Projection Booth:

Blackstone stared at Petunia.

She sat and watched her romance movie with her date, a man hidden under a cloak. They kissed in the dark.

Blackstone placed his hand over his mouth and gasped.

"Don't worry. She can't hear you." Florence played the same movie in three full theater rooms and lifted weights at the same time. "No one can see in even with the lights on, but we can see out, and the intercom needs to be actively pressed. Dad had the theater specially built for our family's safety. Petunia usually rents screenings without paying, but her date is treating her."

"My lovely aunt never paid me for my work as a chef once she became queen," he said.

Florence removed the ice cream from the hidden freezer and shut the metal lid.

Blackstone struggled with his walker and made his way to the kitchen. He prepared grilled red peppers.

"That smells wonderful." Florence put the ice cream back. "You know, I like having you around, and I appreciate all the little things you do for me."

"Welcome." He smiled at her.

New Joy:

Click, clack, and shuffle.

A scream in the crowd. "He stole my satchel!"

Officers dressed in overalls ran after the thief.

"We should head to the bookstore before the movie," Seeker said. "I think it will be safer, in case he has a partner."

The man vanished, but Astrid felt that someone watched her from a distance.

She swallowed the unnerving feeling and tried to lose it by going into the bookstore with the others.

Seeker took them to the bookstore.

Astrid bumped into a display tower of knitted dinosaurs and dragons.

Seeker removed two stuffed dinosaurs from the bins. "My boys love these."

Astrid handed her a token with the number 5 and a book engraved on the metal. "You have been nice to us. Technically, they're my great-nephews or maybe nephews. Tribeca is more like my mom."

Seeker thanked her, took the tokens, and purchased them.

They walked by a long shelf stacked with board games. A sign hung above the display. You loved the book; now play the game.

"Toys and snacks are usually found in bookstores because we don't have standalone toy or candy stores. It's more convenient for parents," Seeker said.

Click, clack, and shuffle.

A clerk tried to grab the thief, but the boy ran off with a fistful of tokens.

"I hope he isn't following us." Astrid handed a token to Tribeca and pointed to a group of massage chairs. "You've been tense all day."

Tribeca sat on one of the chairs and slid her token. She sank into the faux leather.

Seeker and Astrid walked past an e-book reader display case.

Tiny footsteps echoed behind Astrid. She spun around, but no one was there. An acidic knot formed in her stomach, and it felt as if lost butterflies fluttered to death inside her, as they attempted to escape the digestive pit.

"Are you okay?" Seeker asked.

Astrid touched a book's spine. "I'm scared."

Seeker turned to Tribeca. "Do I have permission to tell her?"

Tribeca, nodded yes.

Seeker glanced into Astrid's eyes. "Adults around you will talk about the emergency lockdown, to distort time and confuse armies breaking in."

"I'm sorry. I caused so much trouble." Astrid trembled.

Seeker couched to hug her. "No, our social services have angered Petunia. She pretends she is the hero of children."

Tribeca stretched in the massage chair and turned around. Her eyes fixed on the glass doors, but no one burst through.

"This is the most magical part of the store." Seeker guided Astrid to an encased glass booth with the words Books Change Lives for 5 tokens.

Behind the glass booth, a robot dressed as a princess held a basket with small bags of fudge and stacks of books on either side.

Seeker pointed to the machine. "You'll love this. It's mostly used for excellent books and half of the tokens are used for food for those in need."

Astrid slid a token into the slot. She used a lever to knock a cookbook off the shelf.

The robot grabbed a bonus book, wrapped the sturdy volumes, and placed the gifts into the large dispensing tray.

Astrid placed the books in her backpack. She attempted again, and each title was wonderful and weird. "I'm aiming for that small history book and the baking book. I want to learn about New Joy." Astrid placed another three coins in and eventually received the history book she longed for. But she didn't aim for the cookbook again.

Footsteps echoed behind her like an unfinished song, its haunting melody broken.

An elf boy waved at them. He handed books to a shorter adult female wisp.

"Are you enjoying the forced holiday?" Seeker asked.

The boy nodded in agreement. He selected three more books. "Mom is buying me Gotcha Day gifts."

"He's my miracle. What are you doing during tonight's lockdown? I thought you were working," his mother said joyfully.

"My Lovey is visiting, and my sons wanted a guy's day with Dad." Seeker grinned.

The woman and her son waved goodbye and left.

"Seeker, what books do you recommend? I still have a sack of book coins, and I want another history book, a cookbook, and fiction. My books were stolen."

"Some will come back to you when we find a temporary home," Tribeca said.

Seeker took her to the back. "There are good and cheap books in the used paperback novella and non-fiction section."

