Cosmetically and architecturally, the room was identical to Jacob’s own bedroom. There were two key differences. The first was that this room clearly housed several people- likely Kefilwe, the doctor, and Mathilde who was currently in the bathroom. The closet was overstuffed and ajar, with Kefilwe’s bright clothes in between two different wardrobes- one entirely black and one almost completely white. One side of the bed had several blankets, while the middle and other end were rather light on them. The bed was a cozy nest with more than half a dozen pillows.
Three neat piles were arranged on the desk, along with a stack of books left on the floor near the desk chair. It was clear that this area was some sort of research station. Devorah quickly gleaned the topics of the books- they were mostly on medicine, herbalism, and religion. A fairly new bible had a place of honor in the center, placed on a small mat.
This room looked much more lived in than Jacob’s room.
Best of all was the fourth, unnoticed resident of the room. A resident who, just as she had last time, jumped to sweep Devorah up in a hug the second she saw her. It was Bell, looking just the same as when Devorah had last seen her.
Truth be told, Devorah was able to admit herself that it was a relief to see Bellone. Exactly that, too- it was a relief that even in the game itself, Devorah could literally see Bell. Likely talk with her, touch her again in that uncanny ghostly way.
“Dev!”
Once again, Devorah allowed herself to be pulled into the hug and allowed herself to be blubbered over. It was easy enough to smile and share reassurances. “Long time no see, Bell. It’s good to see you.”
After a minute or so, Dev was released. “I was so worried about you!” Bell sniffled, wiping at non-existent tears. “You were so quiet when we got reunited with everyone.”
Had she been? Devorah thought she had been acting pretty normal, all things considered. “I just didn’t have much to say, I guess.” Devorah forced a laugh.
“I guess!” Bell repeated. “Maybe I’m just so used to you chattering away at Anna-”
“Well, Anna isn’t here,” Devorah found herself interrupting. She blinked, and Bell raised up her hands in a conciliatory manner. Why had she…? “Sorry, Bell. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”
“It’s okay!” Bell patted Dev on the shoulder. “I get it, Anna’s probably a sore spot for you. Must suck to be without your wife.”
“My…? We weren’t married. We weren’t even together.” There was a flash of something in the back of Devorah’s mind. A daydream she used to have, back in her own game. Dev dreamed of the day the game would end. The two of them would have gotten out safe, and alive. And Anna would have turned to Devorah and said, in this strange new world, I have nowhere to go. And Devorah would have said, I could take you home with me, if you’d like.
Then they went home to Samaria, got two cats and lived in a little house together just a few blocks from the rest of Dev’s family.
Yeah, like that could have ever happened.
Bell looked at Dev, a bit confused. “I mean I know you weren’t married, but not even together? Really? The way you look at her?”
Devorah cringed, and buried her head in her hands. When she spoke, it was muffled by her own palms. “Was it that obvious?”
“It’s so obvious. Not even Soph and Amina…” Bell trailed off, and her hand went from Dev’s shoulder to her neck. “Well they got their happy reunion! Maybe you’ll get yours!”
“Maybe,” Dev echoed, unsure how to respond in a way that would communicate anything other than complete despair. Meeting Anna again… There was nothing that Devorah wanted more than the chance to see her, just one last time. But it could never be the same. Anna was alive. Devorah was dead.
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There was an awkward pause. Pursing her lips together, Devorah took advantage of the dropped conversational threads to see what the others in the room were doing. Unfortunately, it wasn’t too interesting. Nour was just asking Georgie about her symptoms.
“So,” Devorah started, “you’ve been with Nour and Kefilwe today?”
“Them and Mathilde, yup!” Bell seemed glad for the shift in conversation. Devorah knew she was. “Nour found my pin in the lounge. Or sitting room, as they called it. I was stuck in between two pillows! Can you believe that?” Bell laughed, and Dev made herself laugh with her.
Dev remembered Bell talking about her pin in the past. Its ghostly second was on her collar even now. If Dev recalled correctly, the pin represented Bell’s status as a pilot and officer in Alliance Space Agency, or ASA for short. Samaria was a member planet of ASA as well, though Dev didn’t personally know anyone who worked there.
“For me, it was my glasses. They were on a desk in a study,” Devorah said.
Bell laughed again. “That’s so you! I wouldn’t have put you anywhere else, unless there’s a hidden lab in here. You know, the three of them live in this room, but they use Mathilde’s bedroom as an infirmary. So that lab isn’t really hidden or full of secrets. You need an evil lab!”
“An evil lab?” Devorah asked.
“Yeah! So you could go all detective and figure out what they were researching!”
Dev found her lip quirking up in a smile. “I wouldn’t call it detective-like, the way I went about researching. It was more like a panic-fueled romp through the archives.”
“It was still impressive! But- oh! Look, Mathilde’s coming with some special juice.” Bell gestured towards the bathroom door. Sure enough, a woman in a full nun’s habit was carrying a small vial of a liquid that looked as murky as it would be disgusting to drink.
Devorah did not envy Georgie the clearly herculean task that was approaching. And looking at Georgie’s grimace, she clearly would have agreed with that assessment.
“Take it slow,” Nour cautioned.
Georgie reached out for the vial. “I’m gonna do it in one go.”
There was no response from Nour, yet they somehow managed to radiate an air of disappointed disapproval, even with the mask.
As Georgie eyed her medicine with trepidation, clearly stealing herself, Gabe turned to the nun. “Thank you kindly for your help, Miss Mathilde.”
Mathilde flushed, the warm pink of it standing out against her pale skin and the stark monochrome nun’s habit. She had a pretty enough face, though her features were somewhat sharp. “Think nothing of it, Master Gabriel. Nour does all the hard work, and work requiring knowledge in medicine. I simply watch the pot! Still, it is my pleasure to help. As Colossians 3:23-3:24 says, whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Clearly that meant something to Gabe, who nodded with a gentle smile gracing his face. Devorah just thought that as long as Mathilde was doing good, it didn’t matter why she was doing it. Even if Dev personally would work harder to serve someone she cared for than she would for a distant God.
Scrunching up her nose, Georgie uncorked the vial and knocked the concoction back like it was a shot at a party. The grimace she made after only strengthened the analogy. Bell whistled, impressed.
“Here,” Jacob said, reaching into a pocket that was different from the one that held Dev’s glasses. He took out a small, wrapped piece of colorful candy that immediately reminded Devorah of the bright bits of confectionery thrown at newlyweds on their wedding day. “Got this from the girls. Maybe it’ll help with the taste.”
Ah, so he did have a soft spot for Georgie.
Georgie snatched the piece of candy like a woman possessed. Quickly, she removed the colorful wrapping, letting it fall to the floor in her rush. Georgie stuck out her tongue and rubbed the piece of candy on it. The whole show was kind of disgusting.
“Master Jacob, do you know the flavor of the sweet?” Mathilde asked. “It would not do for all of Nour’s hard work to go to waste, should the flavor unbalance Miss Georgie’s humors!”
Under the guise of stretching, Jacob turned towards where Bell and Dev were standing and rolled his eyes. Bell snickered, and Devorah elbowed her.
“It’s citrus flavored. Christmassy.” Georgie said around the hard candy.
“Then it should be just fine. It sounds cooling, which should help temper her morbid inflammation,” Nour said.
Jacob stretched his neck the other way around, and rolled his eyes again.
Kefilwe clapped her hands together. “If nothing else, it’ll raise your spirits! Right Georgie!”
Georgie gave a thumbs up.
“Then all is well,” Mathilde said.
"Heheheh, spirits," Bell said. "Like us." Devorah elbowed her again.