Chapter 5. THE PLAN

I opened my eyes and groaned at the bright light that was shining in our room. My head was aching so badly. I tried to remember how I got into my sleeping couch but my mind was blank. All I could remember was Malachi dragging me back to my room but I kind of passed out. I struggled but finally made it to sit down. I looked over at the wall clock and saw it was 9 am. Derek and Robby, we're not in the room. I dragged myself to the bathroom and pissed out then stepped out. I then reached for a glass of water on the table and drank it then went back to sit on the couch.

A few minutes later I heard people talking from outside. I recognized the voices. It was Robby and Derek. I brushed off my hair and sat on perfectly trying to hide my hangovers. I wasn't sure if they had seen the drunk me last night. As soon as they walked inside, I gave a fake smile.

"Good morning, brothers." I greeted them cheerfully.

"Brothers huh?" Robby exclaimed. He wasn't buying my pretence. "So, you are finally awake, Chase boy?"

"Seems you enjoyed your walk, Chase boy." He continued talking.

"You missed breakfast, Brownie. " Derek said. He was already sitting on the other couch and he was holding a book. He loved reading books.

"How was your walk?" Robby asked.

"It was good," I said and smiled nervously.

"Wow! I had no idea you were having a walk to the club. How did you know about the clubhouse?" Robby asked

"It was Malachi. The other new dude. I bumped into him last night and he asked me to the club. I didn't know he was going to buy me a beer."

"People go to clubs to get drank, halfwit. Did you think you were going there to worship?" Robby proceeded.

"Alexa was asking for you at breakfast," Derek said. At that moment I felt as if my heart sank in my stomach. I was remembering clearly that Alexa ran away from me.

"Ooh! She was?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yes. Maybe it's true what Robby said. Maybe she has a crush on you." Derek responded. It felt good to know Alexa was asking for me. That meant she wasn't mad at me. It meant that maybe there was a chance I could get to see my family again.

"Okay. Thanks for telling me." I said and hauled myself back to the bathroom. I refreshed and stepped out to dress up.

"I am going to find some breakfast," I said and started walking.

"Yeah, you should go grab some leftovers party boy," Robby said.

"I'll see you around," I said and stormed out.

I walked over to the cafeteria. A few people were taking their breakfast. I spotted a few people from the club. I wasn't the only sleepy head.

I walked over to the counter.

"Hi. Can I get some coffee, bread and scrambled eggs, please.? I said to the woman cook.

The woman turned around and emptied some coffee into a cup then turned to the counter and handed the coffee over.

"There is no bread nor scrambled eggs, pretty boy." She said and smirked her lips.

"What's left?" I asked.

"Mushrooms." She responded.

"Okay. Thanks. I'll use coffee only." I said and turned to walk away.

"Wait." The woman spoke and I turned back. She grabbed something wrapped in paper under the counter and handed me. I unwrapped it and saw it was a piece of lemon cake.

"Next time you better come early for breakfast." She spoke.

"Thank you. " I said politely. " I am Chase. What's your name?" Did I ask?

"Sophie." She responded and chuckled.

"Thank you, Sophie," I said and she nodded. I then walked to sit down in the eating area.

I sat down and focused on my breakfast. I was starving. The lemon cake Sophie offered me was so sweet. As I tore it with my teeth people from the opposite tables were staring at me and whispering among themselves. I looked over at their plates. They had fried mushrooms. That must have been the reason they were staring at me. They were wondering why I got served a lemon cake. I ignored them and continued eating.

I looked over at the furthest end of the cafeteria and saw Malachi. He was sitting down with the guys he said were his roommates and Alexa's friends. Once our eyes met, he stood up and started walking towards me. I stop glaring at them and pretended to focus on my breakfast.

"Hey. Are you hiding from me?" Malachi asked once he was at my table. He then sat down opposite me.

"No. No. Why would I hide from you?" I asked him and grinned

"Did you talk to Alexa? What did she say?" Malachi asked

"Uh....she didn't say anything. No, she said it's possible but not easy. She then ran off."

