Don't you know each cloud contains

Pennies from heaven

***

CHAPTER 6:

THE GIRL CHASING THE SUN

I was racing at full speed, like an ice skater on a marble rink, twirling with triple axels over doorframes. The monster's footsteps had faded, but I refused to slow down. Why was I running, anyway? Everyone in the Dorm had library access, didn't they? But then... that scene I accidentally witnessed... the awkward intimacy of the moment... And that eerie, yellow-eyed creature...

Yes, I had to bolt! Run, Olive! Run, girl! Run, run, run!

Maybe I should've chosen track and field over swimming as a kid. But hey, my dead body's stamina wasn't too bad. I zoomed through those maze-like rooms like a champ, drawing circles until I found my way out. If I weren't sneaking, I'd have strolled into the corridor, cheering for my epic escape. Instead, I hugged the wall, holding my breath like a stealthy ninja, scanning for lurking surprises.

Alone. No one was chasing me. Perhaps that cat was some library guard and decided to tail the duo instead of me. I wasn't going to stick around and play detective. Safety meant locking myself in my room. So, from shadow to shadow, I crept to the main hall. I took my first deep breath in the elevator, the next one only coming when I stepped inside my room.

I made it through alive—well, as alive as a dead person can be. But fate wasn't done with its mischief just yet. As I shook off the shock and processed the craziness of it all, I noticed something odd in my room. I distinctly recall leaving my backpack sprawled on the floor, but now, it is perched on my desk, its contents meticulously arranged.

I froze. Someone had been in my room. Ursa said the door would only open to the owner of the room. But somehow, someone managed to get in. They might still be here. After weighing the corridor's safety versus my room for a few seconds, I tiptoed to the bookshelf, grabbing one of the thickest books. At least it'd serve some purpose now.

Slowly, I combed through every nook and cranny - the balcony, the curtain-shrouded corners, even the bathroom. Empty, empty, empty. No one else lurked in the room. Yet, I circled it three more times until I was a hundred percent sure. Perhaps a diligent staff member had popped in for a quick tidy while I was gallivanting. Yes, that must be it.

With that comforting thought, I relaxed and plopped the book onto the bed. The excitement and hustle had worn me out more than I realized. Whether or not I wanted to admit it, I needed to rest, just as Ursa suggested. The faster I slept, the sooner tomorrow would come.

I returned to the bathroom, thinking a warm shower would wash away the interdimensional dust. I hadn't noticed the luxurious details earlier, but this might be the fanciest bathroom I'd ever seen. A grand tub, an array of soaps, scented oils, creams, candles, plush towels, dangling flowers from the ceiling...

It felt like someone was trying to tempt me, distract me from my mission, and tether me here. But I wasn't biting. Pushing aside these alluring treats, I quickly showered and dashed back to my room. Okay, maybe I indulged in a hint of lavender oil, but it was all about relaxation.

I opened the wardrobe to find something to wear to bed. Oddly, only one pajama was set inside, and it fit me perfectly. I'd already slipped into the pink silk shirt when I spotted the glass on the nightstand. I was positive it hadn't been there before. My back tensed like a startled cat. Again. My eyes darted around the room. Again.

In three big strides, I reached the nightstand. Leaning in, I sniffed the glass, detecting a familiar scent from my childhood. Warm milk. Someone had left it in my room. Despite scrutinizing every corner, I was certain I wouldn't stumble upon anyone. Indeed, I circled the room again, finding no trace of a mysterious attendant who might have served me. Either I was losing it, or the laws of physics worked differently in this realm.

Maybe, as Ursa suggested, I should surrender to the Dorm's ways and get used to having things sorted out for me. Sleeping was my best chance to settle my freaked-out mind. But I paused just as I reached for the book I'd left on the bed. Something new adorned its previously blank cover—a picture and a name.

The Girl Chasing the Sun.

That was the title. I ran my fingers over the embossed illustration: no author, publisher, or blurb. I was intrigued. Nestling into bed, I fluffed the pillows behind me and cracked open the first page. The words that greeted me left me speechless.

To Olive... Wish you find your own sun one day...

Huh? Olive? Was this some bizarre coincidence? Surely the author couldn't have written the book just for me, could they? With even greater curiosity, I turned the page. There was no preface, no explanation—just the start of the first chapter. It wasn't long before I realized I was reading a fairy tale.

The story was about a princess who lived long ago in a kingdom far away. I was captivated by her from the first page. She was a determined girl who worked tirelessly for her family and people. The expectations from her were immense. Before I knew it, I was so engrossed in the story that I couldn't say when I'd started drinking the milk or found the bottom of the glass.

When the kingdom suddenly plunged into a deep winter, and the princess volunteered to save her people, I felt like I was right beside her, experiencing the same sorrow and helplessness. The princess was noble enough to sacrifice her life for others. As she took one last look at her kingdom from atop her horse at the end of the chapter, I, too, proudly lifted my chin.

Anticipating her next adventure, I eagerly turned the page, only to find emptiness staring back at me. The absence of the second chapter left me bewildered. I flipped through the remaining pages, hoping for a printing error, but found none. The remainder of the story was nowhere to be seen.

