I need you tonight

'Cause I'm not sleepin'

***

CHAPTER 5:

LIBRARY 101

Only those with siblings genuinely understand the art of recycling. Me? Well, I was practically a recycling expert by the age of three, being the latest addition to the family. My inventory was vast: big sis's clothes, big sis's toys, big sis's books, and later, big sis's bed, big sis's desk, big sis's wardrobe, and eventually, big sis's makeup stash, big sis's phone, big sis's car...

In short, my prized possessions were rarely things I'd gleefully unpacked from their original packaging. So, here I was, staring wide-eyed, taking in the scene before me. According to Ursa, this was my room. Mine. All mine! The Dorm had gone out of its way to make everything special for me. From brand-spanking-new furniture to a carpet that looked like it had never been walked on and walls so clean they practically sparkled.

The room smelled of flowers I couldn't name, and the breeze wafting in from the open window danced with the curtains. Those curtains, bedspreads, and the armchair in the corner all boasted patterns reminiscent of wildflowers and various shades of purple.

"Bathroom's over here," Ursa pointed to the door on the right wall. "It's stocked with everything you need. Your clothes in the wardrobe refresh according to your mood every time you open it. Personally, I think they could be a tad trendier, but hey, at least they keep changing. And don't worry about cleaning them. Just toss what you wore back in, and the Dorm takes care of the rest."

She grinned and gestured to the pink mailbox on the entrance wall. "This cute box will be your best friend. All announcements and your daily schedule will pop up here, so check it often. And if you ever want to send a message to anyone, write their name on it and drop it in."

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Shouldn't the box be in the hallway then?"

It was a silly question, considering nothing I'd seen so far was ordinary, so why should the mail system be any different? Ursa just chuckled at my reaction instead of answering.

"Get some good rest tonight," she said from the doorway. "I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow. Don't forget, the cafeteria is on the first floor!"

I nodded, too dazed to even fathom why a soul would need rest or breakfast. Realizing they were leaving, the squirrel calmly hopped off Ursa's shoulder onto her head. When Ursa waved goodbye to me, it waved as well. And then they left me alone in the middle of my room.

As the door closed, I was alone for the first time since waking up on the train. I dropped my backpack to the floor and sat down on my bed. A whirlwind of emotions surged through me simultaneously: crying, screaming, cursing, stomping, kicking things, crying some more, more stomping... Instead, I stared blankly at the door for a while. I had no way of guessing how long 'a while' was. No clock, no phone, no computer...

I glanced hopefully out the window. Outside, the sky was slowly turning a deep shade of purple. Three moons stood facing me, each in different phases and hues, just like I'd seen on the train. A new moon, a first quarter, and a full moon... Pink full moon, I reminded myself. Ursa had said so.

I got up and walked over to the window, noticing a balcony. I walked out, held onto the railing, and surveyed my surroundings. As I suspected in the Principal's office, the Dorm was perched atop a mountain. Rocks stretched down for meters, merging with the ocean below. In the face of the mountain's steepness and the power of the endless water below, it was impossible not to feel a little awestruck.

Thankfully, when I leaned further to the left, I caught sight of the garden below. It had a magnificent landscape. Despite the darkening sky, the leaves of the flowers shimmered in the moonlight. Beyond that was a vast forest of pink, chubby trees that had accompanied me throughout my journey.

Holding onto the railing tighter, I leaned a little further down. It was then that I spotted the fairground lights. This must be the carnival Ursa mentioned. I could even pick out the carriages of the carousel and the tracks of the high-speed train.

I was surprised when an unexpected pang of longing tugged at my heart. I'd only been to an amusement park once as a child. My grandmother had taken me. It was a small affair set up in town. Yet, it was probably the best day of my childhood. I never had another summer trip to my granny. There were too many extra classes, hobbies to develop, sports, arts, science... I had too much to do and too little time. My family was sure there was nothing for me to learn amidst the fields on a farm.

So why was I thinking of that summer now? Why did I miss it? Why did a part of me want to go to the carnival, look around, and explore the stools? 

I guess this whole death situation had thrown my emotions into disarray. I shook my head at my thoughts in disagreement. I was getting angry again. Instead of figuring out how to get out of here as soon as possible, I was wasting time daydreaming about things that would never happen.

I left the balcony and returned to my bag, pulling out the book the Principal had pointed out. The sooner I started studying, the faster I could progress and get back home. But there was a problem. I turned a page. I turned another. Even when I reached the middle of the book, there wasn't a single line of text. This book... was empty. I'd been completely duped. 

Fuming, I threw the book and stormed over to the bookshelf on the opposite wall. Surely, among all those volumes, there had to be something useful.

Nope, not gonna find anything, each book I picked up answered back. 

