Another sleepless night...

***

CHAPTER 70:

DANGEROUS PLANS

Knowing I wasn't the only one who had lost their mind was a relief. The impossible wish that Tarben voiced and I secretly harbored seemed to have occurred to others as well.

We have to find a way back there.

Ursa and Blue agreed. They were just as determined as Tarben to return to the Archive. Mars was the first to object, followed by Lark. Helene was hesitant. Diego agreed with the idea but was visibly scared. I watched for a while as my friends argued, their debate spiraling into pointless bickering, before I couldn't stand it anymore and interrupted.

"Everyone is free to do as they choose. Those who don't want to come with us don't have to."

"With us?" Mars's voice was tinged with disappointment, making my stomach clench. He must have assumed I was on his side, given my silence until now. He was right; the others hadn't endured what we had. They couldn't possibly understand why returning there was pure madness. But I... I should have known better. Yet still...

"Somewhere in that Archive is a videotape that captures what happened to our loved ones," I said. "It shows what we've left behind, what they went through. There might even be a clue on that tape about how to return to our lives. How can we pretend the Archive doesn't exist when there's even a slight chance it holds such secrets?"

"We can't!" Blue burst out, her eyes shimmering with tears she was fighting back. "I don't know about you," she said, glancing around at everyone, "but I can't just ignore it."

"I want to see my family," Ursa added, her voice filled with a sorrow so deep that Diego reached out to hold her hand.

"Of course, we're heading back to the Archive," Tarben declared confidently. "There's no question about it."

Mars quickly closed the distance to stand face-to-face with Tarben. "Did you not hear a single thing we just talked about? Suppose you do manage to get inside without getting killed—what then? There are supernatural wolves in there! They don't stop, they can't be defeated, they don't die. We barely made it out alive last time."

Tarben's eyes darkened with resolve as he straightened and clenched his jaw. "Because you were caught unprepared," he retorted. "Now we know what to expect. With a proper plan..."

Mars laughed, the sound chilling. "A proper plan to do what?" he snapped. "Are you going to take down three wolves with a stick? What if the angels noticed us and decided to add ten more wolves to guard the Archive... you got a plan for that, too?"

"Mars!" I intervened, trying to calm him down. "Just listen—"

He whirled towards me, his voice tight with anger. "You were there!" he hissed. "You saw it with your own eyes. They might not get it, but you—you were practically dead in that Archive just yesterday. Are you really that eager to throw yourself back in front of those monsters? Do you have a death wish?"

"No one's throwing themselves in front of monsters," Tarben insisted. "We're talking about making a plan. Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to Olive before me!"

"Really?" Mars scoffed. "Your heroics will get her killed, you idiot!"

Tarben was about to respond when I shouted, "Hey!" and threw myself between them. Instinctively, I put my hand on Mars's chest to stop him, but my touch shocked him like an electric jolt. He recoiled from me. "Mars..." I began, but it was clear he wasn't listening. His eyes were filled with anger, fear, and, above all, defeat.

"Forget it..." he growled, turning away. "Do whatever you want!" Then he stormed out of the workshop like a whirlwind.

As Mars stormed out, Lark stood up, clearly frustrated. "Sorry, but for once, Mars is the sensible one. Thinking we can just stroll back into the Archive is insane, not to mention getting out alive. Count me out. Come on, Helene."

She headed for the exit, certain Helene would follow, but I could see her indecision. I thought she might say something, but instead, she just looked down and followed Lark, trailing a few steps behind. Lark paused as she passed by me.

"I warned you once not to go near that cliff, Olive," she said quietly. "Now, I'm warning you again. Please, don't do it."

Chills ran down my spine. I wanted to ask Lark what frightened her so much, but I couldn't bring myself to hear the truth before she reached the exit. It looked like she was dragging Helene along, fearful she might change her mind.

When they left, my gaze drifted back to those who stayed.

"You know they're right," Diego said.

We did know.

Yet, Blue's declaration was resolute. "Still, we're going back."

That much was certain.

"Now, we must find the way," Tarben mused. "Jumping back through the Void is not an option. Ursa, can you do anything with that personnel card?"

Ursa leaned back in her chair, lost in thought. She scanned the floor as if the answer might be written there. "I don't even know which team is stationed in the Archive," she murmured, more to herself than to us. "Everyone's card is tied to their duties on the administrative floor. Unauthorized access is strictly prohibited. Without the correct card, it's useless." She sighed heavily, her brow creasing with frustration. "Though..."

"Though?" prompted Blue.

Biting her lip, Ursa hesitated. "Well, technically, there are two master keys that can open any door. But they're held by the Principal and her secretary, Jinx. So, accessing them is out of the question."

"Sure, stealing the Principal's key is out of the question," I said. "But what about Jinx?"

"I don't know," Ursa replied, her voice tinged with nervousness as we all waited for more. "I've seen the key on her desk a couple of times. But it was on a chain. She probably wears it around her neck like the others."

"Which means snatching it unnoticed is out," Blue sighed, her posture deflating like a disappointed child. Diego's hand hovered as if he wanted to reach out to her.

"Don't give up just yet," Tarben encouraged. "We're not breaking into the Archive tomorrow. We still have time to think of a plan."

"Before we worry about keys, we need to figure out what to do about the wolves," Diego added quietly. He was right.

"Let's check out the library," I suggested. "Whatever that creature is, it might appear in a fairy tale. If it has a weakness, we might find it there."

My suggestion seemed sound, and it lifted everyone's spirits. Ursa and Blue looked up, their faces lighting up with renewed hope.

