“So you're saying you entered the frozen storage room looking for Emma's rat, and in the next moment, you ended up in a snowy world, running from a giant rat? And apparently, our lunch lady—Harriet—has superpowers? Is that what you're telling me?"

Jennifer stared at Dora who was back in her usual clothes with a mix of disbelief and annoyance while Natalya leaned back, sipping soda through a straw under her horse mask, her amusement barely concealed.

Dora, with her mouth full of burgers and a crumb clinging to her lips, mumbled through her food, “Well, it sounds stupid if you say it like that.”

“Hmph. Are you kidding me?” Jennifer’s voice rose as her fists clenched, her knuckles cracking. Dora could feel the tension. She knew the blonde girl might leap across the table any second and take a swing at her. Planting her feet firmly on the ground, she prepared herself for a quick escape, just in case. Natalya, noticing the shift, placed her drink down and leaned forward, focusing on Dora.

“Jennifer's got a point," Natalya said. "Maybe you could explain things a little more clearly? It also doesn’t help your case that you and Harriet were... well, *on the ground* together this whole time in, um, that *compromising* position.”

An electric shock ran through Dora’s brain, her eyes widening in horror. Jennifer, sensing blood, narrowed her gaze, spreading her arms across the black cafeteria table in anticipation.

“How could that be?” Dora’s voice faltered. “I… What…?”

Jennifer scoffed, “There she goes, mumbling again.”

Dora’s head spun. She was sure she’d been in another world. Everything about the snowy realm felt so vivid—too real to be a dream. She had felt the biting cold, the stabbing pain, and the overwhelming fear just as intensely as she did in the real world. But how could their bodies have remained here the entire time? Was it some sort of Nightmare on Elm Street situation, where the dream-world deaths impacted reality? Her grip on reality wavered, her eye twitching as panic clawed at her. She realised she had been trying to maintain a poker face. Why? What was she hiding? She shook her head, momentarily lost. But the gruesome image of Emma’s body—torn and pinned by those vines—flashed before her eyes. Neither Jennifer nor Natalya had seen it.

Jennifer believed Dora was responsible for attacking Emma. And worse, neither of them could see the glowing green invitation mark on Dora’s hand or the half of Harriet’s body marked by it. Fortunately, the eerie green glow and the vines had slowed their advance once Harriet’s arm was reattached. Harriet was the only one besides Dora who could see the twisted reality they were living in—whether that was because of her own invitation mark or the Altersight ability tied to ABR, Dora didn’t know. What she did know was that the mark had the power to alter her—and possibly Harriet’s—perception. That might explain why their bodies remained in the storage room while they had been fighting for their lives in another world.

Her spiralling thoughts were interrupted by the sudden screech of a chair hitting the floor. Jennifer had jumped to her feet, her eyes blazing with frustration. The metallic clang echoed through the cafeteria, drawing the eyes of everyone around.

“We can’t just sit around anymore while Emma’s dying!” Jennifer shouted, her voice raw with fury. “I still don’t believe your crazy story, but fine, take us back into your fantasy world, Dora!” She extended a hand and pointed it directly at Dora, demanding an answer.

Dora narrowed her eyes and slowly got up, delicately shoving the rest of her burger into her mouth. After wiping her left hand with a tissue, she slowly raises her fist and pressed it against her chest, nodding and forming her mouth to a smile. Mumbling through the meaty goodness she answered with determination.

“No.”

“No?!”

“Yes. I mean, no.”

“How can you say that?! Emma is dying at this very moment, are you okay with that, you spoiled little bitch?!”

Jennifer's face turned all red and a vein popped out of her forehead as she reached towards Dora’s collar. However, the girl one year her senior managed to anticipate the move and step back in time.

“There's no way I'm going back there! I almost died.”