"How is this possible?" I muttered angrily.

How could the author do this? How could they leave me hanging like this? I tossed the book onto the bed in frustration and got up. I went to the bookshelf and looked at the other books again. They were all still empty.

Narrowing my eyes, I scanned the room as if confronting a culprit. Someone had deliberately left them empty here. The same someone had miraculously made a chapter appear in my book but had yet to include the rest. Though my rational mind resisted, I was almost certain now that it was the Dorm playing tricks on me.

"I don't know what game you're playing, but you won't intimidate me," I declared to the empty air. "I'll find a way to get the information I need and get out of here; do you hear me?"

No response came. I wasn't even sure if anyone could hear me. Tomorrow, I'd likely hope no hidden cameras were witnessing my breakdown. But for now, drained, frustrated, and floating on the brink of madness, I gritted my teeth, crawled back into bed, and glared at the ceiling. It took another five minutes and a hell of a lot of frustration until I figured out how to turn off the lights.

"Can you please turn off the lights!" I shouted into the air.

If vocal commands worked in the elevator, they might work here, too. Two seconds later, I was indeed left in the dark. Now, besides the pink moonlight filtering through the window, there was no light in the room. Great! At least now I was sure someone had heard me.

Unfortunately, the disappointment and anger had wholly ruined my sleep. Despite the darkness, I stared at the ceiling like a zombie for what felt like an eternity. With nothing else to focus on now, I could also hear the music from the carnival. The souls at this Dorm sure did love to party.

I sighed. I tossed. I turned. I buried my head in the pillow. I curled up like a ball. I let my feet dangle off the bed. I counted all the small animals I could imagine—sheep, lambs, goats—even chickens. Nothing worked. No matter what I tried, sleep eluded me. I was more exhausted when I finally surrendered and got out of bed.

I lingered on the balcony for a while, then paced around the room. When my gaze fell upon the items on the desk, I sank into the chair, seeking distraction. The Tamagotchi sat amidst the clutter. As I looked at it, the words of the Principal echoed in my mind.

Even with many souls around, the Dorm can sometimes feel lonely. That's why everyone here has a companion.

At that moment, I had thought that she was messing with me. Now, sitting alone in this dark room, I understood what she meant. A companion... I thought. What would I lose by trying?

As I picked up the toy, a strange excitement bubbled up within me. I fiddled with it for a while, unsure of what to do. When I noticed the transparent strip at the bottom, I felt a surge of pride, like I'd cracked a challenging puzzle. Pulling the strip, the screen lit up with a bluish glow.

Hello! it said on the screen.

Immediately, a pixelated dog appeared between the two arrows. I scrolled through the options, the first fifty being predictable: Dog, cat, rabbit, duck... The next fifty were far more imaginative: Dragon, phoenix, griffin... As for the following fifty, I had no clue. Winged fish, giraffe-legged pig, goat-horned bear...

Playing it safe, I reverted to the animals I knew. But after going back and forth many times, my finger ached. It was tough to decide. I felt lost because I had no experience caring for animals since my mom vetoed them at home.

A dog might be a good companion, but could I handle it with my studies? A bird was too unpredictable. A mouse or rabbit felt too rodent-like. Cute as they were, I couldn't picture strolling the Dorm with a goat or lamb. Pigs smelled. Horses and bears were too big. I wasn't a fan of cold-blooded creatures. And spiders? Absolutely not.

"Ugh!" I sighed.

Settling back into bed with the Tamagotchi, I pondered my options. What to choose? My thoughts drifted back to a memory of a summer spent with my grandma. Like my first amusement park experience, my only real connection with an animal was during that vacation. One of the stray cats my grandma fed had somehow adopted me, sticking by my side the entire time: a chubby, white cat with green eyes. A smile crept onto my face at the memory. How had I forgotten it?

"A cat," I murmured, almost debating with myself.

Cats were free, calm, and self-sufficient. They wouldn't pester me unnecessarily or demand constant attention. I imagined a cat would quietly keep me company while I studied. Besides being chased by one earlier, I had no negative experiences with cats. Yes, a cat was the best fit for me.

Swiftly, I navigated the Tamagotchi to the cat option and clicked Select. Pixelated fireworks burst, followed by a primitive animation of an egg pulsating like a heart, surrounded by Z's, indicating it was asleep. It would take some time for the egg to hatch and my cat to be born.

I knew it was just a virtual pet. I knew I'd be leaving here soon. And I knew I couldn't take it with me wherever I went. Yet, as I watched the egg grow and shrink, a flutter of excitement stirred in my stomach. When I finally fell asleep with the Tamagotchi in my palm, a white cat entered my dream.

"Hey, Olive," it said. "We're going to have so much fun together, aren't we?"

***

Okay, are we all ready to shake things up and have some fun together?

It's time to yank our protagonist out of her room and toss her into the real world. Olive and the Dorm aren't precisely BFFs yet, and the next chapter won't make things any better :p

Before closing, here's the question for this chapter: 

If you had a Tamagotchi, which animal would you pick? 

Drop your answers here :)) I'll share mine, too :p

Until the next chapter, take care of yourselves and keep your souls alive!

Kisses, darlings, EC.