"Maybe we can also get some info from the angels," Ursa added. "If there's any mention of these creatures in the books, we can ask about them, pretending it's just out of curiosity."

"Great idea," Tarben agreed. "And while we're at it, we need to figure out how to deal with regular wolves. We may need to sneak into a zoology class. Can you do something about the class schedules?"

Ursa looked uncertain. Diego quickly offered another solution. "We might not need to. Ursa could talk to the class teacher, explain that a new soul has chosen a wolf as their companion, and seek advice. She could express concern for the other souls, given her role as floor head responsible for safety."

Diego glanced at Blue as he finished speaking. Her lips curled into a smile, making his cheeks bright red. He quickly averted his gaze.

"Great," Tarben said, his enthusiasm infectious. "So, we'll find out where Jinx keeps her key and devise a plan to get it. Meanwhile, we'll research the wolves and figure out how to stop them."

We all nodded in agreement. Tarben's summary of the plan highlighted its challenges, perhaps even its unfeasibility, but there was something comforting about hope. The gnawing anxiety within me began to lessen, likely because I was no longer carrying my burdens alone; my friends shared them now.

So, when Tarben suggested it was time to head back to our rooms, I couldn't suppress the wave of panic that the thought of solitude brought. It was easy to drown out the whispers of my heart in the company of others. But alone in my room, I knew exactly whose face would haunt me, what visions would fill my thoughts, and whose words would echo in my ears.

"Shouldn't we head to the library now?" I suggested. "We could start our research right away."

"Not today," Tarben replied promptly. "Not in your current state."

His gaze met mine, warm yet filled with concern for my injuries. If only he could understand that the real wounds lay deeper, invisible beneath my skin. But he couldn't see them—no one could. So, I didn't argue.

Ursa and Blue exited first, followed by Diego. Tarben stayed back with me.

"Have you eaten anything?" he asked. "Would you like me to bring something to your room?"

I shook my head. If I had said yes, if I had asked him to stay, he would have; I knew that much. He might have even taken me out to distract me. But I couldn't allow myself to be that selfish, and no brief distraction could make me forget the reality waiting for me. Sooner or later, I had to confront life.

So, I returned to my room alone. I laid my head on the pillow alone. I tried to fall asleep alone. It was impossible not to reminisce about the previous night, lying on Mars's chest, feeling his kiss. Most of all... it was impossible not to miss him. I cried and cried until, somehow, I eventually drifted off to sleep.

That night, snow fell. Waking to find my balcony blanketed in white was utterly unexpected. It seemed the weather was aligning with the shifts in my life. Spring had given way to winter.

When I ventured out of my room, I realized that this wasn't just an extraordinary occurrence for a fledgling soul like me but for everyone in the Dorm. The entire realm had transformed with the snowfall.

Lights now bathed the Dorm, casting a magical glow. Exquisite ice sculptures adorned the corridor, and butterflies, also wrought from ice, fluttered around my flowers. Light streamed down the stair railings, sparkling intensely.

The main hall bore the most dramatic change. A vast pink tree now dominated the marble entrance, appearing as though it had sprouted overnight. It was decked out like a Christmas tree.

While everything I'd witnessed was already stunning, the sight of birds flying around the hall and tree was breathtaking. They seemed crafted from ice, their transparent bodies shimmering in shades of pink, purple, and blue, their wings scattering brilliant snowflakes as they moved.

The festive mood was palpable. Even though I didn't feel particularly joyous, the spirited atmosphere created by the cheerful souls around me lifted my heaviness.

Watching them, I headed to breakfast. The cafeteria, too, had transformed; it was now set for a grand feast. The tables were beautifully adorned, heaped with trays brimming with vibrant, plentiful dishes.

Later, I would find out that all this celebration was for White Spring, an event that occurred at unpredictable times, during which classes were paused as long as the snow lasted.

However, I was confronted with a more immediate problem at that moment. As I walked, someone gripped my arm so forcefully that I spun around like a marionette. It was Lea, flanked by her guards Leyla and James at her shoulders.

"Olive," Lea said, her grip on my arm tightening painfully as her nails dug into a fresh cut. Her smile widened at my flinch. "Hold on, darling," she taunted. "I haven't even started yet. You haven't seen anything of what I'm capable of."

I jerked my arm away. "Leave me alone."

But she blocked my path, flanked by her guards. They stood like a barrier before me.

"I don't know what you did, how you talked him around, how you pulled off such a deception," Lea hissed, leaning in close as if to intimidate me further. "But you're going to pay for stealing him from me. I promise you that." She was undoubtedly referring to Mars. Her hand clamped on my arm again, her voice dropping as she leaned in conspiratorially. "Sooner or later, I'll get what I want. And you? You'll find yourself at the bottom of the Void."

I yanked my arm free again, feeling the likely imprints of Lea's nails through my sweater. Disregarding the sting, I shoved her back. "Leave me alone!" I demanded, my voice hard through gritted teeth. Lea looked unyielding, yet...

"Lea!" James warned.

James and Leyla suddenly focused on the entrance of the hall. Following their gaze, Lea quickly pulled back as Mars appeared at the doorway. She did not want him to see what was happening. She needed to keep up her image as the sweet, lovable, desirable Lea for Mars while she revealed her true self to me.

"Don't forget what I said!" she hissed as she swept past me. "Mars can't be around to protect you all the time. We'll have our reckoning one day."

I had no doubts about Lea's threats; they weren't empty. We would have our showdown unless I found myself at the bottom of the Void by my own doing before then...

***