“Jaromir!”

  The night lingered on in Urjohar’s mind. He recalled how he saw Jaromir’s corpse. Although unaware of how it had occurred, he surely was confident in the facts. He and the rest of them were at his very funeral not too long ago, the idea he was still alive puzzled him more than he would have liked.

  “Urjohar, let me take your place in the race to the bridge. It will be too dangerous for you, especially without having your tattoos yet. And…I want to check something for myself.” Jaromir said as he took his hood over his head.

  “All the more reason why you shouldn’t,” Urjohar proclaimed.

  Damn him! ‘Worry not’. Look where that got ya. What were you so concerned about back then anyway? Urjohar contemplated as he entered a classroom.

  “Yo, morning, Urjohar,” Otie said as he munched on a couple snacks. In a seat he found most comfortable.

  “Hey, who do you think you are, you can’t be sitting there… Stand up! Now!”

  “Huh, why? You sit here?”

  “That’s Jaromir’s seat,” Urjohar said as he took Otie’s collar, pulling him up to his face.

  “Na, na, na…”

  “Tch, what are you wearing…” Urjohar’s eyes lit up. “Why are you wearing the same checkered suit…?”

  “Ah, well I found it in me locker,” Otie said with his eyes avoiding Urjohar’s. Licking the crumbs from his lips before speaking again. “My uniform ain’t in yet, so… But, haha, now I understand why it smells so musty…or like such a corpse, ha, ha, ha.” Smack! Faster than he could look back, Urjohar’s fist collided with Otie’s face. Otie fell to the floor like a fawn in a muggy summer.

  “You…” Urjohar’s face darkened.

  “Ugh,” Otie rubbed his cheek. Darn, dropped my milk.

  “You fucking bastard! I’ll kill ya!” The room began to warm, a terrible heat began to cluster around. At that same moment, Horst and Fester came into the room.

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  Horst said, “Goodness, death threats this early in the morning?”

  “What are ya’ll doing,” Fester said with a poor view.

  “I’m leaving,” Horst replied, trying to turn around.

  “Ahh! Help me, that horrible ape has gone all psycho!” Otie said as he took Horst and Fester into his arms. “Hitting me for no reason.”

  “Oh cry bitch,” Urjohar mumbled. “And take off Jaromir’s suit!”

  “Ah, Jaromir’s…” Horst looked down. “Is it true?” Fester asked. “…” Otie tried to stay quiet. “Jaromir, Jaromir, always about this guy eh? That’s the guy who died, no? Tell me, how did this Jaromir die?”

  Silence filled the room like claustrophobic wet rugs hung in a moldy bathroom. Chins down and crossed arms kept the tension, but Otie bothered not with it. Rubbing his nose he still expected some kind of answer.

  “You really ain’t from here?” Fester asked. “For just a moment, yesterday I thought I saw a ghost, but…you are…truly someone else.”

  Urjohar wiped his eyes before testing his throat, then he spoke. “I ain’t speaking about nothing with you, or about Jaromir.”

  Damn, I’m getting nothing out of this. Crying…? I need to find more clues about the accident. I thought provoking Urjo would have worked, but it seems like I went too far.

  In the corner, Horst gave a soft glare towards Otie, as Fester continued to complain about the uncomfortable atmosphere. Just then, Taiga walked in. “Urjo!” He exclaimed. “They caught Milky by the entrance. Sir Barron and his crew…”

  “Woah! Barron, and his crew?!”

  “Fuck, and you didn’t stop them!” Urjohar declared.

  “Not my job,” Taiga replied.

  “Pah…! Faggot!” Tch, they’re here for the money… That’s something between Jaromir and me, the others can’t know about it.

  Fester ran down the hall with glitter in his eyes before Urjohar could stop them. Horst stepped up to Otie, an inquisitive face couldn’t gather the read on other, so he asked simply. “You know nothing about Jaromir? Really?”

  “Nope, nothing,” Otie replied.

  “What about the Zodiac Palace? Have you heard of it?” Horst asked with cold eyes.

  “?!” Otie kept a still poker. Just across the room, leaning in his seat, a thumping heart began to pump harder and harder. Taiga’s eyes opened up, a small scare pinched his mind.

  “You’re quite different Cherry,” Milky said with a sly grin.

  “Huhuh, we were here for that twat Urjo, but we don’t mind keeping you company Cher,” one of Milky’s friends said.

  Even in the morning they arrive… Cherry thunk.