Chapter 3

I went back to the station.

I stared at my shadow puppet case, which had been tossed in a corner.

The logistics supervisor looked at me with disgust.

"Finley, how many times do I have to tell you not to bring your junk to the station?"

"This is a television studio, not a garbage dump."

"They're not junk!" I said, picking up the case. He just sneered.

"Not junk? Then why do they look so raggedy?"

"They even smell musty. You can tell they've been sitting around for too long."

"Finley, I'm warning you. The famous rapper Julian is coming to record his show today. This whole area needs to be cleaned up."

"If your junk gets in his way and messes up the shoot, you'll be the one to blame."

Hearing his name again, I clenched my fists.

But I knew I couldn't lose this job.

I picked up the case to leave, but as I turned a corner, I saw them. A couple, locked in a passionate kiss.

"Melody, thanks so much for getting my segment on the air. I don't know how long I would have had to wait for my big break otherwise."

"It's nothing. As long as you're happy, I'd do anything for you."

"But I heard the segment that got cut was your husband's. Won't he be upset?"

Julian's voice was laced with a hint of challenge. Melody just scoffed.

"Him? He's a loser. All he does is play with his stupid puppets. What right does he have to be upset?"

"He should be grateful. If it wasn't for his stupid puppets, I wouldn't have had an excuse to help you get your foot in the door."

They started kissing again, the sound wet and obscene.

I felt a chill run down my spine.

The case slipped from my hands and clattered to the floor, startling them.

They quickly pulled apart, but when they saw it was me, they didn't even look guilty.

"Finley, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be working?"

"What else would he be doing? Just messing with his puppets, like always."

"If it wasn't for me, the station would have fired him ages ago."

The disgust in Melody's eyes was palpable.

She didn't even try to explain what I had just seen.

I didn't want to hear her excuses. I just knelt down to pick up the scattered puppets.

But my silence seemed to provoke her. She kicked me.

"Say something! Are you playing dead?"

The sharp toe of her high heel cut my arm, but I just kept gathering my puppets.

Julian just stood there, a smirk on his face.

"Melody, a guy like this... he has no respect for anyone."

"But I know a way to teach him some manners."

With that, he took out a lighter and set one of the puppets on fire.

"No!"