So, it begins... :)

***

Wake me up before you go go. 

***

CHAPTER 1:

ONE-WAY

I've always seen trains as massive cradles. They have this gentle, rocking sway and soothing clinks that sound almost like lullabies. Usually, I'd nod off before I knew it, especially with the world outside the window passing by so serenely. Today was no exception; my eyes must've closed on their own. I can't even remember when I fell asleep or when I got on the train, to be honest.

I blinked, my eyes opening slowly. I was ready to stretch out all cozy-like, but instead, my arms just hung there, suspended at the weirdest angle. I must have been still caught up in the remnants of a dream; everything around me was tinted pink and purple, like someone had messed with the color settings.

I rubbed my eyes, hoping to clear the dreamy haze, and opened them again. The pink remained. So did the purple. Then, all at once, other details crashed into my awareness, making me bolt upright in horror.

Yes, I was definitely on a train, but not like any I'd been on before. The walls and ceiling shimmered with a purplish metallic glow, a bright shade of lilac. Pink cushions, a glittery floor, and flashy neon lights zipping overhead made it feel like I'd stumbled into a cosmic party bus. The air was sweet with floral scents, a gentle breeze wafted in through an open window above, and soft music floated around, perfectly capturing a springtime vibe.

Up until now, I thought I was handling everything pretty well. A train—a beautiful, fun, and pleasantly fragrant train that was a bit unusual, sure, but still just a mode of transportation on rails. But not even the best of my rationalizations could explain the purplish sky outside the window or the three giant moons keeping pace with us.

In a panic, I spun around. Unfazed by my distress, the pianist on the train played a cheerful solo. A breeze wafted through, carrying the fresh scent of spring. The tranquility was so perfect it sent shivers down my spine.

Where in the world was I? How did I get here? And most importantly, where was everyone else? I tried to remember what I'd been doing before falling asleep. Instantly, a sharp pain stabbed my temples, doubling me over in agony.

Ah!

When I finally straightened up, I figured the answers had to be somewhere else on the train, so I decided to check the other cars. But after five determined steps, I hit a snag—locked doors blocked both directions.

Unready to give up, I pressed my cheek against the window, squinting to decipher the strange world outside. To the right, to the left—everywhere I looked was a vast forest like an endless sea. Pink-leaved, plump trees swayed and stretched all the way to distant mountains silhouetted against the sky. There wasn't a trace of human settlement, not even a hint of life outside.

I trudged back to where I had woken up, feeling utterly defeated. That's when my reflection in the window caught my eye, and I stared in shock. Besides my big green eyes, nothing was left that made me, well, me.

Normally, my black hair is tightly braided, but now it flowed freely in waves, cascading down my shoulders as if unleashing years of pent-up pain. I was clad in a purple dress and a patterned jacket—definitely not my clothes. My wardrobe usually revolves around black and white denim and t-shirts; I would never choose this outfit myself. And purple shoes with matching heart-patterned socks? Eww...

Was I losing it?

The answer came instantly. Yes, I had to be losing it because things don't just appear out of thin air. Yet, there it was—a sparkling envelope materializing on the seat across from me as if a paper monster ready to swallow me whole. Like everything else, the letter shimmered in shades of purple, with glittering letters spelling out Olive.

Olive was me. Realizing I was the intended recipient sent my panic levels into overdrive.

Caught between fleeing and staying, my hesitation lasted only a moment. Even if I wanted to run, there was nowhere to go in the cramped confines of the train car. With shaky legs, I approached the letter. My hands trembled as I reached out to pick up the envelope, and unfolding the paper inside took me a couple of attempts. The words blurred with my shaking, forcing me to read them several times to ensure I wasn't misunderstanding. Then, I screamed in disbelief and flung the paper and envelope aside.

This couldn't be real. It just couldn't. Generations of scientists had devoted their lives to proving that such things were impossible. I had to be dreaming—no, this had to be a nightmare. This train, this letter, this entire world... None of it could be real!

