SOUL DORM

8

Get around round round, I get around...

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CHAPTER 8:

FORCED ENCOUNTERS

"Olive! Sweetie, Olive!"

It was none other than Ursa, swooping down on me like an orange comet, announcing my name to the entire cafeteria. When she finally reached me, skipping with excitement, she chuckled. "Guess the fabulous food has dazzled you. I've called you for an hour, but you were lost in foodie heaven."

Well, I had heard her pretty clearly. My hope was that Ursa would give up and go her way, ensuring that none of the other souls would ever find out who Olive was. But when she linked her arm with mine, that hope vanished. I braced for the souls to point me out, whisper my name, and mock me. However, Ursa's nonchalant attitude towards the chaos I caused helped normalize the situation.

Heads turned back to their own business, souls swiftly forgetting about the interruption in their lives. I noticed the blond boy had moved away with his plate, and Pam had returned to her table. Even though souls can survive without oxygen in this realm, I took a deep breath. It seemed I had narrowly avoided a catastrophe. Or so I thought...

"Come on," Ursa said, tugging me along. "Let me introduce you to the gang."

I was grateful for her friendliness. But socializing was the last thing on my mind right now. I had already wasted enough time sampling these delectable dishes, and my attempts had only resulted in a mess. My priority was finding Mars, surviving orientation, and diving into classes.

When I hesitated to move, Ursa misinterpreted my reluctance and said, "Don't worry. The Dorm's got everything covered."

On this occasion, everything meant the mess I created on the floor. I opened my mouth to protest, but she had a grip like a wrestler. Despite my feeble resistance, she towed me along, weaving through tables packed with souls until we finally came to a halt in front of one.

Lifting his head, the first to spot us was a Latino boy cradling a meerkat in his arms. With his rich cocoa skin, waves of dark brown hair, and a grin as winsome as the meerkat, he was downright charming. Both he and the meerkat turned their gaze from Ursa to me, their heads cocking slightly as they scrutinized my face.

"Good morning, lovely souls!" Ursa announced with her trademark cheerfulness.

This caught the attention of others at the table. Two more souls sat opposite each other, and let's say... they weren't as adorable as the Latino amigo. The blond, ghostly girl resembled a version of Wednesday from the Addams Family with anemia. I couldn't decide if her stare was icier or if it was the chameleon on her shoulder.

The other girl was black, with full lips and round eyes. Her shaved hair enhanced her unconventional charm. Perched on the back of her chair was a snowy white owl. She laid a card from her Tarot deck on the table, and her eyes found mine. The card that flipped over was the Hermit, and it was upside down. I didn't understand fortune-telling, and I certainly didn't buy into it. But there was a captivating enigma in her gaze, and I found myself intrigued by the card.

"Losing your way, ignoring the truth, looking for solutions outside rather than within, failing to find your potential," the girl listed.

Before I could figure out if she was talking to me or someone else, she gathered the cards and started reshuffling the deck. I didn't know what to say. Ursa, however, seemed unfazed by this peculiar encounter.