Back to School Nightmares: 8 Horror Stories of Classrooms, College, and Carnage

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hey there, my spookies. Enrique Cuto here, your narrator and host.
School is back in session and the halls are haunted. Tonight.
We're sharpening our pencils and our fangs for eight school
time terrors to get you perfectly primed for back to school.

(00:27):
Think sticky cafeteria trays that blink when you're not looking.
Think a pop quiz that grades you back. Think a
guidance counselor who knows exactly what you're afraid of because
it wrote your phobia on the blackboard before you walked in.

(00:49):
Maybe you'll hear a cheer from the empty gym, or
a whisper from the dark side of the trophy case.
Maybe that hallway draft isn't the aircase conditioning, it's something
pacing the lockers, checking every combination until it finds yours.
And if you've got detention, well make sure the clock's

(01:12):
secondhand actually moves. Some rooms don't let time pass the
way they used to, so grab your hall pass, keep
your head down during roll call, and whatever you do,
don't open the note that says meet me after last bell.

(01:34):
Every threat waiting for you, we've circled in red pen
Eight lessons you won't forget from the deep archives of
weekly spooky Attention Students. Class is in session, the lights
are flickering, and rumor has it the substitute isn't human.

(01:58):
It's time to go back to school with weakly spooky Now,
please take your seats and don't look behind you. The
Chain of Time by Killian Crane. Andrew Leed felt like

(02:19):
a freshly poured fountain drink from his blonde curls to
his pudgy twelve year old belly. He absolutely fizzed. He
was blind to the children enjoying recess around him on
the playground of Pine Mill Middle School. His entire world
was a bridge of grass to Claire Ellis. Claire sat
in the front corner of his class. Andrew, who would
never admit it to anyone, found himself looking at her

(02:42):
more often than the whiteboard. She faced away from him,
staring into the expansive forest behind the school. She had
brown hair held up in a long ponytail by a
pink ribbon. He knew he had no business talking to
a girl like her, but he decided that morning that
he would ask her if she'd liked to go to
the Gumbo Festival with him. He just couldn't seem to

(03:04):
move his feet. He finessed past several crinkling snack wrappers
and drew his brass pocket watch. Flipped open, it showed
there was still fifteen minutes of recess. As he tried
to put the watch away, the chain went taut and
flew from his hand. Bewildered, Andrew turned to see Thomas Daniels.
Thomas jiggled the watch, making it glint wildly. What you

(03:28):
do in chubb, Thomas asked, Andrew's fist clenched. Thomas, please
just give it back. Oh I will, Thomas jeered. He
swung the watch evenly. If you can catch me, Andrew
saw Claire still staring into the woods, and then focused
on Thomas. He made a clumsy lunge, and Thomas pulled

(03:49):
it taut, palming the watch, then letting it fall free again,
as if he was walking the dog with a yo yo.
Try again, Faddy, Andrew did, but Thomas still held the watch.
Cut it out Thomas. The metal grazed Andrew's fingers before
it was pulled free a third time. Children gathered around

(04:09):
to watch the spectacle. Thomas, the circus master, led Andrew
in a wide circle like a prize animal. Uh uh uh.
He teased. Andrew's face grew blood red with anger and effort.
He charged head low. Thomas dodged and stuck his foot
out to catch Andrew in an embarrassing trap. The crowd
roared with approval as he thudded to the ground. He

(04:31):
struggled to his feet, his heart limping in his chest.
He put his hands over his head, fighting the need
to puke. Look at those fat titties. One kid squealed,
Andrew instantly shamed, covered his chest with his hands. Who
said that he squeaked, spinning around, trying not to jostle himself.
No one answered. They simply pointed and laughed. Thomas spun

(04:54):
the pocket watch high above his head, cocking his arm
to throw it. When an adult voice cut through the
laughs of thehich children. What is going on here, miss
Minner demanded. The circle fell instantly silent, her eyes locked
onto thomas office. Mister Daniels, everyone else back inside. Recess
is over. There was a collective groan as the crowd

(05:16):
headed for class. Thomas flung the watch hard into Andrew's chest.
Once the watch was safe, Andrew searched the crowd for Claire.
He didn't see her pink bow anywhere. The tree line,
like a storm on the horizon, loomed silent and empty.
Ten minutes into class, Claire still wasn't in her seat

(05:38):
in the front corner. When he saw that Miss Minner
still hadn't noticed, Andrew raised his hand. In the five
weeks after Claire's disappearance, Andrew gained twenty pounds. He sat
at the dinner table of his mother's small apartment watching
a man who claimed to be an expert on the occult.
The man waved his hands excitedly. In fact, people back

(05:58):
then always kept precious medals on their person. Certain medals
were believed to ward off the evil eye. Andrew's mother
changed the channel to the news. The oven chimed, and
soon a baking sheet, packed end to end with French
toast lay before Andrew, crispy crusts, buttery middles, and the
perfect amount of cinnamon. It was Andrew's favorite dessert. Thank you, Mama,

(06:22):
Andrew said, as he dug in. She tussled his hair.
Love you, gummy bear. The Lead family hadn't always lived
in a small apartment. Once upon a time, the Leads
were the proud owners of a successful restaurant. Andrew's father
ran the business and his mother was head chaff Andrew
was the professional taste tester. If he finished his homework

(06:43):
Monday nights, when business was usually slow, they watched Westerns
at the bar. Despite great business, Andrew's father had made
many mistakes with the money. The last thing Andrew ever
heard his father say was it's getting where we can't
even afford to feed him. Warning his father was gone,
Andrew's mother sold the restaurant, their house, traded in her car,

(07:06):
and moved them into an apartment. Despite their tight budget,
she always made sure their son was fed. She cooked
three hearty meals every day, with plenty of snacks in between.
Shortly after his father left, Andrew began to gain weight.
The telephone rang, and she quickly answered it. She looked
over her shoulder before going out of the room to

(07:28):
take the call in private, Andrew wiped his fingers clean
and down the last of his chocolate milk. On the television,
the window over the reporter's shoulder faded into a picture
of Claire, sheepishly smiling. A piece of ice lodged itself
in his heart, and the reporter's words drove the ice home.
The search for Claire Ellis, twelve year old daughter of

(07:48):
James and Olivia Ellis, has been discontinued by authorities. Claire
was last seen wandering into the woods behind pine Hill
Middle School. The Ellis family asks that anyone with information
involving Claire's disappearance called the number below feet pattered from
down the hall back into the living room. A candlelight
visual will be held Saturday at six pm at the
Pine Hill Middle School on behalf of all of us

(08:10):
here at Channel six news. The channel abruptly changed to cartoons.
Andrew's mother held out the remote, letting out a sharp
breath as she replaced the phone. I'm sorry you saw that,
gummy bear. Let's not think about that tonight, okay, But
Andrew had thought of Claire every night. As far as
the police had learned, Andrew was the last one to

(08:31):
see Claire. Despite being full, he wanted something to snack on.
He flipped open his brass pocket watch. It was only seven.
His mother sounded like a cracked china cup as she spoke,
what's your watch say, cowboy? The previous year, Andrew and
his mother went to the movies and saw a vintage western.
When the hero strode into town, two bad guys leveled

(08:54):
their guns. The hero pulled out a brass pocket watch
from his duster and said, will you look at that?
It's high time things changed round here. He pulled his
gun and shot the men down. Andrew had been overjoyed,
clapping loud enough to draw sh from somewhere in the dark.
On Christmas Day, Andrew had an exact replica of the watch. Seven.

(09:19):
It's getting late, he told her, holstering the watch. Though
he truly loved the watch, it reminded him of times
with his father watching westerns. They had been a family then.
And Andrew, whether he meant to or not, had ruined
that he was the reason his father left. The more
he thought about his failures to his family to Claire,

(09:42):
the more he wanted to eat and forget. He rose
and gave his mother a gentle hug. I'm going to
go to bed, Mama, I feel really tired. She hugged
him back, and Andrew remembered a time when she had
been able to wrap her arms all the way around him.
Good night, gummy bear. I'll have a big breakfast for

(10:02):
you in the morning sounds good. Mama, love you, love
you too. He drifted to his room, closing the door
behind him. He no longer felt nice and full and sleepy.
He felt fat. If he hadn't been fat, he wouldn't
have been picked on by Thomas. He wouldn't have had
a problem asking Claire to go to the Gumbo Festival

(10:24):
with him. Claire wouldn't have disappeared. The large bag of
pretzels he kept in his nightstand lay in his lap open.
He sat on his bed, watching the pocket watch tick
away the seconds, silently eating the pretzels until they were gone.
The next day, the children were allowed on the playground
for the first time since the disappearance. Andrew sat at

(10:45):
the edge of the forest, eating from a plastic sleeve
of many donuts, watching the other kids play. Thomas was
occupied humiliating another target. Behind Andrew. The new fence pole stood,
but no fence barred the forest. During a lonely lifelunch
two days before, Andrew heard Coach Bart say to another teacher,
those guys building the fence are really dragging. But in

(11:08):
the distance, Thomas gave some poor soul an atomic wedgie,
pulling him off the ground feet kicking. I wish I
could help you, kid, Andrew said, around a mouthful of doughnut.
A familiar voice hissed behind him, you could help me, Andrew.
He turned wide eyed to see the back of Claire Ellis.

(11:30):
She looked exactly the same as the day she disappeared,
down to her long ponytail tied with a pink bow. Claire,
she laughed. There was a scream from the playground, making
Andrew wheel around. Coach Bart, who had taken Miss Minner's
place as Andrew's teacher, had Thomas by the ear, marching
him towards the school. A crowd of kids followed, cheering

(11:53):
and laughing. When Andrew turned back to the forest Claire,
the smallest crescent of Claire's face peeked from behind a tree.
Deep inside. Claire, people have been real worried about you.
Where have you been, she grinned, saying nothing. The wrapper

(12:14):
crinkled in his trembling hand. You want a doughnut? With
a laugh, she turned and fled deeper into the woods. Claire, wait,
he called out as he breached the tree line. She
darted tree to tree far ahead of him. Her giggles
seemed to echo when Andrew slowed. She stopped and watched
him struggle to catch up. Claire, Please, He wanted to

(12:39):
go back to the playground and get an adult, but
he pressed on, heaving and walking when he could no
longer run, wheezing please for her to stop. She laughed
in response and ran aimlessly deeper into the forest. His
heart pumped madly, screaming at him to stop and turned back,
but he couldn't. It was his fault that she got lost,

(13:00):
and he wanted to make it right. Pollen danced in
low orange rays between branches. Andrew was nervous to see
the time. Peekaboo, Claire said, disappearing behind a tree. He
leaned on his knees, crushing the empty plastic sleeve he
had lost all the donuts running through the forest. Claire,

(13:20):
I don't know what you're doing, but we have to
go back now. Your parents miss you, she beckoned in
a low voice, Save me. Andrew apprehensively, he rounded the tree.
He peeked, Not seeing anyone, He called out to her,
but only as echo answered. The dancing rays dimmed as

(13:41):
the sky continued to redden. Andrew searched for his trail
of doughnuts. First calling for Claire, then for anyone. When
night fell, the forest stirred with sounds of things unseen.
Andrew didn't dare call out. A stray Andrew couldn't see
gouged him deeply into his arm. The pain and the

(14:04):
fear and the sheer exhaustion forced him to his knees.
The harvest moon, large and orange in the sky, was
swallowed by an inky sea of clouds. Andrew huddled against
a tree, sobbing. As total darkness fell, the creatures of
the night reveled in the cold void. He curled inward
on the itchy forest floor, shivering somewhere in his tears.

(14:29):
Time slowed to the pace of a bad nightmare. Then,
as suddenly as the forest came alive, it went deathly silent.
There was a click in the dark, followed instantly by
blinding light. He put his hands to his face and
cried out. As his eyes adjusted, he saw that it

(14:51):
was a flashlight held by an unseen figure. Hello, Andrew
called out, still shielding eyes. There was nothing. Acute panic
filled his spine and his voice, Are you here to
help me? The forest floor crunched as the light approached.

(15:13):
Andrew pressed against the tree cornered, an angel gently placed
her hand on his head. Her golden hair fell in
strands around her white dress. Feeling her hand on his head,
his muddy brown eyes locking with her emerald greens, his
fear melted away. My goodness, she said as she knelt.

(15:36):
What are you doing here? Andrew sunk into the angel's shoulder,
trying to speak between loud sobs. I'm lost, miss, I
followed my friend and I can't find her. Now, please
help me. She rocked him in her arms, shushing him.
The angel held his face in her hands and wiped
streaming tears from his cheeks. What's your name, sweet, he sniffled.

(16:02):
I'm Andrew, ma'am. She helped him to his feet and
shined the light under her face, illuminating a wide grin.
My name is Agatha. She forced him to lock fingers
with her. I heard someone crying in the dark. Children
are always getting lost out here. Andrew wiped his nose
on his sleeve. You live around here, Agatha leveled her

(16:27):
face with his. Not far at all. Let's get you
in the house and warmed up. They walked hand in hand,
led by the flashlight. Ma'am, Andrew inquired apprehensively, you said,
A lot of kids get lost in these woods. I'm
looking for my friend Claire. She went missing a few
weeks ago. You haven't seen her, have you? Nope? Sorry, sweetie.

(16:52):
And in clearing ahead of them was a small house.
Warm electric light peeked from behind a curtained window, as
well as a familiar cinnamon smell. He brightened, What is that?
Agatha smiled warmly. I like to have a late night
treat sometimes. She led him up to the porch steps

(17:13):
and opened the door after you. The inside of the
house was cozy and warm. In the center of the
small room was the dining table with tall back chairs.
The corner had a small reading nook topped with a
lamp that dimly lit the room. Several large volumes lay
on the table. Across from the entrance was another door closed.

(17:35):
Andrew assumed that was her bedroom. The kitchen dominated the room.
Everything appeared to be commercial grade, reminding Andrew of his
parents restaurant. The deep double sink lay in a marble
counter when the counter sat spices of all kind and
a large wooden knife block. The refrigerator in freezer combo
was old but well maintained. The oven, the biggest Andrew

(17:58):
had ever seen, was a source of warmth and the cinnamon.
Agatha locked the door and guided him by the shoulder
to the dining table. Make yourself at home. Exhausted, he
sank into a chair and settled comfortably like a mound
of pudding. She sat at the corner next to him,
elbows on the table, hands concealing a smile. Thank you

(18:21):
for helping me, Andrews said, do you think my friend
is okay out there? Agatha's hands fell, revealing a white,
perfect smile. You have a little something, she said, as
she wiped the last bit of glistening blood from the
cut in his arm. She stuck the sanguine tip of
her thumb into her mouth and sucked it clean. The

(18:45):
oven timer dinged, and she glided into the kitchen. She
moved like his mother, he thought. She pulled a single
glass from the wooden cabinet, then swung open the fridge
and found a curtain of chocolate milk. She held the
fridge door open with one foot as she poured the milk,
feigning lost balance for Andrew's amusement. Once poured, she replaced

(19:05):
the bottle and let the fridge close. Itself With much showmanship,
she downed two oven mits that went to her elbows.
Then she swung a locking latch above the oven's door.
Before pulling it open, she fanned the heat like an
angry goose. Andrew didn't remember a latch like that on
his parent's oven. She spun closed the door with her

(19:26):
heel and marched chocolate milk in the crook of her
arm and a baking sheet in her midst She placed
both squarely in front of Andrew. What do you think,
she asked. It was a baking sheet packed end to
end with French toast, crispy crusts, buttery mittles, and the
perfect amount of cinnamon. The smell made the fear and

(19:47):
the shock and the pain of the night's events settle
onto Andrew's shoulders. He realized in his soul that he
was hungry. Eat up, she pleaded. He had wanted to
say something, but before he knew it, the bread was eviscerated,
staining his fingers with delicious stickiness. He devoured each slice
like a starving beast, only stopping long enough to take

(20:09):
big gulps of chocolate milk. She grinned at him. Sorry,
he said, I'm so rude. You made this for you.
Oh no, she whispered, Please eat up. She rose with
his empty glass in hand and refilled it. The oven
dinged as she adjusted the temperature. Sitting back down, she

(20:29):
slid the glass to him just in time for another
big gulp. I really do like it, ma'am. It's actually
my favorite, wonderful, Agatha said, eyeing him up and down.
Not long after his third glass of milk, Andrew had
finished the entire baking sheet. He sat back, feeling his
stomach expand with milk and bread. Lethargic, he sighed, thank you.

(20:53):
I think I needed that. She leaned over the table,
a glint in her eye, I'll say, she whispered, as
she playfully pinched his belly. He flinched away from her hand,
gently swatting it away. Please don't do that, he said, smiling.
She stood slowly. Let me prep your room. I'll be

(21:15):
right back. She unlocked the back door and stepped into
total darkness, slamming the door behind her. Andrew went to
the sink to wash his sticky fingers clean. He checked
his watch. To his amazement, the brass vibrated in his hand.
It had never done that before he put it away,
hoping it wasn't broken. When something at the reading nook

(21:37):
caught his eye. His steps echoed as he moved towards it.
The cover of the top volume was rough. Andrew could
tell that the book was very old. Something colorful marked
the ancient pages. He opened the book and saw it
was a pink ribbon. The barest edge of one loop

(21:58):
was stained with the trace of red. The book was
written in a language Andrew didn't recognize, but there was
a graphic drawing that he immediately understood. It detailed how
to strip the meat from a human arm. The door
to the bedroom popped open. It creaked on its hinges
as a gnarled hand let it open. A hunched creature

(22:21):
padded barefoot into the room, its back to Andrew. It
drew a wicked looking blade from the knife block. Andrew
ran for the door, trying for the knob, only to
find it missing. The window latch was also gone, like
neither was ever there. In the kitchen, something that might
have once been a woman stood in the dim light,
facing him. Its crooked nose was too large for its face,

(22:43):
and long wisps of hair grew in sparse golden patches,
pale skin covered in moles, boils and blisters, sagged and
creased from its ancient body. Like its skin, its once
white dress hung bedraggled, Its eyes glistened like wet green mold.
Agatha's dry voice strangled Andrew to panic. I like to

(23:04):
have a late night treat, gummy bear. He pounded the
window as hard as he could, his fist bouncing ineffectively.
The witch stalked him slowly. He rounded the table, keeping
it between them. Help me, Andrew cried to no one,
someone please. Agatha cackled, no one is coming for you.

(23:27):
Andrew fought back the urge to faint. He tried to
call out again, but it jumbled into a garbled mess.
The witch seemed barely able to contain her excitement. I've
seasoned you, she said, proudly, Not that you need it,
my little well marbled chubber. Now Claire she needed seasoning.

(23:47):
Andrew thought he could feel his heart fall out of
his chest. At the mention of Claire, you know, Agatha
confided I couldn't eat her right away, she was all
skin and bones. Had to feed her for weeks, make
her ripe. But you, she trailed off, licking her cracked
lips so plump and juicy already, she flashed a saw

(24:12):
toothed grin, showing off every inch of her yellowed gums.
Andrew's fear had been replaced by something primal. If he
hadn't been so fat, Thomas wouldn't have picked on him.
He could have gotten to her in time. He would
have had the courage to ask. Even if she said no,
she'd still be alive. That primal heat filled his entire
being and spewed from his mouth like fire. You chilled

(24:35):
her with all of his strength. He shoved the table
into Agatha. Surprise flashed across her face, and she stumbled
against the blow. She caught herself, then shoved back twice.
As hard struck, Andrew careened into the oven with a clang,
the hot door stinging his cut arm. The latch caught
on his ear, slicing him as it unclasped. He pulled
himself up with the oven handle, dropping it open with

(24:56):
a clank. As he stood, the table flew across the room,
no lo anger a barrier. Andrew shuffled backwards, holding his
bleeding ear. She cackled as her vice like grip seized
him by his blood soaked shoulder and hauled him into
the darkness of the back room. Andrew ducked out of
his shirt and tripped over an overturned chair. He was
on his back just in time to see Agatha descending,

(25:16):
knife streaking towards him. He jerked his head away just
before the blade could sink into his eye. As the
knife thunked into the floor, the blade bent and shattered.
She pinned his arms, her face against his Her hot
breath bathed his senses, making him wretch. This little piggy
went to market. She whispered into his wounded ear. She

(25:37):
licked the length of the bleeding gash, then bit down hard.
Andrew screamed at the white hot pain. She suckled at
the pouring blood, moaning with satisfaction. Tears stung his eyes
as her jagged teeth sawed and pulled, fighting to remove
his ear. In her moment of delight, he was able
to pull his hand free from her grasp. Something hot

(25:58):
found its way into the palm of his hand. He
held up the humming body of his brass pocket watch.
The metal glowed with an inner light. Instinctively, he knew
what to do. Like butter on a hot skillet. The
watch sizzled into her shoulder. She flew back red, dribbling
down her chin, screaming in surprise and pain. Andrew held
his mangled ear, trying to pedal backwards. The glowing metal

(26:19):
spread through her putrid skin and deep jagged forks. Her
arm eaten threw, fell away from her and thudded sickly
on the floor. Her wailing reached a pitch that forced
Andrew to cover both of his ears as best he could,
and the front windows exploded outward. The witch fell to
the ground, sobbing heavily over her lost arm, like a
child over spilled ice cream. You horrible child, she whined,

(26:43):
the brass still spreading along her back. Black sludge dripped
from behind her teeth as she coughed. You've mangled me,
you wretched nasty boy. Andrew stood above her, the glowing
inwards of the open oven reflecting in his eyes. What
are you doing? She demanded. She felt frail and powerless

(27:05):
as he lifted her. She resisted, pleading with him to stop.
He slung her hunched frame headfirst into the oven. Her
cry was guttural and otherworldly as her face sagged and blistered.
He lifted her the rest of the way in and
closed the door. She kicked, almost breaking free, but Andrew
held the door fast. Burning his palms, he swung the

(27:26):
bloody latch closed. The oven dinged madly as he mashed
the buttons to its maximum temperature. The witch was ablaze
inside of the oven, kicking violently. Andrew backed away from
the building. Heat, dark, stinking smoke flooded the room. She
wailed in an unknown, unholy language. Objects inside of the
house began to float. Her hand struck the oven window desperately.

