Somnium Online

A Bone to Pick

Eric sat alone in his room. The curtains were drawn and it was dark. He slowly inserted the earpiece, and lay back in bed.

"Alright N, all systems go?" Eric asked.

"Ready when you are." N replied.

Eric closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Somnium... Ludum."

Eric woke up to the sound of bird song. He was lying on an open rock, the imposing Aurelian mountains framing the picturesque blue sky.

Also, he couldn't move.

All he could manage was to lift his head and rotate it a bit.

Anne was on top of him and fast asleep, her arms were firmly around him, her head rested on his shoulder, and well... you get the picture.

Her hair was still in its usual ponytail, but loose strands that had escaped while she was sleeping were blowing lazily in the breeze.

Anne stirred in her sleep and mumbled incoherently. Eric tried to stay calm. How had he even gotten in this mess?

They had talked, and then she had showed him the difference between stars and planets and then...

He had fallen asleep first. That explained everything. Why was it that everytime he fell asleep anywhere near her, he always woke up with her on top of him?!

He had to find a way out of this. It was still early morning, he doubted anyone else would be awake. Jorvik and the twins had joined the Bearded Axes in another rowdy celebration.

They all probably wouldn't wake up until well past noon. Except maybe Reagan with her almost godlike resistance to alcohol.

He was officially trapped. Although, he had to admit, it wasn't entirely unpleasant. Anne was exceptionally beautiful, even when she was busy calling him an idiot.

Oh god, what was he even thinking?! He had to get out of this before she woke up or she would blame it on him!

Right on cue, Anne started to wake up. Her eyes fluttered. Her leg twitched. Slowly, she opened her eyes.

"So, you're finally awake." Eric said calmly. He was barely holding it together.

"Hang on, what the?" Anne seemed disoriented. "She placed her hands on Eric's chest and pushed herself into a sitting position straddling him.

Anne looked Eric in the eyes. He gulped nervously. "What happenned, and why was I sleeping like that? Tell me now and I may let you live."

"Truthfully, I have no idea. I fell asleep first, remember? I thought you did it as another one of your pranks."

Anne's face was bright red. "Wait, what?! You mean you didn't put me there?"

"What?" Eric asked. He was confused again.

"I see." Anne said thoughtfully. "That leaves only one suspect." Anne shifted a bit. "Only one person could stay sober after last night long enough to create that embarrassing situation." Anne declared.

"So... who is it?" Eric asked

"Probably me." She admitted. "I most likely did it in my sleep."

"Wait what?!" So all that detective stuff and you're the culprit?"

Anne glared at him. "Is there a problem?"

Eric knew when to quit. "No, no, nothing's wrong." Eric grunted. "Although if you could just, you know, move a bit. You're cutting off circulation."

Anne looked down. "Oh, uh... sorry."

There was the sound of footsteps and then suddenly "Hey, so I found this new place where we can..." Reagan saw them and immediately flushed bright red. "O-oh, I'm sorry for interrupting, I'll just go now." She dashed off.