The Case of the Varnished Trainee

. – Pract

ion hung in the

him," he

I fail

voice cracked - like a note held too

the mirrored wall. The glow from hi

t nothing. "Z said if I helped keep Zion quiet, they'd

" I asked,

essages. Printed photos. Envelopes left in my loc

ed. "About you be

w. We were careful. Zion was scared. But w

pa

"That's when the

m. – Dor

ck B just before the

r to our shared room, arms crosse

ed," she said

t for

iform? With

rder than necessary. "Don't worry, I'm not

. But her voice lingere

ent poking around things that weren't he

– Mornin

t even look up

has left t

like

o goodbye. No

dancer. Kept to herself. Too quiet

showcase lineup

? G

the pr

they used

ilola's brows were furrowed. Even Sasha looked... off

ae pace

a privilege. And privileg

ped his

ike a warning

– Cafeteri

e after lunch, hands sh

d to be

one messing

on't have to mess with anyone. Just

"Do you know some

then pressed a tiny fo

old locker room. It

you're ahe

st to try. But you

ds tre

w my

– Dance La

more put together today - face powdered, c

d nodded slowly. "

the notebook. An

hen they're going to try and sh

mach c

ames. You said Zion mentioned Ma

only one person with acces

ch T

d, jaw clenc

eillance Office,

e door with a sto

- too clean. One desk.

watched th

ty

Night: Ma

aded silent footage. A wide

de: 10

lex were th

eached out. Zion pulled aw

ird figure ent

ie up. Face blurred

o Zion's locker.

they

straight at

ed the

those

x. Not C

sh