The Afterlife Academy Saga

Chapter 20

20

With Astrid safe with Doctor Wagner, I could focus on getting the other three out of the bunker. But how? Professor Brynhild made it very clear that it wasn’t a priority to anyone, not when there was enough food and water down there to last them a good while.

Guilt rushed through me as I walked to the Valkyrie dormitory. I’d get to be all comfortable in my room while Ryoko was stuck down there with Flavia and Sim.

I patted myself in search of my keys. Did I still have them? I hadn’t thought about that at all. So stupid.

My pockets came up empty until I turned out my blazer. A little folded note fell to the ground with a metallic thud.

Ooh! Keys?

I opened the paper, finding a single key and Ryoko’s handwriting.

«Thought you could use this. R.»

She must’ve slipped this in when she handed me my blazer earlier. What would I do without her?

The sound of the lock clicking open brought so much relief, it overwhelmed me. I didn’t even mind all the dust fluttering up and prickling my nose. I was back in my room with all my own stuff, my pillow, everything I didn’t have down there.

I sat down on my bed, not quite sure what to do with myself. I couldn’t just relax while my friends were still trapped, but I needed this moment of solace, even if it was just for a second or two.

Just as I closed my eyes, a rattle sounded from below.

“What the—” I pushed myself off the bed, following the noise to the darkness under Ryoko’s bed. “Pickles! Oh, no!”

I yanked the cage to me, horrified at the state of her. “I thought they came to get you!”

“Hffff.” The little dust bunny shook her fluffy body and flashed her spikes at me.

“I’m sorry, we didn’t mean to be gone for so long. Oh, you poor thing.”

As soon as the door of the cage swung open, the bunny hopped out with a pedantic huff. She was a lot bigger than a couple of days ago and from the clean circle around where the cage was, I guessed she’d helped herself to all the dust she could reach.

At least she hadn’t starved.

“Look at you.” More guilt welled up in me, even if neither Ryoko or I could’ve predicted we’d suddenly be unable to come back.

“Pffff.” Pickles gave me a reluctant look, but after a couple of scratches behind her ear, she pushed herself up my leg and crawled onto my lap. With a big yawn, she nestled herself down and let out a satisfied hum.

“I’m sorry we left you alone. We didn’t mean to,” I said, but she was no longer listening to me. She was already fast asleep.

She had to be exhausted waiting for us.

Ugh. Was this Professor Brynhild’s fault again? Ryoko definitely asked her classmates if they could take care of the dust bunny while she couldn’t and from everything I’d seen from Dragons, they were a dedicated bunch. They wouldn’t have shirked their responsibilities, right?

Whoever’s fault it was, I didn’t know and it didn’t really matter. Pickles would be just fine with a little bit of dieting and a good night’s sleep.

If Ryoko was here, she’d probably let the bunny sleep in her bed and everything would be back to normal. But I couldn’t do that, not in good conscience.

My friends were still stuck and if the Academy wasn’t going to help them, it was up to me to figure it out. Which meant asking the help of the last person I wanted to ask. And to find him, I’d have to cross into Reaper territory and hope the Forest of Illusions would take me back to him. Var.

Just his name alone sent shivers down my spine and brought back nasty memories of betrayal. I’d let him rot in the forest for the way he treated me, used me, but he was the only other person I could turn to. And I hated that.

Why could nobody else help me?

Pfff. Professor Brynhild’s talk about her duty to Valhalla… Surely, she and some other teachers could take the time to dig us out. What could possibly be worse than our situation?

If only I knew how to bring my wings out again, I could just get them myself, but… I concentrated on my back, trying to call on the magic like before.

Nothing… Not even a whisper.

As long as I couldn’t Shadow Walk through the Veil at will, there was no way to get my friends out safely. I didn’t know any other Shadow Walkers, except Var.

He’d offered to teach me before, in exchange for… I wasn’t entirely sure what he wanted? To get out of the Forest of Illusions?

But why couldn’t he just leave himself? He could travel through the Veil and leave wherever he wanted. Why would he need me for that?

So many questions, but there was only one way to find answers. Return to The Forest of Illusions and find Var. Hope that it wouldn’t just be a grave mistake that would lead to my demise.

If I could strike a bargain with him and he could teach me how to control my wings and my Shadow powers, then I could save my friends.

Every part of me hated the idea of going back into the Forest, but I couldn’t think of anything else. This was my only option…

I scooped Pickles up, carefully wrapping her in my blazer. I wasn’t leaving her on her own again.

“We’re going on a little trip,” I said, looking around the room for anything that could be of use to me. I wished I had time for a shower, but it just didn’t seem right to waste time taking care of myself when my friends were in dire need of some sunlight.

A change of clothes would have to do.

“Just give me a moment, okay?” I placed Pickles down on my bed, hoping she didn’t think I was going to abandon her again.

“Hff.” The bunny yawned but didn’t seem bothered at all. At least that was something.

I rummaged through the wash basket and fished out a clean shirt. It was wrinkled, but I couldn’t have cared less about that. It smelled like soap and didn’t have any stains on it. That was good enough for me.

My dirty clothes ended up in the corner and after I put on a pair of fresh underwear, I felt a lot more comfortable. It wasn’t much, but it was everything. The feeling of clean clothing after the sweat and dirt-stained fabric, now that was just magical.

With a longing look at the shower, I grabbed Pickles and made my way out of the room before I caved. I had no time to waste. I’d shower when everyone was back where they were supposed to be.

“Hff?” Pickles perked up as I locked the door.

“We’re going on a little adventure, okay? Please stay close to me. You’ll be with Ryoko soon.”

I wasn’t sure if she could understand me but she flattened her ears and snuggled back into my blazer. So maybe on some level, she knew she was safe with me. At least, I hoped so.

Where we were going… It wasn’t going to be fun.

I just needed to get one more member for my team and then everything would, hopefully, be alright.