A Simple Science

Chapter Two - They're All Dead

Is it morning already?

Kierinn didn't want to get up. She didn't even want to open her eyes—her head hurt far more than was fair; she hadn't even done anything last night—last night. Yesterday.

Oh god. The Academy. Miku. Roen. Professor Zai. All her friends, the closest thing she had to a family—gone? No. Not gone. It was just a dream; it had to have been.

But it felt too real.

And...I was late to school. So I survived?

No. Wait. Maybe I am dead...?

Ah! Right! She had tried to kill the arsonist, and...and then...well, she couldn't remember if he had killed her or not, but it seemed likely.

Well, if she was dead, she might as well make the best of it. She shoved her blanket off and sat up.

"Huh. So this is Heaven, then? Kinda...unimpressive." Kierinn was in a small, simple room, with what looked like a writing desk sitting against the wall opposite her bed, an inn-style bureau with a mirror and (enchanted? The water looked magically clean) washbasin, and plain furnishings. A door near the bureau led, presumably, to her bathroom.

"Nice, though," she added hastily, not wanting to offend Heaven's inhabitants on her first day. "Just not...opulent! Yes, that's the word."

The door opened, and someone stepped in.

"Drat."

"What?" the someone asked.

"I'm not dead."

It was the man who had killed her. Or not killed her, actually, since this obviously wasn't Heaven, as he was there—oh, no, but maybe it was some...other part of the afterlife?

"Are we dead?" she asked anxiously. "Where are we? Do you know? Is this purgatory? Or is it...is it...down there?"

The man looked a little overwhelmed by the flood of questions. He held up a hand, signaling her to be quiet. Kierinn thought about ignoring it (she still didn't like him, even if they were stuck in the afterlife together) but he probably had more answers than she did.

"Okay. Thank you," the man said, nodding politely.

"We're not dead."

"Whaaaaat? But you killed me! I know you did!"

"I did no such thing. I deliberately did not kill you, in fact, though it took some effort."

Kierinn took offense to that. "No! You killed me! You killed everyone, and you're going to get what's coming to you!"

"I did not! Well, I did kill the Rikorians, but I didn't kill you, yet."

"Did too!"

"I did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Stop acting like a child!"

"You stop!"

"You're the one who started it!"

"Ha! See?"

"I was just stating the truth!"

"Yeah, well, I bet we are dead."

"We are not!"

"Oh yeah? Why not? Why didn't you kill me? Huh?"