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Disclaimer: Grim Fandango belongs to LucasArts. I'm not making money with this story and I'm not associated with the company in any way.
ON SOULLESS FEET WE CROSS THE FLOOR CHAPTER 1
"My, you finally woke up."
She sat up and grabbed her face with her both hands. She let out a sigh and let her hands fall when she felt only bone under them.
No flowers.
She couldn't remember falling asleep. In fact, she didn't even feel like she had slept. Olivia Ofrenda had taught herself to sleep so that she was always aware of what was going on around her. It had saved her life more than once.
She took a quick glance around. She was sitting in a dark room that smelled faintly of cigarettes. There was no furniture except a single chair, and Olivia felt very uncomfortable on the floor.
And someone was sitting on the chair.
"Where am I?" she asked. She felt horribly similar to when she had first entered the Land of the Dead.
The man sitting on the chair lifted his right leg off the left and bent closer. His dark clothes and figure fed Olivia's memories of the beginning of her journey.
"This, my darling, is the place we call Eight And A Half," he said with a bare voice.
The name didn't mean a thing to Olivia.
"Eight And A Half?" she asked and chuckled. "Well, what am I doing here?" She knew her beret wasn't right and straightened it with an obvious movement.
"You will learn that sooner or later. I am Tom Blanca and your guide for the time you will spend here", the man said. His suit almost made him disappear in the shadows of the room.
"The whole situation reminds me of something that I experienced years ago," Olivia pointed out. She stood up as she didn't like it on the floor at the man's feet.
Her hand flew back to her face as she remembered why she had been so relieved to feel bone.
"Salvador..." she breathed. "That cursed!" The memories of victory turning into terror and numbing pain filled her mind, and she clenched her fists. Her face wore an expression of hatred and for the first time in a long time Olivia let someone see her feelings.
"So you remember? That is more than what can be said of most", Tom pointed out, reminding her of his presence.
"I would be delighted to have an answer. What is going on here?" Olivia asked. Being sprouted couldn't be her imagination, and knowing that it had happened made cold shivers go down her spine.
Tom stood up and slipped his hands in his pockets.
"Don't be so impatient, my dear Olivia. You have more time than you will ever need. Follow me", he said. He had said Olivia's name as if it was meaningless to him. Olivia could only follow as he made his way to the door.
"So, you are my guide, then?" she asked purring softly, but Tom didn't even turn around. Olivia said nothing more, merely snorted.
The corridor they found themselves in was very different than the previous room. Everything was covered in red and a brownish carpet lay on the floor. Quiet music played somewhere and Olivia couldn't quite find out where it came from. The place was very similar to anything in the Land of the Dead and she felt a feeling of familiarity. As long as everything was like it had always been she would come up with something.
"How is it possible that I am here, even though I was sprouted?" she asked. No one knew what happened to sprouted souls. They just... ceased existing.
"But you just arrived." Tom didn't turn to look at her direction when he spoke.
"So I assume this is not the Land of the Dead? What did you call it again? Eight And A Half?"
"Quite so. I will tell everything once we've got you a number and checked you in", Tom said as they took the stairs down. At the end they reached a door with the number eleven. Tom stopped at it.
"Go in here and do as you are told. I will be waiting in the other end."
Olivia would have liked to ask something about the situation, anything, but as she saw Tom's expressionless face she decided against it. So, without saying or doing a thing, she pushed the door open and stepped in.
She arrived to a small lobby that was coloured identically with the corridor. There was one single lamp in the corner and it lit a small desk and the figure that sat behind it, but other than that there was no light. The strange music was still present and everything was somehow dreamlike.
"Your name?"
Olivia was startled as the figure spoke. It was a man and he sat bent down to his work -- whatever it was. Olivia smiled.
"Don't say you forgot me already," she said and took a step closer.
The man behind the desk lifted his gaze abruptly and once again Olivia found herself looking straight into Nick Virago's empty sockets.
