Not that hard actually! I just looked at some books and walked out with two, one that had pictures labeling everything, and one that looked like it was probably a dictionary.

As I read through the books, I realized that I recognized some of the words, and it brought a whole new understanding to me. Occasionally I would change places between the bed and the desk, as my muscles demanded movement.

The sun was just above the horizon when I had to stop. I heard clanging downstairs and assumed that someone was cooking in the kitchen. I hoped my assumption was true, as I was starting to get hungry. However, when the clanging turned into banging and shattering, I knew something was up. Toz seemed to share that sentiment with me, as he was just behind me, rushing down the staircase.

In the kitchen, I saw that Elizabeth and Diana were fighting; well, it was more like Diana was assaulting Elizabeth. As I arrived, Diana started screeching, screaming, and throwing things at Elizabeth.

Blood was starting to appear on the floor, presumably from Elizabeth, and I realized what a mistake it was to stay upstairs initially. After Toz, everybody else started to pour into the room after hearing the screams.

I made the unexpected and impulsive decision to stand between Elizabeth and Diana, and while I couldn't fight, I knew it would send a message. I was afraid that Diana would go after me next, but my fears subsided when I saw Tony join me in blocking Diana, and then Toz, Aza, and Mark, and then finally Grey. Diana, knowing that she was cornered, was now trying to laugh it off.

When she realized it wasn't working, she pointed at Elizabeth and accused her of something. Elizabeth then told me in my head,

"Uhh, no. She's just saying that to set up an accusation that I broke her favorite glass, which I have set aside just on that counter over there. Don't say anything though, just let her embarrass herself. Watch."

Just as Elizabeth predicted, Diana held up a pile of shattered glass and started crying hysterically. Through her crocodile tears, she was mumbling something so incoherent that I didn't know if anyone else could even understand what she was saying. Everybody turned to the cup sitting perfectly intact on the counter, perfectly dismantling Diana's excuse, and exposing her for attacking Elizabeth for an ulterior motive.

Flustered, Diana ran, slamming the door behind her shut, and we all left her alone.

When the tensions in the room subsided, I went to the closet, grabbed a broom, and began brushing aside the broken glass on the floor.

Using a broom as a quadruped was already inconvenient, and being watched by everybody in silence just added to this "experience." When I finished, Elizabeth silently gave me instructions to sit down at the table.

Apparently, she said that to everyone else as well, because we all sat down without a single word being spoken. Still in complete silence, she asked telepathically,

"Does anyone have anything to think about Diana?"

Nobody spoke. I wouldn't either.

"Toz says that she tried to rummage through your stuff last night, is that true Steve? Just nod if yes."

I nodded.

"Steve confirms that she did, yes. But what do we do with her? Should we evict her? I know this is really soon, but with her behavior, I'm not sure if she will get any better." Everyone else put their head down and started to think about it, as did I. One by one, everyone pulled their heads back up.

"Steve, you are the tie-breaking vote here. Just yawn if yes, and cough if no or if you abstain. Either way, the end result will be…" I cut her off by yawning, as there was no way I would let Diana stay in the same house as me, not with the attitude from earlier.

"Thank you all, I will get the paperwork ready. There's some food on the counter if you're hungry, just be careful of any broken glass that may be in it."

I grabbed some of the food and carried it back into my room. It was like a bar of oats and didn't satiate me very well. I had long since repressed the guilt of taking food and not paying anything back, but now that I was here, it was coming back.

Who was it that I was taking from anyway? Was it this place's government, or was it the income of the people who lived with me? As far as I was aware, food didn't just appear on the counter. Pondering the question, and what had just taken place, I went to sleep, to the occasional sounds of someone stirring below.


I peered out the window the next morning, and it felt as if everything around me had that general silence after a bad event that nobody wants to address. Everybody was outside, and while I couldn't hear what was going on, I could tell from context clues alone. Diana was being kicked out. Before I reached the base of the stairs, the deed was already done, and everybody else was already walking back inside. A few walked past me, while Mark and Grey stayed behind and started cooking breakfast.

I was standing there, watching them as everyone else entered their rooms. It was mesmerizing, as they both worked in perfect unison. They passed by each other while they were both carrying trays and bowls, and that's when I caught a glimpse of it.

A kiss.

It was only a graze, but I knew what I saw. These bitches gay!

Good for them. Good for them.

After that, I decided to go upstairs and study.

Twenty minutes later, everybody was called down, and we finally had our first real meal together. The chaos was over. Everyone around me was chatting and joking together, and while I could understand most of it, I was still too afraid to talk. Aza made a funny face, and according to Toz, it was funny enough to make him fall out of his chair laughing. Someone might occasionally ask me to pass them a napkin, but their body language made it easy to understand.

I was the last to finish eating, as handling some of the cutlery was more difficult for me than it was for others. Who would have thought?

I saw everyone else at least rub their plate with a cloth after they ate, so I followed along, fumbling and almost dropping my plate while cleaning it.

As I looked into the plate searching for stains, I took my time, wondering why I was there in the first place. Was this place the afterlife? Or did I never die at all? Why was I here? Who, or what brought me here? And of course, the question which bothered me the most;

What really happened with my death?

All the other questions felt inconsequential, like the answer wouldn't matter. Nothing would change and I would gain no information about my surroundings, but that one; that one question seemed like it could have the biggest implications, depending on what the truth is.

I put away the plate and walked back up the stairs. Despite all the feelings these last two days, there was one that seemed to stick out more than all the others.

Everything will be alright.