A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO SURVIVING THE APOCALYPSE

CHAPTER 3

-- BRYCE HANSEN'S PERSPECTIVE --

-- 6:11PM OMNISTANDARD TIME --

I wake up to hear a familiar voice.

"Soda Bottle!" It's been 7 months since I heard the voice. I can't associate it with a face or identity; the only thing I associate it with is a sweet vanilla smell.

I groan and turn onto my back. My eyes open to see Backpack. Oh, god.

"Soda Bottle, are you okay?! I-I can't even think of a reason that—" I tune out the voice. He helps me up as he keeps talking, but the only thing I can focus on is my pounding headache and my wobbly legs.

And also... the Plane...? But the skies are dark. Why is the sky...?

No time to think. I'm so lightheaded that my legs give out under me. Backpack catches me.

"You alright?" he asks. I can only groan in response.

He guides me to a small cottage with a table and two stumps for seats. I sit down on one of them and he sits across from me.

"Why is it—" I yawn. "—night time...? I thought it was always day on the Plane..."

"Airy put in a day and night system. It's a little jarring, since the sun immediately falls when it's supposed to turn to 'night time,' but it's good to keep track of how many days we've been here," he replies.

"I thought the competition ended..." I say, half-mumbling.

"Yeah, well..." he sighs. "It didn't."

"...am I dreaming..?"

"What?"

"I'm probably dreaming..."

"This isn't..." Backpack trails off.

"Lemme sleep..." I say, leaning forward and resting on the table, closing my eyes.

I feel Backpack's hand on my cheek. His thumb drags a path. It feels... warm. Graceful. It feels lovely.

-- AMELIA EULER'S PERSPECTIVE --

-- 6:27PM OMNISTANDARD TIME --

I walk by the cabin and see a familiar face. Two familiar faces, actually. Soda Bottle and Backpack. Soda Bottle is asleep.

"Hey, Scenty," Backpack says, his voice quiet. I can assume why.

I don't respond. I'm just kind of shocked. Soda Bottle is back. It takes me a moment to find my words.

"Uh... I-I was gonna go guide a yoga session with some of the new objects. Wanna join?" I finally sputter out.

Backpack just looks down at Bryce adoringly. "I'm good."

"You sure?"

Liam just shrugs in response.