A Bunch of Fools

He didn't think twice about running to the place where the shout was coming from. Squeezing himself in a door opening that was only a foot wide. And he saw Melinda, holding a paddle with both of her hands, pointing it in one direction.

Ginger was arching its back, furs standing up, hissing in the same direction Melinda was pointing her paddle to.

Larry followed where they were looking at. It was a door slightly ajar. It seemed that they hadn't noticed him getting inside so he tried getting their attention by knocking on the door.

Startled, Melinda and Ginger looked in his direction.

"Chill! It's me. Larry. You remember?" As he said that, Garry sauntered into the house as well and waved his hand.

The two relaxed and went near him.

"What happened to you last night? You suddenly froze! But nevermind. I think something's in there. I thought I saw something moved," she said pointing to the door.

"Oh? Let's check it then."

"Are you crazy? What if there's a murderer in there!"

But Larry was unfazed for he was sure he was only dreaming. He noticed that Melinda changed her clothes from a yellow pajama with cat prints all over it into a jean and a shirt. His clothes changed too. He was wearing the same clothes he wore when he slept.

He shrugged at her and sauntered towards the door. It was dark but not dark enough to not see the surroundings. And then he pushed the door open. There was no one inside.

"See? It's safe."

"O-oh! Right! It's safe. Should we check inside?"

"It's up to you. Have you seen the tasks?"

"Task? Ah! I haven't yet. Can you show it to me, Ginger?"

The cat stretched lazily before it faced Melinda. Its eyes suddenly glowed and a bluish hologram "popped" up. Exactly the same as what Garry has been showing Larry.

"On the first night a skeleton, yesterday a ghoul, and now a basilisk? What's next? A vampire?"

"What do you mean by first night?" Larry asked.

"Tonight's my third day of playing this game. Crazy right? Who would've thought I'd dream the same dream three nights in a row."

Larry knitted his brows. He was sure of what he heard.

'So am I. And it's indeed crazy if I think about it though it was only my second night. I never met her before in my life. Is it possible to dream of another person you don't recognize so vividly? Acts and speaks like a real person knowing that she's only a by-product of your imagination?'

Larry pushed those thoughts to the back of his head and asked Melinda, "Can you tell me about your first night?"

"Nothing special. I completed a task while being chased by a skeleton. I got out of the place and bought this paddle in the store using my points and I woke up. On the second night, I found this village and can't get out anymore and that's when I met you. Tonight's my third night."

"I see." Though he was certain he was only dreaming, he can't shake off the feeling that something was amiss. "You mentioned something about this only being your dream. What do you mean by that?"

"Exactly how it sounds like. I sleep in my room and I'm transported here through dreaming. I might be lucid dreaming this whole time." After she said that, her eyes widened and her mouth turned into an "O".

"Oh no! You're not supposed to know you're only part of my dream, are you? I'm sorry! But don't worry. I still think of you as a real person. I mean, I really think you exist in my dreams. But—"

"It's okay. I'm not offended. Where are you from?" Larry was hesitating in asking this. He's aware it's impossible but he just can't shake off the feeling.

"Oh! I'm from the suburbs of Tarnshaw."

Larry sucked in a lot of air. His palm started to sweat. His heart booming loudly.

'What's this? Why do I feel like this? Of course, it's possible my subconscious will be able to make up a totally different person living in Tarnshaw. I mean, why not? If my roommate was from Tarnshaw to begin with.'

"I see. Let's check inside. Might as well start doing the task," he said.

Melinda grinned and snatched Ginger from the floor and held him like an infant. "I've been waiting for you to say that."

They entered the room. It looked like it once belonged to a woman. There was a doll by the bedside table. Crumpled papers scattered on the floor. A tray containing a plate and a mug by the bed's foot. The foods in it were uneaten and had already turned moldy.

By the wall just across the bed were crudely written letters. As though they were written with force. It says, "All of you! Every single one of you! What a bunch of fools!"