An odd friendship

 Welcome to the Spot Writers. This month’s prompt is “nick of time.” 

This week’s contribution comes from Chiara De Giorgi. Chiara is an Italian author and currently lives in Berlin, Germany. She writes fiction, with a focus on children’s literature and science fiction.

 

An odd friendship

by Chiara De Giorgi

 

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When she was alive, Sister Elena of Cremona was a Catholic nun. She lived with other nuns in a convent, where they tended a vegetable garden, made jams and herbal liqueurs to sell to pilgrims, and ran a childcare center during summer when school was out. 

On the last day of her life, while descending the stairs, she stepped on a piece of bread and jam that had fallen there the day before. She slipped and reached the ground floor in an instant, but with a broken neck. She didn’t realize what had happened, so she kept on thinking she was alive for quite some time, and when she finally got it into her head that she had passed away, she had no idea where to go. She eventually joined a friendly community of spirits in an abandoned house in the charming village of Willow. They self-ironically called themselves “the Squatters.” 

Anyway, this isn’t the story of her life, nor of her death. Neither is it about the slice of bread and jam that caused her untimely demise. This story begins when a virtual reality arcade opened at Willow…

Sister Elena stumbled upon it one evening while wandering the village streets looking for someone or something to bless, and she was immediately entranced. Fascinated by the bright neon lights and chrome finishes of the VR units inside the arcade, she went in to take a look around. 

After giving the popcorn machine a quick blessing (“May anyone who eats this popcorn never gain weight”), she tried on the headset of a vacant unit.

She was instantly thrown into a scene straight out of an adventure book: pointed, towering rocks rising out of a blue mist, rope bridges stretched between them, vultures circling high above, where the sky was purple and black with patches of light. 

When a massive troll suddenly attacked her, Sister Elena reacted on instinct, striking a lethal blow before she even realized she was wielding a sword. The troll’s head rolled and tumbled off the bridge, disappearing into the fog, while the troll’s body slumped onto the bridge, causing it to sway dangerously. One of the ropes holding it broke, and Sister Elena leapt from one bridge to another with the agility of a ninja and climbed onto a rock.

Shocked by what had happened and, above all, by her own unexpected skills, she took off the VR headset and stared at it for several minutes.

Unbeknownst to the other Squatters, Sister Elena began to visit the arcade regularly. Her adventures became more and more daring, and her incredible skills soon earned her top spots in the player rankings.

Olga, the retired Russian assassin who had joined the Squatters after being forcibly passed away by a poison-laced vodka, noticed that the nun seemed increasingly absent-minded and had deep dark circles under her eyes (as much as a departed spirit can have dark circles under her eyes, but Sister Elena apparently really did).

So she followed her one evening when she went out “to bless the streets of Willow.” That’s what she said every night, but Olga had the feeling that something was amiss. Perhaps Sister Elena had a lover? It wouldn’t bother Olga’s conscience, but perhaps it bothered Sister Elena’s, which was why she was keeping it a secret. 

But Olga’s training as an assassin did not allow her to take anything for granted, so she followed the nun until she saw her enter the arcade. She watched her put on the headset and, to her utter surprise, saw her perform incredible acrobatics. 

Look at the little nun, she said to herself. Maybe it’s true that they train them to become ninja warriors!

Olga waited for Sister Elena to finish the session, then approached her. The nun looked sad and worried. What was going on? What mystery lay behind this whole business?

“These adventures make me feel young, strong, and… more alive than ever. I’ve never felt this way before! I can’t stop, I’ve become addicted,” Sister Elena confessed, lowering her gaze in shame when Olga confronted her.

“And now...” she continued, “now I have to make a decision.” 

Sister Elena explained to Olga that the entity that ruled the virtual world in which she now lived a secret life as a formidable adventurer had told her that she had become too powerful and that if she didn’t stop entering the virtual world, it would trap her there forever.

“I don’t understand what the tough decision is,” said Olga. “I don’t think being trapped in that world is what you want, is it?”

Sister Elena wrung her hands. “To tell you the truth, I wouldn’t mind that at all. The real problem is that the leader of the World of Rock would not allow me to continue my missions. She would imprison me forever. She’s the only one in the game who’s stronger than me, you know.” With another sigh, she added, “But, to be honest, I don’t know if I can stay away from the arcade!”

Olga placed a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on you. I won’t let you get trapped in that virtual world.”

A few nights later, Olga realized that Sister Elena was nowhere to be found. 

“Oh no!” she exclaimed, and rushed outside. 

When she reached the arcade, she saw the nun in her usual spot with the headset on. Instead of jumping and performing backflips, however, she stood motionless in an unnatural position. Afraid that she was too late, Olga hurried to her side, calling her name and shaking her. Unfortunately, she got no response.

Increasingly worried, Olga didn’t know what to do. Having never tried one of those headsets, she didn’t know how VR adventures worked. She didn’t want Sister Elena to remain trapped there forever, though. She had grown fond of the pious nun, especially after discovering her very intriguing ninja side.

She ripped the headset off Sister Elena’s head, not knowing whether the gesture would save her or seal her fate. But she had to do something.

The nun recovered and threw her arms around her neck. 

“You saved me!” she cried. “And in the nick of time… a few more seconds, and the leader of the virtual world would have trapped me there forever. She’d almost finished chanting the arcane spells to bind the ropes with which she’d tied me to one of the highest rocks. I would have had no chance of escape. Ever!”

Olga was somewhat embarrassed. Such displays of affection made her feel a little uncomfortable. 

“There, there,” she said. I didn’t do anything…”

“You saved my life!” cried Sister Elena. “Or, well, whatever it is we spirits have, anyway. I must thank you. I must do something for you. Ask me for anything!”

Olga thought for a moment, then a smile slowly spread across her face. 

“You once told us about a certain herbal liqueur that you used to make with your fellow nuns,” she said. “Would you perhaps make me a bottle? I haven’t had a glass of vodka since I passed away, and I must say I miss it more than I could imagine.”

Sister Elena’s smile surpassed Olga’s. 

“I can do better than that! I’ll show you where I keep my secret stash. There’s a hidden closet in the abandoned house that only I know about…” 

The odd friendship between Olga the assassin and Sister Elena began that night, between a nearly disastrous ninja adventure and a huge drinking session (spirits can’t get drunk, in case you’re wondering).

 

The Spot Writers:

Val Muller: http://www.valmuller.com/blog/

Catherine A. MacKenzie: https://writingwicket.wordpress.com/wicker-chitter/

Phil Yeats: https://alankemisterauthor.wordpress.com/

Chiara De Giorgi: https://chiaradegiorgi.blogspot.com/