"Ah, you," the man muttered and returned to his work. Olivia saw how he wrote her name in a thick book and put his pen away. "For some reason I am not greatly surprised to see you here."
Olivia laughed at this. "And I am not surprised to hear that from you."
Nick opened a drawer and took out a small piece of paper. "This is your number. Don't lose it", he said handing it to her. "The door is that way."
Olivia looked at the paper -- the number 312 stood on it -- and slipped it in her pocket.
Tom hadn't been ready to tell her what was going on, but she had had Nick wrapped around her little finger ever since they had met.
"What is this place, Nick? And what are we doing here?" she asked.
"You will find out sooner or later", the lawyer stated and Olivia sighed in frustration.
"Don't you start that," she said. "Tell me the truth." She pressed her hand on the man's book preventing him from reading it. She also noted that there was nothing else but names on its pages.
Nick looked at her, openly annoyed. Then he shrugged. "Fine, I'll tell as long as you let my book be. I need it."
Olivia removed her hand. "As you wish," she chuckled.
"This world is called Eight And A Half and it's simply the place were all sprouted or otherwise killed souls go. I don't know what happened to you, but it condemned you here to pay your depth." As Olivia snorted Nick shot a sharp glance at her. "And you will pay. Everybody does. There is no other option," he said.
"There is always an option. I am surprised that they managed to convince you otherwise," she said in amusement.
"Oh, but they have very thought provoking ways of convincing a soul of anything," Nick replied. As he spoke he took a swift glance at his side, but turned his sockets back to Olivia as if he'd seen something terrible. The movement was very fast, but didn't escape Olivia's attention. She tilted her head and allowed her gaze to see what the man had just looked at.
"Thought provoking ways... Perhaps," she muttered, maybe slightly shocked. In the dim she hadn't noticed it before, but there was a chain attached to the desk and the other end was firmly around Nick's ankle. She couldn't remember when she had last seen something so out of place.
"I suppose they wanted to make sure I don't escape my responsibilities," Nick said darkly. Olivia turned her sockets from the chain. She found it strange to see Nick imprisoned and she decided that they -- whoever they were -- wouldn't do that to her.
"What are you even doing here? Shouldn't you be happily in the Ninth Underworld?" she asked. It had been quite a shock to hear that Nick Virago was off to chase an unreachable dream. Olivia remembered the moment better than well.
Nick's expression grew darker, if it was even possible. "You forgot to tell me that your boyfriend sold fake tickets," he growled. "The train jumped in a flaming pit right before the gates of the Ninth Underworld."
"And you think I left that part untold on purpose? That is why you hate me now?" Olivia asked. She had had no idea...
"You are causing traffic and your guide must be waiting for you. Have fun," Nick stated as a reply. It was clear that he didn't wish to enjoy Olivia's company any more and the woman decided to leave. What did it mean if she didn't get along with Nick anymore?
She walked to the door with determined steps and wondered how long it would take before she found out what was really going to happen to her.
"That took a while," Tom stated as Olivia walked to him and arrived to a bigger room. They weren't alone anymore; other souls lingered around and some of them were dressed up like Tom while others looked around in suspicion and even fear.
"I met an old friend," Olivia replied. Tom looked at her and a small smile played on his face.
"I know. I made you go to him exactly because of that. This world gives such a nice impression when you see what it has done to your loved ones."
Olivia laughed in amusement. "Nick was never my loved one and you won’t scare me that easily," she said.
Tom didn't smile anymore, but eyed her in thought. "Perhaps." He shrugged. "But we can let that be. Let's take a look at your record."
"My record? I know what it says. Every single detail was gone through when I died," Olivia said.
"Ah, but we don't care about those now. In this world the deeds you committed alive don't matter. Only what you did in the Land of the Dead is important in any way. What number did you get?" Tom asked as he took Olivia to a small counter.
"312."
Tom repeated the number to a woman behind a counter and she turned around starting to go through a shelf of books behind her. It didn't take long before she found what she was looking for, and after a while she handed a red book to Tom.
