It was only when Emilia had reached the door to her room, that Tulip felt satisfied enough to finally leave.

‘See you around’ Tulip said to Emilia.

‘Sure thing, thank you!’

Tulip gave her a wave as she walked away, and Emilia entered her room, closing the door behind her.

She was alone in the room, and everything was silent.

The room was large, clean and tidy with everything in its place. Her bed and her roommates’ bed, Gloria’s bed, were on opposite ends of the room, a low and wide set of draws was against the wall between the beds, the windows above allowing the natural light to flood in.

At the start of the school year, the rooms were completely blank, but as time went by, the girls would personalise their rooms with whatever it is they wanted. Emilia’s side of the room was mostly empty, but Gloria’s side of the room was decorated with banners and bright colours.

Emilia walked forwards, leaning over the drawers and opening the window, pushing it outwards and breathing a heavy sigh.

Lovely.

Emilia climbed up onto the set of drawers, leaning against the wall beside the window, legs tucked up beneath her.

She smiled outside, reaching for the book below the window.

She opened it to where she had left off, head dipped as she began to read.

 *

Several hours later, Gloria returned.

Emilia had dozed off, having closed her eyes for just a moment. She had fallen asleep where she had sat, head resting against the wall, the book laid down beside her, open on the page she had been reading.

Emilia opened her eyes upon hearing the door closing. She lifted her head, frowning slightly at the pain in her neck.

‘Ah, shouldn’t have closed my eyes.’

She saw Gloria smiling at her, blinking wearily, Emilia rubbed her eyes briefly.

‘Oh. H-hey.’

‘Did you fall asleep reading again?’ Gloria laughed.

‘Obviously.’

‘You know you always get aches sitting on the hard wood like that.’

‘I know’ Emilia said, rubbing the back of her neck as she swung her legs over the set of draws. ‘I just…like to see outside. And the breeze is nice and cool. And I like to hear the birds sing.’

‘You can hear the birds sing from your bed’ Gloria told her. ‘I wish you wouldn’t sit there, of all places. What if you fell out of the window?’

Emilia chuckled lightly, waving away this ridiculous notion.

‘What a ridiculous notion! And besides, the window is only half-open. There is no way I would fall out.’

Gloria pouted at her indignantly.

‘Are you making fun of me? I hope you’re not making fun of me.’

‘Of course not!’ Emilia slid off the top of the wooden drawers, straightening now, stretching like a cat, arms reaching high to the ceiling. ‘I want you to know that it would be a lot harder to kill me than a simple fall like that. In fact, I would go so far as to say that I am invincible, immortal even.’

‘And why would you say that?’ Gloria asked, placing her hands upon her hips. ‘I can’t wait to hear this.’

‘Because….’ Emilia grasped the air suddenly, body tense as if ready to pounce, ‘the world is mine!’

Gloria cocked her head at Emilia, blinking at her with a curious expression upon her face.

Emilia continued.

‘This world is completely mine, as if it came to me in an endless dream. My dream. Even you are nothing more than a ghost in my head. You cannot prove that you even exist outside my mind. I am the absolute centre of this world, its creator. I have no idea what will happen to it. If I die…’ Emilia shrugged carelessly. ‘I guess I don’t have a good imagination, I tried but I can’t imagine what it would be like if I were gone. What I'm saying is, its impossible for this world to disappear completely, but if I die, everyone else but me would simply vanish. I would be all who remains in this world once I'm gone. You are all just part of a dream that I am having. That’s why the world is mine. It’s all inside my head.’

‘Goodness, what on earth are you talking about?’

Emilia simply smiled at her, tilting her head playfully.

‘Do you like trains?’ Emilia asked.

‘Hu?’

‘Don’t worry about it’ Emilia shook her head. ‘I was only acting. So did you still want to go out tonight for a late-night swim?’

‘Yes absolutely’ she said eagerly, bouncing on the spot. ‘It’s so much more peaceful at night. And I’m still not as good as the others in my class. I definitely need more practice.’

‘Well, I just want to swim for fun.’

‘You don’t mind going out with me so late?’ Gloria asked tentatively.

‘Of course not. We’re friends aren’t we?’

‘Yeah!’ Gloria said enthusiastically, punching the air.

‘Great! So what do you wanna do to pass the time?’

‘Actually, I have some classwork I need to catch up on. Do you mind helping me?’

