A trip to Somewhere Else

"Refrigerator Senpai, why did you do it?" She said through gritted teeth, her voice trembling, the gun in her hand shaking.

"I had no choice, Tomoko," Refrigerator Senpai was hardly keeping himself together either, but he managed to keep his voice calm, and almost smug, "You have no idea how high up this goes..."

"You son of a bitch!"

"You don't have what it takes to kill me." He knew it wasn't true, but there wasn't anything else to say. 

"You have no idea what I'm capable of."

"Then take the shot, Tomoko."

Tomoko's ragged breathing was all to audible in the silence that followed. Her gun shook. Then, with a bang, Refrigerator Senpai's breath was forced from his chest. This was his end. He knew it was.

Everything hurt for a while. He almost wondered why, but it was too much effort to care. He'd been shot... Tomoko. At least it was her to finally do him in, he'd been waiting for quite a while.

He remembered when they were younger. Tomoko had always been so invested in getting TV Senpai's attention, even back then. He remembered trying to tell her about Lamp senpai and what he'd done, but she'd never listened. 

Perhaps it was for the better. Who knows what the village would have done if she'd found out...

Was this what being dead was like? He should have died by now, but he was very aware of being conscious. This wasn't right.

He carefully opened his eyes.

Misty gray as far as the eye could see. Was this the afterlife?

"Refrigerator Senpai. You're finally here."

Refrigerator Senpai spun around to face the unfamiliar voice. 

"Lamp Senpai!" He screamed in surprise, "I- What are you-"

"You're not dead." Lamp Senpai's voice was even and cold, unlike the façade he'd put up for all of their years of school.

"I- I'm not? But you- I shot you! I saw you die!"

Lamp Senpai laughed, a cold and cruel laugh, "Yes, that's true. I'm dead, but I don't think it's your time yet."

"But...Tomoko just..."

"Yes, it's odd but I believe you'll wake up soon, so I'll have to make this quick."

"Where are we?" Refrigerator Senpai said, looking around at the misty gray of the void surrounding them.

"I'm...not really sure. Somewhere Else," Lamp Senpai ignored Refrigerator Senpai's look of confusion, "But that's not important. Tomoko's in danger."

Refrigerator Senpai sighed, "I know, this whole situations dangerous."

"She's close to finding the truth, Refrigerator Senpai."

Refrigerator Senpai's brow furrowed in thought, "The truth? About-"

"The twins, yes."

"Why is that so bad?"

"Do I really need to tell you? You're the one that lost their family!" 

"I- That was a long time ago! I thought- I guess I thought maybe-"

"Maybe what, Refrigerator Senpai? That they'd let her live? You and I both know that's nothing more than wishful thinking!"

Refrigerator Senpai's shoulders slumped, and he looked to the ground with dejected defeat.

"I just want to know why it matters, I guess. And why are you telling me this? Aren't you with the village?"

Lamp Senpai's face flashed with anger, "You think I want Tomoko dead? Your family hardly mattered to me, but Tomoko... She's an angel..."

"You should be glad you're dead, or else I'd kill you right now, you fucker!"

"What, for liking a girl?" Lamp Senpai laughed.

"Tomoko's not just any girl, you know that!"

Lamp Senpai hummed his agreement, "You've got me there..."

"Listen, I just want to-"

A wind blew across his ears, loud enough to force him to stop to cover his ears.

"I- What was-" Another gust cut him off. He looked up to see Lamp Senpai looking panicked.

"Refrigerator Senpai! Listen, protect Tomoko, ok? Please! She doesn't know what she's getting in-"

Everything went dark.

When he next came to, he could feel the cold floor beneath him again, and when he opened his eyes the cold gray of that...Somewhere Else.. was gone.

He sat up slowly, and felt for his his chest. The bullet wound was still there, bleeding steadily, but the pain was numbed, and he could hardly feel when he touched it.

He could see where Tomoko had been standing, though now only footsteps led off and out of sight.

What in the world?