But...

I was still standing in the same place. The pink-purple universe continued to flow beyond the window. The words on the letter lying on the floor kept taunting me. I dropped to the ground and shoved the paper in my face, waiting for the nonsensical words to change. They didn't.

Dear Olive,

Rest in peace.

Unfortunately, you couldn't survive the tragic accident you were involved in.

From today onwards, the Dorm will be the new home for your soul.

We are eagerly awaiting your arrival.

Ms. Principal.

I tossed the paper aside again as if putting distance between us could shield me from its words' toxicity. But the envelope lay right there on the floor beside me, something sparkling under the partially opened flap. Figuring I couldn't possibly feel worse than I already did, I flipped the envelope over. Out fell a keychain and a ticket—both, predictably, purple. The keychain was quirky, shaped like a mushroom with a shiny key hanging from it. I traced the embossed, gilded letters on the ticket with my finger.

Destination: the Dorm

One-time use only.

"The Dorm," I echoed, the name sounding just as hollow coming from my own lips.

The Dorm would be the new home for your soul.

What did that even mean?

Rest in peace. Unfortunately, you couldn't survive the tragic accident you were involved in.

I let out a nervous laugh. What accident? I hadn't been in any accident. I was right here, perfectly fine. What was Ms. Principal talking about?

I...

Despite the throbbing pain in my temples, I pushed myself to sift through my foggy memories. I... I had woken up. It was earlier than usual because... because it was a big day. Something important was happening.

"Prom!" I blurted out, suddenly springing to my feet.

Yes, it was prom night. I had been so excited that I woke up at six. Gradually, the rest of the day started coming back to me. I was at home, trying to do my hair. My mom didn't like the hairstyle I chose, so I ended up redoing it twice. Then I slipped into my dress. I wasn't in love with it, but if Dav picked it out, he must have had a reason.

Speaking of Dav, I had completely forgotten about myself when he showed up at our door in his tuxedo. My boyfriend was like a prince in shining armor. We were heading to prom together, a moment I'd dreamt about forever—descending the stairs to catch the sparkle in my prince's eyes. Unfortunately, the look of admiration I'd hoped for wasn't evident on Dav's face. Still, it was sweet how he held the door open for me as we got into the car.

Then...

We were driving. It was dark. The venue was in a remote, nearly forgotten warehouse outside the city, and we were lost. Dav had every right to be upset; I was struggling with the map. He reached to grab my phone and accidentally dropped it. I remember my stomach knotting as he grew angrier. Suddenly, blinding headlights flooded our vision. It took Dav a moment longer than me to notice the headlights growing on the road ahead.

Then the collision hit. The impact was so severe that the memory seemed to shake me even now. I stumbled backward, crawling towards the seats. The dam of memories burst, flooding my mind with every lost detail. I couldn't hold them back. The sharp pain in my ribs, a scream lodged in my throat, Dav's shout, the glass tearing through my skin, the car flipping over and over...

And then, the end.

"No..." I whimpered. The scene blurred as tears filled my eyes, and each word from the letter clicked into place in my mind, like pieces of a puzzle fitting together.

Rest. In. Peace.

Couldn't. Survive. The. Tragic. Accident.

Your new home. The Dorm.

We are awaiting your arrival.

So, I... Olive... at the age of nineteen... died in a tragic car accident.

My life, my future, my dreams... had come to an end.

I was a soul.

A soul...

And now, with a one-way ticket in one hand and a key in the other, I was heading to my new home.

***

Condolences. We lost the protagonist from the first episode :))) But like every ending, this is just the beginning.

So, what do you think about the first chapter?

I'm extremely excited about this book. The world I created, the characters, the twists, the illustrations – everything gives a different kind of pleasure. I hope you'll all feel the same excitement. 

I'm really curious about your thoughts as I get so much inspiration from my readers. So pls pls pls comment! Let's shape this book together :))))

Kisses and love, EC.