SOUL DORM

11

Into each life, some rain must fall
Too much is falling in mine

***

CHAPTER 11:

GREEK GOD

"Alright, let's get moving!" Ursa's voice echoed through the garden. "The fun's over here ladies and gentlemen. It's time for our classes! Yeah! Let's pack up our stuff. Erwin, grab your soulmate. Sussie, you too please. Marloes, don't leave your bag behind. Come on folks, let's hurry up a bit. No time to snooze, education won't wait!"

There was an authoritative tone in her voice, reflecting her title as a representative. Somehow, she managed to bring order to the chaos and convince everyone to turn their backs and leave. But she didn't stop there. She grabbed my arm and dragged me along the garden. She must have been afraid I'd faint if she let go. Maybe I really was about to faint. Given what just happened...

Damn it!

Could I have possibly made a bigger fool of myself? On day one, right in front of everyone, I'm like a high schooler causing a scene and making a total spectacle of myself. Those who missed the drama will hear all about it, and my rep is forever toast. How did I let things spiral like that? Threatening Mars? Seriously? I just needed to talk it out, but nope, went full drama queen. Did I honestly believe I could fix him? Ugh, epic fail!

"Please don't puke," Ursa said next to me. When I didn't understand, she wrinkled her face and tightened her grip on my arm. "Your expression is as if you just squashed a cockroach."

Not a cockroach, but it was true that I had crushed my own future, my dreams, my chance to escape from the Dorm with my own two feet. What was I going to do now? Mars's stance was clear. The rules of the Dorm were clear. I had been warned about what would happen to souls who didn't abide by those rules.

"At least you tried," Diego said sympathetically.

"At least he talked to you," Helene corrected.

"The cards say it's not yet time," Lark finished without looking up from the table.

I looked at my new friends with vacant eyes. I hadn't even noticed that we had reached the table where we had breakfast.

"Alright!" Ursa cheered, releasing her grip on me at last. "No use dwelling on the past. It's all about what's next, right?" Although she seemed cheerful, her voice had risen an octave and her piercing gaze added weight to her words, almost like a warning to the others. "Diego," she said, pointing her finger at the boy. "Which class are we having today?"

"Um..." Diego wasn't sure. He pulled out a piece of paper and read it. "Dancing."

Ursa's smile grew wider. "Great! It doesn't matter if we miss it at all." She leaned toward me. "Diego is the best dancer in this realm..." Before I could decide what to do with this information, she had turned back to the table. "And what about you girls?"

Helene shrugged. "We're not going to class today. Lark thinks we won't be productive while the energy of the full moon is still active."

Once again, Ursa clapped her hands. "Excellent! Then we can do the orientation for Olive."

"No..." I managed to say. "There's no need for this."

Mars had already made it clear that I wasn't wanted enough. I didn't want to burden others. Besides, what benefit did it have for me to know the Dorm? My future here had ended before it even began. Yet, the others seemed to think differently, Lark had started collecting her cards, and Helene had risen to her feet. In a moment, they were discussing the correct order to proceed.