Yet another day, writing upon the chalk board with the subtle chalky movements and taps, an instructor commenting as he’d go along, “And so if you take the sum of the dividend and take away the square you’ll-”
Another boring math lesson, at least in the opinion of Derrick. Tapping of pencils, most taking notes, though not all. Off in a corner, Dilan face down on his desk, a lite snoring coming from him in that specific moment.
“-and so if you take this you’ll find that students shouldn’t sleep in my class Mr. Dilan!”
Thwack!
Startled, jumping up, Dilan would look around as the laughter of other students could be heard.
“Huh? Who, wha… oh, sorry Mr. Collinsworth.”
“Honestly...”
Going back to drawing on the chalk board, that is, he would until the sound of the bell.
“Now that’ll be all for today students. A reminder that we’ll be having a short quiz tomorrow on what we’ve learned the last couple of weeks… and to remind you, I’ll only be passing the highest two-thirds of the scores if we get any below an eighty. Sixty-eight is an automatic failure and retake over the weekend. Stay safe and I’ll see you all tomorrow.”
“Ugh… darn that Mr. Collinsworth, he has no idea how hard I work,” Dilan would mumble with a sigh and then a yawn, walking out of the room with Derrick.
“That’s because ONUS doesn’t want anyone to know the truth… that’d be like inviting wide spread panic.”
“Nah… I think people could handle it.”
“Hey, hey guys!”
Rushing up from the stream of students would come Sam and Amber, Sam waving as she came in close.
“Oh, hey Sam, Amber, what’s up?”
“Victoria just contacted me with this wrist device, where’s Monte?”
“Oh him? Eh… probably at practice… why, what did she want?”
“Supposedly there have been reports of supernatural activity in a town called Emertin, about forty minutes away from here.”
“Is it Zaraka again?”
“No, this doesn’t seem to be related. She says it’s something different related to the swamps there. Supposedly people are going missing and there have been reports of some giant lizard taking people away.”
“Like an alligator? How is that supernatural?”
“Well Dilan, it’s because it isn’t an alligator. The locals call it The Spotted Dragon Monster of the Swamp. Crazy name I know but I guess something is out there.”
“And like, get this guys, there’s treasure out in that swamp!”
“Sounds interesting… how do you propose we get out there though?”
“ONUS is taking care of it. They’re letting us go there in, get this… a limo!”
“A limo!?”
“Oh dang man, that’s spiffy!”
“I know right? Come on, let’s go find Monte and get out of here!”
-
“And so I was like, detention? I’ll show you detention!”
“Oh man, what happened then?”
“Well… let’s just say that’s why I moved here.”
“Lordy Monte, you sir are a troubled individual, I wouldn’t even call my mother what you said to him before that.”
“Hey, Jill, he had it coming. Mr. Diken was a bit of a square if you catch my drift.”
“Like in that one song?”
“Yeah, square wheels don’t let circles turn, they hold them because they’re stubborn.”
“Ah.”
“Anyways, catch you guys later.”
“See ya Monte.”
Walking, tapping, moving, several students would soon walk away from Monte as he’d turn towards the sidewalk of the campus & begin to follow it to the road to walk home. Turning a corner around a building though, parked right alongside the sidewalk, a man in uniform standing there, arms behind his back, shades on and a hat, looking very important and waiting.
Paying no attention to him though after, Monte would begin to walk across the lawn towards the sidewalk going home.
“Pst… hey kid.”
“Huh?”
Turning around, looking around, Monte would see only the man by the limo, though now looking at him.
“Yeah, you, commere...”
“Who are you?”
“Name’s Big Pete… ONUS sent me. Ya got a mission coming up that I am supposed to take you to.”
“Uh… ok… where are the others?”
“They’re already there… come on, we’ve got work to do, quick.”
“Uh… no, I uh… have some stuff to do,” Monte would mutter turning around.
“Hey, this is official ONUS business, come along..”
“I said no.”
“Yes, you will!” he’d shout in a crackling tone, eyes glowing red behind the shades.
Slowly turning around again to face the guy, he’d see he was running now. Bracing himself, Monte flipped around and stood ready, the man snarling and raising his fist and swinging. Head dodging left and then a quick jab forward into the man’s gut sent the man falling back, “Gyah!”
Crashing down, Monte stood over him, looking down angry, “You’re not with ONUS, you’re one of those nightmare goons, aren’t you!?”
“Grrr…” he’d growl, launching up onto his feet, snarling now, “You’re coming with me boy, like it or not. Zaraka wants you and your friends, that’s what I’m doing!”
His skin beginning to melt off revealing green skin beneath, yellow eyes, claws in place of nails, now wearing a trench coat as his other clothes would burn off.
“Monte!” came the shout of Sam, approaching from behind, catching the attention of the man in the coat who would turn his head, “Hissss… all of them!? Brats!” he’d shout, launching in the air over Monte, landing on the sidewalk behind rushing off quick, the others arriving quick.
“Monte, are you alright!?” Derrick would ask, angrily.
“Yeah… one of Zaraka’s guys… tried to trick me into going in that limo saying we had a mission.”
“Huh?”
“But… we do have a mission… in a limo, orders from Victoria.”
“What now?”
“Urgh… oh… my head,” came the voice of an older man, stepping forward looking just like the previous guy did before his fake skin melted.
“Sir, are you alright?” Derrick asked walking up with Sam.
“Oh… Yeah I… I’m fine, that guy hit me on the back of the head and knocked me out… you’re the ONUS kids right?”
“Yes sir, that’s right.”
“I’m Flavo, here to take you to Emertin for that report.”
“Wait so… we are going on a limo ride!?”
“Yeah… Monte right? Victoria assigned me to be your driver for mission from here on out. A pleasure to meet you sirs and madams. I look forward to working with you from here on out.”
“We get a limo!!”
“Sweet!”
“Yes yes but we need to move while there is still daylight. Victoria wanted me to get you back by seven for school tomorrow… now, there should be three pizzas in the back for you and plenty of soda pop. Shall we be on our way?”
ns 15.158.61.48da2
