Requiem Run

Chapter 14

I didn't expect to fall asleep as fast as I did. One moment, I was just closing my eyes, staring at the ceiling of the drowned out church, next thing I knew, I was in my dorm room, lying on the couch in the communal area like so many times before.

I shot up immediately, wondering if everything that happened to me had all just been a dream. That ideal was shattered when I saw Felice sitting in a chair in the corner, staring at me in a way that could only be described as creepy.

"Do you just like watching people sleep?" I asked.

"It's not like I can do much else." said Felice, "I'm still a ghost."

"So, where are we right now?" I asked, "Am I asleep?"

"Yup," said Felice, "I suppose this is a location that's familiar to you?"

"Yes," I said, "My college dorm."

"Your what to the what now?" Felice asked, now looking at the TV, "Speaking of which, what is that big screen thing? It looks like a projection screen encased in glass, but what would be the point of that? It's not even portable anymore."

"Uh, long story," I said, "But... what's going on right now? Am I dreaming or something?"

"Most likely," said Felice, "From the few accounts I've read about soul joining, sometimes they have this 'inner' place where they can go to talk, usually when they're asleep. Since I'm a fragment that joined with your soul, we're in a location that's familiar to you."

"Oh, this place is definitely familiar to me." I said, patting the couch so Felice could come and sit next to me, which she did, "This is my freshman dorm."

"I still don't understand what that means." said Felice.

"Freshman is a first year, college is optional... kind of, education after public education's over." I said, "Well, that's the basic gist of it, anyway. You can choose what field you study, take classes based on that field, get a degree, and it gets you a better paying job... in the best circumstances."

"You don't sound too sure of all that." said Felice.

"In my world, a lot of that is what's supposed to happen," I said, "But also, a lot of the time, it doesn't. I was in a public high school for almost four years, which is what you're supposed to do, but I ended up getting expelled just before I could graduate."

"Expelled? Why?" Felice asked.

"I punched a guy so hard in the face he started bleeding." I said. Felice's pale eyes widened, and I couldn't help but smile as I explained "To be fair, he was groping and harassing my little sister."

"Oh. But wait, why would you be expelled?" Felice asked.

"Trying to explain the logic of public school administration is like trying to explain why two plus two equals five," I said, "It's just not possible."

"That's upsetting." said Felice, "With all this technology in this room that I can't even begin to comprehend, I was thinking your world was some kind of paradise or something."

"There's no such thing as paradise," I said dejectedly, sinking into the couch, "Trust me, I've learned that the hard way. Sometimes life just sucks, and you're the only one who can make it better."

Felice stared at me. It was then that I noticed tears coming out of her eyes.

"Are you crying?" I said, "Did I say something to upset you? I'm sorry."

"No, it's not you," said Felice, "I... I think I'm recalling something. I think... I think...

Everything faded away.