Astrid selected a dozen books and a short story collection by Quig Curie-Lock. "I'm ready now."

They walked to the front of the store.

Astrid chose two stuffed dinosaur toys from the bin, a candy bar, a bag of mushroom-shaped candy corn, and two packs of mushroom tea waiting at the register.

The clerk behind the counter adjusted his glasses and went through the money. "You need to give me three 15 tokens, not five. Blood donation tokens aren't taxed if you have them. How do you like it here? I can tell a tourist from a mile around."

"One day, I'm going to move here," Astrid returned.

Click, clack, and shuffle.

Footsteps followed them to the theater, only stopping when Astrid swung around.

"I think someone is still following us," Astrid said, out loud. "If you try to steal my books, I'll scream! And I'll toss my tokens at your stupid head."

The shuffling echoed in the other direction.

"Sweetie, I think you scared them." Seeker smiled at her.

A giant clock chimed in the theater's lobby, which, like the bookstore, was massive compared to the storefront. Its black hands moved around wildly. The lobby had a snack stand. Employees sold fruit and books on carts. She passed a book donation bin labeled, Books Give Life.

After listening to two or three songs, Tribeca guided her into the theater. Astrid turned around. "Someone is in the shadows again," she whispered to herself.

The light flickered on, but she saw no one. Astrid imagined Petunia standing there.

No, the thief ran away.

Astrid sank into the velvet seat.

Moviegoers sprung from their seats and burst into song with the actors whenever a bouncing ball appeared for the chorus.

The wedding scene smelled like banana cake.

Credits rolled, and moviegoers scurried from their seats to the exit.

"This movie is cheesy, but my personal favorite. Sometimes you need something fun because the world is awful," Seeker said.

Astrid jumped up. "I loved the super cringy songs."

They walked back to the train station.

The massive clock's hands sped around and went backward. Her phone buzzed.

"I was afraid this might happen early," Tribeca said. "They'll probably start a partial lockdown in the next couple of days, but you can stay longer."

A glowing sign kept changing train departure times until landing at 3:00 am with next week's date.

Seeker glanced at the train. "We need to talk at home."

They walked on the lit path for about two blocks when they reached home. A neon sign shone with the words, Sweet Potato Hills Apartments.

Seeker used a card key to unlock the main door, and they followed through the glittery lobby and down a hallway. She opened apartment 25. "We are artisans when it comes to space." Seeker gave them a tour. "This tiny room is the shower room." She opened a lemon-colored door, and the tiny room was off the entryway, and it contained no toilet.

"Wow, they're just like fairy doors. Your home seems huge compared to our cottage." Astrid danced around the room.

"It's a bit of trickery." Seeker opened a neon green door. She opened one of five micro-bedrooms. "Astrid, this is your room. My boys share one." The tiny bedroom contained two lounge chairs, blankets, a small closet, and a half-trunk that doubled as a back table.

The playroom's bookshelf-shaped door opened. Glow lights mimicked the sun. It mimicked a mini backyard with live plants, a swing, and a bowling set.

"Honey, I took the boys to Wispy Burger," her husband said.

"Mom, the hummus burgers were humongous," one of the boys said. "It's a new word I learned in school."

They climbed off their hammocks. "Grandma is here!" They ran and hugged Tribeca. "Lovey," they called out.

Seeker gave the toys to her sons. "Astrid bought you a gift."

The boys jumped up and down around Astrid and giggled.

The oldest boy, Ralph, was 8, and Jacob was 6. But the 8-year-old was taller than Astrid.

Tribeca smiled and waved her hands. Sparkles appeared, and their books and new toys danced in the air.

"Lovey, I might make the Radical Bowling team at school," Ralph said.

"What is radical bowling?" Astrid asked.

"It's a combination of laser tag, trivia, and bowling. We have a mini version in the park room," Seeker said. "We can't tell anyone outside the building where they are."

"Is Lovey on the run from evil, or are they after you again?" Mr. Seeker asked his wife.

The boys dragged Astrid to a room labeled Home Park.

Their father closed the door behind them and turned to Tribeca.

"You seem worried," Tribeca said.

Seeker nodded. "I feel safer when you visit. Sometimes I need my mom, and I lied to Astrid. It's not okay, and it's getting worse. The queen plans to invade, and I need to protect our family, but I don't know how."

A buzzing sound filled the house. An intercom came on. "Stay in your apartment and condo buildings. We are being raided."

The boy broke into the apartment through a shaft. "I know I am supposed to turn you into Petunia, but Tribeca, could you heal me and make me forget that no one wants me?"

Tribeca nodded.

"And I will find you a home," Seeker whispered, tears in her eyes.

Tribeca used her magic, and the pain left the boy's body.