Four days later on a Friday morning…

Aston sat across from me, eyes on the contract in her hands.

“My performers may need to preform “acts” as you paint them. You will need to capture said act. Other times, you will paint tasteful nudes. It all depends on what I need.”

“I understand…”

I didn’t. But it’s fine. I won’t have sinful thoughts, period. I never do while painting.

“And, I hope I can count on your discretion.” She looked up. “You cannot post or show this work anywhere. Not for portfolio use, nothing.”

I nodded.

My legs were tightly crossed. My hands neatly placed on my lap. I wasn’t going to give Aston any reason to not hire me today. I was desperate. Very desperate.

Aston stared at me, then said, “Most artists disagree with this. You don’t mind? Your name will not be attached to the artwork whatsoever.”

Perfect.

“That’s fine with me.” 

 Aston raised her brow, as if about to question again, but didn’t. Then tapped her pen to her pink nose, and said, “Your style really is lovely.”

“T-thank you.”

“When I saw your painting of Kosmo Night—”

“OH!?” I interrupted, my stomach clenching at his name.

“—I had to reach out to you…” she continued. “Everything alright?”

“Y-yes, ma’am. Sorry.”

My face became hot.

She knows who he is? 

Fuck, she knows I watch him.

“I want my performers painted in that same style.”

I feel nauseous.

“R-right.”

His band—I could say I’m a fan of his music, even though I found nothing about it online…

“That’s everything. The contract is for a year.”

I swallowed.

She slid the contract to me, and said, “If you feel ready, you can sign.”

Focus.

I found a pen on the desk, and quickly signed my name.

“Welcome to The Warren.” Aston pulled it back with a small smile.

The Warren.

“Bring your art materials with you tomorrow morning, and we’ll get you set up.”

“R-right, thank you.”

Aston stood. I joined her with wobbly legs. I was about to defend my honor and say I didn’t watch porn. “Uhm, I—”

But she interrupted, “And send Kosmo my way if you can.”

“W-what?”

“Kosmo Night—tell him to come to my office.”

The world stopped.

I opened my mouth, then closed it.

I nodded. I blinked. I stuttered, “Uhh—r-right.” I pressed my lips together, then pointed at the door for a second with my finger. Aston stared, probably confused. I temporarily regained my composure, said, see you tomorrow, then opened and closed the door behind me. I stood in the hallway, feeling small. I looked in one direction, then another.

Just breathe.

I inhaled as I began walking, my eyes glued on the entryway ahead.

Kosmo Night, is here??

Is she serious? Or is she, kidding?

Why would she kid around? She’s a serious person… Maybe, I misheard?

I didn’t mishear anything.

I replayed the conversation.

Welcome to The Warren.

The nausea intensified.

Red letters spell out The Warren in the logo at the beginning of his videos. Because—

Because he works here. 

My hidden skin prickled with goosebumps—my fur standing on end. My ears, down.

Stay calm. Maybe I can avoid him.

I continued to walk, my pace increasing.

I need to get out of here, now.

Before he gets here! Go. Go!

My Mary Jane flats bit at my heels but I didn’t slow down.

Keep going.

Keep going!

Almost there.

Almost…

A door-slam from the entryway stopped me dead in my tracks. Someone just came inside the building.

My heart fluttered like an unbalanced load in the washing machine. My ears were red, my face pale and my body cold and sweaty.

I’ve… wanted to see him again. I had hoped my painting of him would’ve grabbed his attention. That he would maybe have reached out to say, I don’t know, something. It’s silly. It’s stupid. But I almost tagged him when I made the post.

And thank GOD I didn’t.

Oh no.

Aston knows about the painting. What if she tells Kosmo??

Oh my God, what if Aston tells Kosmo?!!

He’ll find out I’m a fan.

He’s going to think I’m a creep!

And if he sees me here… what if he thinks I’m a stalker?

I heard another door behind me, from down the hallway. It spurred me to move.

I kept my head down. Maybe he wouldn’t recognize me, and I could just walk past him.

I’m pretty good at being invisible. Usually.

I slowly turned the corner my head still down. My feet somehow moving. In my peripheral I could tell someone was coming from the doorway.

They were getting closer.

I should have pretended I was on a phone call. Why didn’t I think of that sooner?? I’m so dumb.

Just keep going.

Just keep going.

Just keep going.

The figure stopped walking.

They stopped walking!

Just keep going.

Just keep going.

Invisible, be invisible.

But then…

“Space Energy?”

His voice.

My head shot up as I came to a halt.

“H-hey!” I squeaked.

Kosmo Night stood five feet in front of me gripping a motorcycle helmet against his hip. He slightly grinned. “Are you stalking me?”

Just kill me now.

“Uh, nooo, no. I’m not stalking you. Uhm. A-Aston—she—”

I cleared my throat.

“—she found me—uh, hired me.”

“To work here?”

“Y-yeah.”

“Hm, that seems very stalker-ish.”

“N-no! It’s, it’s not like that.” I met his eyes but couldn’t hold it. Everything inside me, trembling.

“You did say you were a fan, sooo…” His voice trailed off.

“I did not! You…you’re making that up! You said th—”

“…makes sense you would stalk me.”

“No, I’m really not, I—”

“It’s cool I get it.”

“I—

“Look, just don’t kill me alright? I got shit to do.”

“I’m… I’m not going to kill you!”

“That’s a relief, but I had to ask.” He pulled out his phone, glancing at it for a second.

“That’s insane.”

“I don’t know who I’m dealing with here. You could be into eating hands, or some shit. I need my hands. So don’t do that either.”

A grin popped on my face. “That’s disgusting!”

“I’m not the one doing it.”

“You seem to like making up stories.” Hold your ground, Sai.

“Do you like to eat hands?”

“No!”

“Well, we all know you’re lying.”

“I’m not ly—you’re crazy.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re the crazy one here.”

“I’m just defending myself.”

“I—Aston wants to see you in her office.”

“Wow, changing the subject, okay. Very sus thing to do.”

“Sus?”

“Suspicious.”

“Oh.”

“Okay, leave my hands alone. Bye.” He moved past me without another word.

“Bye?” I turned around as he disappeared into the hallway I came from.

Okay… what?? Did that really just happen?