‘Sure thing.’

‘Aw thanks, you’re always so kind.’

‘Well, I try to be at least’ Emilia smiled.

‘Come on, let’s sit on my bed. I got some cupcakes, you want some?’

‘Sure.’

Gloria trotted over to her side of the room, kicking her shoes off before crawling up on the bed and leaning back against the pillows. Emilia was just sitting down before her as Gloria was taking her books out.

‘What was it you were stuck with?’ Emilia asked.

‘Algebra.’

‘Ugh! Can I retract my offer to help?’

‘No way! You said you’d help me! No takesies-backsies.’

‘Fine’ Emilia sighed, resigned.

Gloria huffed with indignation, pouting as she pulled the books from her bag, dumping them in the space between them.

‘So where are we starting first?’ Emilia asked.

‘Let me just find the right page’ Gloria mumbled, picking up one of the books and flicking through the pages, brow furrowed in concentration and tongue poking out. ‘Help yourself to some cakes’ Gloria offered. ‘They’re just in my bag.’

‘Aw sweet! I love red velvet. You’ve been out of school recently, haven’t you?’

‘Don’t tell anyone’ Gloria replied slyly, using the book the hide her mischievous expression. ‘You know it’s not allowed.’

During the weekdays, the gates of the school were closed, the students knew they were not allowed to leave. Only on the weekends were the gates opened. Many in this time would leave the school to visit the town and beaches nearby, some would leave for the weekend entirely to stay with family.

Gloria’s parents ran a bakery, and from time-to-time Gloria would sneak out to see them, if only briefly, and to get some delicious cakes and treats while she was there. In the summer holidays she would work with her parents in the shop, to help them during the busiest times.

‘OM NOM NOM NOM NOM.’

‘Emilia, please try to eat quietly if you can.’

‘Sorry.’

‘And don’t talk with your mouth full.’

*pause*

*gulp*

‘Sorry.’

Gloria just rolled her eyes, shaking her head in exasperation.

‘So unlady-like.’

‘And when have I ever been a lady? I’m not trying to impress anyone.’

‘I guess.’

Emilia took just one more of the red velvet cupcakes from the box, as beside her, Gloria scanned the pages of the book she held close to her face.

Emilia pulled the paper case off carefully, before ramming the whole thing into her mouth.

Dear mother in hell.

                                                                      Yummy.

‘So how good are you at these?’ Gloria asked.

‘Better than you’ Emilia replied, once she had consumed the second cupcake.

‘Hey, don’t be mean!’

‘I don’t know why you suck so much.’

‘You bully!’

‘Hey, calm down, I'm only playing’ Emilia giggled.

‘It’s not my fault the lessons are so boring. What do you want me to do?’

‘Nah, I get you. None of my older family ever used this crap once they left school. Except for my grandfather…...’

‘Can you help me with this part?’ Gloria asked, pointing to a certain place in the book.

Emilia glanced over the problem.

‘Sure, it’s pretty easy actually once you understand it. Let me show you.’

‘I’ve done it before but…I always seem to forget how.’

‘I’ll tell you how I remember, I use certain tricks, see?’

They stayed on the bed for a time until Gloria got tired of what they were doing, falling back against the headboard, and kicking her feet.

‘I guess you’ve had enough then?’ Emilia suggested.

Gloria huffed moodily, using her foot to push the books onto the floor.

‘This is dumb.’

‘Shall we do something else then?’ Emilia offered. ‘Let’s play a game. How about some chess?’

‘Oh no, not that game, you always win.’

‘All the more reason to practice’ Emilia said.

‘Yeah but, you’re like an expert at it.’

‘I’ve lost before’ Emilia reasoned.

‘Rarely. Didn’t you go to a bunch of chess clubs in your old school and stuff? Weren’t you champion?’

‘How do you know about that?’

‘Because you told me about it’ Gloria said in a monotone.

‘Oh. Right.’

Stupid brain.

Gloria began to kick her feet playfully, this time out of a teasing excitement.

‘Why don’t we play some cards instead?’ Gloria suggested. ‘There’s a ton of different games we can play. I got a deck here somewhere.’

‘Sounds good’ Emilia relented. ‘Let’s do that.’

Emilia watched as Gloria jumped off the bed, moving over to a drawer and rifling through it, searching for her deck.

She thought to herself.

