She stalks the halls, finding a notable lack of Nina.
As she approaches the dinner hall, she finds a figure on the ground.
Is that Vivi?
“Vivi?”
“Wha-?!”
“…Marigold?”
She crouches to her level.
“What’s wrong? What are you doing here?”
“I… My flashlight fell and I-“
“I lost my picture…”
“Hey, it’s okay, do you need help standing?”
“Do you have a light…?”
“Ah, no. I left my phone at my room, but I can take you to-“
“Someone’s coming.”
“We need to hide. Now.”
“Huh? It’s probably a worker-“
“We need to hide!! They’re coming!! Quick!”
Vivi grabs her towards one of the tables, they quickly scurry behind it.
She doesn’t let go of her arm.
Marigold hears someone enter.
It’s Oliver. Seems like he’s lamenting the possible lawsuits the train will give him.
They hide while he cleans up his criminal’s mess. Vivi doesn’t move.
He leaves the room.
“…Is there a problem with Oliver?”
“What? No, of course not”
“Then why not calling him over?”
“…”
She looks away.
“He seemed busy”
“I doubt he would mind pausing for a second to help out”
“But he shouldn’t have to! I’m fine! I can take care of things on my own!”
Ah, so that’s why she and Nadia get along so well.
“No one doubts that. You are certainly one of the more capable ones out here”
“But you also died.”
She hugs herself a bit tighter
“There’s not a single person here that can judge you in any way.”
“…”
“I can.”
“…Would you be open for more interpretations?”
“ I know, I know that I’m wrong! Ángel always tells me so”
“I’m just… like, bweehg in the insides, when it used to be woaaa. It was always woaaa”
“You’re different now”
“…Yeah…”
“Humans aren’t meant to get brought back to life. Nor bear the mental anguish of being murdered”
“You’re human, aren’t you? Or are you really a figment of my post wine imagination”
“Haha…”
“I don’t want to be different. I didn’t want to change. Not to this.”
“Then let’s get better”
“We can’t change the past, believe me, I’d be the first one to do it”
“But living in an imaginary world where everything happened just as you wished…”
“Where you made all the right decisions. Where you know everything that you do know.”
“…It’s not only unrealistic, but it will hurt you more in the long run.”
“What’s the point of a dream you can’t touch? Why not turn it into reality?”
“If someone can do incredible feats such as that, it’s you”
“…You think so?”
“I don’t think any supernatural event can truly take away that stubbornness of yours, sadly”
They see Ángel cross the wagon.
“Can you take me back to the rooms?”
“Of course”
They walk back, Vivi doesn’t let go of her arm.
At the room wagon, she still hears light chatter at the new people’s rooms, but at least Simon’s room is quiet.
As they enter, Vivi immediately turns on the lamp.
“…Uh. Sorry about that. You’re only supposed to get my evil backstory after 3 quick time events…”
“Get to bed, Vivi”
“Yes madam”
While Vivi gets in bed, Marigold looks at the sleeping Nadia.
She heard she’s not that big of a fan of her new classmates, or teachers, or the showcases they make, but refuses to change universities.
Nadia has a terrible habit of making things harder for herself, hopefully it was genetic and not taught.
She wants to be independent, she wants to make her own decisions, and Mari respects that.
But she’s not sure how to approach when Nadia goes on with bad decisions!
She thinks back at that film festival. What could’ve happened if Ángel wasn’t there…
Maybe this trip will help. A change of scenary can bring changes of perspective.
Marigold can’t force her daughter to suddenly change her mindset, she knows, she would’ve resisted as well.
But perhaps a light push, a small seed, a small drop of rain can grow into something new.
“Um. Mari?”
“ Ready for beddy?”
“I’m always ready for beddy.”
“But I was wondering…”
“Do you believe in ghosts?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think the train is haunted by ghosts?”
“Doubt it”
“Do you think a train is a house?”
“I don’t think human semantics are too important to those beings”
“…I need my picture.”
“Can’t you look for it before we leave?”
“No! A cleaner might take it and trash it! Or worse!”
“Worse?”
“I don’t have the whole scheme, I’m pretty sure if I talk it out with Oliver, we’ll figure it out but…”
“Something weird is happening. And I don’t know what the intentions are.”
“Is it dangerous?”
“I don’t know yet. But I need that picture for proof!”
She lightens up
“Whatever it is, it’s way too weird to not be a banging article!”
And she really thinks she’s not capable of getting better? Silly goose.
“I’ll look for it”
“You’re the best! I’ll give you an extra item next session”
Nepotism wins once more.
Just as she leaves, she sees someone coming out from another room.
The room of Anita and Natalia.
It’s 4:25 AM