After trying every shelf, I begrudgingly accepted that this bookshelf was nothing more than decoration. They'd lined up all those empty pieces of paper just for show. At this point, the urge to scream was uncontrollable. I gritted my teeth and dug my nails into my palms. I spent the next few minutes scouring every inch of the room.

Tomorrow, I kept reassuring myself. Tomorrow, everything will be different. Tomorrow, you'll meet your soulmate. Tomorrow you'll go to classes. Tomorrow, you'll ask someone smart for the quickest way out of here. Tomorrow. Tomorrow. Tomorrow.

Unfortunately, the breathing techniques that served me well in the living world weren't working in this realm. Minutes passed, and the sky outside grew darker, but I couldn't seem to calm down. Then, a brilliant idea struck me. Why was I trying to find a solution within these four walls? Ursa had mentioned a library. Among all those books, there had to be one that would help me.

Fueled by this thought, excitement surged, and I instantly headed for the door. I was in the corridor in no time. Panicked at the thought of running into someone, my eyes quickly scanned both sides of the corridor. Luckily, it was still as empty as when I first arrived. What did Ursa say? Party till dawn! Everyone must be at the carnival, and hopefully, they'd stay there for hours more. 

With relief, I retraced my steps back to the elevator, pressed the button, and when it arrived, I told it I wanted to go to the ground floor, just like Ursa had said. The Dorm didn't second-guess me. When the doors reopened, I found myself in the grand foyer. This place was much more lavish than the floor with the rooms. Ornate columns, marble floors, angel statues...

 Instinctively, I chose the left and walked in that direction. It felt like I was wandering in a haunted house. Dimly lit corridors, eerie silence, me, ghosts, and whatnot... Thankfully, my haphazard choice proved correct, and finding the library was easier than I'd hoped.

I stepped into the library through the grand, arched door. It felt like entering a different dimension. The unease I felt instantly dissipated upon seeing the scene before me. The library consisted of interconnected circular rooms. Marble bookshelves were arranged in rings, one after another. Work desks and seating areas were in the center, where the rooms intersected. Most intriguing, the fire burned with pink flames in the middle of the sofas. It was as if someone had set up camp in the middle of the library.

Holding my breath, I moved towards the towering shelves. The first room I entered led to another, which led to another. It was like a chain of nested, infinite rooms. Before long, I had lost track of where I'd come from and where I was going. I was aware of the unexplained smile on my face, but my emotions were unchecked. There were so many books. I didn't even know where to begin. Considering my situation and purpose, finding the section on occult studies would make sense. But the Dorm, the universe, fate, or my luck didn't allow that.

I froze solid at the sound coming from my right. I wasn't alone. There was someone, no, someones else, in the library with me. A girl's voice mingled with a boy's. They were laughing. My body stiffened as if guilty of a crime, and my shoulders slumped as if trying to hide.

"You do realize everyone's waiting for you at the carnival, don't you?" the girl giggled.

Curiosity is such a nasty thing. Instead of running away as fast as I could, my head stretched towards the next room. I sank to the floor, leaning against the shelves, and saw the duo. The boy took a deep drag from his cigarette and exhaled slowly. Pink smoke formed a cloud above his head. Whatever he was smoking smelled like bubblegum, and judging by the boy's closed eyes, it seemed to be doing wonders for his head.

"Let them wait a bit longer," he said when he opened his eyes again.

The girl liked the answer. She took the cigarette and puffed, blowing pink smoke in the boy's face. I got why she was happy. Despite the dim lighting, I couldn't miss how handsome the boy was. His thick, blonde hair fell over his face, partly veiling his blue eyes. Long lashes and a lovely nose. Judging by his physique, he seemed more fit for a gym than a library.

But... the girl clearly wanted more than just admiring his looks from afar. I couldn't help but gulp as she hopped onto the boy's lap. In a flash, she discarded her top, flaunting a sexy lace bralette to the world. While I stood there, dumbfounded, the boy seemed to be waiting for this. Without missing a beat, he grabbed her hips, lifting her skirt, squeezing her butt. And just as they dove into a passionate kiss, I recoiled so dramatically that I almost fell.

I had to go. Now!

Before they could notice me, I turned on my heels to run. Unfortunately, at that very moment, I found myself face-to-face with a pair of yellow eyes. Those eyes belonged to a cat, and that cat was charging towards me, hissing.

***

Olive, Olive, Olive... You go through all the trouble to avoid bumping into anyone, then you find the lead character. 

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our male lead, diving into the story with fireworks. I won't ask for your first impressions - yet. I want you to get to know him a bit more. But we can talk about Olive. You probably have some idea about her by now. She seems to have some quirks, doesn't she?

I'm looking forward to your comments and sending you big kisses!

Love, EC.