"Here you go, Tom," she said happily and smiled. The man didn't return the smile.
"Thank you." He took the book and turned to Olivia. "And now, my darling, we'll go to my office and see what we'll do about you."
"I'm sure it will be interesting."
---
Tom's office was just like what Olivia had imagined it to be. Spacious and pretty luxurious, furnished with blue. The desk was simple and a blue sofa for two stood opposite to it. There was a lamp on the desk and it lit the entire room. The blinders were down and Olivia couldn't say if it was night or day.
Tom walked to sit behind his desk and Olivia took her place on the sofa. She leaned back and crossed her legs.
"Well, what do you have to say about me?" she asked softly and slipped her hand in her pocket. To her annoyance she found out that her cigarettes were gone.
"Much," Tom stated and leafed through the book. He took a cigarette from his drawer but didn't offer Olivia any. "This says many interesting things starting from the men you've seduced and stepped over."
Olivia snorted. "That's nothing you could blame me for."
"No, and it quite annoys me. It looks like you behaved... relatively well most of the time. All the corruption around you was caused by your men and while they did all that because of you, we can't really blame you for it."
"So I presume I don't have to stay here for long," Olivia said with a smirk. Tom glanced at her behind the book.
"What kind of memory do you have? Does the name Salvador Limones ring any bells?" he asked.
Olivia's smile died. "How could I forget? That cursed name will mock me forever," she muttered angrily. Ah, how she hated that man! Without him she would have never ended up here, but would be enjoying her so perfect afterlife.
"So it will, because we will keep you here for the crimes you committed against him," Tom stated with a snort.
"Sprouting one man can't be that serious. What about the extenuating circumstances?" Olivia asked tilting her head.
"Such as? Don't try to play with me, dear. I have taken care of so many cases that I am immune to bribing and everything you could offer me. We know how black your heart is so you should get used to the idea that you'll spend a while here. We are simply not letting you go easily."
"Are you completely certain?" Olivia stood up and walked to Tom with swinging steps placing her hand on the back of his chair. "There are always those little things we could talk about."
For a moment Tom merely sat there and didn't do a thing, and Olivia smiled to herself. Men could talk, but in the end they were all similar. Then, to her surprise, Tom brushed her hand off.
"Don't try that. I could get a better woman this very night if I wanted. You have been touched by too many," he said in determination and slammed her book shut.
"Then how long am I going to have to be here?" the woman spat and backed a step, surprised by his insult. No one had ever said that to her face.
"Depends on how you behave."
Olivia suppressed an annoyed sigh. She believed she knew what kind of man Tom was and she didn't like it at all. She usually got what she wanted with men, especially if she bothered to work for it a bit. Still, on occasion she happened upon men that were so dedicated to their work that couldn't think about anything else.
"You promised to tell me more about this world. Its existence is quite a surprise to me. No one was able to tell what happened to sprouted in the previous world. All just expected that they were gone. No second chances," she said crossing her arms on her chest.
"Many think that way in the Land of the Living as well. Let's say that someone wanted to make sure everyone gets to the Ninth Underworld. Everybody is treated the way they deserve in the Eight Underworld, but still many innocent are sprouted, eaten by demons or killed. The purpose of this world is to give them and others another chance," Tom explained. His voice bore no feeling and one could have imagined he was talking about the basics of physics.
"And if I die here?" Olivia asked. Tom shot a long glance at her.
"I wouldn't recommend it," he said then. "Everyone's patience has its limits and there is nothing after this world. The soul just stops existing."
Olivia had been told that in both of the previous worlds, but she didn't say it aloud. She didn't feel like wasting her opinions on Tom.
She couldn't say what she thought about that world. Nothing she had seen so far was different from the Eight Underworld and she felt like she had never left it. Only the too clear memory of pain that had taken over her entire body told her that things weren't what they had used to be.
