The archway between the two pine trees loomed ahead, and I picked up my pace. The cold had vanished, but my stomach growled and I wanted to take a nap. Then it was right in front of me, and I stepped through.

My feet hit the linoleum and a blast of warm air hit my face. I blinked, and I was in the grungy bathroom. The out-of-order stall stood behind me and the cracked bathroom mirror was in front.

I breathed in a mouth of stale cigarette smoke and started coughing, the difference from the fresh air in the forest was staggering. The mirror showed my reflection, wide eyes, bright cheeks, and the words Level 4 floating above my head. I swallowed, and my stomach lurched, thinking about Michael.

Then Fennel and Harold came to mind. The divers had to be dead for the song to get to level three, or maybe they’d been made up. Something to give me some hints, to make success even possible. The hat, coat and sneakers felt warm in the room. The boots were gone, and I hoped they'd be in my inventory the next time I dived. Time to face the music.

I stepped out of the bathroom, my feet sticking to the floor as the last note of the hymn faded. Everyone in the corner both stared with relief. "I got your coat," I said to Maple, breaking the mood in the bar. Everyone in the corner booth relaxed.

Maple stood up with a smile and approached as I shrugged it off. "I couldn't have done it without it. Thanks."

"I'm glad you’re okay," he said. "Any injuries? I have my med kit, I grabbed it as soon as you entered."

I shook my head, pulling off the hat. "Not this time, it was more of a puzzle than a straight-up fight." My gaze landed on the cat that sat next to my drink on the counter. I approached and picked up the cool glass, then nodded to the cat.

The jukebox shook, and I knew what was happening. Taking my glass with me, I walked over as the sticker printed. I pulled it out of the slot. It was a fake album cover of a snowy background with a blood red paw print in the center. Michael's voice echoed through my head, but I shoved it away.

Maple joined the others at the booth while I went back to the counter, to the same place I’d stuck my first trophy. My name was carved there, Alex, with only one sticker under it. This one I peeled off and stuck right next to the first. It sunk down, and when I blinked it looked like the other, like it had always been part of the bar. My fingers trailed over my dad's name, but I pulled away, taking my drink with me.

I sat down on the edge of the booth, looking at a fresh basket of onion rings with ranch dip.

Jason smiled, "I ordered them as soon as you entered, but Bob had already been working on another set. I knew you'd make it."

I blinked again, trying to wrap my head around that, and I couldn't stop from glancing back at the bar. Bob was polishing a glass, not looking in our direction, but the cat, the cat was staring at me, and he'd moved. He sat near the stickers from my dad. I raised my glass up to the cat and then took a sip of my drink before turning back to the group.

"I'm glad you thought ahead, I missed a few meals in there," my stomach growled on cue, and I dug in.

Daniel sipped on his own drink. "Well, you beat a dive at a higher level than yourself. That's a pretty hard thing."

"It wasn't a straightforward dive, just a trail in the forest with no instructions." I shrugged my shoulders. "Do the bodies of divers always stay in the dive when they fall?" I asked, keeping my voice quiet.

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Daniel frowned. "It depends on the song. Sometimes they’re there, most of the time they aren't."

"Some consider that bad luck," said Jason.

Daniel glared at him. "It's usually a sign of the dungeon messing with you, but you made it out." He held out his glass to clink it with mine. I touched my glass to his. "Any new items?"

"That's hard to say," I mumbled, picking up the next onion ring. "I got some really nice leather boots, but I don't have them on now..." I shoved the whole onion ring in my mouth.

"Boots are good, I bet they worked better than your sneakers," said Daniel.

"The sneakers were good for my race, but not so great in the snow." I took another sip of my whiskey and noticed my soda was still in the same place, so I switched to that. Still fizzy. I had to remember that only the length of the song had passed while I was gone. "I looted the divers... they had a knife and lighter between them."

Jason leaned forward, looking at Daniel. "Will she get those next time?" His eyes focused on the man, like he’d go searching for bodies if the answer was yes. It was like a switch flipped with him, he’d become careful and super serious.

Daniel hesitated before answering. "I think so. There’s only one case I know of from this bar where that's happened before, and they got to keep the items in their inventory." He nodded to himself and added nothing else, but his eyes flickered to me.

I shoved another onion ring in my mouth, chewing slowly. Somehow I’d survived, and now I was level four, though I wouldn't have even chosen that song tonight if that whispered voice hadn't suggested it. Yet, looking around at Maple, Jason, and Daniel I didn't say anything. Maple still looked worried, and so did Daniel, at the idea that I’d gotten bonus items.

Jason shrugged and downed the rest of his drink. "I have plans tonight, so I'm gonna head out." Daniel got out of the booth to let Jason stand up. "I'll see y’all next week." Everyone at the table gave him a nod, and he headed out.

Maple spoke up as well. "I have studying I need to do, so I'll see you guys next week."

I stood up and let him up. "Thanks again for the coat and hat, I really appreciate it." I resisted leaning in for a hug, since I didn’t know if that would be weird.

He slid the coat on and took a deep breath. "Of course, I hope you have a wonderful week." He flashed a bright smile at me and nodded at Daniel before exiting as well.

I still had onion rings left and a drink to finish, so I sat back down, as did Daniel. "Did I spook everyone?" I asked. Part of me wanted to ask Daniel about the voice I’d heard, the one that had told me what songs to pick, but I didn't want to say anything in the dive bar. The cat had looked away from our table, but now and then he glanced back our way. His eyes glowing in the dim light. Once, I caught the cat studying the stickers under his paws. It was weird.

"No." He shook his head. "If no one’s diving, we get some drinks and a little food once a week, but don't stay long. Everyone has their own lives outside of this. Or, they try to, though they tend to get sucked in to at least check the jukebox once a week."

"Like what happened with me," I said between bites. "I wasn't going to dive, but there was that song."

Daniel shrugged. "Jason already dived earlier this week, though I'm surprised Maple hasn't gone back in yet." He reached over and stole an onion ring.

"Thief," I growled.

"Eh, you weren't going to finish them, and you should get some proper food for dinner after your dive, not just fried food."

"Thanks, Da...." I cut the words off, the sarcasm forgotten. Moments like this crept up where I'd remember he was gone, and my chest would ache. Even now I felt like I’d just heard about it for the first time. Instead of continuing, I just closed my mouth and gave him a nod. "You're right." I took another sip of my soda, then stood. "I have to study, plus I need something a little healthier."

"Still planning on training tomorrow?" he asked, thankfully not commenting on my sudden mood change.

"Yep. I'll be there."

He smiled. "Good, we can do a recap of what happened tonight and talk about ways to improve." He finished the last onion ring I’d left in the red plastic basket.

"Sounds like a plan," I said. Then I headed out the door, the cooler air making me wish, yet again, I'd brought a jacket.