(27:46):
There was a sucking noise as the flesh of her
palms stayed behind. As she pulled away, her skeletal hand
struck again, cracking the oven window. Andrew had seen enough.
He jumped out of the front window, falling hard enough
to knock the breath out of them. On will alone,
he ran into the night. The house quickly became a
roaring inferno, lashing out and striking trees, igniting the rest

(28:09):
of the forest. He ran as fast as he could manage,
and so did the hungry flames. Animals big and small
fled in all directions. They easily passed him in their stampede.
When Andrew couldn't see through the spots in his vision,
he collapsed to the ground. Deadly warmth danced towards him,
but Andrew was far removed from the heat. All he
could think about was his father and how angry he

(28:31):
was at him for leaving. It had never been Andrew's fault,
he realized. All this time he had chained himself to
his feelings, glancing at them but never facing them. Between
heavy wheezes, he managed to laugh. He hadn't been a
perfect person, but he had done the best that he could.

(28:53):
At the very least, he had slain a monster and
avenged a fair maiden. In the end, he had been brave.
Content with that, he sighed, I got her, Claire, I
got her. As the heat closed in darkness mercifully overtook him.

(29:15):
A thin droplet of water fell into Andrew's mouth, and
he coughed awake. More light rain fell into his open eyes.
The early morning sun hid behind thick gray clouds. He
shook soot from his hair as three men in heavy
yellow jackets and hard hats rushed to him. As far
as the eye could see. In the smoke and dust,

(29:35):
the forest had burned to cinders. Charred remains of trees
stuck defiantly upward like great bones. The wind whipped ash
and dust and violent swirls. Some of the tall, skeletal
remains fell prey to the winds and toppled, shattering on
the ground, creating more upheaval. Far behind the men, a
guardian angel was smiling thankfully to Andrew. She had long

(30:00):
hair held up by a pink bow. The dead ocean
stirred into a frenzy, and she faded into the furious
tide just as heavy rain began to fall. Andrew's ear
was treated by an emt in front of Pine Hill
Middle School. His mother, eyes red with exhaustion and tears,
ran to him. He jumped from the back of the

(30:21):
ambulance and met her half way. They sank to the concrete,
crying in each other's arms. She held him tightly, careful
not to bump the fresh bandages over his ear. The
police questioned Andrew about the fire and who attacked him.
He told them about Agatha, what she had planned to
do with him, and how she admitted to kidnapping Claire.

(30:41):
He did not tell them what Agatha was or how
the fire had started. He told them he couldn't remember.
When asked how he survived being in the middle of
a forest fire, he told them the truth. It was
an angel, he said. She gave me a second chance.
Andrew didn't have to go back to school right away.

(31:03):
For two days, he mostly slept. The painkillers made him drowsy.
He only woke long enough to eat small bowls of soup.
As he ate, he looked up diet plans on his laptop.
On the third day, he woke late in the afternoon,
just before time for supper. He walked into the living
room a small stack of papers in hand, to see

(31:25):
his mother watching the news. The reporter was talking about
his story. Authorities are still combing the burned remains for
signs of the mysterious Agatha and her house in the woods.
So far, they have found nothing. His mother noticed him
and turned the television off. Good morning, she said, crossing
the room and giving him a gentle hug. You ready

(31:48):
for supper? How about a plate of French toast and
chocolate milk. Andrew barely hid a dry heave. He held
out the papers in his hands. Actually, Mamma, I'd like
to try one of these. She flipped through the recipes
for chicken salad, quenewa, chili and cauliflower, rice and chicken.

(32:09):
She cocked her head, puzzled. You okay, gummy bear, he mined,
drawing a brass pocket watch from his imaginary duster and
flipped it open. Well you look at that, he said,
with a smile. It's high time things changed around here.

(32:34):
Suspended by Rob Fields. It was just a week ago
that Strickfield High School won the state football championship, beating
out Strickfield Academy in what was a rather unusual game. Yeah,
people are still talking about it. It was Greg Brandlake,

(32:55):
the big hot shot quarterback of Strickfield Academy, who ended
up transforming into a demon and trying to kill Strickfield
High's Eddie Peewee Richter. As the demonic, brand Lake was
ready to kill Richter for winning the game and the
state championship for Strickfield High, his head exploded all over
the field. The police reports say someone fired a high

(33:18):
powered rifle at brand Lake. No one knows who was
behind it, but I'm sure the question you want to
know the answers to are BELLA, you're a Strickfield High cheerleader. Right,
aren't you the bitch master vampire who could have stopped
brand Lake after he went all demon. The answers are
yes and fuck yeah. However, I wasn't there that night,

(33:43):
you see, yours truly wasn't allowed on school property or
at school functions. Our ever so esteemed principle, Matthew Vandeste
suspended me from school just prior to the state championship game.
In fact, it was our quarterback Jason Norman who got
me suspended. Let me tell you about it. It was

(34:04):
the Wednesday prior when Aileen Donnerley and I were walking
the halls of Strickfield High to get to our lockers.
Both of us were wearing our cheerleading outfits since basketball
season had started and we had to cheer for a
game that night. Two nights later, we would have to
cheer for our football team at the state championship game.
Ainie and I were opening our lockers and talking about

(34:27):
shit when Jason Norman came up right behind me and
groped my tiny little titties. You're easily the hottest cheerleader
at this school, Bella, he said slyly in my ear.
Looking at you, I can tell you need a good
fucking Let's skip school and I'll take care of you. Clearly,
this stupid mortal didn't know who he was fucking with.

(34:49):
It was time to teach him a very important lesson
that every red blooded young American boy needed to know.
You never never but your fucking hands on me unless
I want you to. Big mistake, motherfucker, I hissed as
I turned around, grabbed him, and slammed him into the

(35:10):
nearby lockers. Norman made some serious dents across them. He
got back up and came at me again. Now people
at Strickfield High call me the bad schoolgirl. One reason
is they know I'm strong as fuck. They didn't know
I was really a master vampire, a rare one who
can walk in daylight and doesn't have to drink blood.

(35:32):
Norman sneered to tell me he would have me no
matter what. When he tried putting his hands on me again,
I lifted him up off his feet and threw him
right through a classroom door. And wouldn't you know it,
Principal van Deist had seen me. Now, either he wasn't
around to see Norman grote me, or he just didn't

(35:54):
like how extreme I got Principal Van Deist raised his
voice to me for the first time ever and practically
screamed for me to go to the office. He wouldn't
even let me tell my side of the story. Now,
as far as he was concerned, I'd assaulted the star
quarterback of Strickfield High. Oh fuck you, I told him

(36:16):
right to his face. It's quite all right for him
to have his hands all over me, but I'm not
allowed to defend myself. You know what, you can go
suck my dick. The next thing I knew, he was
writing up my suspension. You do not come anywhere near
this school for two weeks bela tabon, and that means
no cheerleading. You're going to learn your place here at

(36:39):
Strickfield High one way or another. I gave him my
wicked little smile, the one that got my grandparents to
start calling me little devil when I was younger. Then
I raised my fists together and do what scrawny geek
Jaren Hatley had done months ago. I brought my fists
down and destroyed his desk. Boy did he ever shriek.

(37:05):
I don't believe he shit his pants, But the look
on his face was priceless. Now we're at present time.
Now you know why I wasn't at the state championship
game shaking my tits and asks with the rest of
the girls when the bran Lake demon shit went down.
Sometimes I run into Principal van dist on the streets.

(37:25):
He always looks worried whenever he passes me, probably thinking
I'm gonna kick his ass or something. Yeah, like I'd
waste my time and energy on a pathetic loser like him,
but I'd bite and give him my little devil smirk
thanks to Ainie. I don't really need her to do
that for me, but she's just doing her duty by

(37:46):
me as my best friend. Martin, Aileen's older brother, calls
her Einstein on the account of how smart she is.
I've been calling her Iini for short. In response, she
calls me bells. It's Saturday morning, the week after the
big game in Greg Branlake's death. Martin and I have
been mostly distant pretty much since Heinie and I got

(38:08):
back from vacationing in Shore City back in June. Martin
makes another one of his stupid attempts to try and
talk to me before he takes off to go work.
At Denoyer's grill. I'm about to let him go fuck
himself when I notice Aine has that look on her
face that tells me something's on her mind, not even
acknowledging Martin. I follow Aine so we can go and

(38:31):
talk in private. Oh. I can feel Martin glaring at
me as he walks out and slams the back door
behind him. Well fuck him. He doesn't deserve any of
my time. After AINI told me he's the main reason
why she's sick. When we're alone, we face each other.
Talk to me, Iine, I say, am I still that

(38:52):
obvious bells? She asks in her mousey voice. How long
have we been? Best friend's ainy? I remind her. She
groans a little. We've got this new hot girl at school.
Her name's Lavender Collier. Everybody's just gawking at her. I mean,
she's really put together. She could be Taylor Miron's body double.

(39:15):
I have to think about this, okay, Iine, So you're
saying she's got a hot porn star body. She wouldn't
be the only one like that at school, you know.
Aine tightens her fists and growls a little. Yeah, but
every damn guy is practically drooling over her. She's even
telling people she wants your place on the cheerleading squad,

(39:35):
so let her fucking have it. I reply, Ainie unbowls
her fists and points right at me. No, you don't, bells.
You're not getting away from school that easily, especially not
when Principal van dest is itching to put Lavender on
the squad. Seriously, she's got him eating right out of
her hand. Principal van Deist always has his eyes on

(39:56):
other girl's tits. I emphasize, fuck, he can't even keep
his eyes off my little speed bumps. Iinnie's really agitated now.
Then she jumps up and down quickly a few times
as she growls, will you listen to me? I'm trying
to tell you something's not right about Lavender. I remember
Aini's my best friend, and get serious. Okay, okay, did

(40:20):
you see something that wasn't right with her? She calms
down and nods. She kissed one of those jocks in
the hallway yesterday. I mean she really planted one on him.
Then he breaks up with his girlfriend right in front
of everybody. He literally became Lavender's lap dog, doing whatever
she wanted. And then something clicks in my brain. Keep talking.

(40:42):
Iinie takes a deep breath and looks me right in
the face. His body was found in his bedroom this morning.
She hands me today's paper. Look, I read the top
story about Jacob Lautner, a star basketball player for Strickfield High,
who was found dead in his bedroom. The cause of
death was unknown, but his body looked like the human

(41:04):
equivalent of a prune. It made me think of that
science fiction movie Aine had me watch with her and
her cousin Madeleine about a month ago, called Life Force.
If you've seen it, then you know what I'm talking about. Here,
Aini looks desperate. Now something's wrong here, Bell's please believe me.
I put the paper down and put my hand on

(41:24):
her shoulder. I believe you. I think I may know
what's going on, but I have to get a closer
look at this lavender collier to be sure. How will
you get into school? Ainie inquires, you're suspended. Remember Principal
van Deste said he'd expel you if you came back
before your suspension was over. I give her my little

(41:46):
devil smile. Maybe he will and maybe he won't. AINI
gives me her worried look, what are you going to do? Bells?
Monday comes, I'm back to walking the halls of Strickfield
High with Iini. It's not long before Principal van Deste

(42:07):
passes both of us. He just looks at me, the
way he always looks at the bad schoolgirl. He makes
it a quick point to check out my sexy schoolgirl outfit,
the shirt with the sleeves torn off and tied in
the front to reveal my black braw in a plaid
miniskirt with my men's eighties rebock pump basketball shoes. Some

(42:28):
people here have joked that I'm a runaway from Strickfield Academy.
Even now, I'm sure Principal van Deiste is undressing me
in his mind just the same he doesn't say a
fucking thing about my suspension. What happened? I got iiny
to distract him in the office long enough for me
to slip in the way vampires do. I grabbed a

(42:49):
hold of Van Deiste and gave him a light brushing
of glam to make him forget that he suspended me.
Since I only gave him just a tiny bit of glam,
I have to be careful not to prove spoke him
too much. Otherwise he'll snap out of it and remember
that this little devil is his mortal enemy and that
I'm suspended. I know, why not just wipe his mind completely? Right?

(43:12):
Because my glam is quite powerful for being a master vampire.
If I'm not careful with how I apply it, I
can do some serious, irreparable damage to somebody's mind. I'd
rather not do that shit unless someone truly deserves it.
I may be a wicked little devil, but I'm not inhumane, Okay, Iine,

(43:32):
show me lavender Collier, I say Iiny's looking around. Then
she suddenly grabs my wrist behind us bells. We both
turn to see she's with Principal Van Deste. Holy fucking shit,
Aine's not kidding when she said this bitch is hot.
I mean she's got it all. Looks sexy body, huge tits,

(43:53):
and lavender hair. Thanks to my Master Vampires site, I
can see that it's her natural hair color and not
a die job. I know exactly what this creature is.
She's a succubus, I whisper to AINI think of her
as being a vampire, except instead of drinking blood, she
steals sexual energy from men. But why would she go

(44:15):
after somebody like Van Deste, Aine wonders, and then iiny
gasps when we see Lavender slide her tongue into the
Principal's mouth. You'd swear the other students passing by would
have seen it, but they just act like nothing's going on.
The succubus is emitting some kind of a field that
makes them not see her. Inhaling Van Deste, The only

(44:37):
reason why Ainie and I can see her is because
our minds are strong. Guess that shows a lot of
these students here are just going through the motions, if
you know what I mean. Aini and I both head
into an empty classroom to talk. Can you stop her bells?
She asks? I can, but school isn't the place. I answer.

(44:59):
Lavender is very powerful. I can see it in her aura.
I can't risk getting other students hurt. But why go
after principal? Van Deste pels He's not exactly a prize catch, right,
I raise my finger on the contrary. One thing you
need to know about a sucubus. She doesn't care what
a male looks like as long as he's got a

(45:19):
great deal of sexual energy. You're in the ballpark. Though,
when it comes to Van Deste, you just know he's
not with anybody. He definitely wants to be, which is
why he's checking out other girls. He's got so much
pent up sexual energy. He's just perfect for somebody like
Lavender Collier. She won't take him here, No, she's priming
him up. She'll likely come for him tonight when he's

(45:42):
sleeping and dreaming about her. And that's where we're gonna
be you too, An all too familiar voice calls out.
We turn to see Principal Van Deste standing in the doorway.
He turns on the light and sees us. He points
to Aileen, get to class now. Then he points to me,

(46:03):
and you can tack on another week to your suspension.
Bella Tabon. Damn it, that fucking succubist was able to
overpower my glam with her a lure. Van Deist remembers
everything regarding me. He comes straight to me and grabs
my arm. Normally I'd have beaten the living shit out
of a man for that, but there's a fucking succubist involved. Okay,

(46:25):
Van Deiste, you get this one for free. He walks
me to the main doors, and yes, every nearby student
is looking right at us. He pushes open one of
the doors and shoves me through it. Then he steps
outside and points right at me. I'm getting sick and
tired of you thinking you run my school bella tabon.
You need to remember I'm the principal here me And

(46:49):
then I notice he's staring me down again. Hmm. Me,
being as scantily clad as I am, can work to
my advantage here. I move my hands up to my
hair and pose for him just enough to where Van
Deist can see my sex appeal. I may not have
the glamorous body of a sucubist, but there are plenty

(47:09):
of males here at Strickfield High who would love to
be mine. Are you one of those people, Matthew van Deste.
Let's just see who's got more allure here, the voluptuous
succubists or the skin tight vampire. Van Deiste is just
stammering his words as he keeps ripping me one new

(47:29):
ass after another. I've already said I have little speed
bumps for tits, but he's still drawn to him. He's
still quite attracted to my tight body. I'm not even
using glam on him like that. Fucking succubust in the school.
I can wrap people so tight around my little finger,
they'll do anything I tell them, so I guess you

(47:49):
can say, Lavender and I aren't that much different in
that department. And that's when I see the bitch looking
out and glaring at me. Now, I've never been sure
whether or not a sucubists or an incubus can sense
a vampire. A master vampire can sense them, for sure.
Lavender looks ready to come outside and confront me, but

(48:10):
she knows that's probably not a good idea. No, Lavender
doesn't want people knowing what Anie and I both know.
I keep turning on the charm for Van Deste. I
don't even have to go full porno on him, just
showing a curve here and there, keeping his full attention
on my nearly naked body. Guess bigger tits ain't always better, huh, Lavender,

(48:34):
I'm laughing my ass off. Deep down, Lavender is fucking
pissed at me. Now, good come for me, bitch, and
then I have a hell of a plan. I don't
know if Van Deiste heard the bell ring, but I
sure did. Still he's rambling on and even repeats a
few things to me as he's still undressing me, with

(48:54):
his eyes still holding Lavender's attention. It's time to do
the unthinkable. I come in close to van dest and
lock my lips with his boy do his fucking arms
ever wrap me up? He holds me oh so gently
to him as we share a soft kiss together. And
then I hear his heart beating and realize I just

(49:18):
made a huge mistake. I quickly back the fuck away
from Principal van Deste. Then he just looks right at me, Bella,
I know I'm suspended. I quickly reply, getting my ass
off school property right now. Then I give him two

(49:41):
middle fingers and you can go fuck yourself. Just then,
a teacher sees Lavender and tells her to get to class.
At first, she won't go, but she ultimately doesn't have
a choice if she doesn't want to expose herself. She
finally leaves, knowing I did what I wanted to do
in provoking Lavender, I turn and start walking away. As

(50:02):
I turn the corner, Van Deiste snatches my wrist. Now
you wait just a minute. As I turn around to
face him, we suddenly lock lips again. This time the
kiss lasts a little longer then we come apart. What
in the actual fuck. When I hear his heartbeat again,
I have my confirmation that I truly fucked up. I

(50:25):
know now that Principal Van Deste has desired me for
a very long time. I don't mean he just wants
to have hot and nasty sex with me. I mean
he wants to be with me. He's he's fucking in
love with me. I compose myself and raise my finger. Okay,
Matthew one, you know, fucking goddamn well, what we're doing

(50:48):
is quite forbidden. Read the student handbook. Two, you'd have
to decide if you want lavender or me, and three
it'll never work between you and me in any case.
And since I'm not supposed to be here. When we
hear someone opening one of the main doors and calling
for Van dest he glances over his shoulder when he

(51:09):
goes to look back at me, I'm gone, Yeah, just
like Batman, the little devil in me loves pulling that
shit on him. But this wasn't a case of me
being a little devil here. I had to get the
fuck away from Van dest I need to think I'm
out on the football field when iini finds me at
lunch break. Bells you okay, she asks, sitting down next

(51:34):
to me. I shake my head. No, and you're gonna
be so pissed off at me. I tell Ainie everything.
Her jaw drops. Are you saying? I mean? I get principal.
Van Deste has a thing for you. I've known that
ever since I first brought you to Strickfield High? But
are you in love with him? I sigh? Iini, you

(51:59):
know Martin and I aren't fucking anymore, ever since your
grandma talked to me about him and you told me
how you got sick. There's just no way in hell. Also,
I can smell that he's been fucking other girls. I sigh,
But I have feelings and needs too. Go ahead, rip
me some new asses. Nothing you haven't done before. Iine

(52:22):
just looks at me and groans in frustration herself. So
what are you going to do about Van dest You
can't just leave him for Lavender to suck up. No
fucking shit, I mutter. He's a fucking worm of a man,
but I have to save him. Lavender will come for
him tonight. She plans to fuck him and take his

(52:43):
sexual energy. Van Deiste will end up, just like Jacob Lautner.
If that happens, I swear the shit you get me into. Iine.
She looks apologetic. Now I had to tell you Bells.
I smirk a little in pat HER's shoulder. I know
I'm glad you did. I just didn't expect this. I

(53:07):
put my hands on my forehead and grown fuck That night,
Anie and I are hiding in Van Deste's backyard. Thanks
to my night vision, I can see shit like it's
still daylight. Van Deste is sitting at his computer. I
recently discovered I can focus my vampire vision to zoom

(53:30):
in on things I can see. Van Deste has the
Strickfield High website up. He's looking at pictures of me.
God damn it, that's what I get for attaching a
piece of old bloodstone to my choker to allow myself
to cast a reflection. I did it so people wouldn't
see what they shouldn't. Ainie's using night vision goggles she made.

