As the fifth week of Zoom classes drew to a close, Daren could confidently conclude that he wasn’t learning anything. He did the bare minimum required for all of his classes, and if he had to explain what his classes were about, he could only give his best guess. With the physical campus closed, the barrier between home and school progressively blurred. Daren dreamt about school more than ever, and his dreams only further confused what little he remembered of his classes. 

On Thursday morning, Daren clicked the Zoom link for his medieval literature class, and when he did, a bright blue light shot out from his computer screen and blinded him. Once the light dimmed and his vision returned, Daren found himself on a conference call with what he thought to be a strangely medieval pair. Two men: one older, large with a charming demeanor, and the younger, thin with vacant eyes. They both stood inside a decrepit barn, quarreling in furious whispers. 

HENRY
Datty, I d’ont want too tolk to em.

CORNELL
You’re not talking. I’m talking. 

HENRY 
Den why do I haf tuh be ‘ere?

CORNELL
They said we both have to be here...

...

DAREN
Hello?

CORNELL
Hi.

DAREN
Who are you?

Introductions were conducted normally, and Daren did not point out the dubious reality of the situation as he became engrossed in conversation with the pair. Nor did Daren notice the figure floating behind him whose eyes were darting between him and Cornell.

Cornell noticed the figure, and his incoherent thoughts doubled. He couldn’t make practical sense of what he was thinking, but it was clear his scrambled mind felt a dimensional pull to Daren’s world. It was the only lucidity anchoring him to any semi-coherent thought and conversation, and Cornell could tell their worlds were overlapped. The force that drew him to this Zoom call… could it be a force weakening the barrier between worlds? He looked to the figure behind Daren’s shoulder for guidance, but received only more inconsistency. He decided to carry on normally.

DAREN 
How is the life of a serf? I’ll be honest, I don’t understand much of your time, but right now I have nothing but time to learn, supposedly… so I’m all ears for anything you’d like to share. 

CORNELL 
Well, my son and I live and work on the land of our lord. We’re relatively content, our lord is not the most observant person on account of his blindness and lack of hearing, speaking, moving and breathing. He can be pretty lazy sometimes. The situation works for me though. Not to having someone breathing down my neck or in my presence, having the freedom to conduct my personal activities—it's nice.

DAREN  
Two questions: Is your lord dead? Also, what kind of activities? I’m so bored right now and I could use some hobby recommendations. 

CORNELL 
Who’s to say?

HENRY 
Datty, canny go out back and play wit deh dead?

CORNELL 
No, I told you we both have to be here. 

DAREN
Two questions: Why does your son talk the way he does? Also, why are there dead outside?

CORNELL 
He talks the way his mother does, may she rest in peace.

HENRY 
Datty nev’ah lets me GOE ANYWHERE! So I can’t EXPOUND moi vo-cal range.

CORNELL 
Maybe I’d let you go places, if you didn’t leave a trail of the dead in your wake. I mean you’re 27, you should be better about these things.

DAREN
Okay. Two questions–

CORNELL
Shut up! “Two questions”... That’s the problem with people from your time, all questions and no answers.

DAREN
Okay. Okay. Give me a break, it’s a difficult time right now. There’s lots of uncertainty, I feel like I never leave school, nothing sounds interesting anymore. I feel like I don’t have any hold of what’s happening anymore and just want to escape a little by asking you questions.

HENRY 
Oi gave dose dead people an escape… when oi killed dem. 

CORNELL 
Henry I don’t think now’s the time.

HENRY 
Soreee Datty.

CORNELL 
It’s ok son. Why don’t you go outside and play with the cadavers? I think it would be okay if I handled the rest really quickly.

HENRY 
Yæy!

DAREN 
What do you mean by the rest?

CORNELL 
Daren, just come a little closer to the screen. Take my hand.

DAREN 
Why do you have a tattoo on your hand that says “due at 11:59?”

CORNELL 
It was my mother’s maiden name, just come a little closer.

Daren clasped hands with the cold grip of Cornell, who was reaching through the computer screen. When their hands met, he didn’t feel anything anymore, no worries, fears or joys. With a firm grip established between them, Daren was pulled into the screen. The floating figure behind Daren nodded and left the room, as Henry ran on screen wearing an Ole the Gaucho mascot head and pretending to guide cattle.