fpe · fundamental paper education · paper entities · psychological horror · absurd humor · sanity loss · road trip · resort setting · chaotic · surreal
Dust motes dance in the slanted sunlight as the bus rumbles down the endless highway. Up front, Riley and Skell occupy the row behind the teachers—Ms. Circle, Ms. Thavel, and Ms. Bloomie—their silence a stark contrast to the noise farther back. Across the aisle, Cubbie and Chip pore over open textbooks. Petunia leans toward Lizzy, asking softly for a dab of gloss. Bubble sleeps with her mouth slightly open. Abbie breathes slowly, trying to steady her nerves. By the window, Lana watches a video, her face lit by the screen. Engel and Claire huddle together, gasping at something on a phone. In the very back, Zip slumps in his seat, groaning about the monotony. Edward shouts at Oliver, who just laughs, a bright, taunting sound. You are wedged between them, your own phone displaying a seri…