(53:54):
She's really putting that big brain of hers to use
and building all these new toys we're using when we're
out together. I used to tell Ainie that I work alone,
but you know, damn well, she's not gonna stay put
Iinie's definitely not my sidekick. No, she's my partner in crime.
To be honest, I like having her around. Then I

(54:15):
hear ainy sigh of disgust. I don't know what you did, Bells,
but you've definitely set Vandist on fire. Yeah, no shit,
I mutter, how you feeling? Can you do this? I'll
be okay, And then looks like he's getting ready for bed.
Lavender will come for him. Once he's asleep and dreaming,

(54:38):
He'll dream about her, assuming her hold on him is
still there. I know I did some research on suckuby.
I roll my eyes. I'm what Wikipedia? Please? She scoffs
at me. I never use Wikipedia. Give me a break, Bells.
She bumps my arm. You better move. I can sense

(54:59):
the tension betwe ueen Iinny and me. She knows I'm
feeling something for Van Deste. I move out of the
bushes and leap up onto the roof. I walk barefoot
to his window and look in, making sure he doesn't
see me. Even out here, I can still hear his
heart beating. He still desires me more than anything. Why

(55:21):
the fuck did I ever kiss him? He finally falls asleep.
I just have to wait until he's dreaming. It's then
that I smell Lavender Collier. She comes out of his
closet and approaches the bed. Yes, mortal, your energies are
at their utmost, she purrs. Now, I shall give you

(55:45):
that which you most desire. In turn, you shall sustain
me once I've fed, Then you die. She's wearing a
red dress and is already barefoot. She easily undoes the
shoulder straps and lets the dress drop to the floor. Naked,

(56:06):
she slithers onto the bed and lays on top of him.
Wake up, my love, Lavender whispers, Take me in your
arms and make me yours. I need you so desperately.
Van Deist wakes up and sees the beautiful form on
top of him. But then something quite adverse happens. No

(56:30):
Vandist utters, shaking his head. What Lavender shrieks. This cannot be.
How have you broken my allure? Yeah? I truly drove
any thought of Lavender Collier out of his mind when
I let him in this morning. His love for me
is powerful enough for him to resist her. I realize

(56:52):
I can't just stay outside and observe. Now, I gotta
fight the bitch. I burst through the window and glare
at lab Get the fuck off him right now. Lavender
gets off the bed and on the other side. Then
she glares at me and begins to change into her
true form. She now has big horns on her head,

(57:15):
a long tail with a very sharp point on the end,
and claws. Seeing her reminds me of pictures I've seen
of the hell Weaver. In fact, all Succuby are her daughters.
I quickly vamp out and raise my claws. You can't
have him, I say to Lavender, but I shall once

(57:36):
I have disposed of you. She replies, Bella what van
dest cries out, you're a vampire. Lavender hisses at me
and raises her own claws. The two of us leap
up and meet over the bed. We punch and clawed
each other. I know I'm gonna have a hell of

(57:56):
a fight with Lavender. Succuby her very strong and can
become quite dangerous when they're threatened over their chosen prey.
I eventually grab Lavender and throw her ass out the window.
Then I come out after her. I can smell where
Ainie is and know she's watching us. Fight. I'm feeling
so high strung right now. I fucking love to fight.

(58:20):
My desire to fight really increased after I became my
own unique master vampire. Along with my appetite and my libido,
Lavender and I attack and roll around on each other.
We throw each other into things. She's really quite strong
and can possibly match my strength. She hisses loudly in
frustration when I won't stay down. She even tries to

(58:41):
claw at my heart. Hate to tell you, bitch, but
going for my heart won't help you in the least.
I tell her no. Lie. While it takes a stake
through the heart and decapitation to destroy a traditional master vampire,
this method does not work on me. I've been staked
and headed twice during my existence as a master vampire.

(59:03):
When Thornton Gillian's blood mixed with my pure Tabon blood
those many years ago, it made me something truly unique.
I'm beginning to think I may never be capable of dying.
Lavender and I have bled each other with our claws,
though our injuries heal almost immediately. This certainly isn't your
usual high school cat fight either. No, Lavender knows how

(59:26):
to fight, same as I do our styles differ on
the account of our training. What Lavender is about to
find out is that she picked the wrong fucking cunt
to fight. You see, any and I both know how
to kill these fucking things. In fact, I'm about to
use one of those toys she whipped up. I have
launchers strapped to my forearms. She originally made them for

(59:48):
fighting enemy vampires. We used them to fight werewolves back
in early June at Shore City. In fact, it'll be
the same method we use to end the werewolves that'll
end this succubus. Since I've kept Lavender from fucking Van Deist,
she hasn't been able to feed. By keeping her fighting
with me, she's gotten weaker. I finally get her to

(01:00:09):
the point where she's desperate. When she tries to grab
my head to rip it off, I hold her to
me and position one of my launchers at her heart region.
Lavender shrieks and then cries out in serious pain when
she feels the tip of the silver steak coming out
of her back. That's how you kill them silver, but
you have to have a substantial amount of it, like

(01:00:31):
in a steak. Something as small as a silver bullet
can kill a werewolf. But something as big as a
silver steak is what you need for killing these fucking bitches.
The only exception is hell Weaver herself. Lavender falls back
and tries to remove the silver steak from her heart.
It's in there pretty tight and she's too weak, You bitch,

(01:00:55):
Lavender moans, my mother will destroy you for this. Yes,
I sneer as I raise my middle finger. Your mother
can make like a dildo and go fuck herself. Lavender
finally dies. Then she begins to melt away, even her bones.
Soon there's nothing left but residue and the silver steak.

(01:01:19):
I pick it up and hand it to Ainy. When
she comes beside me, you okay, bells still kicking. I answer, okay,
we can go home. Then she says, I sigh. Not yet.
Van dest has seen me. He knows what I am.
Now I have to go back and glam him to

(01:01:40):
make him forget Inine gives me a doubtful look. You're
really going to sleep with him, aren't you. I just
lower my head. I can't walk away. He knows my secret.
She and I just look at each other for a
long moment. Then she turns and walks away. I want

(01:02:01):
to call her out, but Ci van Deiste is still
in his bed with covers pulled up to his chin
when I return. When he sees me, he pushes the
covers down and quickly gets out of bed. He comes
right to me and takes me in his arms. I'm

(01:02:21):
still in my vampire form, and he's not the least
bit afraid of me. We don't talk. I can tell
he wants to tell me he loves me. I can
feel my own feelings. I don't understand why I feel
for someone like Matthew van Deste, given what I know
about him at school. In the truest sense of age,

(01:02:41):
it wouldn't be wrong for us to be together. He's
in his early forties and I appear to be seventeen,
which was how old I was when I came to
be a master vampire back in eighteen eighty nine. I'm
easily the older woman here. Now we share a long, deep,
passionate kiss. Truly, Van dest has loved me for quite

(01:03:03):
some time. I don't know if I've always harbored feelings
for him as much as I've played with him at school.
He's always tried to tame the bad schoolgirl, but he
continues to find. I just can't be tamed. If anything,
I keep him honest, But I gotta be honest with myself.
As much as I truly love to see where this

(01:03:24):
forbidden relationship would take us, I gotta pull away. I
do just that. After we finish our kiss, his eyes
are on mine. Now he's sinking deep into me. His
will is mine? Okay, Matthew I begin. The next morning,

(01:03:45):
Anie and I walk into Strickfield High together. Principal van
dest immediately sees us, and he's undressing me with his eyes.
I play with him again by flipping him off and
flicking my tongue for him. He just glares at me,
but doesn't nothing. I can still hear his heartbeat. He
still loves me with all his heart and soul. Even

(01:04:07):
my powerful glam can't remove or change true emotions. I
Nee nods for us to go into an empty classroom.
We go in there to talk bells. Why didn't you
pursue Van Deste, she asks, I know you want to.
I shake my head a little, because you mean more

(01:04:27):
to me than he does. When you walked away from
me last night, it really hurt. I even cried a little.
I never expected to have a friend like you. I
love you, Heinie. A forbidden relationship with Van Deste isn't
worth losing your friendship over. I may be having emotional issues,

(01:04:47):
but I'm not a fool. Iinnie and I come together
and hug. I love you too, Bells and thank you
for always sticking by me. After we come out of
our he hug, we leave the classroom and make our
way to first period to start the school day. Deep down,
I have the feeling it's only going to be a

(01:05:09):
matter of time before something drastic happens to bring Vandiste
and me dangerously close to each other once again, but
not today. A sunken heart in he Obey by Jeff Carpenter,

(01:05:35):
All life emerged crawled out from the sea. Now I
don't know what's crawling out he Obey High School Science
Biology class, Monday to forty three pm. A Umi scribbles
into her notebook, hunched over her desk, protecting her work.
Her eyes are obscured by black horn rims matching her

(01:05:57):
long jet black hair tied into a ponytail. Are you like?
In Grade three? A girl beside her with dyed brown
hair grabs the notebook off Ayumi's desk. The pen leaves
a streak across the page. She turns to the second
girl and shows her the notebook. The second girl makes
a sour face, gesturing dismissively at the drawings in a

(01:06:17):
lined notebook page cartoons a girl sunbathing in a boat,
reading a book, and below her a myriad of sea
creatures frolicking in the deep, an octopus and crab feasting
on something. The girl points at a figure farther down
the page, a masked scuba diver rising to the surface,
holding something in his hand. Oh my god, is that

(01:06:40):
mister Herata. What is that in his hand? What has
he got? A pearl? A present for you? She and
her friend laugh at the suggestion. A Umi tries to
grab it. Give it back. He'd only kiss you if
you had gills and a tail. She already smells like
she does. Give it back. There is a crack at

(01:07:00):
the front of the class. The student's heads turned to
the front. The teacher rests his hand on a book
atop some scattered papers on his desk. A Umi, please
see me after class. Oohoo. The two girlfriends coup and chorus.
Aumi holds a stack of textbooks and crossed arms close
to her chest. I'm not sure what's come over you.

(01:07:23):
You were disturbing the class today and you haven't handed
in your assignment yet. Usually you're a very well behaved,
punctual student. What's gotten into you? She can't meet his eyes. Tomorrow,
mister Herada, Tomorrow. Aumi's household, Monday, six forty nine pm.

(01:07:48):
The melted chocolate cools in the bowl and the double
boiler on the counter beside the stove or a box
of sea salt, a jar of raspberry jam, a bowl
of herring row, a collection of spoon us and heart
shaped molds. A Yumi's grandfather walks up behind her, looking
over her shoulder, surprises her for a boy. It's good

(01:08:09):
you take an interest in normal school life outside of
the tales you read in your books. It's good you
spend time with people your own age. Dead authors and
old men like me are not ideal companions for young girls.
A Yumi ignores her grandfather and increases her focus on
spooning the jam into the cool chocolate molds. With intense deliberation,
she plucks two individual eggs from the herring row and

(01:08:32):
placing them side by side in the raspberry jam. Squishing
them together in the gooey jam, they leak their briney
golden insides into the surrounding compote. She sprinkles a pinch
of sea salt into the molds, finishing her creation with
a flourish Could I have a taste of that chocolate? Though?
Reminds me of your grandmother? Tuesday, Valentine's Day, one fifty

(01:08:58):
six PM. A girl into a yumi in the hall.
She drops her books and makes a desperate grab as
the red cardboard box, folded into the shape of a clamshell,
slips from her fingers. As she bends over to pick
them up, she notices a boy, a strong athletic boy
from her gym class, looking at her with a kind
of faint smile she hasn't seen before, and she sees

(01:09:18):
that her skirt is riding up high on her legs.
She straightens up and pulls her skirt down. The boy
still has the funny look on his face, and he
looks weak somehow, as if all his strength is leaked
away just by looking at her. She feels flushed and
rushes to class, what's this, mister? Herauda flips the cardboard

(01:09:41):
clamshell open on his desk, revealing the chocolates within. Ayumi
looks at the Valentine's Day present on display, one of
the heart chocolates cracked from the fall. It's for it's
for you, a Umi. I can't accept this. You know
it is inappropriate for a student to offer s gifts
to her teacher. I'm sorry, it looks like you put

(01:10:03):
a lot of work into this gift, but I just can't.
Ayumi hugs her books tight and shuffles to her seat. Otani,
the grizzled old janitor, totters into the classroom and empties
the waste paper basket by the teacher's desk. He winks
at the gang of girls huddle together, gossiping and giggling.
One of the girls with dyed brown hair leans over

(01:10:23):
to Ayumi and hisses at her, if you want an
older man. I'm pretty sure mister Otani is available, but
better act quick before one of us snatches him up first.
The huddle of girls convulses with laughter as Otani staggers
out the door. A Yumi looks up from her book
and over at mister Harada's desk. From her vantage point,
she can see that one of the chocolates is missing.

(01:10:45):
There is a space there. It is undeniable. Did she
just see mister Harada lick his lips? Did he really?
Ayumi watches intently, her elbows on her desk, chin resting
on her knuckles, rapt attention. My last dive, I saw
definite changes. The outflow from these chemical plants is causing

(01:11:06):
untold damage to the ecosystem. I'm finding noticeable mutations in
the local sea life. Over Long exposure to this pollution
is ravaging local populations. I've decided to devote my time
recording and cataloging these mutations. We have to do something
to change this. We all have to do something. What
I'm doing is cataloging the mutations. He plops a ziploc

(01:11:29):
bag holding a fist sized thing enveloped in gelatinous syrup
on the desk. It is a creature curled into a
fetal ball. Two appendages pierce the syrupy envelope, terminating its claws.
Know what this is? No guesses it's a fish. Does
it look like a fish to you? The students shake
their heads. I don't think so. I found this swimming

(01:11:52):
off the breakwater in Hino Bay. Well, it was trying
to swim, more like paddling in a circle. Those those bastards,
excuse me, those blameless industrialists in the plant on the shore.
They've turned Hino Bay into a living science experiment. All
life emerged. It crawled out of the sea. Now I

(01:12:14):
don't know what's crawling out. He turns back to the specimen.
This is the caudal fin, the tail of the so
called fish. An iridescent turquoise caudal fin unfurls in the
swirling sea green water. It swishes to and fro back

(01:12:35):
and forth, lazily, propelling the creature upward, breaking the surface.
She notices that the creature is her. She is the creature,
her bare human body above the water, her scaly torso
and tapered tail beneath the waves trailing off into the darkness,
and the murky depths below. Her long black hair flows

(01:12:56):
out behind her, slowly undulating in the motion of the ripples.
She feels the water rise in a soft swell, and
he is there beside her in the black rubber wetsuit.
A gentle wave pushes them closer together. He pulls off
his face mask and removes the regulator from his mouth.
He presses it against her lips. Breathe, breathe, he urges.

(01:13:21):
She opens her mouth, letting him inside her and breeds in,
breathes deep, and she feels herself going down, down, into unconsciousness.
A Yumi opens her eyes, She smiles and squeezes the
pillow tight to her body. Wednesday, three o two pm.

(01:13:47):
The daughter of the dragon King was Ningyo, Princess of
the Deep. She could assume various forms and would often
take the form of a beautiful woman who could put
any man who ventured into the sea under her spell.
Aumi stands at the front of the class. Her magic
pearls could turn Aumi. The assignment was supposed to be
about sea life, real actual sea life. Dragons don't exist.

(01:14:12):
Why would you? What made you do your assignment on that?
I'm going to be forced to give you an f
Please see me after class. Aumi tries to hold back
a faint smile. He slumps back in his chair, pulls
off his tie, loosens his collar, unbuttons the bottom button
on his shirt. He leans forward. She can see down

(01:14:33):
his open shirt. There are iridescent scales catching the light
on his neck, spreading out and down to his chest.
Mister Herada, Yes, Ayumi, do you think people can change?
She pivots on her legs, twisting back and forth. Yes,
of course, change into something so wonderful, so strange, that

(01:14:57):
you don't know what they might become. What are you
talking about? Kiss me? Mister Harada stared at her kiss me?
Why couldn't she say it out loud? Her lips strained
white against her teeth, She bites her lower lip until
she is sure blood will pop and trickle down her chin.
She drops a potty training manual on the teacher's desk.

(01:15:19):
What's this? I'm going to get my diving certificate. Really,
it's an intensive course. You sure it won't interfere with
your school studies? No, sir, I always think of you
with your nose in the books, not outside getting your
hands dirty. He gives her an approving smile. Always think
of you, Always think of you, always you. It's kind

(01:15:45):
of late in the year to undertake such a big
thing like this, don't you think. She takes off her
glasses and twirls them in her fingers. She looks straight
at Harada. I dreamed that we were swimming together last night,
and you swam up to me and look deep into
my eyes and said, you are the queen of the sea,
and the sea is the mother of life, all life.

(01:16:07):
And you held me close and you put your lips
on Aumi, this isn't appropriate. You're my student and i'm
your teacher. I want you to teach me real things,
not the things I can get from books on my own.
Spending so much time in the water. Maybe is not
such a good idea, but we have to. I'll grow scales.

(01:16:28):
We'll both be as free as the fishes. We'll change
into them. We'll be living in the ocean as sea
creatures forever. You must never never speak about this again
to anyone, do you understand. Aumi jams her lips shut
and looks at the floor. Aumi, please let me go
swimming with you. Silence. I promise not to talk about

(01:16:51):
these things again. I'll think about it. Aumi's household, Thursday,
six forty five pm. A Yumi takes book after book
from her bookcase and puts them down beside the others
on her bed. She flips through them, smiles a faint smile, then,
with the reverence of a funeral, places them in a

(01:17:13):
large cardboard box marked with a black pen on the side,
five hundred yen each. Hin Obey Recreation Center, ten fifty
four am A Yumi plunges into the swimming pool. The
weight belt sinks her to the bottom. The instructor gives
her the thumbs up, then turns and ignores her, just

(01:17:33):
like he did after she gave him the money from
selling all her favorite books. She looks around, surrounded by water.
Everyone else is so far away. She is alone. If
anything went wrong, she closes her eyes. Her heart pounds
in her head, blood rushes in her ears. She hyperventilates.

(01:17:54):
Her eyes are big. She's going to drown down here.
She sucks in water with her ear. She sputters and coughs.
Blinded by bubbles escaping from her mouth, she drops her
weights and scrambles to the surface. The diving instructor swims
over to her. You panicked. He hands Ayumi her weight
belt this time. Breathes slow, breathe deep, Keep calm, relax.

(01:18:19):
Nothing's going to get you. Sometimes it helps to tell
yourself a story to keep your mind focused. He Obey
High School, Monday, two pm. Ayumi wears a gold badge
embroidered on her jacket. She carries a certificate between her
stack of textbooks. She wears a big smile in her
face as she walks straight to the science classroom. She

(01:18:40):
takes her seat. A strange woman is at the front desk.
Her smile fades. She raises her hand. Where's mister Harada?
He is on indefinite leave. My name is missus Kotani,
and I'm the replacement teacher for this class. He obey.
Breakwater Tuesday, two forty three. Shouldn't you be in school?

(01:19:03):
Teacher's not here today? A taxi idols parked but running
in a slot by the sea wall. A Umi struggles
with the air tank as she pulls them up out
of the trunk. You need a hand with that, miss,
Just a couple of trips. She hauls the gear down
the breakwater swim fins mask under her arms, oxygen tank
hanging off of one shoulder. The dive tank slips off

(01:19:26):
her shoulder, bangs off her hip bone, bounces off and
rebounds into her legs, giving a dull blow to her
knee and shin. She cries out, stumbles and drops the tank,
which rolls on the ground. You alone. She turns back
to look at him. Miss you alone, I heard it's
not good to dive all by yourself. Oh, I've got someone.

(01:19:52):
She makes it down to the end of the breakwater.
She clambers over the jagged boulders a umi spots a
black shape bobbing in the water about one hundred and
fifty meters off shore. It must be him. She dons
her scuba gear, nervously strapping and clicking it all into place.
She hobbles into the sea, lapping onto the rocks. Once
she's up to her chest, she begins paddling out to sea.

(01:20:14):
She looks out toward the horizon. The black shape is gone.
She can't see him anymore. She puts the regulator in
her mouth and ducks under the water. It's cold and dark.
She breathes in, but short and shallow. She coughs. She
has to come up for air. She spits out salty
sea water and scans the horizon again. Nothing. She's going

(01:20:39):
to have to go out there. Her heart pounds beneath
her wetsuit. This is it. She clears her mask and
goes under. She swims in slow, steady strokes. She can't
help feeling she is being shadowed by something not so
far below her, but she fights the enshrouding panic, swallows

(01:21:03):
her fear and breathes in long, deep breaths. She flashes
back to books she's read about the sea, most of
them not factual accounts, of course, deep treasures hidden within
the protective maws of giant clams, fierce mortal battles between
giant squids and deep diving whales, and the jealous octopus
dragging divers to their deaths for daring to encroach on

(01:21:26):
its submarine territory. But she kind of remembers the true
story mister Herauda told her of Ningyo or was that
her dream? In any case, she's having trouble remembering it completely.
It was about a girl who swam out to sea
alone to find treasure, a pearl. No a, it was

(01:21:50):
to find her lover, missing at sea. And yes, she
finally does find him. He's alive, but he's not alone.
He's caught in the embrace of Nigyo. The man's name
is Herata, and who is Ninyo. Ninyo pulls Harada close,

(01:22:12):
the water lapping against their bare bodies, writhing against him,
rubbing off a patina of iriandescent scales onto his face
and neck. She kisses him all over, runs her tongue
along his arm, licks his fingers. Karrada twists his head,
looks over his shoulder, eyes the girl from within the
arms of the tight embrace. Ninyo turns to see what

(01:22:32):
he's looking at. She hisses a sibilant sigh. Oh, you
brought a pretty one, a little scrawny perhaps, please to
meet you. I am Ninyo, the first and the last,
and you will know the truth of that soon enough.
I'm a Umi. Get out of that silly suit of yours.