And yet she had always assumed that if there was something else beyond death, it would be different. She didn't know if she was supposed to be disappointed or pleased.
"Well, what high plans do you have for me?" she asked.
"We have a free vacancy for a cleaner."
"A cleaner?" Olivia couldn't believe it. A cleaner? She? She had never heard anything so ridiculous. "You can't be serious! You can't do that to me!" she snapped.
"Funny; that's exactly what Nick Virago told me when I took care of his case. He was an amusing one," Tom said.
"And what did he do to get chained to a desk?"
"Tried to escape. That foolish idiot; we told him there is nothing better in this world. He will be writing the newcomers' names down for many, many years. If he had even tried to co-operate it wouldn't have had to be that terrible."
Olivia shot a glance at him. "It still sounds like a rather hard punishment for him," she muttered. Tom looked at her in interest.
"Do you even know who you are talking about? Nick Virago's crimes are just as numerous as yours," he said. "Not that it makes you any better than him."
"Nick? Come on, he was nothing but Maximino's lackey!" Olivia chuckled.
"Who betrayed, robbed and cheated countless people with the help of the so called law. And I won't even bother with how many souls he sprouted. The photographer girl wasn't the only one. I would have thought that you'd have a better idea of what kind of man you took to you bed."
Olivia couldn't bother to reply. Of course she had known that Nick wasn't innocent and it hadn't bothered her in any way. Though she had to be mad at herself for not keeping a better eye on him.
"And that reminds me," she said. "What happened to Lola? And Salvador? Surely they didn't have many crimes to pay for."
"Quite true. Only those whose past is not pure stay here. Lola was with us a couple of days because of some little matters. Salvador Limones, on the other hand, has already been escorted to the Ninth Underworld. He arrived at the same time with you. But enough about that. We better give you some work to do if we want to get rid of you one day," Tom said and stood up.
"I can hardly wait," Olivia stated dryly. She would have to find out just who was in charge and learn to know that person a bit better. Everyone couldn't be like Tom; there had to be someone who'd appreciate her and her talents.
---
It was silent as Tom led Olivia back to the lobby where they had picked up her files. In Olivia's opinion they hadn't stayed long in the man's office so she was quite surprised to notice that no one was around anymore.
Except the woman behind the counter. She was caught up in reading a small leaflet and raised her head as she heard Tom and Olivia arrive.
"Hi, Tom! You came back already!" she greeted and put the leaflet away.
"Well, this case wasn't that complicated. I though I'd make Olivia here swipe the floors," the man replied.
"Oh, she will stay here? It has been quite lonely since Maria was allowed to leave," the woman said.
"Perhaps, but don't think you'll make a friend, Agata. She is not your type," Tom warned. The woman called Agata merely laughed and pushed the man farther away from the counter.
"I think that is my decision. Go on now, we girls have things to do," she said and drove Tom away. The man didn't seem amused at all.
"As you wish, but remember what I said."
Agata laughed at this and Olivia knew she didn't like her. She reminded her too much of Manny's coat girl who had been just as annoying.
"It's no use for you to learn to know me. I won't be here long," she said once Tom was gone. Agata tilted her head in curiosity.
"Really? So you didn't do anything terrible? I think I will be able to leave in a couple of weeks," she said. "Come, I'll show you where your equipment is."
She walked to the other end of the lobby where stood a barely visible door. "Here you go. This is all you'll need."
"Really, don't waste your time. I am not about to touch those things," Olivia pointed out. She hadn't moved an inch but still stood where Tom had left her.
Agata glanced at her in worry and touched her skull, as if trying to brush hair behind her ear.
"Don't say that, you will only get in trouble. I don't know what you did in the Eight Underworld, but here you must listen to them." Agata whispered the last word and pointed a finger up.
Olivia looked at the ceiling. "Who runs this place? Who gives the orders?" she asked. Agata walked to her with a broom. She pushed it at Olivia in determination and she took it with an amused snort.
