act10d5

I reach behind me and pull out a yellow bow.

It looks so familiar. But it's dirty, and one side is broken.

Huh?!

The back of the bow is stained a dark black color, like...

Blood.

...It must be ketchup.

I toss the bow aside and go back to sleep.

But before I can slip into my slumber, I hear a voice.

You found this bow later, in one of the classrooms.

Admit it, you know she is dead.

The classroom door suddenly flies open, interrupting my nap.

A girl with glasses walks in, carrying a book. I can tell from her uniform that she doesn't go to this school.

Excuse me, is anyone else here?

This is my territory. I'm the only one allowed in.

Sorry, but my friends and I are looking for shelter...

Um, are you... Sonya?

You're... Anna?

Anna used to be my neighbor. I haven't seen her in years, since we moved, but...

Take another classroom.

Honestly, she asked nicely, and it's not like we didn't get along before. I don't really want to turn her down.

But things have gotten rough among the kids here since the first fire. I had to fight off three gangs today alone.

I know this might bother you, Sonya, but...

There's only one inside, Anna. Let's just chase her away.

Oh, okay. Time for another fight.

Then we'd be no different from the robbers. That isn't us.

...Anna's the same as she ever was. A peacemaker.

Right. Um, I'm Lada, and I'm a pretty good cook. What if I made you something to eat in return for letting us hide here?

I have to say, that's a pretty tempting offer. It's been a while since I've had something that didn't just come out of a can.

Okay. You can stay. But watch your step. I'm Sonya. And you don't mess with me.

Did she just say Sonya...? Is that actually 'General Zima?!'

She's famous even over at our school. She's easily the strongest girl in the district.

No way... sounds like we lucked out.

I have to say, I enjoy the acclaim. But the best part is seeing the face of a good girl like Anna turn upside down when she hears it.

Thank you, Sonya. We'll try not to bother you.

...Damn. No reaction. Lame.

After I give my permission, she leads her whole caravan in.

The first bunch are a mix of girls and boys. Their clothes are pretty ragged, their hair all messy, and they clearly haven't slept in days.

Then behind them...

What the hell?!

A bunch of empty, floating school uniforms?!

And at the very back of the crowd is me.

Floating sailor suits, huh? That's quite a coping mechanism.

What are you talking about?! I mean, who even are you?!

I'm you. And you're dreaming, idiot.

Mmh. Agh.

That makes sense. Something like this has to be a dream... But why did I just call myself an idiot?!

I mean, at least it's better than a bunch of headless zombies.

What do you mean? Why would there be headless zombies?

Because you killed them all.

Why would I do that?

Because they were going to attack you. Weren't they, Istina?

There was no other way. They forced your hand.

Right. As long as there's a good reason for it, violence is okay. That's how I roll.

Is that really what you think?

I always believed I was doing the right thing.

This is pretty weird, even for a dream. My doppelganger is having a conversation with a girl I barely know, as if they're old friends. But all reason tells me they're both just figments of my imagination.

That reminds me, shouldn't I have woken up as soon as I realized I was in a dream?

The instant that thought pops into my head, everyone in the room but my doppelganger and the floating uniforms turn to fix their eyes on me.

Every face bears a twisted smile.

They surround me.

You are our leader. You should stay here. You should lead us.

I try to find the other me.

But she's gone.

Ugh...

My eyes shoot open.

The room around me is still the classroom. It's late at night. The others are asleep. I'm slumped up against the door.

There is another door, but I barricaded it with my desk. The windows have all been sealed. The door next to me is the only way in or out.

I am their leader. I have to protect them.

You can't sleep, Sonya?

I hear Anna's voice nearby.

It's been three days since she and her partner joined us. There was some unpleasantness in that time, but Anna sided with me in the end.

Yes. I had a nightmare.

...Don't let it get to you. You did nothing wrong.

I can't remember what I was dreaming about, but Anna must be thinking it was something to do with them.

She feels bad about it. She never imagined the classmates she trusted would go so far as to attack me just because she asked me to lead them.

I killed them all, of course.

I've seen lots of groups fall apart because of little conflicts like this. It's why I didn't want to join a group in the first place. I'd rather communicate with my fists than try to manage relationships.

Don't worry.

I hear a rustling as she moves over to me.

I know she wants to comfort me, but it's obvious she's the one who needs comforting. I should change the subject.

Anna, were you your class president?

No.

So how did you end up with so many followers?

I was actually very uncomfortable trying to play leader. But Lada kept pushing me, and I just felt... like I had to do something.

Aha! You did have to do something!

You're teasing me.

...But really, when the kids in my class would bully each other, I knew it was wrong. But I just kept to myself. Kept away from it.

You should've kicked their asses. You're a tough girl.

It's true. She may look the bookish type, but Anna's really very good in a fight. She just doesn't like to apply herself.

If only I was as brave as you. I can never find the courage to stand up to people.

Oops, she sounds even sadder than before. I really don't know how to comfort a girl. What can I say to cheer her up?

...At- at least you're standing up now.

That's the best you could come up with, Sonya?!

...Because I believe it's wrong. At least, that's what I thought at first.

What's wrong?

This. All of it.

We've been locked up in this school for eight days. Everything keeps getting worse.

It's all because of that first fire. If it wasn't for the fire...

After the fire destroyed one of the food pantries, the noble students from #4 Secondary School occupied the other one. Then they started looting.

You still see commoners fighting over food.