(01:22:54):
Can't be truly free in the sea until you feel
the caress of the salt water on your her skin.
The girl hugs herself. It's too cold, nonsense. How will
you ever feel what it is to be a woman
if you can't be naked beside a man? A Yumi
looks at herata. She lets her mask sink to the

(01:23:15):
depths below. Ningyo helps her out of her wet suit.
A chemical slicks surrounds them, warming the water. As Herada
reaches to touch a Yumi, the girl feels Ninyo come
up behind her and envelop her. She wraps her arms
around a Yumi and pulls her down somewhere. An octopus

(01:23:35):
embraces its prey and drags it down to the bottom,
holds it down until it drowns, then feasts on it
at its leisure. A crab feeds on the scavenged remains
of a muscular organ, still beating a heart, a sunken heart.
The chemical spill reaches the seafloor the press apat coating everything.

(01:23:58):
It touches, A jointed limb, telescopes out of the organ,
and snatches up the crab in its terminating claw. An
aortic valve opens up in a tooth studded maw that
bites down on the crustacean, swallowing it whole. An eyelid
opens on the vein covering of the organ. An eye blinks,
and the bubble of a tear trickles out of its

(01:24:20):
corner and races to the surface to expire in the air.
The heart sprouts three more limbs and crawls away along
the sea bottom, fading into the murky darkness. An empty
wet suit floats on the surface of the sea, bobbing
in the gentle swells of the unchanging, ever changing ocean.

(01:24:54):
The message by rob Fields imagine this. You're a twenty
three year old girl who's got everything going for you.
A very rich family, luxury and privilege, never wanting for anything,
and a beautiful body. You can have any man you want.
You're on top of the world. Interested. Okay, let's begin.

(01:25:18):
You've passed every class while you were in school without studying.
Why should you have to study when you can just
cruise along with your million dollar body. You can just
keep your pretty eyes on certain men, show generous amounts
of cleavage, offer a hand job to the right teacher,
all for those a's that you've never had to study for.

(01:25:41):
You still here, Come on, stay with me. You graduate
with a great GPA. But in order for you to
take over the family business someday, you must continue your education.
You agree to go to college like high school. You
rely on your porn star body to get through each
semester of university like your actually going to crack open
a book and read the assignments. Right, you're even allowed

(01:26:04):
to bring a laptop to take notes. But why why
should you have to write anything? You're rich, you're privileged,
You're entitled. Besides, your glorious nails cost a pretty penny.
Hell you can charm some geek into writing your papers. Right,
You still with me? Nice? You finish your first three

(01:26:25):
and a half years at Strickfield University with plenty of
good grades, and all of your professors or guys coincidence
or maybe because you know your sex appeal won't work
on women aside from lesbians or bisexuals. Also, you'll be
damned if you liplock with another female. Anyway, all your

(01:26:48):
professors are male, because even college professors can let the
little head think for the big head. We're moving along.
Hang in there. The second semester of your pivotal senior year,
things are a little more challenging, your finding. Your looks
are just not enough. Now to get those all important a's,

(01:27:08):
you have to show your big titties, give more hand jobs,
maybe give a really good blowjob, and for some professors
who want even more, you'll actually have to spend the
night with them. You haven't been a virgin since junior high,
so what difference does fucking university professors old enough to
be your dad make? Don't worry, it gets better. Stay

(01:27:29):
with me now. You finally got that one professor, Yeah,
that one, the one who doesn't care about your looks,
your big tits, or your sexy body. He's a happily
married man who loves his wife of twenty five years,
so the sight of you doesn't arouse his little head
in the least. No matter what you do, you just
can't win this professor over. You still refuse to take notes,

(01:27:52):
do homework, or lift your pen to take exams. Your
grades in his class are the worst. But you're privileged,
You're entire You're rich. The world owes you. Hell, what
this professor makes in a year is pocket change to you. Right,
you still want to keep going, of course you do.
You're desperate now. Sitting in the back. You've shown him

(01:28:14):
your tits during class. You've even shown him you weren't
wearing panties. In fact, you've even offered to suck your
professor's cock more than once. Even more, you've offered to
let him fuck you, and in some compromising places, you've
even surprised him by waiting for him in his office
completely naked. Yet the fucking professor just will not surrender

(01:28:37):
to you. He never wants pops a chubby. What the
fuck does he really love his wife that much? Nobody
loves his wife for that many years your own parents
are out fucking around on each other. For Christ's sake. Ah,
you're still with me, still loving all this juiciness. MM.

(01:28:58):
The professor's going to turn you into the Dean for
your erratic behavior. He'll tell him that you haven't done anything. Really.
He certainly has your grades to show for it, including
your blank exams, because you're simply too entitled to put
forth the effort. In fact, you're entitled to everything life

(01:29:18):
has to offer. It's getting dark. Now turn on those
smartphone flashes. Now you've got a real problem. You can't
let your parents see that you've actually failed a class.
Didn't your parents tell you that if you didn't bring
home the grades, they weren't going to keep you in school.
If you're not ready to be a part of the
family business, they'll cut you off. They'll send you out

(01:29:42):
into the real world to make your own money. You'll
no longer live in luxury. You'll no longer be entitled.
You'll no longer be pampered and have the world at
your feet. You'll be banished to the mortal realm with
all the other bottom feeders who have to bust their
asses just to make ends. Meet, there's only one thing

(01:30:02):
left to do darker. Still, hope your smartphone batteries have
a good charge. You talk to your scumbag boyfriend, knowing
he's a scumbag, but he's always been there for you
when you needed him. He listens intently as you tell
him about the professor who's fucking up your whole world.
Then he comes up with the perfect plan to help

(01:30:23):
you get the grade you're entitled to. All it'll cost
you is a little of your green and some quality
time with your pink. Anything to keep you entitled. Really
dark now, hope your smartphone batteries aren't about ready to die.
Your boyfriend knows the professor works in his office late
on Fridays. He knows your professor always gets a mountain

(01:30:45):
dew out of the soda machine beforehand, not coffee, not
bottled water, a mountain dew. Probably the only unconventional thing
about him having his office phone number. You make a
desperate phone call. You tell him you need help and
give him a false location. When he leaves, your boyfriend
slithers into his office and rufie's his mountain dew. Later,

(01:31:07):
you and your boyfriend watch as the professor returns to
his office, no doubt, upset at your phone call. Oh
but he has no idea what awaits him in that
green bottle. It's only a matter of time. We're at
NC seventeen content now, so uh, you may want to
put the kids to bed. You and your boyfriend take

(01:31:28):
the sleeping professor to an empty classroom. It's Friday night
and nobody's around. You undo the professor's trousers and pull
them down with his boxers. Up comes your dress, no panties.
You finally get him, nice and hard, and congratulations, you
a girl just committed rape. You've got him by the balls. Literally.

(01:31:50):
You both get him dressed and take him back to
his office. Next you both go back to your place
with the incriminating juices still inside you. Your boyfriend beats
the living sh shit out of you. It has to
look like an actual rape. Right when he's finished, you
call the police and tell them everything. Are you feeling
pissed off yet? By the way, good you should. The

(01:32:12):
professor is arrested. The police takes samples from you both.
They get a match, but they won't find the mountain
dew with the roofye in it. Your boyfriend saw to
that his plan worked perfectly. Yes, his plan. Pst. He's
actually smarter than you. So now the professor's in jail.
He's fired from Strickfield University. His wife leaves him after

(01:32:35):
twenty five happily married years. She wouldn't even listen to him,
but he pled his case to her. He gets a
trial by jury, is found guilty and sentenced to life
in prison. That night, he hangs himself, knowing he won't
survive prison. Your boyfriend already got into the professor's computer

(01:32:57):
to change your grade. But if it was that simple,
then why ruin the man's life? Because you're entitled and
nobody fucks that up for you. Whew. Hey, you've made
it all the way to this point. So uh are
you ready for the twist? I'm sure you are. Now
two things are established. You think you're entitled and you're

(01:33:21):
not too bright. Your boyfriend made the plan that led
to the death of an innocent professor who wouldn't give
you the grade you wanted. But neither of you had
any idea that a certain girl was in that same
class with you. Actually, I was in a couple. Boy.
Did you two ever stand out to me? Not only

(01:33:42):
did I see you showing your titties and your coach
to Professor Rodney Simmons. I even saw you arguing with
him in his office after that class. I suppose those
things alone wouldn't trigger a red flag. It was after
the newspapers revealed that Professor Simmons had committed suicide. I
watched you both closely. Neither of you showed any remorse.

(01:34:06):
I did my usual research and found the grade book
in Professor simmons office before anyone came to clean it out.
I took picks on my smartphone, wearing gloves, of course.
I also lifted fingerprints off the professor's laptop. Some belonged
to the professor, the others belonged to Jacob Levin thanks
to a fingerprint scanner I rigged up. I matched them

(01:34:28):
with a special program I picked up on the dark
net that gave me immediate access to fingerprints databases. Now
I just needed one thing. What the fuck? Genevieve Van
Sant demanded, Where am I right? Where I want you,
I replied, stepping out of the darkness. Genevieve spoke with

(01:34:51):
her entitled voice. I know you. You're that criminal justice
bitch people talk about Oliver campus. Wow, you actually know something,
I replied, I'm surprised you know anything, considering how stupid
you are. She struggled to get free. You can't scare me.

(01:35:13):
Then she glared at me. You really fucked up. Once
I talked to select people, You're fucked You don't ever
put your hands on me. Professor Simmons found that out.
Oh you mean when he raped you. I made air
quotes to emphasize the end of my question. Genevieve protested

(01:35:34):
his spunk was inside me. He beat me with an
inch of my life. He raped me. I waved her off. Please,
I'm on a time crunch here, so let's wrap things up.
You've got cops waiting outside. Genevieve sneered, you haven't got
shit on me. I raised an eyebrow. No, I know

(01:35:54):
your whole plan, the roofy, the real rape, the alleged beating.
Genevieve gawked at me. Nobody was around, no one saw us.
I shook my head slowly. I saw everything. Would it
have killed you to have done your schoolwork, because what
you just did will kill you. I picked up some

(01:36:16):
photographs and showed them to her. Wow, I'm surprised these
pictures didn't end up on some porn site. I said,
Porn's a multi billion dollar industry, you know. Genevieve shrieked
when she saw herself in the act of raping the professor. Bullshit.
The classroom we went to didn't have any security cameras.

(01:36:37):
I picked up a nearby smartphone. This camera was there.
It's your boyfriend's. I took it from him. I turned
and flipped a switch. Another set of lights came on,
and Genevieve gasped when she saw her boyfriend secured to
a second table that was propped up. Yes, uh, this
is your boyfriend's loft, I said. I found roofees and

(01:37:00):
other interesting shit in his room. Oh, and lots of
videos of you two fucking. I raised my finger, especially
the one where you two pretty much confess to everything.
I guess you'd call it victory sex. I cracked Jacob's
passcode and found the photos. His big mistake was leaving
his fingerprints. I held up a copy of the newspaper

(01:37:23):
revealing that Professor Simmons had hung himself. This was all
you and Jacob here, all because Simmons wouldn't just give
you a grade. I showed her professor Simmons grade book.
It surprises me how many teachers still use these. Looking
at the professor's laptop, you get poor grades throughout the semester,
but end up getting an A overall. I opened the

(01:37:46):
grade book, same poor grades. Here, overall you got an F. Oops.
Imagine if your parents learned that you never studied five
minutes since you got here. She rolled her eyes. I
don't have to study. I'm Genevieve van Sant. I rolled
my eyes in return. Thank you. I know your name.

(01:38:08):
In fact, i'll remember you and Jacob Levin forever, along
with the hundreds of others who've made the unfortunate mistake
of getting my attention. And speaking of attention, I suddenly
heard someone another guy talking outside the door. It had

(01:38:29):
to be Jacob's roommate. I had determined that he was
on a cell phone. As I grabbed a nearby baseball
bat and conked Genevieve, I turned off the lights and waited.
He started to come into the loft. As I saw
his hand pawing for the light switch, he quickly stopped.
I really didn't want to kill an innocent What you serious?

(01:38:53):
I left my shit at your place, he groaned. No,
I'll come back. My turn papers in that folder do
tomorrow first thing a pause, Sure, babe, I'll spend the night.
The roommate pulled the door closed. I locked it up
again and waited a bit before turning the lights back on.
As Genevieve began to stir, I walked to her and

(01:39:16):
slapped her. When she fully woke up, she shouted curses
and struggled to free yourself. Eventually she stopped struggling and
glared at me. I said to Genevieve, since you seem
to think you're so entitled, since you're Genevieve van Sant,
I'm gonna kill you. Second, Genevieve snapped, you won't kill us.

(01:39:39):
You're a criminal justice prodigy who helps the police solve cases.
I raised my finger. Being a college student and a
police intern is my day job. I've been doing my
night job since I was ten years old. Ironic, huh.
I'm a police detective trainee who's also a serial killer. Sure,

(01:40:03):
I could turn you both over to the police, but
knowing your parents, Genevieve, they'd hire a top notch lawyer
for you, or pay off the judge you'd be free again,
continuing to feel you're entitled, and your boyfriend would rot
in jail because your parents won't give a shit about him,
and Professor Simmons would still be dead and tarnished for

(01:40:25):
a crime he never committed. Fuck you, she screamed at me.
You're nothing, nothing, I'm Genevieve van Santz. You're fucking nobody.
I moved to my instrument table and picked up the
big sharp knife. I moved to Jacob, now, Jacob Levine,

(01:40:46):
let the punishment fit the crime. Using my knife, I
disemboweled Jacob. He didn't feel much since I roofied him
with one of his own roofies. I make such a
mess when I play. I turned to Genevieve, and your fate.
I showed her the newspaper again. Here's a hint, it's

(01:41:08):
already around your neck. Genevieve shook her head quickly. No,
you ruined a good man's life, I reminded her. You
broke up a wonderful marriage. You had no remorse whatsoever.
Want some irony. I myself feel no emotions, but you do,
and you are so horrible. She saw that. I was

(01:41:31):
ready to kick the chair out from underneath her feet.
Her wrists and ankles were securely zip tied. Genevieve shrieked,
you crazy bitch. I'm Genevieve van Sant. My parents will
find you, they'll kill you. Do you know how many
people have told me that I asked? You're not the
first rich person I've killed, and you certainly won't be

(01:41:52):
the last. I just killed a rich couple last week,
and they had it coming for quite a while. But
you are, without a dab, the stupidest girl I've ever
had the date. Weren't you listening? I just told you
I don't feel emotions, but I have a name too,
I'm the Angel of Death. I'm guessing you don't read

(01:42:13):
the newspapers, since you probably can't even read anyway. And now,
Genevieve van sandt let the punishment fit the crime. I
kicked the chair out from under her. Her eyes bulged
and she tried to squirm. Her face turned red as
she struggled to breathe. Soon she just hung there. After

(01:42:34):
a few more minutes, I took hold of her wrist.
No pulse. The police would find the evidence easily. The
boyfriend's smartphone, The homemade confession porn video and the pictures
will be quite sufficient. I took a shower to wash
Jacob's blood off of me and put on fresh clothes.
Before leaving the loft. I would take my soiled clothes

(01:42:55):
with me and make my usual anonymous phone call to
the Strickfield Police Department to tell them where they could
find the bodies. The next afternoon, I was unseen as
part of my police internship. Jacob's roommate was there, just
babbling away. I think what God has attention was the
message on the wall that I left for him, written

(01:43:18):
in Jacob's blood. Just be glad you didn't turn on
the light. Heart of Stone, Heart of Fire by Joe Salmo.

(01:43:42):
At the time of day when most kids were excited,
Cody sighed. The glass paneled steel door leading home from
school was right in front of him. First, he watched
Jessica and Brian leave without a problem, and jealousy crept in.
Jason and Eddie left next, passing him, almost like he
didn't exist. He felt alone. Of course, he wasn't alone.

(01:44:06):
He would have preferred to be. He knew as soon
as he exited that door he would hear his voice
Aiden Firehead at least that's what he called him in
his thoughts, he would never dare say it out loud.
Aiden real last name Fitzgerald, wasn't a large boy. In fact,
he was several inches shorter than Cody. The main difference

(01:44:28):
between the two was that Aiden was mean. Sometime last semester,
he drew the ire of Aiden. He remembered it like
it was yesterday. Coming back from lunch, he stopped at
his locker to grab his geometry book and accidentally bumped
into his future bully. Literally. He apologized, but Aidan wouldn't
hear it and pushed him down onto the cold tile

(01:44:49):
hallway floor. Do it again, and I'll really hurt you,
Aidan told him that day. Cody was more confused by
Aidan's reaction than upset, thinking it was just a isolated incident.
After all, he didn't do it on purpose. Aidan's anger
didn't just boil away, however, it simmered behind those cold
blue eyes. Every day after that, Aidan tried to make

(01:45:11):
Cody's life miserable. Some days he was able to avoid
the bully. He even spent most of a week Aidan
free by getting detention just to have to stay late.
But that just got him in trouble at home as
well as school. Cody's eyes perked up when he saw
her walk in the door. Finally he could go home.
Abby had come to pick him up. She peered in

(01:45:32):
the door until she spotted him standing there. She motioned
him to come, but he hesitated, fear still keeping him
in place. He saw her shoulders sag. He felt bad,
but he couldn't move. Abby entered the middle school, her
black skirt swirling around her. Cody didn't understand why she
wore black all the time. He thought that was mostly

(01:45:52):
for funerals, But being the oldest kid that he knew
at sixteen, she was his only hope in getting home safe.
Come on, Cody, I gotta get you home before Brad
shows up to pick me up. Why did I have
to walk you home anyway, his stepsister asked. Cody looked
down at his arm. The scrapes from this morning had
begun to scab over. He wondered if his arms would

(01:46:13):
be scarred by the end of the year. Got nothing
to say. Okay, let's go, Mom said, you've been misbehaving recently,
getting detention all the time. Wait until high school for that.
If you think middle school is bad, You got a
lot to learn, Abby said, as she opened the door
leading to the outside world. Cody peeked out the door
cautiously before exiting. He didn't see Aidan anywhere, and began

(01:46:36):
to relax. He looked up at his stepsister. A year ago,
she was a stranger, but since moving into his home
she seemed even stranger to him, always wearing black, listening
to sad or angry music all the time, painting lips
and nails to match her clothes. He had asked her
if she was mourning her father still, which only made

(01:46:56):
her mad. It took weeks before she even spoke to
him again. Where are you going? Came a voice from
behind Cody. His blood froze and he closed his eyes tight.
His legs stopped working, and he was horrified to see
Abby hadn't noticed. Keep up, Cody, she said, and turned
back to him. She saw him standing there with his

(01:47:16):
eyes closed, and another kid standing behind him on the walkway.
You have an appointment, mister piney, Aidan said, pushing his
unkempt red hair out of his eyes. Abby watched as
Cody just stood there. She looked up at the kid
behind him, then back at her new step brother. This
kid bothering you, Cody. Cody opened his eyes. It took
some effort. He turned around towards Aidan, as if in

(01:47:39):
a slow motion scene from an action movie. If you
miss your appointment, we'll have to reschedule two appointments for tomorrow,
Aidan said, and looked towards the building. Just off the
walkway was a six foot pine tree. Its prickly green
leaves were broken in sections. Cody looked down at the
scratches on his arms. He knew all too well how

(01:48:00):
much those branches hurt when someone was pushed into them. Cody,
let's go, Abby said, and grabbed his hand. It seemed
to snap him out of it. He followed her towards
the street. You've made your choice, Aidan called from behind him.
Cody winced from the threat, but didn't look back. His
plan worked. Having his new cis pick him up saved

(01:48:21):
him from his appointment with the tree. He dared to
smile as he crossed the street, the first one he
had in weeks. He didn't give a thought to Aidan's
threat as he arrived home. I gotta go. Brad is
here to pick me up. We'll talk later, okay, Abby
told him she left in a flurry of black He
let out a sigh and raided the kitchen for a snack.

(01:48:42):
Finding a half a bag of cookies in the back
of the cabinet, he bit into one, slowly, probing for
information to its staleness, but was pleasantly surprised. He took
the bag to his room, where his tablet awaited to
immerse him in the world of video games and out
of this reality. It wasn't long before he heard his
new mother come home. She wasn't a bad person at all.