"Ran off?"

"Yes. I was asking a lot of questions. She said that she didn't want to discuss it with me. Then she ran off."

"Ooh shit! That's bad." Malachi exclaimed.

"Not as bad as it sounds. Derek said she was asking for me at breakfast. I guess there is a chance. But I am not putting my hopes high."

"That means there could be a good chance. You should go find her and luckily I am here because I know where to find her. We should go find her. "

"Like now?" I asked.

"Yes. Now." Malachi said then grabbed a piece of lemon cake that was remaining and squeezed it in his mouth. He then stood up and started walking.

"You coming?" He asked still walking. I stood up and followed him quickly.

****

Malachi and I walked talking indistinctly. There were people all over. Malachi led me to what I could say was a gym house. We walked inside and after glancing around I spotted Alexa doing yoga at the centre of the room. We walked to where she was and I tapped her shoulder.

"Hey," I spoke putting on a smile. She said 'hey" and then stood up. Her face is still pretty even when covered by sweat. She then reached for a small backpack and removed a face towel and wiped her face then spoke.

"What do you want newbies?

"Heard you were asking for me at breakfast. I came to ask what you wanted."

"Is it about what he asked you last night? About travelling back?" Malachi asked.

"Shit! Stop shouting." Alexa said. "Let's go outside...somewhere private and talk." She added and started walking. We walked right beside her. Alexa led us to the incomplete building I was crashing the other day. It seemed I was not the only one who found it a good place to hide. Once we were inside Alexa hopped on an old wooden table then removed a joint from her backpack and lit it up.

"Talk now" She added and started smoking.

"Is it true we go back to the world of the living? Can I see my family again? And my friends too?" I spoke rapidly.

"Ooh slow down new kid or you gonna bite your tongue. You are asking a lot of questions." Alexa spoke and I nodded my head.

"Well, you can go back to the world of the living but it's always not so easy. You don't hop on a bus and get dropped there. "

"How does one get there?" Malachi asked.

"It's transmigration. What I am trying to say is one has to travel between the two worlds, the world of the living and the world of the dead. Crossing over has not been easy because of the trapped souls that dwell in between the two worlds." Alexa explained. She paused allowing us to take in what she just said. Silence dominated for a while. I was still processing the new term " trapped souls". Malachi also seemed to be lost in thoughts.

"What trapped souls?" I finally broke the silence.

"You heard what Lorna said, not everyone wakes up here after they die. People who don't end up here are trapped between the two worlds. They can't be here or in the world of the living. " Alexa explained then paused for a sec then continued.

"These souls are very aggressive. They are not at rest. So, once someone from here tries to cross over they make it hard. I guess they blame their entrapment on us because we are somewhat free. If they get you, they entrap you with them. Forever."

"That's scarier than being dead. " I said.

"That's why you're lucky that you are here. You are free." Alexa said.

"So, how are we going to crossover without these trapped souls entrapping us?" Malachi asked curiously.

"We are going to need help and weapons," Alexa responded.

"What help? From who? And what weapons?" I asked.

"Just a few people from here. I'll meet you here tonight with the people who are going to help. Alexa said and stepped down.

"Don't tell anyone about this. If the elders learn about it then we are fucked." Alexa said and started walking away.

"Okay. Thank you." I shouted before she disappeared. She did not respond and I wasn't surprised cause I had noted one thing about her. She was a little rude and the type of girl who acts bitchy.

"Everything is a scare on this side," Malachi said. He was now sitting on the table Alexa was sitting on. He pulled a packet of cigarettes from his pocket then removed one from the packet and lit it up. He then threw the packet at me.

"I don't smoke," I said and threw the Packet back to him.

"You got nothing to lose, remember you are dead already," Malachi spoke sounding just like Lorna. He then threw the pack back to me and this time together with his lighter. I grabbed it. After all, I had nothing to lose. It's not like I was ever going to die again.

I ignited one piece of cigar and puffed it.