"I don't know, they never come down here. I'm not sure if even Tom knows. However, he is the highest of us so he wouldn't have to tell even if he did know. His time here will be over soon too, he has been here quite a while."
"A high ranking officer? Interesting," Olivia said softly. Maybe she would have to play with him a little after all. She would not give up that easily. "Is he a Reaper?"
Agata looked thoughtful. "I'm not really sure. Something like that. He started from the bottom like us, you know, but then he was offered a chance to get promoted. Everyone can't do that."
"Oh, I'm sure of that," Olivia muttered and glanced at the broom in her hand. She hadn't touched one after her childhood and felt ridiculous. A terrible feeling.
"I think you should at least look like you're doing something. Who knows if you learn to like it. Besides, you don't want to know what happens to those who try to rebel," Agata suggested. Happiness was gone from her voice and she looked at Olivia with a serious expression.
"You mean ones like Nick?" Olivia asked.
"You know him?" Agata's voice was surprised and it annoyed Olivia for a reason she couldn't quite put her finger on. She shrugged and positioned her glasses better on her nose.
"I was familiar with him," she stated.
"Well, I hope his situation makes you realise that it's no use to fight. It's always hard in the beginning, but you'll get used to it."
"Or you are forced to get used to it."
"They don't often go that far. Agata flashed an encouraging smile at her and walked behind her counter. "There's a list of where everyone should be. You'll probably replace Maria, so you will be spending most of your time in this part of the building. It's still useful to look where you'll start tomorrow," she advised.
Olivia said nothing. She felt oddly defeated. The broom in her hand seemed to be laughing at her and enjoying that she had sunk as low as possible.
"I have to find a way out," she muttered to herself. Nothing would stop her.
---
Olivia didn't sleep that night. It wasn't only because Agata has led her to a small closet with barely enough room for a bed. After all that Maximino and Hector had given her it felt impossible to even think about living in such a place.
Well, at least I get to be alone, she thought darkly. If she had had to share the room with someone she would have gone mad.
Talking with Agata hadn't turned out to be useful. The woman was talkative and eager to answer her questions, but she didn't know anything. What Olivia wanted to know was the identity of the leader, how to contact him and what he liked.
Maybe she would eventually have to turn to Tom and ask him about it. The man probably knew more than a pathetic librarian -- or whatever Agata was supposed to be.
They won't make me give up that easily, she thought to herself. When she had died they had made her walk and everything had looked like she wouldn't be facing anything good in the near future.
But what had happened?
For a short, sweet moment she had been the most powerful woman in the Land of the Dead. Everything had been within her reach and with one movement of her finger she could have made Hector LeMans fall on his knees in front of her. And her afterlife hadn't been that hard before that either.
Men after men had worshipped her and given her anything her black heart desired. Whether it was Maximino, Nick, Hector or one of her earlier boyfriends, all had been the same.
Nothing would change that in this world.
Olivia didn't sleep but sat alone and planned.
---
"Morning! Did you sleep well?" Agata greeted her the next morning as they met. They were on their way to the same direction, Olivia to see where she was expected to be and Agata behind her counter.
"I didn't sleep at all," Olivia said.
"Ah, I didn't either at my first night. Everything was so terribly strange," the other woman said with compassion.
"I didn't feel like sleeping. I have more important things to do," Olivia replied. Agata looked at her in slight surprise, but shrugged then.
"Well, if you don't need sleep... I myself wouldn't be able to spend even one sleepless night. I look terrible if I can't get any rest," she said. "Hey look, they have already put your name on the list. Ooh, you will be cleaning the sleeping quarters. That's not fun; I started that way as well. Make sure you really do clean everything. Someone goes and checks beneath the beds."
Olivia didn't listen to Agata's endless words. Firstly, she was on a very bad mood and felt ridiculous. She couldn't even remember when was the last time that the situation hadn't been in her control -- if you didn't count her swift sprouting -- and she honestly wasn't sure what was the best thing to do.