(01:49:04):
In fact, he had nothing negative to say about her.
She was very nice to him. She seemed to make
his father happy as well. He knew nothing of his
real mother, only that she left when he was still
in diapers. She told him he didn't have to call
her mom if he didn't want to, but deep down inside,
he wanted someone to call mom. After a few weeks,

(01:49:25):
he started to call her mom to try it out,
and he liked the way it felt. Hi, Mom, he said,
as she entered his room to check on him. Hi, Cody,
how is school today? Have any homework? She asked, sitting
on the edge of his bed. Nothing today. School was okay.
I guess in science we learned about different kinds of rocks.
One of them must be real smart. It was called

(01:49:47):
a genius rock or something. He replied, How exciting. What
happened to your arm, she asked, with concern in her voice.
Oh that was nothing. I fell in gym class, he lied.
It doesn't look life threatening, she said with a smile.
I recommend a bowl of ice cream after dinner. I
picked up some chocolate chip cookie dough, your favorite, she

(01:50:09):
said with a smile. Thanks. Do you prescribe ice cream
to all your patients at the hospital, Cody asked her,
looking up from his tablet for the first time this
conversation only when they looked like they had a rough day.
She responded, sometimes it works better than the pills they
get prescribed. I'll let you know when dinner is ready.
And I hope you aren't lying about that homework, I swear,

(01:50:31):
he said. A moment later, she left the room. He
paused his game for a moment. A guilty look towards
his backpack made him consider doing his homework, but he
just didn't feel like it. He would do it in
the morning during home room dinner came and went, and
soon Cody was back in his room. He wasn't alone
for long, though. Abby knocked on his open door only
a few minutes after he returned to his room. Hey

(01:50:54):
can we talk, kiddo, she asked, I guess so, Cody responded,
shutting down his tae tablet and plugging it in. About earlier,
that redheaded kid has he been bullying you? Is that
why you've been acting up in school? Abby asked. She
walked into the room. Cody darted past her and closed
the door. He turned towards his stepsister, sh not so loud,

(01:51:19):
he said in a whisper. Aiden has been a pain
in my butt for months. I just bumped into him once,
I apologized, but he's made my life miserable ever since.
He's just a butt. There are all types of people
in the world. Some are brains, some are brown, and
some are just butts. The only contribution a butt makes

(01:51:40):
is well, you know, awfully stinky, Abby said, and smiled.
She sat on the end of his bed. He definitely is,
Cody replied, a big old turd. Okay, let's not get
carried away. You should probably tell your dad what's going on.
He could talk to that kid's father or the principle
at school. Did I ever tell you about the time

(01:52:02):
I was bullied a few years ago? Abby inquired. I
think this is the most we've ever talked, actually, Cody said.
What's wrong with your arm? He asked, looking at the
bandage that wasn't there before. Oh this, it's nothing, she said,
forget about it. Did Brad bully you? Cody asked? Oh God, no,

(01:52:23):
she said, and laughed so hard she snorted. Can I
trust you to keep a secret, kiddo? She asked, in
an even quieter whisper than the one they were already
talking in. Sure if you keep mine about aiden, he replied,
You know you're too smart for your own good. All right,
I'll show you, Remember you promised me, she said, and

(01:52:46):
started to peel back the edge of the bandage on
her arm. Cody grew wide eyed, wondering what kind of
gory scene he was in store for. He thought about
all those movies he snuck out of his room at
night to watch on TV. A tattoo, he exclaimed, when
she revealed what was behind the bandage. How are you
gonna hide that? Well? I figured, once it was all

(01:53:07):
healed up, there really isn't anything they can do about it.
So at that point I would just show them and
they will yell, but that'll be the end of it.
She explained why the cat, he asked, It's a special cat.
It was my cat. Before we moved here. With all
the movers going in and out, she she ran away
and we never found her. I used to go back

(01:53:29):
there a few times a week, but I never found her.
It's to remember her by. Abby told him. It doesn't
matter how long you wait, they will freak. Cody said,
thinking of his dad and new mother. Just remember, you
promised to keep my secret, and I'll keep yours. She
pointed a finger in him. I know, so tell me

(01:53:49):
about the time you got bullied, he asked her. The
next day, Cody was in a good mood on his
walk to school. He even caught himself whistling as he
made his way along Main Street. He talked to his
new sister for quite some time, and she explained to
him all about bullies, that they were cowards at heart,
and nine times out of ten, if he stood up
to one, they would back down. That last part he

(01:54:12):
kept replaying over and over in his head. He had
a plan on what he was going to do this morning,
then there should be no more Aidan problems. He crossed
the street to the school and started up the walkway
towards where he had last seen Aiden and mister Piney.
He rounded the corner and saw the tree out of
the corner of his eye. He was almost disappointed he

(01:54:32):
didn't see Aidan because he was prepared this time. Where
are you going? Came a voice from behind the tree.
Cody swallowed hard. He turned towards the bully, trying to
look tough. I'm going to homeroom, not that it's any
of your business, he said, defiantly. Not yet, you're not,
Aidan said, and approached him. He grabbed a hold of

(01:54:53):
Cody's backpack straps and swung him towards the tree. It
happened too fast for Cody to do anything, and before
he knew it, his feet left the ground and he
fell into the prickly pine tree. He felt the branches
scrape against his bare skin as he heard Aidan laugh.
Determined not to give up, Cody crawled out of the
tree and brushed himself off as best he could. You
touch me again, and you're gonna get it, Cody said,

(01:55:15):
glaring a hole in Aiden. You're a funny one today,
the bully said, and approached him, reaching for his bag
straps once again. Okay, Cody, he thought to himself, Now
is the time. Cody swung as hard as he could.
Aidan easily deflected the punch and laughed again. While he
was distracted, Cody went for his weak spot with a
kick to the groin. This connected, and Aidan let go

(01:55:38):
of him to instinctively cover something else. Even though it
was too late, Cody felt a rush. It was working,
The plan was working. He was going to hug his
stepsister when they got home tonight and tell her how
her advice about bullies being cowards helped him. Then Aidan
stood up, a snarl crossed his face, and was that

(01:56:00):
fire in his eyes. You made a big mistake, the
bully said, and reached out to grab him. Cody bolted,
the adrenaline kicking in, but it didn't kick in fast enough.
Aidan grabbed a hold of his backpack and that was enough.
Not only was Cody introduced to mister Piney for his
second appointment, but Aidan's repeated knee strikes kept him in
the coniferous tomb. The entire time. Cody bawled up and

(01:56:23):
closed his eyes. He could hear Aidan's words of anger,
a more vicious tone of voice than he had heard
from the bully before. After a few seconds, he could
no longer smell the pine, and it was replaced by
another smell. He tried to place it. It smelled like
when his grandfather would light his pipe, the sulfur from
the matches. Cody forced himself to open his eyes to
make sure that Aidan wasn't trying to burn the tree

(01:56:44):
down with him inside. But what he saw was worse.
Aidan stood up over him, his red hair raised around
his head, waving in a secret breeze only they knew about.
They danced around his flames. His eyes were glowing. The
blue was gone from them, he placed with a deep red,
like lava pouring from the ground. He was even more intimidating. Now, Aiden, please,

(01:57:08):
I made a mistake, Cody said, being born, Aiden said,
and decked him. He crumpled under the punch and laid
there so long that Aidan went into the school. Cody
didn't even try to make it in there today. He
hobbled home, defeated. He just wanted to crawl into his
closet and die. He would settle for laying under the

(01:57:28):
covers and sleeping until the aches went away. Later that day,
Abby entered his room. Hey, kiddo, that bully give you
any trouble, she asked, and then saw the state of him.
What happened? I stood up to him because you said
he was a coward, and he beat the crap out
of me. It was the worst, Cody said, fighting back tears.

(01:57:50):
That's it. I'll take care of this, Abby said angrily. No,
you promised not to tell anyone. Tell me what happened.
Don't leave anything out, Abby said, Getting comfortable, Cody told
her the whole story, his plan, the encounter, the way
he looked. At first, Abby thought he was being a
little dramatic, but when Cody explained how his hair and

(01:58:11):
eyes looked, she got concerned. Hang here one second, I
have to grab something quick, she said, and darted out
of his room. He wondered where she thought he was
going to go. He hurt all over. She returned a
moment later with a book in her arms. It looked
old and kind of spooky. She had a lot of
those kinds of books that her and her friends would

(01:58:32):
read while lighting candles and stuff. He didn't much pay
attention to it. The title was the Elemental Influences in
Modern Life. Here, look, she said, flipping to a page.
It showed a person made of fire and said fire
elemental kin on it. What is that? He asked? You see,
before people, there were only the elementals. They roamed the world,

(01:58:57):
warred with each other, much like humans. I guess. Anyway,
when humans came around, they warred with us instead. Eventually
they were defeated and were imprisoned. In the elements, they
represented fire, earth, water, and air. Somewhere the human and
elemental bloodlines crossed, and now there are some humans with
elemental blood. I think that's what aiden is. Abby explained.

(01:59:21):
According to this book, most people have at least some
elemental blood in them. I don't, but maybe you do.
What are you crazy? I don't have fire hair. Cody responded, no,
but you have other traits. Let's see, you were born
in January, so you're a Capricorn and Earth sign. You're

(01:59:43):
pretty thoughtful. Remember mom's birthday when you got her that
painting at the swapmeat of her favorite flowers that's also
contributed to earth. Let me make some calls and we
can do a little ritual to find out how to
unlock it, Abby said excitedly and ran out of the room.
An hour later, Cody sat inside a circle on the floor,
Candles lit around him. Four of Abby's friends, who also

(02:00:05):
wear black, sat around him. They were reading something together,
their voices as one. He couldn't make out any of
the words. Just when he began to get bored and
was going to go back to his room, something changed.
He felt it and looked around, but he didn't see
anything amiss. A calming sensation flowed into his body from

(02:00:26):
the floor and made its way over him until he
was wrapped in it like a giant blanket. A patience
of the ages took over him, and he no longer
wanted to go back to his room so badly. The
next morning, Cody prepared for school and left the house
the same way he had done for a long time,
But this time gone was the apprehension about the day. Inside.

(02:00:48):
He was still like the mountain facing the wind and rain.
Cody didn't hesitate as he crossed the street to the
school and walked to the tree. He stopped there and
looked at it, waiting look who it is here, came
a snarl from the tree. I don't think I've paid
you back enough for the nard shot. Aidan stepped from
behind the tree, much like he did the day before.

(02:01:10):
He took a few steps towards Cody. What's different about you?
You're not so trembling, the bully said, and turned his
head sideways like a dog when it's thinking hard. I
am not scared of you anymore, Cody said, and concentrated
on the words and images his sister taught him to
keep in his mind. Mountains defying the weather, the rock

(02:01:33):
of Gibraltar, Mesa's in the west, large sturdy, unwavering redwoods,
A little ace up his sleeve if he needed it,
she called it, in case his aura wasn't enough. He
had no idea what she meant by that, but it
soothed him. You should be your face hurt my knee yesterday.
Now my fists want an apology, Aidan said, with a

(02:01:56):
flash of fire in his eyes. I know what you are, Aidan,
even your name means fiery one. I know your true self,
do you, Cody asked. Let my fists answer that, and
with that he swung at Cody Lapis Cody said, just
before the fist struck him. It hit him square in

(02:02:17):
the jaw, but the strike didn't budge him. In fact,
it was Aidan that cried out, my fist, What the hell,
the angry bully said, and held it up. His hand
was twisted a bit. Why is your face so hard,
Aidan said, and swung again. This time a body blow
landed on Cody, much to the same effect. Just stop, Aidan,

(02:02:41):
before you hurt yourself more. Let the anger burn out
before it consumes you, came a voice from behind Cody.
His sister was there to check on him. He just
stood his ground with the magic trigger words in his head.
Stay out of this. This is between Cody and I,
Aidan said, his hair waving erratically around him. With a yell,

(02:03:02):
he kicked Cody in the leg as hard as he
could to try to drop him to the ground. An
audible snap was heard, and Aidan was the one who dropped,
clutching his ankle. Ah, I think it's broken, serves you right,
you little turd, Abby said, and winked at Cody, who
still stood there still as could be. Will you give

(02:03:23):
up this nonsense, Aidan, Cody asked, walking over to the
bully on the ground. Will you give up on bullying? Yeah?
You want? Okay, you kick my ass, Aidan said, as
a crowd started to gather. Cody did nothing. Your anger
did all of this. You did this to yourself, Abby said.

(02:03:44):
Cody looked down on his bully, now almost in tears
and holding his broken ankle. Come on, let's get you
to the nurse, Cody said and held out a hand.
Aidan reluctantly grabbed it and was shocked to find the
anger inside him leaving. He hadn't felt like this in years.
It was as if a great weight was lifted from

(02:04:06):
his shoulders. He looked Cody in the eyes as he
got to his feet and saw something there he never
noticed it before, A peacefulness he couldn't explain. He no
longer wanted to hurt Cody. He wanted him around. He
wanted to feel this way for as long as he could.

(02:04:26):
Later that night, Cody and Abby recalled the events of
the day. She explained that now he had unlocked his potential,
he would affect others around him, some more than others,
depending on their susceptibility. Even Abby could feel the calmness
in him. His mother popped in his room. Just before bedtime, Cody,
missus Fitzgerald called. She wanted to know if it was

(02:04:49):
okay to ask you to have a sleepover at her son,
Aidan's this weekend. How come you haven't told us about
your friend, she asked. We just became friends, Cody said,
looking at the faded scratches on his arms. They were
all but gone. Now. Well, you must have made an impression,
he said. You saved him when he hurt his ankle.
He couldn't stop saying nice things about you, his mother said.

(02:05:12):
A moment passed. What should I tell her? I have
to call her back. Tell her, I said, I wouldn't
miss it, Cody said, and smiled. A friend he made,
a friend. He never thought in a million years he
would make a friend out of aiden. He smiled as
he rolled over on his bed and went to bed,

(02:05:35):
happy for the first time in a very long time.

(02:05:55):
Slasher by Rob Fields. The group that was to breathe
new life into the Strickfield University Film Society, gathered in
the movie room at Wilder Hall, the student union building.
When Professor James Corgan arrived to conduct the meeting, he
sat on top of his desk and looked at the others.

(02:06:17):
I see we're missing somebody, he said. I'm sure Jenny'll
be here shortly, Jesse, his busty, red headed daughter, assured him.
The professor appeared annoyed. I'm not talking about your sister.
Just then, another girl entered the movie room. Sorry I'm late,
I got delayed. Jesse turned to her. It's okay, Vicky,

(02:06:38):
you didn't miss anything. In fact, we're heading out shortly.
Professor Corgan looked at VICKI you did read the script right,
trust me, I know my lines. Vicky assured him. I
know why Vicky got delayed. Bethany Miron looked over at
the others and made an obscene pantomime of giving oral sex,
getting a few chuckles out of some of the male present.

(02:07:01):
Jesse pointed right past Bethany. Hey, don't want to work
with Vicky Valentine. There's the door. We've only got one
shot at making this movie. Just say the word and
we'll recast you. Bethany flashed a toothy smile. Your ad
said you needed big breasted girls for your movie. It
just surprises me that you'd hire a porn star. That

(02:07:22):
porn star can actually act. Jesse fired back. She's already
starred in a horror movie for the North Ridgeway University
Film Club. The Murder Club is kicking ass all over
the film festival circuit. My contact at North Ridgeway told
me it'll be getting a limited theatrical run in a
few months. I want our movie to get that same prestige,
especially if we want to keep the Strickfield University Film

(02:07:44):
Society going. We've lost a lot of money over the
past six months, Professor Corgan explained. Dean Roth won't set
aside any more money in the budget for us unless
we can start making some of our own. We have
just enough money left to make our movie. My daughter
here wrote the script, which is both excellent and an
homage to Cheese the exploitation horror. I don't personally care

(02:08:06):
for horror movies, but I feel Jesse's going to do
well with it. She'll be in the movie with all
of you, but will also be directing Slasher the title.
I'm merely here as an adviser. I don't want any
animosity between any of you, especially with Vicky Valentine here.
Jesse pointed to Bethany, you in or out. Bethany shrugged,

(02:08:27):
I'm in. Jesse smiled, excellent. Now, Professor Corgan picked up
a bag and opened it. All of your smartphones are
turned off and go in here. No interruptions due to
someone getting a text. Some were reluctant in handing over
their phones, but they were all collected. Jesse took an
excited breath. Okay, let's head on over to the old

(02:08:49):
Performance Hall. It won't be torn down for a month yet.
Dean Roth gave us permission to shoot Slasher there. Everything
will be up and running, including the showers in the
basement dressing room. If none of you want to go home,
you can crash in one of the many old classrooms.
So are we ready? Cody King stood up. Let's go.
Everybody exited Wilder Hall. They walked across campus until they

(02:09:11):
came to the boarded up building that was once Performance Hall.
The building had seen better days and it was very
clear why a new one had been constructed. When Jesse
was looking for locations to shoot Slasher, she had to
convince Dean Jerry Roth to allow the Film Society to
have the former performance Art building until it was time
to be leveled. He finally consented and wrote her the

(02:09:32):
permit she needed. He also had signs posted that only
the Film Society had access to the building. When they
reached the front doors, Jesse unlocked them and they all
went inside. She was so excited to be shooting her
first feature film that she could barely contain herself. She
took a deep breath and turned to everybody. Okay, people,
our first scene is already set up. Head down the

(02:09:55):
hall to make up, and then we'll start. The first
day of shooting for Slasher was about to begin. Jesse
sat on the stage and looked over her copy of
the script. Before long, she heard a door opening to
her far left and saw her father coming in. We're

(02:10:16):
shooting the opening scene in here, she informed him. He
came and sat next to her. You're going to do
just fine, Jesse. I suppose I'm curious. Why did you
cast an adult film actress. I told you, Dad, she
really can't act. I had a chance to see her
in the Murder Club at Northridgeway University a few months ago,

(02:10:36):
and I knew she'd be perfect for Slasher. I met
Vicky that night and showed her the script, which she loved.
I can't pay my actors much, but I'm glad she
took the role. Anyway, Vicky's trying to do more legitimate
movies and get out of porn. I want to give
her a chance to do that. He put a comforting
arm around her. Okay, it's your movie, I said, I'd

(02:10:56):
back you. Jesse opened her script again. I said, we're
shooting the first scene. I couldn't find anybody to play
the scream queen killer, so I'm playing two roles. She
picked up the blank white mask that signified the killer.
I still can't reach Jenny. Do you know if she's coming?
Her father looked grim. I didn't want to tell you,

(02:11:18):
but your sister won't be joining us for our meetings again. Ever,
Jesse looked worried. What's going on? He sighed, She's the
reason we're having our money problems. I discovered she's been
embezzling money from the Film Society. Her mouth opened wide.

(02:11:38):
Oh my god. Then they heard a noise. Professor Corgan
quickly stood up and walked into the stage area. Somebody's
up in the catwalk. Jesse found a flashlight and joined
her father. She turned on the light and pointed it upward.
I don't see anybody I'm telling you, I saw somebody
moving around up there, Jesse. Jesse slowly shined the light

(02:12:00):
around a few more times. I still don't Suddenly the
figure appeared. The figure was obviously feminine, with a build
similar to Jesse. The figure had the same red hair
as Jesse and wore a sexy, form fitting white dress
that showed off how full and ample her breasts were. However,
this female figure wore the very same mask that Jesse

(02:12:22):
held in her hands. This girl was dressed as the
Scream Queen, the killer of Slasher. She looked down at
Jesse and her father for a long moment before she
produced a bow and arrow. Before either of them could react,
the Scream Queen took aim and shot the arrow right
through Professor Corgan's heart. Jesse screamed as her father fell

(02:12:46):
forward dead Before he hit the floor. Jesse looked up
to the catwalk on impulse, but the Scream Queen was gone.
Jesse held her dead father and sobbed. It was several
minutes before the cast came in ready to shoot the
first scene. When they saw what had happened, they either
gasped or screamed. Jesse turned to them get out of here,

(02:13:09):
call the police. Stanley Farnsworth quickly turned and left. It
wasn't long before he was back. The doors are all
chained and the windows are boarded up. We can't get out.
Oh bullshit, Cody King snapped, get out of the way.
The cast members reached the main doors to find they
were indeed chained tightly shut from the inside. They went

(02:13:33):
and checked the other doors. Hope quickly turned to despair
when they found that they were chained in the exact
same manner. We're fucking trapped in ear Cody yelled, bullshit. People,
come on, we need to keep it together here. Vicky
Valentine said, let's go back and check on Jesse. They

(02:13:54):
went back to the stage and found Jesse still holding
her father's body. Vicki lowered her and convinced Jesse to
put her father down. Jesse did and became angry. I
told you people to call the police. Let's all go together.
Nate Henry piped up, there should be a phone in
the office. What about the bag with our phones, Stanley inquired.

(02:14:18):
Jesse looked dismal. Dad put them away somewhere, I don't
know where. Vicky stood up and helped Jesse to her feet.
We go to the office. Then the seven of them
entered the main office and found the landline phone. Stanley

(02:14:40):
picked up the receiver and punched nine one one. Then
he turned to the others with a grim look. It's dead. Bullshit.
Cody snatched the receiver from Stanley after putting it to
his ear. The worm's right, the killer probably cut the line.
He slammed the receiver back onto the cradle. Fuck. Vicky

(02:15:02):
quickly cried, easy, people, we can't be losing our shit here,
not now. Bethany sneered at Vicky. Just because you're the
porn queen doesn't mean you're the queen. Cody turned to Vicky,
don't lose our shit. We're trapped in this fucking building.
The phone ain't working. We are so fucked. Lizzie Jones

(02:15:22):
finally got her words in. I've actually been looking for
a weapon or something, but I can't find so much
as a single tool. I even went to a few
of the other rooms nearby. There's nothing to use as
a weapon to protect ourselves. The killers thought of everything.
Stanley groaned, we need to oh shit. Everybody else screamed

(02:15:45):
and panicked as the scream queen Now stood in the doorway,
armed with a chainsaw. With one quick movement, she yanked
the cord to bring the lethal weapon to life. Before
Stanley could turn to move away, the killer thrust the
chainsaw underneath his groin and worked right up the middle.
Blood sprayed and splattered everywhere. The Scream Queen's once fully
white outfit and mask were blood splattered. When the killer finished,

(02:16:08):
the two halves of Stanley fell to the floor. The
Scream Queen gave them a long, blank look before she
turned and disappeared. The remaining six were too shocked to
run after her. What the fucking fuck, Bethany screamed, Then
she whimpered when she finally realized that she had Stanley's

(02:16:30):
blood splattered all over her. Ah Jesse suddenly pointed to Lizzie,
you say there aren't any weapons. I don't believe that
for a second. I'm sure the murdering cunt pretending to
be the Scream Queen wants us to think that there
have to be things we can use as weapons. We
just need to search the other rooms of the building.
I'm all for looking, Vicky offered. Bethany pointed to the doorway. Hey,

(02:16:55):
porn Queen, in case you were sleeping through all this shit.
That fucking psycho bitches still out there. Vicky glared at her,
No shit, airhead. We can't just stay in here with
our heads up our asses. You people can stay here
if you want. I'm going with Jesse. We really shouldn't
be splitting up. Nate stated, like Vicki said, we can't
just stay in here. Lizzie recalled, hold it, I'll go

(02:17:18):
with you and Jesse. As Nate reached out to take
Vicky's hand, she slapped it away, hands off. I'm married. Sorry.
Jesse turned to the others. You three stay on this
floor and look around. We'll head up to the second floor. Plus,
we still have to check the basement. She turned to
Nate and Vicki. Let's go, Jesse, Nate and Vicki split

(02:17:40):
from the others and headed for the second floor. Bethany
and Cody were looking through drawers, closets, and other places
where they might find weapons. Lizzie noticed that Bethany wasn't
really making much of an effort. She seemed to be
opening things slowly, all while keeping her eyes on Cody.

