now, I’m Pamham, it’s coming up to 10am on a beautiful Wednesday morning and you are listening to Radio Pop. Stay tuned for more music, after the News At Ten with Chester Croft.”

Aubrie only listened with half an ear, still focused on her biology notes from last night. She knew how the News At Ten was structured anyway, and she generally only got interested about midway, when Chester Croft covered cultural news.

“… And an update on the scandal at the MYCG. Last week, the public were outraged to learn that Archibald Tunstall, manager of the MYCG, refused to take disciplinary action against a bellhop that physically assaulted a guest and has since been proven to have a history of violence. Yesterday, the bellhop Alvin Sanders,” Aubrie felt her stomach drop, “was fired from his position. But is it too little too late? Experts say that the MYCG has lost the people’s trust and Mr Tunstall will have to work hard to restore even a fraction of the MYCG’s formerly prestigious reputation.”

Aubrie knew she shouldn’t, but she went up to the café door and flipped it over to ‘sorry, we’re closed’. She then went to Ms Silvey’s office and started dialling Al’s number.

He picked up. It was ten in the morning, and he’d picked up.

“Alvin Sanders speaking,” Al said. He sounded tired.

“Al! It’s me! Aubrie!” Aubrie practically shouted down the phone. “You were fired?!”

“H-How did you know?” he asked.

“It was in the news!” Aubrie cried out. “Just now, on Radio Pop- if Radio Pop is broadcasting it, it’s probably in every newspaper, every radio station, on the TV…”

“Aubrie, slow down-”

“What happened?!” Aubrie demanded. There was a pause, before Al answered.

“Not on the phone. You’re working right now, right?”

“I- Yeah. I am.”

“Ok. I’m coming over.” He paused again. “Does Fay know?”

“I don’t know- Maybe? The news said this started last week.”

“Right, yeah… Ok. I’m going to head over as soon as I can. And I’ll talk to Fay afterwards. Just… Aubrie, don’t believe what they’re saying about me.”

His voice wavered. It made her heart knot and sit uncomfortably in her chest.

“Ok,” Aubrie promised.

— 📀 —

Al had the misfortune to arrive during the lunch rush. She gave him a hot chocolate, then shooed him to a corner in the back of the café, while she attended the customers.

While she served with a friendly smile, her eyes kept darting to him. He looked awful. He had put in effort to clean up for her, but he looked withered and worn out. He had chosen to dress in mismatched comfort rather than cohesive style, his face was haggard and the bags under his eyes made him look years older than he was.

Once the rush was over, the afternoon shift began. The Paracosmic had a reliable flow of customers in the afternoon, which was why Aubrie worked with others after lunch, sometimes Ms Silvey, but usually whatever part-timer was working that day.

Today was apparently Ms Silvey. When she entered, Aubrie asked for a break, to which Ms Silvey, upon seeing Al, happily agreed.

So finally, at two in the afternoon, with a few sandwiches Aubrie had bought with her employee discount, she could finally ask Al, “What happened?” She paused. “They said you’re violent.”

“You believe them?”

“Well- I thought you grew out of it,” Aubrie answered honestly.

“Ha… Even my little sister doesn’t have faith in me,” Al muttered into the palm of his hand.

“I don’t think you’d attack anyone without reason,” Aubrie insisted. “And you’ve always been slow to anger. At least, at home.” Al didn’t look any happier. “Al, what happened?”

Al looked at her uncertainly. He breathed in deeply. “MYCG is a- was a prestigious hotel. We- they’re known for their silence and discretion. Which is not a bad rep, but when you have the very wealthy in a place that guarantees privacy and secrecy, it- it becomes a breeding ground for- for selfishness. And abuse. And. You know.”

“Never look away?”

“I’m good at my job. Was going to be promoted to porter. And Archie- I mean. Mr Tunstall always took my side when I stood up to injustices.” He paused, becoming downcast. “I guess the reality was, the victim took my side and if Mr Tunstall was going to lose a customer anyway, he’d rather lose the abusive one.” He let out another deep sigh. “Last week, I walked in on a man harassing one of my colleagues. And she’s too young, too-” He looked at Aubrie. “… she didn’t know what to do. So, I- I don’t know. I saw red. One minute I’m by the door, the next I’ve pulled him off her and…”

“You hit him?”

“No! I took my colleague and ran!”

There was a lull of silence.

“What happened then?” Aubrie asked.

“When my ‘assault’ got leaked to the press, Mr Tunstall gave me time off. Told me to keep my head down until this blows over. But then, yesterday…” He leaned back.

“The guy- the one harassing the girl,” Aubrie spoke, “he- he twisted it, didn’t he?”

“Yeah. I don’t know where they got the recordings, but… Those have been used to paint me in a pretty damning light. Then you’ve got all the ‘witnesses’ that were ‘wronged’ by me… I guess Mum did say I’d never get anywhere if I didn’t learn to control my temper. Who knew she’d be right?”

“… So what are you going to do now?” Aubrie asked.

“I don’t know,” Al answered hopelessly. “He’s suing me now and I just. I was supposed to be covered by MYCG. So now I have all these legal fees… And I can’t work as a bellhop anymore. My name’s everywhere. Everyone in the industry knows, I…” He sighed. “I can probably get work in cargo… One of my friends said there’s a job going at some warehouse on the other side of town… But the money won’t be the same. It won’t be enough. I… I don’t think I can support the family anymore. Don’t know if I can even support myself.”

Aubrie’s heart was breaking.

“And what about the man?” she asked.

“What about him?”

“He can’t just harass someone and get away with it!”

“Aubrie… He’s suing me. He can get away with it. He is getting away with it,” Al told her, voice firm but gentle. Aubrie felt something crack within her.

He was right. There was nothing they could do. Al was about to be thrown into poverty worse than their parents, and for what reason? For standing up to a guy trying to have his way with a colleague?

Where was the justice?

“Now that you know…” Al murmured, “I’m gonna tell Fay tonight too. Once I get another job, I’ll let Mum and Dad know and… In the meantime, let’s not talk about it. I’ll- Everything will work out. I’ll figure something out,” he promised.

Aubrie felt like crying. This wasn’t fair. Her brother didn’t deserve this. He didn’t deserve to lose his job, to drown in legal fees, to be unable to find work in the same sector again…

The red vinyls.

They contained secrets, right? The truth of the situation, right?

And so far, only one side of the story had been reported. But, as a wise man once said, there are two sides to every story. The first one sounds true, until someone tells the other side and sets the record straight.

Aubrie was going to tell the other side.

She had the power to do so.

“You’re right, Al,” Aubrie agreed. “Everything will work out. Out of curiosity… What was the man’s name again?”