"Mr. Magpie, you have another visitor," Head Medic Susan said.

"Really?" I arched my brow.

Chris was standing behind the Susan and he waved at me. I was shocked to see him. Susan turned around and walked out of the room. It was just Chris and I.

Chris sat in the same chair that Farrah was just in. "Rollie, man, I've noticed there’s always something going on with you." He smiled, a rare sight when a joke wasn't being made by Boris.

"Yeah, I guess so. I don't know what it is about me." I chuckled.

"How are you feeling? When I heard the news, I was so upset. I couldn't stop blaming myself. I felt like had I still been hanging out with you, none of this would have ever happened."

This was some of the most I had ever heard Chris talk. It was mind-blowing, but I didn't show any surprise. I listened and nodded. "Yeah, I'm not going to lie. I was bummed out when you and Boris were no longer at the table. I didn't know what had happened. I still don't know."

Chris frowned at me. "So that night, we talked to Principal Pine. I maintained my innocence, but he said you admitted to being part of the spray painting prank. So, I had to listen to the whole spiel again, and Principal Pine said the punishment would be even worse if I didn't admit to being part of it. Principal Pine reminded me how bad it looked and how obvious it was that I had been involved. So I admitted my role in the operation.”

Leaning back further into his chair, Chris exhaled. “But I hung around the building after Principal Pine finished talking with Boris. I had to know what happened, and Boris came storming out of the Clock Tower building. I tried to talk to him, but he ignored me. I kept yelling his name, following him, but finally, he spun around and yelled, 'You and Rollie ratted me out! I'm never coming back!' and I stopped. I didn't know what to say. I tried to correct him and let him know that I said I was part of it, but I didn't reveal who else was."

"I did the same."

"So, I guess he maintained his innocence. Principal Pine must have had another piece of incriminating evidence against him because I guess..." Chris took a deep breath. "Boris got expelled."

I winced. "I can't believe it. I can't believe he got expelled for doing something so minor."

"Minor? I'm not sure how things are in your home world, but what we did was actually a big deal. This campus and its buildings are like sacred relics." Chris rubbed his forehead. "I should have stopped us from doing that prank. It's all my fault. I could have spoken up, or I could have just never got the bottle of ink from the supply closet."

"What's done is done, man. Not much more we can do about it now. Don't beat yourself up over it."

"But Rollie, my closest friends are gone. Bradley is gone, Boris is gone, and now you're in the medical hall. If I hadn't snubbed you the past week, maybe you would have went to the haunted house with me. Or maybe not. I don't know. I just feel like it's all my fault."

I shook my head. ”Seriously, don't worry about it. I'm really happy you came to visit me. That's all that really matters."

"But that's the other thing that sucks too, Rollie. I've enjoyed your company whenever we have meals together or go to the rec hall, but Principal Pine suggested that we don't hang out for a little while."

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I was stunned. "Did he say why? It doesn't make any sense."

"Rollie, it makes perfect sense. What we did to the rec hall is a serious crime on campus. He probably doesn't want us to cook up any more schemes because he's a smart guy. Think about it. You were trying to plan another prank to perform on campus. Now that we're not hanging out, are you still thinking about doing anything?"

"Maybe. I don't know." I sighed and frowned. "I guess you're right."

"Look, I'm sorry for bringing all this up while you're injured and still in the medical hall. You should be getting rest, not stressing out. But I had to visit you and let you know I don't harbor any resentment towards you. We're good, even though things have been distant lately."

"So we're still not hanging out after I get out of here, huh?"

"I think it's wise to follow Principal Pine's recommendation. At least until some more time has passed. Besides, that shouldn't be a big deal for you. I've seen you hanging around that group of popular kids. You made other friends pretty quick."

"Looks can be deceiving. Those people aren't really my friends. I don't even think they like me. I think it's because Farrah really enjoys my company for some reason, so she keeps inviting me and sitting with me." I shrugged.

Chris smiled. "Well, I have some good news. As an outsider looking in, I think she likes you a lot."

"Thanks."

"Well, I guess I'm going back to being a bit of a hermit. Have a good night, Rollie. I'll talk to you." Chris's voice grew shaky. "I'll talk to you at some point, I'm sure." Chris stood up and shook my hand, but I brought him in for a hug. His eyes brimmed with tears, but I didn't see a single drop. He left the room, and I reclined further into the bed.

The head medic came strolling back in. "Well, Mr. Magpie, those are all of your visitors for the night. I'll let you know if anyone else comes in. You'll be given dinner around 6:00, and you should be healthy enough to stand and use the bathroom in the corner of the room. Do you mind getting up for me right now just to make sure you can move?"

"Sure thing, doc."

The head medic raised her eyebrow. "Doc?"

I explained to her how medical professionals are called doctors back in my home world. She smirked and nodded.

"That's right, I've heard that once before," she said.

I slid my legs off the bed. My chest was sore, but I could stand off the bed and take slow steps around the room.

"Very good, very good. A little slow, but by the time you get rest tonight, you'll be all good tomorrow morning to leave, I guarantee it. I'd like to keep you here one more evening, though."

"Sounds good to me."

"One of the assistants will be back later to bring you your dinner. I'll see you around, Mr. Magpie.”

Later in the evening, I had a wonderful dinner that filled the room with a garlic butter aroma. I had no idea what I was eating, but it was a dumpling covered in gravy and a few vegetables surrounding it. It tasted incredible, and there was a little custard pie for dessert. I felt even better after having some food and juice.

I tried replaying the events that happened in the haunted house. I remember the hellion standing over my head, getting ready to devour me, and that was about it. Everything went black. The next thing I knew, I was in a bed. I was amazed at how good I actually felt. I wished I had a T.V., but it was good to have my books nearby. There was a little knob sticking out from the wall that I turned, lighting up the room with a soft flame lantern mounted to the wall.

I moved the table close to my bed and read my elemental magic text. Practicing the rune reading more until my eyes grew heavy, and I fell asleep.

My eyes opened in the middle of the night, and a faint silver glow came through the window, giving just enough light to see everything in my room with a dark blue tint. I could see the moon from my window, floating in the sky. It amazed me that the moon was still the same even in this world, but everything else was so different.

I started pulling off the blankets to get out of bed, but I stopped. A figure was sitting on the opposite side of the room, watching me. Scrambling back up the bed, I clutched the blanket and yanked it up below my eyes. My heart raced and my skin tingled.

"Hello, I don't mean to startle you. After everything that has happened, I felt it would be rude to expect you to leave campus to meet with me. I was told you were here and thought it would be best if I came to pay you a visit. Sorry if this feels like an invasion of privacy or an intrusion, but I simply just want to have a conversation."

Pausing for a moment, I put together who it was that sat across from me. ”You’re the one who wrote me a letter. You're D.S.," I whispered. I couldn't help my body from trembling. He seemed non-threatening, but how long had he been sitting there waiting for me?

This was all too strange.