She had forgotten how to take orders.
"Is this really the only way?" she asked mainly herself and took the cleaning equipment, hesitating. She was ashamed to even look at it.
"Unfortunately. Don't worry, no one will pay you any attention," Agata assured. She flashed a smile at her, but the poet didn't even look in her direction.
Anything as long as I don't end up like Nick, she thought. It was one way of surviving and there was no way she could ever sink any lower. Perhaps she could tolerate a day or two of the embarrassment and then come up with something.
Without saying a word Olivia left Agata alone and headed to do her job.
The sleeping quarters were deserted as she arrived there. Each small room was identical and it only made her work more boring. On the other hand she was glad for that she could do it alone. Her pride wouldn't have stood it if someone had seen her in such a state.
Though she hadn't done any cleaning herself in a long while -- Maximino had hired people to do it for her in Blue Casket -- she didn't have to keep her thoughts on the work. It was so simple that anyone could have done it. That was one reason why she despised it so.
---
Olivia was pleased when the day turned to night and she could finish. The day hadn't been the hardest of her life or even the worst -- she had experienced much more than just physical labour -- but one of the most boring ones anyway.
She almost laughed at herself as she watched how people started leaving the big lobby -- she didn't know where though.
"Well, was it terrible?" Agata asked and leaned on her counter with her elbows.
"Deadly boring," Olivia snorted.
"Same here. Always the same, never anything new. I am so waiting for my leave," Agata replied.
"What are you even doing here? You don't seem like one to do much bad," Olivia said in mock interest. She had seduced so many men that she knew by now that every person loved attention. And if you gave them what they wanted they eventually gave you something in return.
Agata looked at her in surprise and straightened her back.
"Funny that you asked. No one here is interested in others' business. Well, yes, it was actually very stupid of me. You see, I didn't really travel around in the Land of the Dead. I was told that I was not good enough for any vehicle and they made me walk. I never got out of El Marrow."
"Such an uninteresting city," Olivia threw in.
"Say! I was only given a walking stick and off I went. I didn't leave the city because I thought I would be able to build a life there." Agata's voice turned gloomy. "That wasn't very easy and after a while I became part of certain business. Nothing big of course."
Olivia decided that it was for the best to let Agata blabber as long as she wanted.
"There were three of us, me, Ricardo and Alejandro. I pretended to be a rich lady near the casinos and found wealthy male company. My companions took care of the rest. Alejandro and I... " Agata sighed at that point. "He promised me that when we had got enough money we would buy tickets and go to the Ninth Underworld together. It never happened. My last customer wasn't stupid. He had hired bodyguards near and that was the end of our company. I think Alejandro and Ricardo made it though. At least I haven't seen them here and I do have looked for them."
"I am very sorry," Olivia said sounding more sarcastic than anything else. Agata didn't notice but smiled a little.
"Thanks. No one here cares."
It's pathetic how easily you can make friends with some people, Olivia thought. "I haven't been here long, but I can see that."
"I hope you don't mind my question, but how did you end up here?" Agata asked carefully and Olivia laughed.
"The same as you, actually. An unlucky woman tried to do what she knew the best," she replied.
That wasn't that far from the truth. At least if you looked at it with the other eye closed.
"It's not easy being woman," Agata said. "I guess we do need men to take care of us."
Olivia didn't agree, but found a much more interesting topic to talk about. "Where is everyone going?" she asked pointing at the last people who were leaving.
"Outside."
Olivia shot a curious glance at Agata and the woman continued: "This building we are in is only one of the many identical ones. We call the city Camino."
"A fitting name," Olivia muttered.
"Isn't it? Anyway, the city is on a small island and covers most of it. There is no way out, or if there is, no one knows it. Still, many gather at the shore after work or wander around. It is allowed as long as they return in time to do the work the following morning," Agata explained.
Olivia thought about it. "So we are trapped on this island with no way out. How soothing."
To be continued...
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