Dora’s face contorted into a grin as sweat ran from her brow. She giggled nervously as she remembered the cold, the snow, the desolation as well as the pain from having her body twisted in impossible ways. Not to speak of the rabid Ratatoskr capable of removing limbs with one swipe and the giant plant stalk that could effortlessly crush a human to a bloody paste.

If they were to return now, they could only rely on their human qualities. Harriet was recuperating in the storage room, eating expired food at this very moment and resting, so Dora heavily doubted she would accompany them and lend her inhuman strength. How could they survive as three pathetic humans if even Harriet struggled in that world?

However, even if they managed to survive, how could they possibly know what to do in that snowy hell to actually help Emma? They simply lacked the information. As Dora went through her mental gymnastics, pain shot into her hand causing her to suck in air through her teeth.

Sooner or later her own invitation mark would affect her as much as it is doing to Emma right now, as would it with Harriet eventually. Would Dora die? Maybe. Would a death in that other world be much worse, more horrible and agonising? Most likely. Sure, it would suck if Emma croaked and perhaps it would be even a little sad. However, Emma was a nobody to Dora and perhaps this was the divine punishment for all the times she harassed Dora in class. Sort of like a pencil stab in the neck, but on a cosmic scale. The school girl fought the desire to smirk out of fear of getting her ass kicked by the imposing Jennifer.

“You haven't seen what I've seen - what Harriet has seen. I'm not risking my life for a stranger.”

“Stranger!” Jennifer gasped, walked around the table and prepared to swing at the smaller girl. “Listen, you little bitch, I-”

Natalya appeared between the two just as the young girl with the snake pin in her hair began to cower.

“Dora is right.”

“Huh?” She lowered her arms, disarmed.

“We can not force her to do something she doesn't want to.”

As Natalya talked sense into the blonde girl with a ponytail, Dora nodded along which earned her a disgusted look.

“Let her sleep on it and think it over.”

“Sleep on it?! Are you listening to yourself, you pompous horse bitch?!”

Natalya sighed. Then she firmly placed her hand on Jennifer's shoulder, reached into her riding pants pocket and produced a fat stack of bills.

“Happy?”

Jennifer's blue eyes wandered down to the green stack. Without a word she pocketed it and addressed Dora with a much calmer voice. Said girl raised an eyebrow wondering what that was all about. Was Natalya something like Jennifer's sugar mommy? At first she was surprised about the fact that Natalya had that much cash on her in the first place. But then she remembered that the red haired mystery horse was most likely from a rich family, which was also the reason why she could keep Tempest - her horse - and had her very own stable for it at school.

“Think about it. But don't take too much time. I'll go on my own if I have to. I don't give a rat’s ass about your dangerous world or whatever as long as I can save a human life.”

Dora just frowned for a second, grabbed her backpack and returned home.

Dora’s mother sat at the old wooden kitchen table, sipping on a hot mug of cocoa, wearing a beautiful black kimono.

“Next time you go missing for a whole day, please call me, alright, honey?”

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She sniffed, her eyelids red and her long black hair lacking its usual lustre. Dora’s heart ached. She’d never seen her mother this upset. At the same time, it hit her that time must have passed differently in the real world. If a whole day had gone by here, then she must have been gone for six or seven days back in that snowy nightmare. The memory made her hand ache.

“Are you alright, honey?” Her mother noticed and gently placed her pale hand on Dora’s cheek. Crack. Her fingers were soft, like velvet. The warmth made Dora’s pain melt away instantly. She had to fight back her tears. Seeing her mother in so much distress nearly tore her in half.

After finishing her cocoa, Dora got up and hugged her mom tightly before heading to her room.

Staring at one of the posters duct-taped to the dark yellow walls—this one featuring a black-haired alien warrior turning blonde—Dora’s mind wandered. Jennifer had pleaded with her to reconsider going back to that hellhole, but there was no way she was doing that. She’d only said she’d think about it to get Jennifer off her back. A smug grin spread across her face.

Ring ring ring.