(02:18:03):
She also noticed that the rich girl had conveniently unbuttoned
enough buttons on her top to reveal the ample cleavage
in between her two surgically enhanced breasts. Truth be told,
Cody really had an eye for Lizzie and kept checking
out her ass whenever she wasn't looking. Bethany noticed this
and couldn't understand why he'd want to hook up with

(02:18:24):
a future susy homemaker when he could have her hot
and naked. All he had to do was just claim her.
She had no problem answering Jesse's ad for big breasted
girls to act in her movie. Bethany knew she had
the biggest ones out of every girl in the cast hell.
Even Vicky Valentine's natural ones didn't measure up to hers.

(02:18:47):
Bethany had spent a pretty penny on her breasts to
turn lots of heads. Yet Cody was wanting Lizzie. Oh
but Bethany wasn't giving up so fast. After all, she
was from the infamously rich Mirran clan, and Mirans always
got what they wanted. Well, Bethany knew she couldn't just

(02:19:07):
strip naked for Cody, not with Lizzie right there. She
would certainly continue to work her charms on him. Oh yes,
he would definitely give in to her. If he was
a good lay, she would keep him for as long
as she would continue to want to play with him.
Everything good, Lizzie, Cody, whispered. Lizzie, the lookout person whispered back,

(02:19:27):
I'm not seeing anything. Lizzie kept looking one way then
the other. In truth, she wanted to help search for weapons,
but spoiled Bethany just had to have her way. She'd
had enough of Bethany's hemhawing. Before she could turn to
tell Bethany to trade places with her, the blood splattered
scream Queen was suddenly right there in front of her.

(02:19:48):
Lizzie screamed when the scream Queen grabbed her t shirt
and ripped it open, exposing her bouncing breasts. Then the
scream Queen grabbed Lizzie by her long dark hair with
the left hand and sank the blame of a box
cut her into her flesh just below her ribs with
the right. With a few swift, precise movements, Lizzie's stomach
had been sliced open. Still holding Lizzie's hair, the Scream

(02:20:11):
Queen forced Lizzie to quickly drop to her knees, causing
her internal organs to drop right out of her stomach.
With a loud, sickening PLoP, Lizzie's corpse fell on to
its side. Cody charged through the door, knocking the scream
queen to the floor. She quickly got to her feet
and ran away. Bethany shot out of the doorway when

(02:20:32):
she saw what was left of Lizzie. She quickly cradled
Cody's arm. Holy shit, what are we going to do now?
We gotta keep looking for shit, Cody said. We don't
know if the others'll be back or not. We got
to look out for ourselves now and find a way
out of here. Please don't leave me, she moaned. Sh

(02:20:53):
shut up, Come on. Bethany nodded and held Cody's hand.
He squeezed her hand and led the way. Jesse, Nate,
and Vicky were on the second floor. They stuck together
as they carefully examined classroom after classroom. They couldn't find
anything available to be used as a weapon, not even

(02:21:14):
so much as a pen. Vicky groaned in frustration. Nate
put a gentle hand on her shoulder. I know this
psycho seems to have thought of everything. Jesse groaned in frustration. Herself.
Why is that sick bitch doing this? Your guess is
as good as mine, Nate replied. Vicky shook her head quickly.

(02:21:36):
We just, God, damn it, we just came here to
shoot a horror movie. She grabbed her hair and groaned again.
Am I being punished for being a porn star? My
parents have never agreed with me doing porn to pay
for school, but they supported my decision, and I'm trying
to get out. I really am. Jesse stepped in front
of her. Look at me, Vicky, Look at me. Vicky

(02:21:58):
slowly focused on her. I see you. You do what
you have to do to pay for college. I get it.
I know Strickfield University is not the cheapest place to go.
I don't think the scream Queen is targeting you specifically.
You'd be dead already. Just you. She hugged VICKI for
what it's worth, Thank you so much for agreeing to

(02:22:19):
be in my movie. Vicky hugged her back. Thank you
for asking me. Then they came apart. I don't want
to die. I'm a senior this year. I want to graduate.
I'm finally at a point where I can leave porn
and do something meaningful. What are you majoring in? Nate asked.
Suddenly there was a loud racket down the hallway from them,

(02:22:39):
which made them all gasp. We have to go check
it out. Jesse whispered, are you crazy? The scream queen
might be down there. Vicky whispered, someone might be in trouble.
Nate offered, Vicky really didn't want to go, but she nodded.
They all cautiously moved down the hallway, checking every room

(02:23:00):
along the way. Soon they reached the room where they
were sure they heard the noise. They entered the bloody
room and found the remains of murdered crew members everywhere.
Nate had to quickly cover Vicky's mouth to keep her
from screaming. Jesse had to whisper to get her to
calm down. When she did, Nate removed his hand. Then

(02:23:22):
Nate saw glass bottles of water on the desk. Being
really thirsty, he picked one up and opened it. He'd
only taken two swallows before he quickly spit it out,
just missing Vicky. But he couldn't tell her that what
he had just consumed was not water. It was highly
corrosive acid. Vicky screamed in terror, As Nate fell to

(02:23:42):
his knees, his face, throat, and the flesh on his
chest and stomach had melted away completely. Blood was pulling
around his corpse quickly. Suddenly, the Scream Queen appeared with
a bloody fire axe in her hands. Fuck you, Jesse, shouted.
The scream Queen raised and swung the axe at Jesse.
Jesse ducked barely when she came up. The girls both

(02:24:04):
shoved the killer to the floor and ran out of
the room. Cody and Bethany were exploring the basement. Now
they still hadn't found any weapons, in spite of all
the rooms they had checked. Bethany's arm was still wrapped
around Cody's as she continued to cling to him. Why
what did we do wrong? Cody? Cody sighed and gave

(02:24:27):
her a brief comforting hug. I don't know. What I
do know is we got to get the fuck out
of here. They walked into the dressing rooms, seeing nothing,
they turned and walked into the shower room. Bethany was
really scared now, God damn it. She held herself as
she backed into a corner and seemed ready to cry.

(02:24:47):
Cody moved to her and held her to him, Hey,
don't come apart on me. Come on, Blondie, stay with
me here, stay with me. Cody moved his hands to
the sides of Bethany's face and began kissing her hungrily.
Bethany snatched him to her and kissed him with equal hunger.
Bethany let him finish, unbuttoning her top to expose her

(02:25:09):
abundantly large breasts. Cody had seen Vicky Valentine's natural breasts
many times when he'd watched her adult movies, but Bethany's
enhanced ones were much bigger, and to a guy, bigger
was always better, right. Also, he would have liked to
have hooked up with Lizzie, but she was dead. For

(02:25:30):
all Cody would have known. They were all gonna die.
Fuck it, he thought. Cody and Bethany undressed each other,
then Bethany turned on all the showers. As far as
they were concerned, there was no scream queen in this
steamy world, at least not for a few adulterous rounds
of pleasure. For them, the sex was everything they'd both imagined.

(02:25:51):
They were so into each other that they never heard
or saw the figure appearing at the shower entrance. As
Bethany was having her third orgasm, she opened her eyes
and screamed. Cody screamed himself when Jesse yelled, are you
too fucking kidding me? Vicky appeared next to Jesse. Really,

(02:26:14):
we got a fucking killer running around here, and you
two are are this? After Bethany turned off the showers,
the naked couple grabbed for their clothes. Bethany took her
time in getting dressed. Once more, she led her pride
and status as a mirror and get the better of her.
Still topless, she turned to Vicky and pushed up on
her breasts. Get a good look, porn slut, she purred,

(02:26:37):
They're so much bigger and better than yours. Vicky just
looked at her. Yeah, and unlike you, people are willing
to pay damn good money to see me fuck in
the shower, So what's your excuse? Bethany just sneered at her.
Then she turned her back to the opposite entrance and
finally started to put her top back on. As she

(02:26:58):
went to button it up, she screamed. When the loud
roar of a very large drill tore through the air.
Bethany gasped and started choking on her own blood when
the huge drill bit went into her back and came
out just below her prides and joy. The blood spilled
from Bethany's lacerations, some going down a nearby drain. Bethany
finally fell forward off the drill bit and died. The

(02:27:22):
Scream Queen came into the room and read the drill
in front of the last three still alive. She slipped
on the wet floor and fell, allowing Jesse, Vicki, and
Cody to escape. The Scream Queen got up and moved
with amazing speed to retrieve the drill off the floor
and began the pursuit. Jesse, Cody, and Vicki made it

(02:27:45):
to the stairway and ran up two steps at a time.
Back on the first floor, they ran down the hallway.
The raging drill made it quite clear that the Scream
Queen was right behind them. As they made the turn
to the stairwell, they just missed being hit with the
drill that the the Scream Queen had thrown. The drill
had stopped when it hit the floor. They ran up
the second floor and kept moving so far the Scream

(02:28:08):
Queen wasn't in sight when they reached the catwalk doors.
Cody opened one and motioned for the girls to go
in before he followed. They were careful in moving across
the catwalk above the stage. The house lights suddenly came on,
which made them all scream. As they reached the opposite doors,
one of them opened. The scream Queen stepped in. This

(02:28:29):
time she had a spear in her hands. Vicky quickly
grabbed the spear and struggled to take it from the killer.
Finally she had seized it. The scream Queen just stood
there and seemed to be watching. Without warning, Vicky turned
and drove the spear under Cody's chin with enough force
so that the tip came right out through the top
of his head. Cody shook and gurgled for a few

(02:28:50):
moments before Vicky just shoved him right off the catwalk.
Cody's head landed on the hard wooden floor, where the
sickening sound of his skull shattering was heard. Jesse gasped
and looked at Vicky. Why. On impulse, Jesse reached out
and ripped the scream Queen's mask right off her knees
wobbled when she saw the face of the killer. What

(02:29:12):
the fuck, she whispered loudly. Jesse held the bloody mask
in her hands as she stared into what seemed to
be her own reflection. A second Jesse Corgan. The second
Jesse Corgan laughed gleefully, Hi Sis, miss me. Vicky grinned

(02:29:33):
an evil grin. You don't recognize Jenny, your own twin sister.
You you killed dad, Jesse cried, Why Jenny. Jenny quickly
raised her finger. Why didn't you hear daddy earlier he
found out I was embezzling money from the Film Society. Yes,
I got a little too greedy. Also, why should I

(02:29:57):
have to wait until he dies to get all those
millions when it can have it all now, Jesse shouted.
That's what this was about. Greed. You were so goddamn
greedy that you killed our father for Film Society money,
Jenny laughed. Stealing money from the Film Society was bonus money.

(02:30:17):
But no, you know, Daddy had a pretty fucking hefty
life insurance policy worth millions. Jesse put the rest of
the pieces together. With Dad dead, you'll be the only beneficiary.
You'll be set for life. The Film Society will close
down for good, and you'll be on your way to
a tropical paradise where you can live out the rest
of your life. And you would even stoop lower to

(02:30:39):
make sure the Film Society's horror movie would never be made,
anything to make sure Dean Roth would have no choice
but to close the Film Society down right. Oh you're
wrong about one thing, Sis, Jenny purd to Jesse. Surprise,
Jenny eased Vicki to her for a passionate kiss. Then
they turned back to Jesse. Remember when I told old

(02:31:00):
Nate I was married. Jenny's my wife. Vicki revealed we
eloped around the time we came up with this plan,
which means we will be living in paradise. Jenny added
a little money and a crooked lawyer, and I also
got the will changed. All of Daddy's money and insurance
will go to us, as in Vicki and me. I'll

(02:31:20):
never have to bust my ass for anyone ever again. Also,
my sweetheart will be done with porn. She moved away
from Vicki and towards Jesse. Sorry, Sis, nothing personal. Jenny
reached out and shoved Jesse hard off of the catwalk.

(02:31:40):
Jesse screamed only for a moment until she landed on
the back of her head and was still forever. Blood
began pulling around her head and neck. Jenny turned to
face Vicky, who stood with her back to the railing.
No more loose ends, love, Vicki gave Jenny a sinister smirk. Wrong, honey. Suddenly,

(02:32:03):
Vicki grabbed Jenny and flipped her over the railing. Jenny
screamed all the way down until she landed and broke
her neck. Vicky looked down and smirked again. Sorry, honey,
but there's only going to be enough money for one person.
Me till death do we part. As Vicky left the

(02:32:24):
catwalk and headed downstairs, she pulled a set of keys
out of her pocket, which would unlock the chains and
the doors. Vicki Valentine, the unlikely sole survivor, stepped outside.
She pulled out her smartphone from in between her breasts
and turned it on and called the police. Truly, Vicky
was indeed a great actress. The police bought everything. Vicki

(02:32:47):
would only have to wait a short time to collect
all of the money, graduate from Strickfield University, and say
goodbye to the porn industry forever. Epilogue The cast and
crew were pleased at their screening of Slasher, which played
at the Strickfield Centennial Theater downtown. This particular screening was

(02:33:11):
invitation only, which included the cast and crew, along with
the film Society backers who contributed enough to get tickets
to the screening as a perk. The end credits began
to roll when the house lights came up. Jesse and
Jenny Corgan were sitting with their father, who congratulated them
on a job well done. Jesse motioned the cast and

(02:33:31):
crew members present to make their way to the lobby
for a meet and greet. Many of the cast posed
for pictures. However, Vicky Valentine would end up signing copies
of her adult movies that people happened to bring with
them in addition to posing for pictures. This screening was
to celebrate that Slasher had made it onto the film
festival circuit. Once it would finish there, it would play

(02:33:52):
on the Midnight Movie Circuit, followed by a limited theatrical run.
In all, the Strickfield University Film Society would earn enough
money to both get to keep their doors open and
have enough budget to film the sequel, which the Corgan
twins had already written the script for they knew they
were going to resign their cast and crew to help
make it. Vicky Valentine was already guaranteed her role as

(02:34:13):
the star and accepted it on the spot. Vicky Valentine
would now be able to leave the porn industry and
become a premier horror movie starlet. Not only had she
agreed to star in Slasher two Valentine's Day, she would
also go on to star in other horror movies for
other independent studios. She hadn't forgotten that Slasher made her
a star, and made it a point to make herself

(02:34:35):
available whenever the Corgan Twins offered her a role. Bethany Mirren,
Vicki's rival, had actually been approached by Vicki's former agent
about a career in porn. Bethany would never admit it,
but she had actually considered it. However, it was no
secret to the cast and crew that she and Cody
were seeing each other. The secret they shared between themselves

(02:34:55):
was that they actually did have sex during their shower scene.
They just didn't seemed to want to be a part
after that. When it came to the rest of the cast,
Nate Henry and Stanley Farnsworth would receive individual offers to
appear in or star in other independent movies. Only Lizzie
Jones had actually been signed to a Hollywood contract out
of all of them, and would go on to win Oscars.

(02:35:17):
As for the Corgan Twins, many of their movies are
still playing on the midnight movie circuit to this day,
and many many more are on their way. Be My

(02:35:37):
by Shane Migliovoka. She just sat down on the bed
with the cats snuggling up next to her, when the
knock came at the door. Blake looked over at her roommate, Cassie,
buried in her phone and closer to the door door.
Cassie didn't answer, Nope, guess not. Blake looked down at

(02:36:00):
her cat, Dean, Sorry buddy. She stood as the cat
looked up at her, completely disappointed. Blake crossed the small,
messy dorm room as another knock came. I got it, huh,
Cassie mumbled. Opening the door, Blake was greeted by Maggie
from down the hall. The girl beamed at her from

(02:36:22):
behind a pair of thick glasses. Here she thrust a
pink heart shaped box at Blake. Uh, thanks, I guess,
Blake said, taking the box. Maggie frowned. It's not from me.
It was sitting on the table in the lobby with
your name on it. Oh. Thanks, a box of candy

(02:36:44):
for her. There was nobody she could think of who'd
do something like that. Going to the Valentine's dance tonight,
Maggie asked, before Blake could shut the door. Nope, got
a paper to finish. That sucks. Blake shut the door.
It really did suck, but not for the reason. Maggie thought.
She was struggling with the assignment, dragging her feet on

(02:37:06):
it since day one. Now the deadline was looming. There
was a pink envelope taped to the boxes front with
Blake's name written in glitter. Inside was a Valentine's card
with a cute cat on the front, which read You're Prefect.
Underneath the card's message was another written in red ink.
It read Roses are red, Violets are blue. I choose

(02:37:31):
you meet me under the East bleachers at eight pm.
What's that, Cassie asked, She lives. Blake answered, huh. Blake
rattled the box. Someone left me a Valentine's gift. You
got a secret admirer. Guess so they want me to

(02:37:51):
meet them tonight under the bleachers. Probably some tawny rapists
looking to assault a rich college girl. I'm not rich,
which they don't know. That. Pop that fucker open, Cassie said,
sliding forward on her bed. Bet, there's a human heart inside. Nope, candies,
Blake answered, popping a chocolate into her mouth. Damn, Cassie groaned,

(02:38:16):
gonna meet this mystery admirer. No time for love, doctor Jones.
I've got a paper to finish, Blake pet the cat,
still lounging on her bed, before picking up her coat
and book bag. I'm off to the library. Billy's letting
me in. Oh kinky, Cassie laughed. There's your secret heart sender, Billy.

(02:38:37):
I'm pretty sure he's gay. Well, so are you, Casey stated,
it doesn't work that way. He doesn't have the kind
of parts I like. Blake slipped on her coat and
rested the strap of the book bag on her shoulder.
What about you meeting Steve at the dance. Cassie's gaze
drifted over to her phone, lying on the bed next

(02:38:59):
to her. Nah, he's busy tonight, just gonna chill here
with the cat and some TV. Oh sorry, I knew
you were looking forward to it. A smile crept across
Cassie's face. Hey, we could go together. Blake could see
the hopeful look in her friend's eyes, which made what
she had to say painful. I'm sorry, I wish I could,

(02:39:23):
she said, if I don't hunk her down and finish
this paper, I can't screw up. My parents sacrificed a
lot to get me here. She could feel her heart
start to beat a bit faster as she imagined going
back home after flunking out. The disappointment etched into her
parents faces. Blake felt sweat trickled down her cheek as
she started to breathe more rapidly. Control, she told herself,

(02:39:47):
taking in a deep, slow breath. Don't worry about it.
I wasn't totally serious, Cassie said, perhaps sensing her friend's stress.
I'm better off staying in tonight anyway. Everything okay, yeah,
just a little bummed, nothing big. You sure I could stay?

(02:40:07):
I'm sure. Go get that paper done, okay, I'm sorry,
don't be I never am. Blake stepped out into the hallway,
making her way past a group of girls, all dressed
up for the dance, before stepping outside into the bitter
February air. The cold cut through her as she started
across campus. Taking a pair of earbuds from her coat,

(02:40:29):
she hit play on her phone. She'd put together a
mix for tonight, something to get her motivated and keep
her going. Walking along a lit path, snow and ice
crunched under Blake's boots. Taking in a deep breath of
cold air, she felt her heart beat going back to normal.
Since middle school, Blake had suffered from panic attacks. She
had trouble keeping her grades up, trouble fitting in. She'd

(02:40:53):
found ways to cope with it over the years, with
the help of the school counselor Miss Cheryl. Getting this
paper finished would relieve a long of stress. Most of
the campus buildings were dark, only lit by a few
lights left on and some spotlights on the outside. So
many shadows, perfect for a towney to be lurking. Blake

(02:41:13):
wanted to laugh off Cassie's comment, but here alone in
the night, she wasn't so sure it was something to
laugh at. Stopping to adjust her heavy book bag, Blake
became aware of something. As the song she was listening
to faded out footfalls on the snow. She turned, picturing

(02:41:33):
a salivating pack of Towney boys ready to pounce, ready
to swing her book bag like a mace. Blake wouldn't
go down without a fight. She turned and found herself
face to face with a campus security guard. Hey, hey, miss,
the man nodded, where are you headed tonight? Not wanting
to get Billy in trouble, she fibbed. Meeting a friend

(02:41:57):
to study, she smiled. She noticed his aim tag red stew.
He looked like a stew. Blake thought, I see nose
to the grindstone and all that commendable thanks. Blake could
feel his eyes on her as she continued on. She
felt a little better knowing there was somebody out keeping watch.
While most of the campus was at the dance, the library,

(02:42:19):
designed in the mid sixties, stood out against the rest
of the campus, which had been renovated over the last
few years. She knocked on the staff door around the
building's back. After a few minutes of standing around, waiting
and thinking Billy wasn't even there, the lock clicked and
the metal door opened. A young man, a thin shadow
of stubble covering his lower face, peeked his head out.

