SOUL DORM

12

Goodnight, sweetheart, well, it's time to go.

***

CHAPTER 12:

THE VOID

Ursa and Diego rushed in like the first responders at a crime scene. One had my arm, the other my wrist, whisking me away from the pool like it was a bomb about to detonate. Lark and Helene were waiting just outside, ready to envelop me as soon as we emerged. They closed in around me instantly. Lola, with supportive intent, hopped from Ursa's shoulder to mine, Meer wound around my feet, Spook drew circles in the air above us with wide wings, and Glace stuck out her tongue towards me.

I didn't know why they were helping someone they had just met. Maybe I looked as pitiful as I felt. Regardless... I was grateful. Because moments later, I had left Mars, the pool, and the Dorm behind and ascended to the garden. The wind greeted me with a rush, tousling my hair. The scent of flowers tickled my nose. Colors dazzled my eyes. The daytime sky was a sweet lilac hue. Despite the clouds, the sun shone gloriously.

But I couldn't keep my eyes fixed on the sky for long. Because before me stretched the most beautiful garden I had ever seen in my life. Beyond the pink, fluttering petals was paradise. The view from my room now seemed like a two-dimensional postcard compared to the beauty I witnessed up close. Various flowers, trees, plants, meticulously arranged, sprawled across the garden. Water danced in the fountains, sparkling under the sun. Marble statues, pergolas, pebble-stone paths, ponds...

My admiration escaped in an audible breath. "Wow..." I exclaimed with excitement.

"It's gorgeous, isn't it?" Ursa said with delight.

"And so romantic..." Diego added with a sigh.

It truly was. For once, not even Helene and Lark could muster a comment to dampen morale. Well, even if they did, they couldn't affect me right now. I was looking at a canvas of flowers, and flowers were the things that made me happiest in this world. Their indescribable, singular effect on me breathed life into my soul, soothing unseen wounds. It was why I dared to buy myself a bouquet, risking my mom's disapproval. Or why I adorned my window with pots.

Since awakening on that train, it felt as though my soul had been enveloped in suffocating darkness. But now, for the first time, those clouds seemed to be dispersing. I wasn't alone in this shift of emotions. The spirits around me were buoyed, and the animals brimmed with vitality. Meer and Lola swiftly vanished into the underbrush, while Spook gracefully glided amidst the trees. I'm certain that if Glace weren't a chameleon, she'd have mirrored their exuberance.

Chasing after the animals, we plunged into the maze. Without the experienced souls by my side, I would undoubtedly have been lost in no time. Luckily, this quartet knew what they were doing. Guided by Ursa, we progressed through different sections of the garden. Just like on the administrative floor, the garden was bustling with attendant souls, all clad in purple overalls. Some waved as we passed, others remained engrossed in their tasks, a few hummed tunes to themselves, and others whispered quietly, lost in thought.

"It's calm now because of the classes, but the garden is usually bustling," Ursa remarked.

We were passing by a fishpond with benches around it. I could imagine it teeming with young souls. Thinking of myself as one of them... strangely, it didn't feel too bad. To curl up under these trees, read a book I got from the library, maybe listen to a nice cassette on my Walkman... Under the lilac sky, the scent of flowers in my nose...

When I realized what I was doing, chasing a false fantasy, I snapped back to the present moment. Fortunately, there was a wealth of eccentricity surrounding me, enough to captivate my attention. For instance, the Dorm had fashioned a colossal chessboard for one of the souls, which remained untouched even after their departure due to its popularity. There was an outdoor library, with rows of pink umbrellas suspended in the sky, evidently shielding the books from potential rain. Further along, a designated area for afternoon tea awaited, alongside a secluded spot for picnics. Not to mention, we also passed by a grand amphitheater.