Dora jumped, startled by the sudden phone call. Who would call her at nine p.m., right before bed?

An ominous feeling crept over her as she picked up the red phone.

“Hello?” Dora looked out the window. The sky was still bright—typical for this time of year.

“...” Heavy breathing.

A chill ran down her spine.

“You have to go back…”

Goosebumps spread over Dora’s skin, and despite the warm weather, she felt cold shivers race up her arms.

“...or you will die.”

“Who is this?!” Dora’s rage flared as she yanked the phone away from her ear. Holding it like it was cursed, she glared at it in disgust.

“Is this you, Jennifer?! If it is, this isn’t funny! Threats aren’t going to work on me!”

She practically spat the words into the receiver, her mind filled with the image of Jennifer’s smug face.

Ding ding ding ding. The line went dead, replaced by an eerie dial tone. Dora’s heart pounded. Whoever that was, it didn’t sound like Jennifer. The voice was too cold, too… wrong.

Ring ring ring.

Dora rolled her eyes and muttered, “Not again.” She picked up the phone.

“I told you, I’m not falling for your threats!”

“Threats? This is Natalya. Are you alright, Dora?”

Dora breathed a sigh of relief, feeling her tension ease. It was comforting to hear Natalya’s voice, and for the first time, it was clear. No muffling. She must have taken off that horse mask. The thought of what Natalya looked like under it flitted through Dora’s mind. Was she beautiful? Ugly? Maybe she had glasses? Her curiosity was getting worse every day.

“I, uhh, I’m okay. How about you?”

“Can I come over?”

Twenty minutes later, Natalya sat beside Dora on her bed, eating chocolate muffins that Dora’s kindhearted mother had baked. She had to shove the treats under her horse mask, which now looked… different.

“Umm, why is this one black? The other one was brown, right?”

The orange-haired girl swallowed a mouthful of muffin, clearly enjoying it, before turning her head towards Dora. “Mmmh, these are so good!” Dora smiled, proud of her mom’s baking. “And yes, good eye! You’re right—this is my pyjama mask, so to speak. I wear it at night!”

Dora narrowed her eyes.

“Umm, really?” She glanced down at herself, realising she was in her own pyjamas—turquoise with cute cartoon sloths either sleeping or hanging from trees. Meanwhile, Natalya wore a sleek marine blue jacket that looked way more expensive than anything Dora owned.

Natalya burst into laughter.

“No, no! I’m just messing with you! The other mask’s in the laundry!”

“You!” Dora feigned offence, playfully bumping her fist against Natalya’s shoulder. They both dissolved into laughter, the sound filling the room and warming Dora’s heart. She felt the wetness of joy in her hazel eyes. It had been a while since she’d laughed like this.

“By the way, how did you get my number?” Dora asked, raising an eyebrow.

Without hesitation, Natalya replied, her voice light with surprise.

“You gave it to me the other day. You forgot?”

Dora shook her head, still confused. With all the chaos and stress, it must’ve slipped her mind.

“Anyway, I came to check on you.”

“Check on me? But I’m alright. I think.”

“Are you sure?” Natalya placed a hand on Dora’s shoulder. The warmth of her touch sent a soft jolt through Dora’s body.

“After everything you’ve been through lately, it’s okay to admit it’s hard.”

A gentle smile washed over Dora’s face, replacing the earlier playfulness. Natalya giggled softly and muttered under her breath, “You look just like your mother.”

“So you believe me?”

“Why wouldn’t I? You’ve got nothing to gain by making up something so wild. Unless you’re insane… and you don’t seem insane to me.”

Dora looked down at her hands and sighed.

“I think I just need some time. Then I’ll be fine again. Thank you, Natalya.”

There was a brief pause before Natalya’s tone shifted.

“By the way…”

Dora sighed again, this time in mild disappointment. Of course, there had to be an ulterior motive. Why couldn’t Natalya just be here for company—for free? Slowly, Dora turned her head towards the horse-masked girl, exhaustion evident in her posture.

