Cambria warnedu's Arc

Chapter 1 of 2

Cambria unlocked the front door of Cambria's Beauty just before dawn. She smoothed her maroon dress and checked the large velvet bat display perched outside. The bat's amber eyes glowed at every passerby, telling them this shop belonged to no trend. She wanted her store to be the most sought-after makeup spot around, and that meant standing alone. For three Saturdays now, the same stranger had walked in at opening. They circled the shelves, photographed corners, sketched the chair and skull table set, and left without buying. Cambria's feathers bristled. A copycat was studying her like a recipe. This Saturday, she was ready. She rearranged the skull container of brushes, moved the maroon chair into the deepest corner, and waited. The stranger arrived on time. They snapped photos. They measured the table with their hands. Then they smiled smugly and walked out. Cambria followed them onto the platform of the train station. Percival Swiftwing stood checking his pocket watch. "Departing in two minutes, miss," he said to her. Cambria caught the stranger by the sleeve. "Copy the chair. Copy the skull. You still won't have me." She pulled out her sketchbook, full of designs no one had seen, and held it up. "This is what you can't steal." The stranger boarded the train empty-handed. Percival tipped his cap as the whistle blew. Cambria walked home knowing imitation could not touch her vision, but a colder thought followed her, that a rival shop was already being built somewhere down the line.