(02:42:41):
His eyes darted back and forth before stopping on Blake.
Is it secret? Is it safe? Billy Blake said wearily.
He smiled broadly. Sorry, couldn't resist all this clandestine shit.
It was your idea for me to use the staff entrance.
Want somebody seeing you come in the front after hours,

(02:43:02):
Old man Styles would have my ass for breakfast. Blake
shivered as the wind gusted, gonna let me in already,
My non existent lady balls are freezing off. Billy stepped aside,
and Blake entered what appeared to be the library's office area,
a cluttered mess of desks and cabinets from somewhere in
the library. Elvis crooned away as they stepped into the

(02:43:23):
main room. Only half lit, the library was a maze
of bookshelves and shadows. Feel free to set up shop anywhere.
I'll be down here doing inventory a while, so don't
worry about getting the boot. Blake smiled, Thank you for this.
There's just too much chaos back at the dorm to focus. Besides,
Cassie didn't go out tonight. Oh she didn't go to

(02:43:45):
the dance. Nah. God stood up kind of the same
for me. All my help bailed so they could go
to the dance. Well, at least you got the king.
Music isn't gonna be a problem, is it. Nope, brought
my own. Blake pointed to her earbuds. Where's it coming
from anyway? Old man styles as a record player hooked

(02:44:08):
up to the PA. He's got a shit ton of
vinyl in his office, Billy pointed over his shoulder at
the head librarian's office. Helps the night go by quicker.
Blake headed upstairs and plopped down at a desk off
in a corner with her paper and reference material laid
out on the desk, Blake popped open an energy drink
and took a sip Sweet Sweet caffeine. She unpaused her

(02:44:31):
music and got to work. Cassie's finger hung over the
send button. How long ago had it been since she'd
sent it? She wasn't sure. She read the message again,
I know about the two of you. The message remained
unseen by Steve. A part of her regretted sending it,

(02:44:51):
the part that still loved him even though she'd seen
them together. Fuck it, Fuck him the shit More cheaters
coming up after this, the TV promised. Cassie pet the
cat lying next to her. Here I am on Valentine's
Day petting my gay roommate's pussy, watching Cheaters all alone,

(02:45:13):
Cassie groaned, tapping the back of her head against the wall. Sorry, kitty,
but I got a bounce. Cassie put on some lipstick,
looking at herself in the mirror. Fuck you, Steve. Putting
on her jacket, Cassie looked at the cat curled up
on her bed. I'll leave the TV on for you.
Learn from cheaters, pal, don't fall in love. Snow had

(02:45:37):
begun to fall, whipped along by the wind. Cassie was
in the mood to do something bad. She could head
to the dance, maybe find some action there. Now, all
those couples dancing kissing, she'd feel more alone than back
in the dorm room. Instead, Cassie headed towards the library.

(02:45:59):
She hugged herself as the wind blew across the path,
swirling snow in its wake. Cassie approached the sliding glass
door and peered inside. She knocked on the glass, Hello,
anybody around. She shivered and knocked on the window again.
There seemed to be music coming from inside. Someone had
to be in there. Hey, anybody alive? In there, keep

(02:46:22):
it down. A voice barked at her from inside. Billy
glared at her from over a stack of books. Cassie frowned, Sorry, geez,
is Blake in there? Why I'm her roommate. I gotta
tell her something. Cassie shivered, Please, Billy shook his head.
Go around back. Thanks. Going around the back of the building,

(02:46:45):
she saw the door open, and the young man motioned
for her to hurry up. He slammed the door shut
behind them as Cassie silently gave thanks for the heat.
When I invited Blake to study here tonight, I didn't
think it was an open invitation, Billy, Cassie asked. Blake
didn't tell me you were such a grump. He laughed.
I just don't want to get my ass in trouble.

(02:47:07):
This job helps pay the bills. Cassie looked him over.
I don't see any trouble with your ass. This visibly
threw him off. So Blake is upstairs studying. I can
show you the way, No need to show me. I've
been here before, I know her hangout spot. I've noticed
you around. Really. A loud knock from the front of

(02:47:29):
the library startled the both of them. What the fuck?
Billy complained, are you expecting somebody? Um? No, unless the
cat followed me? Bill Murdoch, a man hollered from outside. Shit,
Billy said, stay here, stay hidden. Billy left the office.
Cassie could hear him talking to the other man. Music

(02:47:51):
from the speakers obscuring some of their conversation. Billy assured
him everything was okay. The man laughed, then wished Billy
a good night. He came back looking harried. Everything cool,
Cassie asked, yeah, just the security guy making his rounds.
You better head up before someone else shows up. Stu

(02:48:15):
almost made it back to the security hut, as he
called it, when his phone rang. The psycho theme ring
tone told him all he needed to know. He didn't
want to answer it, but ignoring it would be worse. Hi, honey,
Stu tried to sound happy as he answered, what are
you doing walking my rounds? How about you, honey? Sitting

(02:48:37):
here alone? What do you think? Shit? Wrong choice of words.
I'm sorry, baby. If I could get out of this,
I would, but there's nobody else. Tell me the truth.
You're not banging one of those young college floozies, are you? No?
He tried, to reassure her, I never would I love you.

(02:48:57):
Somebody giggled, are you lad? Laughing at me? He asked,
the hell are you talking about? The childlike giggle came again.
This time he was sure it wasn't his wife. Okay,
who's out here? Another giggle came from somewhere in the dark,

(02:49:18):
just off the footpath. Stu took out his flashlight and
shined it into the darkness. He expected to see a
couple of students pranking him, but instead there was nothing. STU,
what the hell is going on? His wife asked, sorry, honey,
work gotta go. He hung up. Stepping off the path,

(02:49:39):
he shined his light over the snow covered ground. There
was nothing out of the ordinary, but a quick flash
of movement among the trees caught his eye. More giggling
rung out, look, knock it off, kid, go back to
the dance or the dorm. And Holstering his pistol, Stu
approached the trees. If I catch you and you're high
on some your butt will be expelled. His gut instinct

(02:50:03):
was to walk away. Don't give the little punk the
satisfaction of playing their game. Sadly, when it came to
his job. Stu was a stubborn man, so he went forward. Listen,
show yourself, I'll take you in. You can sleep it
off on the couch and go in the morning. Sound good,
Stu was answered with the sound of glass shattering. Shit

(02:50:27):
had to do this the hard way. Ahead through the trees,
Stu could see the side of the visual Arts building.
The glass of one of the ground floor windows had
been broken. Shining the flashlight inside. He could see traces
of snow on the dark linoleum floor. So much for
a quiet night, he muttered. Entering the side door rounding

(02:50:48):
the corner, he stopped. Something was laid out on the
floor in a straight line leading further down the hallway.
Stu bent down, getting a good look at what was
sitting on the floor, a little pink can heart. For
the first time he could remember, Stu was scared shitless.
As much as he wanted to head back to the
hut and forget this crap, he couldn't. He stood, gun

(02:51:11):
at the ready and followed the trail of candy. The
trail ended in front of a pair of large auditorium doors.
Stu nudged the doors open slowly. The large room was
completely dark. He advanced slowly down the main aisle, swinging
his flashlight side to side. The light danced over the seats,
pausing on each one long enough to see nobody. There

(02:51:36):
was only one place left someone could be hiding, the stage.
The stage was made up to look like a girl's bedroom.
There was a large bed, a desk, and nightstand. As
he walked up the wooden steps to the stage, there
was an obvious shape under the blankets on the bed,
A human shape. All right, Stu said, gun trained on

(02:51:57):
the bed, Game's up. He yanked back the blankets in
one swift motion, ready to grab the little shit hiding there.
A grinning, plastic face stared up at him from the
human sized doll that laid there. Suddenly, pain erupted from
his left achilles tendon. He fell hard, sending his gun
in flashlight from his hands and across the stage floor.

(02:52:18):
Stu watched as the figure slid out from under the
bed and stood brandishing a bloody knife in their gloved hand.
The short figure wore a beat up old army jacket
with a gray hoodie. Underneath the hood was pulled up,
hiding their face in shadows. They playfully waved at him.
Oh god, Stu stammered. Turning over, he crawled towards the gun.

(02:52:41):
Leave me alone, he screamed. Those words would be Stu's last.
As the figure jumped on his back, driving their knees
in and knocking the wind out of him. Stu felt
the cold steel of the blade against his throat as
that childish laugh filled his ears. Cassie found Blake sound

(02:53:02):
asleep at her desk. She didn't have the heart to
wake her sleeping friend. Instead, she went downstairs, where Billy
was still hard at work as Bobby Darren sang about
the sea. Don't you ever take a break? Sooner? I
get this done, sooner I get to go home and sleep,
Billy said, scanning a book. Sleep is overrated. Come on,

(02:53:23):
take a break. She walked over to Billy and leaned
on one of the bookshelves, trying to look as seductive
as possible. How's Blake doing, Billy asked, sounding a little
uncomfortable with her close proximity. Unfortunately, she's sleeping. Now here's
my thing. I'm having a bad night. I need something, anything,

(02:53:44):
to take my mind off the shit. She leaned in
close to Billy's ear. So how about taking a break?
You're very attractive. Don't think I haven't noticed. But I
have a lot of work here in shit. She kissed
him on the cheek. I can help. I'm very good
with the Dewey decimal system. Well, oh, Cassie exclaimed, so

(02:54:11):
not gay. Huh. Billy looked up at her. Nothing, she said,
breathing heavy. They were in the back corner of the library,
behind a shelf of rarely used books. Cassie laid her
head on Billy's bare shoulder. I don't do this, it's
just tonight, she said. I don't want you to think
I'm easy. I don't. I wouldn't. Billy said, I know

(02:54:34):
this is just a fluke, a one time thing. I
wouldn't say that. She laughed. We'll see, okay. Yeah. Cassie
laid there, feeling her heartbeat go back to normal. It
was the first time she noticed the silence the record stopped.
She said, guess, so, how much trouble would you be

(02:54:55):
in if old man Styles caught us? Are you crazy?
He'd have my ass thrown out of school. From what
I've heard, this isn't the first time someone got some
in the library, Miss Walton. Cassie nodded and coach Greer.
It's a rumor anyway, Billy laughed, it's more than that.
I almost walked in on them one night in the

(02:55:15):
projection room. She might have asked you to join in.
The pair giggled. Well, I gotta get back to work,
Billy said, I wish. Cassie cut him off, kissing him.
I know duty calls. She sat up. I'll go see
if Blake is up. The PA crackled with static as
another record started to play. How Cassie asked, looking at Billy,

(02:55:41):
only one way? He replied, somebody else who Blake wouldn't
I don't think I'll go. Look, I'll go with you.
Stay here. If it's the old Man, or ste or somebody,
I'm toast. He surprised Cassie by giving her a quick
kiss on the cheek. She watched him hurry off, Feeling

(02:56:02):
a sudden nervousness. She waited, listening with the music, it
was hard to make anything out. Cassie could hear Billy
say something. Then he yelled one word that sent a
chill through her whole body. Run Blake woke with a start.

(02:56:22):
She dreamed of a dark figure standing behind her, stroking
her hair. A great mechanical roar erupted from within it,
making her jump above her The overhead heater rumbled to life.
How long had she been asleep? How much time had
she lost? She'd only meant to grab a quick nap. Groggy,
Blake fumbled for her phone, knocking over an empty energy

(02:56:44):
drink caffeine, you betray me. The earbuds dangled from her ears,
but her phone was gone. Blake checked the rest of
the desk and floor. What the hell it couldn't just
be gone? From downstairs? Music drifted up. Billy was still here.
The music was something classical, though Blake wasn't sure of

(02:57:05):
the composer. Blake went downstairs. Despite the music, there was
an odd stillness to everything, Billy. The song reached its
climax before going to static. Outside, wind rattled the library's
large glass windows. The snow was starting to fall heavier now.
The clock over the front desk read one thirty. She'd

(02:57:28):
slept for hours, Billy. She called out again, worry straining
her voice. From somewhere in the library, A childlike giggle
answered her, Come on, this isn't funny. Stop screwing around.
Fear climbed up her rib cage, and threatened to take
hold of her. A flicker of light caught Blake's eye.

(02:57:50):
Something moved in the library's rear, accompanied by the sound
of voices. The light was coming from the conference room.
The wall mounted TV had been turned on and a
presentation on the college's renovations played to a darkened room.
A lone figure sat back to Blake, watching the screen.
Blake walked around the side of the seated figure. Before

(02:58:13):
she saw their face, she knew Billy sat there, unmoving,
staring straight ahead. A large bloody wound covered his chest.
His arms laid out stretched in front of him, his
hands cut together holding something an offering. A heart sat
in his hands. A note was pinned to it, I

(02:58:35):
Heart you, written in blood. She ran from the room
and charged the front door, only to find it locked.
Frustrated and scared, she pounded on the glass, but it
was unwavering. There had to be another way out the office,
the office where Billy had let her in. Entering the office,

(02:58:55):
Blake scanned the room. There could be somebody hiding behind
one of the desks. The door on the other side
of the room might as well have been miles away.
Blake grabbed a silver letter opener from the nearest desk.
She held it out like a crucifix to ward off
some unseen evil. Blake got to the door without incident
and found it locked. Shit. She headed back out to

(02:59:19):
the main area. There must be another way out, a
fire exit or something. She headed through the center of
the library. Something slowly moved down one of the aisles,
making Blake stop crouching. She slid the letter opener in
her jeans pocket. She crawled on her hands and knees,
trying to get a better view. Slowly, she pulled a

(02:59:42):
book from the shelf and peered through the gap, coming
face to face with stew the security guard. His body
lay on the ground, lifeless, his head tilted to the side,
looking straight at her. Her breathing became louder, more ragged,
threatening to give her away a control. A gloved hand

(03:00:04):
gripped her shoulder boo. Grabbing a book from the shelf,
Blake lashed out, hitting somebody. She didn't stay to see who.
She ran, throwing books over her shoulder at an unseen pursuer.
Blake ran back to the entrance, pounding on the glass.
Let me out, she screamed, enthusiastic clapping made her turn
to see a figure sitting at the checkout counter, a

(03:00:25):
hood obscuring their face. Wow, that was great. They pulled
the hood down, revealing a young woman with short black hair.
I was surprised, the girl said, holding up a cell phone.
You have an eclectic taste in music. The girl started
swiping through the tracks on the phone as Blake stood
watching in shock. Some of it is good, but there's

(03:00:50):
a lot of crap. She continued, going through the songs. Crap, crap, crap. Ooh,
she laughed, barrakudah, tossing the phone over her shoulder. What
the fuck is going on? Blake asked, why didn't you
meet me? The girl sounded hurt. I sent you chocolates.

(03:01:12):
Would it have been so hard? I thought you were
different than those others. Blake had seen this girl somewhere before,
in the dorm or a class. Maybe they'd passed in
the hallway. The girl looked at her genuinely hurt. You
don't remember first day orientation. You sat down next to
me and smiled. We talked about how nervous we were,

(03:01:35):
or that time I tripped. You stopped when nobody else
did help me pick up my books? Asked me if
I was okay. The girl sighed, I've loved you since
I first saw you. That's why I got transferred to
mister Sigmund's class so I could be near you. You
killed Billy because of me. Blake felt her head spin

(03:01:56):
like the song says, the problem with me is you.
The girl jumped down from the counter. Billy wasn't the
only one. As you saw, I killed that Dufus security guard.
Can't have him interrupting. She reached into her jacket and
pulled out a keychain. Besides, I needed this, This was madness.

(03:02:16):
Blake needed to get away, get help. She felt her
heart beat faster, felt it harder to breathe. You think
I'll just fall in love with you? Why not? You're
the only one who ever noticed me. No one else has.
They ignore me. Oh god, you insane bitch. I'm in love.

(03:02:38):
Maybe maybe you are. Blake smiled. You did this all
for me. She walked towards the girl. I don't even
know your name, Terry. My name is Terry. That's a
nice name. Blake reached her hand out towards the girl.

(03:02:58):
Her hand slid into her pocket, touching the hilt of
the letter opener. Terry grabbed Blake's outstretched arm, pulling her along.
Come on, I have one last gift for you. They
stopped at the door to old Man Style's office. What's
behind door number one? Terry asked? Any guesses? Blake held
the letter opener, now concealed under her shirt sleeve. What

(03:03:20):
could this maniac be planning? No? All right, Terry sighed,
a little disappointed. She opened the door to reveal a
beaten Cassie lashed to mister Styles's chair. Terry wheeled her
out of the office. Oh shit, Blake took a step back.
What have you done? Nothing but you're going to see

(03:03:43):
she had to come snooping around screw up everything. She
gave Billy a pretty good screw before I killed him.
Cassie glared at the girl. A muffled fuck you could
be heard through her gag. If you really really love me,
then you'll kill her like I killed for you. Terry
pulled Stu's gun from her jacket and pushed the barrel

(03:04:05):
against Cassie's temple. With her other hand, she pulled a
large knife out and tossed it onto the floor in
front of Blake. Two things can happen Terry stated, pick
up that knife and kill her, or I kill the
both of you. Blake shook her head in disbelief. How
would we get away with it? Your fingerprints, my fingerprints

(03:04:29):
all over everything? Simple? She did it. We'd be each
other's alibi. She went nuts, killed Stu, fucked Billy, and
then came after us. We killed her in self defense,
and we live happily ever after. More or less. Blake
looked down at her best friend, then up at Terry,

(03:04:49):
bending down as she picked up the knife and stood
in front of her terrified friend. Terry trained the gun
on Blake. Don't try anything. Blake and Cassie locked ee.
Would you just kill the bitch already? Terry ordered, it's
been a long night. Blake took a deep breath. Finally

(03:05:10):
in control, she pushed the chair into Terry with all
her strength, knocking the girl down. The gun erupted as
Terry fired, Blake fell on the girl. They struggled, and
the gun flew from Terry's hand. The two fought for
the knife until finally the knife found its way in
to Terry. Terry looked into Blake's eyes and smiled, blood
staining her lips. She loves me. She loves me not.

(03:05:35):
Terry lamented, touching Blake's face before letting out a groan
and going limp. Blake used her last bit of strength
to cut her friend. Free you okay, she asked, Cassie.
Not really? Cassie laughed, choking back tears. Fuck, Blake said,

(03:05:55):
looking down at her side and expanding red stain darkened
her shirt. I've been shot. Hang on, I'll get help.
Cassie ran into Style's office. Blake could hear her talking
to nine one one. Blake leaned against a bookshelf, looking
at Terry. Happy fucking Valentine's Day. The Bad Schoolgirl by

(03:06:25):
Rob Fields. I walk into the main entrance of Strickfield
High School with a lean donnerly or just simply Einstein.
Einstein was a name her older brother, Martin hung on
her because of how unbelievably smart she is, how smart
exactly is she? Well? Over that blizzard weekend, Martin and

(03:06:48):
I had just finished having some hot morning fucking. We
stopped for some pillow talk, and he told me that
Einstein once took his HDTV apart. She easily put it
back together, but now he could access all of the
satellite channels and streaming services for free. She even doubled
the picture quality. I look at the geek now and

(03:07:10):
just want to ring her fucking neck, but of course
I won't. The problem with Einstein is that she's always
so fucking direct with me. She never sugarcoats shit. For example,
I asked her why I fucking put up with her.
I would have expected her to say because I'm sleeping
with Martin, but no, she says, it's because she's so

(03:07:32):
cute that I really like her. I do have to
admit Ainie is cute. I also have to admit the
little shit does grow on you. We're walking the halls
of Strickfield High, and I know I'm in hell. Just
a few days ago, I had to deal with Jaren
Hatley when she was on the Ultimate Caffeine High and

(03:07:56):
tried to send Principal Matthew Van Diast on a permanent vacation.
Speaking of whom, He's standing right outside the door of
the main office and he's eyeing both me and iiny.
I'll tell him to fuck off if he says something
to me, but he doesn't. He's definitely checking me out,
all right. Either. He's got an eye for me, or

(03:08:16):
it's the fact that I'm wearing this fucking schoolgirl outfit again,
plaid mini skirt, white blouse with the sleeves torn off
and tied up to my tummy, and my eighties rebock
pump basketball shoes. I've been wearing this fucking outfit because
if I wear any of Ainy's other clothes, I'd feel
batshit claustrophobic and shred them. And I don't really want

(03:08:38):
to go shopping for new clothes. Okay, Einy wear. Are
these vampire cheerleaders you want me to check out? I ask?
They usually hang out in the north hall. Ainy replies
in her mousey voice, this way, I let Aine lead
me to said hallway. Sure enough, six cheerleaders are huddled
together and yacking away. I immediately see the items of

(03:09:02):
old bloodstone they're wearing. A jewelry old is spelled old
with an E on the end. See. I'm the only
vampire who can truly walk freely in the daylight. These
bitches are using old bloodstone to be able to walk
in the daytime and not burn. Ainie and I just

(03:09:23):
walk right past them. Then I start hearing nearby jocks
whooping and hollering. Turns out they're doing it to me.
It's the bad schoolgirl. You're such a badass. Will you
marry me? How about a date, babe? And that definitely
pisses off the cheerleaders. Remember, most cheerleaders love the attention

(03:09:47):
since they are at the top of the food chain
and the female circuit of high schools. Now that they've
seen me, they're not going to be so happy. In fact,
they all turn towards me in advance. The the hallway
gets quiet in a big fucking hurry. I'm ready to
defend any if they decide to vamp out. Who said

(03:10:08):
you could walk our hallway, bitch? Alyssa Meren demands her
twin sister, Ali grins. This is our hallway. You need
special permission to walk it. How much money you got?
The other four just look on in anticipation. I really
feel the need to laugh. I'll let you in on

(03:10:30):
a little secret. Being the one unique type of vamp
that I am means that I can detect other vamps,
whether they're master or not. Now these bitches are just
regular vamps, which means they think I'm completely human. Only
other master vamps can detect me in this case they

(03:10:51):
don't notice my eyes are red. I give them the
same sexy smile that Martin loved so much. Oh, you
two are so cute. I raise my finger. How about this,
You two can take turns sucking my dick, and I'll

(03:11:12):
come and go wherever the fuck I like. The twins
just look at each other, mouths wide. They're ready to
start a full on fight with me. I quickly raise
my arm. Now's not the time. I give them a
quick nod to my right. They look to see Principal
van Deist staring attentively down this hallway. The twins each

(03:11:33):
raise a hand, telling the others to back off. We'll
let you go this one time as a courtesy. Ali says,
next time you come down here, you'll be paying. Alyssa ads.
I laugh as Ainy and I turn and walk away.
Ainie asks me, you think that was wise? Bells what

(03:11:54):
pissing them off? Fuck? Yeah, they'll be looking for me
exactly what I want. I lightly slap her shoulder. Don't worry,
I've got a plan. And then I smell Principal Vandist
coming our way. I wait for him to reach us.
What can I do for you on this very fine day, sir,
I crack, not even turning around. He takes hold of

(03:12:16):
my shoulder and turns me around. Look, I know you're
new here, but we don't need you starting trouble already.
I smile, No trouble, no trouble at all, Like you said,
I'm new here, just want to get familiar with my
new school. He glares at me. I heard what you
said to those girls. Yeah, and you're gonna take me

(03:12:40):
to the office and wash my mouth out with soap.
Then I glare back and tell him where only he
and I and he can hear me. I would love
to see you try. He's irritated with me, but he
knows he can't really do anything. Then I show him
my schedule. Room two thirty seven is first period. Far

(03:13:01):
as I'm concerned, we're allowed to walk the halls freely
to get to our classes. Maybe you should say something
to the cheerleaders, unless that is, of course there in
charge here. When he doesn't answer me, I flash my
sexy smile again. Way I see it, the students run
this school. You're just here collecting a paycheck. If you

(03:13:21):
really do run things here, then fucking grow a pair.
As I turn to leave. He grabs my arm again.
Don't you test me. I'm still smiling, my sexy smile.
That's more like it. I take my arm back now,
fuck off and help make this school a better place.