My perfect soul-mate would be smart enough to beat me in chess. I hope to find her someday. My knightess in shining armour….

Gloria returned with a deck, shuffling the cards quickly.

They played several games, all of which Emilia lost.

‘Ahhhhhhh!’ Emilia fell forwards onto her face, arms limp beside her as she continued to moan in anguish into the sheets. ‘How could I lose? I tried so hard that last time.’

‘I told you more than once you’re playing wrong.’ Gloria said.

Emilia turned her head so she could be heard more clearly.

‘I disagree, this is all based on luck.’

‘You’re only saying that because you lost’ Gloria told her, shuffling the cards again before putting them away. ‘How are you so good at chest but not this?’

‘I guess its because my mind is so complex’ Emilia replied without a pause, ‘that it is far too advanced for simple games like this.’

‘Oh. Of course.’

Emilia pushed herself off the bed, sitting up properly again.

‘You see in chess, you need to think several steps ahead, and anticipate your opponent’s moves. You have to read their mind. Trap the king, and its all over!’

‘Right….’

Emilia turned her head away, feeling defeated, frustrated, and incredibly annoyed with herself.

But there was no way she would reveal this to her friend.

‘Emilia? Are you ok?’

‘Absolutely ok I'm just peachy!’

‘Ok.’

‘Hey, it’s pretty dark outside. I think it’s time we went out.’

‘Holy smoke’ Gloria exclaimed, seeing the time on her phone. ‘It’s nearly midnight’

‘What a perfect time’ Emilia clapped her hands together. ‘Midnight. The time of lovers and mystery. The time where forbidden desire is finally released into deep and primal intimacy.’

‘Well, there’ll be no intimacy tonight’ Gloria spoke to her flatly, throwing a towel across the room to Emilia, hitting her in the face.

‘Ah! Why would you do that!’

‘Hurry up and get your swimsuit, I wanna get into the water. It’s going to be so much cooler at night. I always found night-time to be so peaceful and quiet.’

‘Fine.’

Emilia carried herself off the bed, grabbing a few things quickly and shoving them into her swimming bag, swinging it over her shoulder.

‘Ready slow-poke?’

‘What do you mean slow-poke?’ Gloria raised an eyebrow stoically. ‘I’m standing here waiting for you.’

Emilia skipped past Gloria, rushing out the door before her.

‘After you then I guess’ Gloria mumbled, stepping out into the hallway, and turning to lock their dorm room behind them.

Beside her Emilia was glancing about cautiously, making sure the coast was clear.

They were not allowed out of their dormitories at night, but as long as they could get out of this building, the rest would be easy. None of the other buildings were patrolled at night.

They would have to keep their eyes and ears open for any sign of the matron.

As soon as Gloria had locked their door, Emilia hurried off.

‘Emilia wait’ Gloria whispered furiously after her, before making her steps.

At the end of the corridor Emilia paused, glancing around the corner.

I feel like a spy.

There was no sign of any other soul, not a whisper.

Perfect.

Gloria made her way down the stairs nearby, leading the way. Emilia walked after her, holding the railing with one hand to steady herself.

They reached the ground floor.

The door to the outside world was locked. No problem. The window right beside it was open.

Easy Emilia thought to herself as she climbed through the window. Woah!

She stumbled, tipping forwards and falling flat on her front.

Gloria hastily helped her to her feet, pulling her up. Emilia adjusted her leg briefly, dusting herself down before hurrying away from the building. They escaped, and fled from the pool of light emitted from the lamps nearby. Together they slipped into the darkness.

‘The air is so fresh’ Gloria spoke quietly. ‘I love the night-time; the earth seems to slow down.’

‘Yeah’ Emilia nodded, ‘it’s pretty cool.’

They passed by a smaller building, heading around the backway, out of sight from the windows of the taller buildings around them. Upon the wall they passed a great mural. One of many that was hidden about the school. Painted by a student that had attended the school many years ago. Many simply called her ‘Gone Girl,’ after she had abruptly vanished from the school.

No one knew where she had gone or what had happened to her.

The painting was large, covering the entire wall. A depiction of a dark-skinned woman in a white dress, eyes tulip-red, hair thick and faded in colour. Beside her was a six-tailed fox, its fur violet-blue in hue, its body outlined in gold.

Even in the darkness it seemed to glow.

It was magnificent.

[next part coming soon]