“Have you thought about our offer again?”

Dora closed her eyes, her smile fading. Beneath her lids, her eyes rolled in exasperation before opening again.

“I get that it’s an outrageous request, especially after you barely escaped that… place.”

The stranger’s words echoed in Dora’s mind: “Go back or you will die.”

She swallowed hard.

“And I understand that you don’t want to risk your life for someone who treated you like crap. Nobody could blame you for that.”

“You will die.”

“That’s why I came up with an idea.”

Dora’s focus sharpened as she straightened up, turning her attention fully to Natalya.

“An idea?”

Natalya leaned in like a conspirator, her voice dropping to a whisper as she spoke into Dora’s ear. A mischievous smile spread across her face as she began explaining.

“Join your club?!” Jennifer scoffed at Dora and Natalya, who stood beside her. She held a heavy black sports bag, likely stuffed with winter clothes for their “trip.” Dora couldn’t help but chuckle at that—Jennifer was all packed up for the rescue mission, even though she hadn’t agreed to go back yet. Did Jennifer forget that they needed Dora’s invitation mark to enter this place to begin with?

Jennifer glared at Dora for a few seconds, then rolled her eyes. Dora had time to think. She weighed the risks—facing death versus the satisfaction of humiliating Jennifer and watching her squirm. While Dora was terrified of pain and loved her life with her mother—despite all her dramatic outbursts about wanting to die—she couldn’t shake the memory of last night’s ominous phone call. Whoever it was knew about the other world, and that meant they were serious. And then there was Natalya’s idea—it was simply too good to resist.

Instead of risking death and a premature game over, Dora decided she’d at least have some fun with Jennifer before returning to that icy hellscape.

“Fine. I’ll join your stupid club.”

Jennifer scoffed but noticed the smug grin forming on Dora’s face.

“What now?!”

“You’re not getting this fine lady’s help that easily.” Dora raised her index finger, then gestured grandly with her green-marked hand, clearly enjoying herself.

Jennifer growled but was quickly calmed by Natalya’s steady hand on her back.

“Okay, what else do you want?” Jennifer asked, trying to keep her temper in check.

“I’ve got a few terms,” Dora replied with mock seriousness. “First, you can’t leave the club. Ever. Second, you’ll call me ‘boss.’ Ehehe.”

She giggled, hand raised to her mouth.

Jennifer sighed, visibly frustrated but unwilling to argue further.

“Wait, are you really still thinking? You would seriously let Emma die before agreeing to my terms?!” Dora’s eyes widened, and she giggled like crazy.

“Ugh, fine! I’ll join your shitty club! I won’t leave, and I’ll call you ‘fucking boss’ if that’s what it takes!”

“Just ‘boss’ is fine, I guess.” Dora extended her hand, and after a reluctant pause, Jennifer shook it with an annoyed scowl.

“Don’t you dare fucking stare at me.” Jennifer’s voice was sharp, and Dora quickly averted her eyes, cheeks flushing. They were all in the storage room, changing into the winter gear that Natalya had generously provided.

After five minutes, they were ready.

“Hold my hands,” Dora instructed, extending both arms.

“Ugh, is this really necessary? Hey, rich girl, why are you already holding on?” Jennifer shot an irritated look at Natalya, who was already gripping Dora’s hand.

“Eheh, do it or you’ll be left behind, and Emmy will croak!” Dora smirked mischievously.

“You fucking gremlin,” Jennifer muttered, grabbing Dora’s other hand with such force that Dora winced.

“Ouch, ouch, ouch!” Dora yelped, feeling her bones strain under Jennifer’s grip.

Nearby, Harriet snored loudly in the corner of the storage room, crumbs still dotting her face from her most recent meal.

“Ratatoskr number two: The squirrel plant’s revenge, here we come!” Dora muttered, half-dreading and half-excited for what was about to come next.