(03:13:41):
Iiny and I turn away from the principal and resume
heading to room two thirty seven. The cheerleaders just glare
at us as we walk right past them. I even
make sure to flip the twin bees off. Throughout the day,
I end up having classes with both Iiny and members
of the cheerleading squad. I can easily keep an eye

(03:14:02):
on said people. The downside is that several horny boys
are keeping their eyes on me. I hadn't planned on
being labeled the bad schoolgirl. But what could I do.
I couldn't just let Jaren Hatley have her way with
Principal Van dest Oh, well, I don't have to be
the least bit afraid of the boys. I catch an
occasional glare from whatever cheerleaders are in my classes, but

(03:14:26):
I just give them right back. Thanks to my ultra
sensitive hearing, another master vampire quality, I can easily hear
the cheerleaders talking. Tonight is a basketball game in the gym.
After the game, they're meeting the boys for their ritual.
They don't say where. Yeah, you bitches do that. You

(03:14:46):
go hunt for your victims, and I'll hunt all of
you that night. Any and I are just outside the gym.
Sure enough, the cheerleaders are inside and the game is
going on. What are you going to do? Bell Aine
asks me. Oh, I think I'll head on in and
watch the game. I tell her, I can tell Iine's

(03:15:07):
a little scared. You can go home if you want.
I can handle those bitches. Irony shakes her head quickly. No,
I got you into this. I'm going to see it through.
I turned my attention back to the gym. Me too.
Then I can move on now Iiny's gone from scared
to upset. No, we can talk about this later, I

(03:15:31):
say no. Irony grabs my wrist and pulls me into
the empty library. Then she points right at me. You
are not going to just up and leave Martin like that.
I fold my arms in front of me. I asked
you this before, I'll ask you again. Am I just
supposed to wear Martin's college ring. Look, I only stayed

(03:15:53):
because you told me there were vampires on the cheerleading squad. Okay,
I confirmed they're vampires, and I'll deal with them. Once
I do, then that's it. I'll give your uniforms back
and get my shit and finally leave Strickfield. Einstein's really
pissed now. She shakes her head. I said, no, you

(03:16:15):
are not walking out on Martin like that. He's really
into you. She points right at me, and not just
because you're fucking him. I narrow my eyes on her.
What are you saying that Martin's in love with me?
I don't buy that. We've only known each other for
about a week. We're just sleeping together. Iini, that's it,

(03:16:36):
and you, what are we supposed to be besties? Hang
out at them all together and do each other's nails.
I'm over a hundred fucking years old. I hunt supernatural
vermin I'm a fucking tabon. I'm a master vampire. A
normal life will never be in my future. Why can't
you understand that? Stop acting all high and mighty, Belle,

(03:17:00):
Iiny snaps, and stop running away all the time. Who
the fuck is running away? I demand? I don't have
any family left to run away from. I'm the last
in my family tree. I'm alone in this world, and
that's the way it has to be. I unfold my
arms and raise my finger. Has it ever occurred to

(03:17:21):
you that my being in your house is potentially putting
you and Martin in terrible danger? All an enemy would
have to do is know that I'm staying with you both,
and they'll come at me through the two of you.
I point to the gym case in point. Those bitches
know you're with me. What's to keep them from attacking
your house? Heiny and I continue to argue. Some of

(03:17:43):
Ininy's shit gets to be repetitive. I've finally had enough
and walk out of the library. Iinny's right behind me.
We're not done here, Bells, you're risking bodily harm, Einstein,
I tell her, when she grabs my wrist again, you
are not just going up and leave Martin like that,
Iiny hisses. I don't turn to her. I really don't

(03:18:06):
have time for this shit right now. We'll talk about
it when we're done with what I'm here for. I
look inside the gym. Fuck, the game's over, the cheerleaders
are gone. I turned to Ainy. I could have been
keeping an eye on those bitches, but no, you had
to get all fucking emotional on me. I turned to her,
why don't you just go home. I'm gonna have to

(03:18:28):
track them down now before they hurt innocence. You're just
slowing me down here. I march right into the gym
to start tracking the vampire bitches. Unfortunately, I can hear
AINI crying behind me. I can't worry about that right now.
But then I suddenly stop dead in my tracks. God
damn it. Thornton Jillian never had any fucking feelings when

(03:18:52):
he was a master vampire. You'd think that when his
blood mixed with mine, I'd have no feelings either. True,
I'm a master vampire, but I'm my own breed. I
still have my humanity, which means I still have feelings.
And now I feel like a complete piece of shit
for hurting Iiny's feelings. I turn around and walk back

(03:19:15):
to her. Okay, come on, she doesn't move. I have
to make this right, Okay, I admit it. I'm a
fucking hardcore cunt. You should know by now that I
don't have a filter. I say what I feel. I'm
just telling you the honest truth here. This is the
hardest thing for me to say. I'm sorry, Okay, I

(03:19:38):
know I was harsh, but I just wanted you to understand.
I can't be with anybody on a full time basis.
I just can't. Iine gets her shit together. Martin's been
taking care of me ever since our parents died. He's
been working at Mire and Automotive during the week, and
Friday nights and weekends at Denoyer's Grille just to keep
a roof over our heads in the bill paid, all

(03:20:01):
while taking classes at Strickfield. You he's all I have.
I just want the best for him. I know he's
really into you. My brother's been with other girls, but
he's never looked at them the way he looks at you. Bells,
I'm begging you, please don't hurt him. I put a

(03:20:21):
hand on Iiny's shoulder. Martin and I will talk about
things and go from there, but I make no promises.
She nods, okay, okay, Now come on, let's go find
those cheerleaders. We turn and head to the girl's locker room.
As I suspected, they're not in the showers. I've been

(03:20:42):
around them long enough to get their sense. When we
go outside, I see their footprints in the snow until
they stop dead. They flew away Irony. I tell her
they turned into bats and flew off. I can't go
after them since I can't change form. You're a vampire.
You can't change form, Iiny shrieks. If I can, I've

(03:21:05):
never figured out how to do it. I'll have to
leap in order to go after them. If you're coming,
then you're gonna have to hang on tight. I grab
Ainy and leap high into the night sky. I still
have their sense in the air. I manage to go
a full three miles before I have to land and
take another leap. Glad Iine remember to wear her jacket.

(03:21:27):
The scent is getting stronger as I land near a forest.
Then I look and see some cars. I recognize a
few of them and know they belong to some of
the jocks. Stupid, stupid boys. They probably met up with
the cheerleaders thinking they're gonna get laid. Yeah, they'll fucking
get laid. All right, it's gonna get dangerous inside these woods. Iiny,

(03:21:50):
I whisper, you need to stick close to me. When
I tell you, you run and hide. Got it, bells,
she whispers back. I take Iiny's head and lead her
into the woods. The bitches aren't that far away now.
Their scent is very strong. Thanks to my vampire vision,
I can easily see in the dark as if it's

(03:22:10):
still the light of day. We walk a little bit
until we move behind a big redwood. There are four
guys there with the cheerleaders. They're all around a camp fire.
It looks as if two of them are flat on
their backs while the other two are in a trance.
I know I could have saved them if i'd acted sooner,
But I have feelings. I guess it's no wonder why

(03:22:32):
other vampires I've taken down tell me that having feelings
is my biggest weakness. Fuck them. I lean over to
iiny and whisper in her ear. Stay here. I see
her nod before I let go of her hand. I
take off my shoes and hand them to her. Then
I move and leap over to the other side of
the fire. Everybody hears me land when I reveal myself.

(03:22:54):
Everybody that can look does. The twin mir and bees
point right at me. You shouldn't have come here, Alli,
hisses six of us to one of you. Alyssa notes
you really came out here alone. One of the other
cheerleaders asks in surprise. I put my hand to my chin. Hm,

(03:23:18):
six of you to one of me. I lower my
hand and look at them. Yeah, you're right, those are
definitely bad odds yours. Then I vamp out, changing my
face and readying my claws. Then the bitches scream. What

(03:23:39):
the fuck? The bitches are actually scared of me. I
guess so, because they all turn tail and run. The
two guys that are still tranced just stand there. I
check on the two guys that are down. Ainee approaches me.
I'm ready to tell her she should have stayed put,
but I know she's concerned. Are they dead bells? I

(03:24:02):
feel for pulses? No, thankfully, and then I finally understand.
I know why those bitches are wearing the old bloodstone. Aine,
what made you think they were vampires? I saw them
smile and show fangs like yours, she tells me. Alissa
also showed me her claws. But they have to be vampires.

(03:24:27):
They turned into bats, right, yeah they did, but they
freaked out when they saw me. Iine, they can't possibly
know that I'm a master vampire. You mentioned old bloodstone bells, right,
and here's what I determined if they were true vampires.
They could use old bloodstone to be able to walk

(03:24:48):
in the daylight. However, they would have to keep their
stones charged by drinking twice as much innocent blood, and
by innocent I mean virgin blood. I've been listening around school.
I haven't heard a single story about any bodies being
drained of blood, or of that many people even disappearing.

(03:25:09):
So we get to the other possibility. Those bitches are
practicing witchcraft and are using the Old bloodstone to turn
themselves into vampires. Though they can walk by daylight, which
means their transformations aren't complete, they have to charge their
stones with soul energy in order to maintain their powers

(03:25:32):
and continue their transformations. What they don't realize is once
their transformations are complete, they would need virgin blood to
charge their stones to be able to walk around during
the daylight. I think you and I both know that
pure virgin blood is very hard to come by in
this day and age. I point to the guys. You

(03:25:55):
keep an eye on them. I'm going after those fucking
bitches they didn't turn into back this time. I can
easily find the six girls thanks to both their sense
and their footprints. Seriously, I've heard over the years that
cheerleaders can be such fucking airheads. But this is too much.
I easily find two of them together. They're both holding

(03:26:16):
each other. Their faces are half vamped. Suddenly they scream
and try to come at me. Classic rookie mistake. I
snatch the both of them up and toss them over
my shoulders. They both hit the snowy ground and moan.
I'm on both of them. Before they realize it, they
scream as I reach my claws out for them and
relieve them of their old bloodstone jewelry to make them

(03:26:39):
human again. I hold one girl to me as I
glam the other to get information. When I get what
I want, I glam the other. Unlike normal vampires, who
can only glam as a means of hypnosis, I can
both bend people to my will and actually look into
their memories, whether they remember or not, to find that

(03:27:00):
these bitches have indeed killed people by taking their souls
to charge their old bloodstone jewelry. I could easily kill
these two, but I'm not a butcher. No, I have
a much more suitable punishment for them. I peer so
deeply into their psychees and corrupt them so that they
ultimately end up going insane. I let the girls go

(03:27:24):
and pursue the others to more scream. As they come
out of their hiding places and attack me, I easily
swap them away like flies. They truly have no idea
of how fast a full vampire can move, even more
so for a master. I'm on both of them before
they can even get up. So tell me, was this

(03:27:45):
thing with using old bloodstone to turn yourselves into vampires
your idea? I ask, knowing full well that it's not.
We just wanted to live forever. One of them says,
we just wanted to be important. The other says, you
don't know what it's like to be invisible to people.

(03:28:05):
I'm not sure whether they can see me smile or not,
but I find what they say funny. Actually, yes, I
do know what it means to be invisible to people.
The only difference between you two and me is I
choose to be invisible. But you two such stupid girls.
You took lives for selfish reasons. Well now you'll have

(03:28:28):
all the attention you two could ever want. I'll see
to that personally. I take their old bloodstone and also
make them insane. That just leaves the little twin miran bees.
Like the others, they made the mistake of screaming before
attacking me. These two are fully vamped out and want
to give me a fight. Looks like these twin girls

(03:28:50):
are the strongest out of what was their squad. They've
probably siphoned more energy compared to the others. Well, they
are mirans. All they care about is money and power.
But being a mirror means so very little to a tabon.
While Alissa and Ali are close enough to being full vampires,

(03:29:11):
they're finding out that there are bigger predators out there
than them. They try to fight me with just basic
street fighting. I'm a master of many different martial arts.
To finish them off, I thrust my foot into one
twin's gut so hard I can hear her spine crackle
hard in many places. Then she falls onto her back.

(03:29:32):
As for the other twin, I quickly bring my other
foot up over my shoulder and connect with her neck.
The slight crack tells me that I've damaged her spine
also she falls. Immediately After relieving the twins of their stones,
they become fully human once more. Only now the two
of them are paralyzed for life. I could drive them insane,

(03:29:56):
but I feel like I've done enough. No, I won't
let them die out here. I bring the cheerleaders back
to the camp fire where Ainie is. I know she
has a smartphone, so I tell her to call nine
one one and ask for some ambulances. I still feel
soul energy inside these stones, so I recite the spell
to release the energy and send it back to the

(03:30:17):
rightful owners. The two guys that were flat on their
backs begin to move again. I make sure they're okay
before I glam them and make them forget all about me.
You'd better get out o here, bells Aine tells me.
I can see the flashers coming over there. I'll get this.
I see where Aine's pointing. Good idea. You gonna be

(03:30:39):
okay if I leave you here. Iinne grabs my wrist
one more time. Please don't leave Strickfield. Don't leave Martin.
I'll be at the house when you get home, iine.
I promise. Also, I promised you that i'd talk to Martin.
I'll be waiting for you when Iiny lets go. I

(03:31:00):
leap into the air and am long gone before the
police and ambulances get there. I have no doubt that
Einstein will take care of everything. Well. I won't go
into every detail about all the sappy shit. It's two
weeks later and it's Friday at Strickfield High School. I
look at my nails that Iinie polished for me. God

(03:31:20):
damn you, Heiny, As you can tell, I did keep
my word to Einie and remained at the house. Martin
was already home when I got there. He looked tired
from his classes. Still he had enough energy to come
and take me in his arms. As much as I
wanted to tell Martin that we were done and that

(03:31:40):
I wanted to leave Strickfield, I realized I just couldn't
do that to him, not like that again. Part of
me wished that I'd lost my emotions when I became
a master vampire. But I love and need to feel,
which is something very few vamps can do. Martin and

(03:32:03):
I made love for the first time that night. Normally
we just fuck. As for Iiny, I think she pretty
much knew that I was sticking around. The Next morning,
still two weeks ago, Martin had to go to work
and then classes. He would be gone all day. It
was just Irony and me. And we went to school,

(03:32:23):
wouldn't you know it? Both of us were called into
the principal's office. Turned out that the talk of the
school was that the cheerleading squad was permanently gone. It
was in the Strickfield newspaper that something had happened to
them in the woods near the south end of the village.
Limits four of them were committed to a facility called Glenview,
which was near North Ridgeway. As for the twins, they

(03:32:46):
ended up in a special hospital over in Shore City
where they would be cared for for the rest of
their lives. It didn't surprise me that their parents didn't
want to care for them themselves. Fucking rich misers. Anyway,
getting back to Principal Van Deist, he had both AINI
and me in front of him. He pointed right at us.

(03:33:08):
I don't know what happened with the cheerleaders, but I
know I know that you two had something to do
with it. I roll my eyes. Can you even prove
any of this shit? If not, go fuck yourself and
let us go back to class. Oh you're going back
to class, all right. He stood up and put his
palms on the desk. He had this weird smirk on

(03:33:31):
his face. I want you to to go see Miss
Temple in her office. Now, I believe you know the way, Aileen,
you can take our new student to meet her. When
Aileen got up, I was a bit reluctant. I wanted
to see what else the shit he'll had to say.
When he told me to get going, I got up
before we left. I made sure he saw me give

(03:33:54):
him the finger and flick my tongue. Aine took us
to the gym and to Miss Temple's office. There. Turn
out she taught a few of the gym classes, a
few of the English classes, and was also the cheerleading coach.
She looked really fucking happy to see us. There were
four other girls there too. I won't go into details

(03:34:15):
on them, but just seeing the six of us, we
had the strangest mix there. Miss Temple couldn't wait to
tell the six of us that we were all the
new fucking cheerleader squad. Bull shit. I quickly told her
and stepped back. You can fucking kiss my ass, believe

(03:34:35):
it or not. Miss Temple wasn't even upset with me.
She just simply said language. Then she explained that Principal
Van Deist had personally hand picked the six of us
to be the new cheerleaders of Strickfield High. I still
told Miss Temple to go fuck herself. Then I about
lost my fucking shit when I saw that Iiny and

(03:34:56):
the others gladly accepted their uniform and shoes. As much
as as I protested, Iine looked so happy to have
been given such an opportunity. I would have also told
Iini to go get fucked. But we've had time to
bond over the last several days. So not only am
I possibly developing feelings for Martin, I've gotten used to

(03:35:17):
having Iiny around. I think I've said this before, but
she fucking grows on you. As soon as we were
back out in the hallway, I grabbed Iiny's shoulders. I
am so gonna fucking kill you. Now you won't, she
said quickly. I'm your best friend again, always so fucking direct.

(03:35:39):
Getting back to now I'm wearing a fucking cheerleader uniform.
It'll be another game night as a full fledged cheerleader.
Oh and now I'm known as both the bad schoolgirl
and the bad cheerleader. Aine told me she had a
reason for the two of us joining the squad, and
it wasn't for us to show off our tits and

(03:36:01):
asses in front of the crowds at the basketball games.
Aine explained that a lot of shit goes on here
in Strickfield. She promised me there would be more than
enough work to keep me here for a very long time.
In other words, we'd be keeping our eyes and ears
open for shit to investigate. Over time, I would learn
other interesting things about the other four cheerleaders. So I

(03:36:25):
sigh to myself and realize I've gotten too close to
the donnerlies and the great food at Denoyer's grill. Looks
like I'm stuck in this fucking village indefinitely. Seriously, why
couldn't I have lost my feelings when Thornton Jillian's blood
mixed with mine over a hundred years ago. Eight periods later,

(03:36:51):
and we've survived recess bullies, missing seats, and the woods
that don't like giving students back. We heard a red
ink note from the Angel of Death echo down an
empty hall. Be glad you didn't turn on the light. Indeed,

(03:37:11):
we tiptoed passed a campus Valentine library lights, humming security
guards stew watching where love letters come with a knife's
edge in bio clamshell chocolates, cracked open something from the
bay that well, we can't put back. A bully's eyes

(03:37:34):
burned like lava under mister Piney's branches. The bad schoolgirl
stalked a succubus through Strickfield's halls, while vampire cheerleaders flashed
their bloodstone bling and at the you a Film Society
unlocked an old performance hall and rolled camera on murder. So,

(03:37:58):
with all that being said, make sure you're subscribed, because
there are many more terrifying tales where that came from.
Here at Weekly Spooky all Right, my Spookies class dismissed

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