A burly man is kneeling on the chilling marble floor inside a living room; a forbidding woman towers above him. Despite her slimmer frame, her presence exudes dominance and superiority. Kneeling right alongside him, a young lady shares the burden equally. Though the both of them are not adequate enough to endure the woman's authoritative voice without trembling, avoiding direct eye contact.
"So, care to explain why you two are returning home at midnight? You know, two hours past the agreed curfew?"
Yikes, I can feel heat from her eyes concentrated on me! I can't take this any more!
"Mom, it was dad's trip in the first place. I just tagged along, remember?"
"Hmm, now that you mention it…"
In response to her daughter's desperate plea, the mother shifts her glare over to the cowardly man, her husband. In an instant, he could feel death looming over him.
"Sweetheart, the trip was not planned to take so long. In fact, we were on track to return at the allotted time until Thena–"
Thena abruptly nudges her dad in his side, pleading with her eyes. The eyes that no loving dad could ever resist from his daughter.
"...I take full responsibility. I am sorry for not bringing our daughter back home at an earlier time as we originally agreed to."
Mr. Tackle glances at Thena, nodding his head. Being his daughter, she knows the exact message that's being conveyed and follows suit.
"We're sorry!"
On one accord, both father and daughter bow as low as possible, giving their final plea in hopes of being forgiven for their grave sin. Mrs. Tackle retains her formidable stance, but her scowl softened, seeming to be unsure of how to respond.
"Okay you two, please get up already. You know that you both mean so much to me–I was worried sick about you being out so late. What if something deadly happened to you and I would have never known?"
Mrs. Tackle's looming presence released its hostility, being replaced with tender affection. She hugs her husband and daughter–the emotional whiplash stuns them for a moment before they quietly breathe a sigh of relief.
"I promise darling, it won't happen again…right Thena?"
"!"
Thena's ever-loving father gives her a jovial smile full of teeth. Thena adverts her eyes, knowing the true intentions of his expression.
"Right, dad…"
Feeling satisfied with their prayers and repentance, Mrs. Tackle releases them from her embrace. Albeit, her authority still remains unwavering.
"Thena, make sure you are in bed no later than 15 minutes from now. There will be no oversleeping or excuses for being late to school. Got it?"
"Yes ma'am!"
Phew, finally I can get out of here. Better make a run for it before she changes her mind and grounds me or something!
"Whoa, and where are you going, mister?
Mr. Tackle, in an attempt to follow his daughter's tracks casually without fanfare, is caught red-handed.
"I was just heading to the shower before our bedtime tonight, sweetie. I didn't forget our–"
"Nope, you still need to take some responsibility for our daughter. We shall only snuggle tonight–nothing else!"
"Oh come on sweetie, not even–"
"Nothing else!"
"Fine, I understand…"
Mr. Tackle, the once relieved man, is now limping alongside his wife, deflated and defeated.
___________________________________________________________________________
Gargle
Ptui!
"Jeez, what a headache of a night it has been…"
I'm the real reason that dad and I ended up late. He had already finished his business with Crawley by the time I returned, he was just waiting for me. Surprisingly, he wasn't really worried that I went missing or anything, he assumed that I wandered off somewhere nearby and would return eventually.
Of course, I didn't tell him exactly what I did. All I told him was that I got caught up with something "interesting". By the way he looked at me when I said that, I could tell that he expected me to explain the details to him later. For some reason, Crawley asked me if I found anything in particular while I was away, as if he expected me to have found something. That guy kinda gave me the creeps…
Anyway, it'd be embarrassing to admit that I "found" a pendant, but it's in my stomach now. Maybe if I…
Thena sticks out her pointer and middle fingers, and with only slight hesitation, lunges them to the back of her mouth into her throat.
"BLEEH!"
Thena successfully throws up into the toilet, wiping the remains from her mouth afterwards.
"Crap, I should have done this before brushing my teeth. Oh well, let's see where the pendant ended up…"
Doing this is absolutely disgusting, but at least no one has to know. Besides, I'm gonna thoroughly sanitise it anyway, so it's not that big of a deal. Shouldn't be too difficult to search quickly since there wasn't that much food in my stomach.
"...no…no…not there…nada…"
It's not here. How is that possible? Even the snacks I ate hours before swallowing that pendant is floating in the toilet.
"Don't tell me that I barfed for nothing!"
Knock Knock
"?!"
"Thena, you've been in the bathroom for a while. It's been 13 minutes!"
"Coming out right away!"
Startled by her mother's knocking, she flushes the toilet's contents in panic.
I forgot about my 15 minute time limit! I'll deal with this situation later.
Thena scurries from the bathroom to her bed. As she closes her eyes to sleep, she faintly emanates a greenish glow.
___________________________________________________________________________
"Yawn…"
Thena releases a big yawn, hardly managing to cover her mouth. She slouches over her desk, her arm sporting the weight of her head. A nearby classmate stares at her with faint annoyance.
What? Got a problem?
I mouthed those words to Keena, the snoopy girl sitting next to me. Jeez, it was just a yawn. Mind your business!
Keena, not receiving the message warmly, rolls her eyes and returns her attention to the front of the class. The teacher continues her lecture without any sign of stopping.
There's nothing worse than being forced to listen to a boring teacher talk about boring subjects early in the day when you are exhausted. Wait, no–it's much worse when the said teacher is Miss Honey. I managed to swindle some gem from a pathetic dude at a foreign noble palace, get rid of a creep who was relentlessly chasing me, and survive my mother's scolding. Nothing that this lady is talking about matters to me in the slightest right now…or ever.
I wonder how he's doing…
Thena looks across the classroom, in the area where Gene usually sits. In stark contrast, he is attentively listening to the lecture and taking notes.
As expected, Gene is actually paying attention. I have never seen him fall asleep in class before–that is definitely unnatural. If he told me that his curse grants him the power to endure boring lectures, I would believe him. It's really a good thing for him–and for me. I can just ask him for notes later and to give me the abridged version before the next test.
Then again, he did make fun of me this morning during breakfast time when I told him about my adventure last night. I tried my best to focus on the glamorous parts, but when he asked for evidence of the treasure that I "found", I had to eventually admit that I swallowed it. I had never seen him laugh so hard before, especially not at my expense. What a jerk! I didn't tell him about the power it gave me, so maybe I can get my revenge by "surprising" him with a little slime. I might even do it in the hallway once this class is over…
Speaking of, how much longer do we have left?
Thena searches for the clock, spotting it on the wall above her teacher.
9:19? We've only been in class for 19 minutes?! That's not even half! Whatever genius decided to make classes 50 minutes long deserves to be imprisoned and tortured–I'll even volunteer. It's only fair since that's the suffering we have been enduring!
"Sigh…"
Tick tock
My vision is getting blurry….
Tick tock
My eyelids…heavy…
Tick tock
I can't hear anything…
Tick tock
Another minute down…just 25 more to go…
Tick tock
…
Tick tock
…
Tick tock
…
"Thena Tackle!"
"...?!!"
A commanding voice abruptly interrupts Thena's nap, causing her to spring up in her seat. Miss Honey gazes directly at Thena, bringing her lecture to a halt. Subsequently, the other students focus their attention on the same person as their teacher: Thena.
Oh crap, I completely fell asleep! Now Miss Honey won't take her attention away from me…
"So, Thena, were you having sweet dreams over there?"
"No, Miss Honey. I–"
"I assume that you are dreaming that you are graduating, because based on your grades, that surely isn't happening in real life."
The class quietly snickers.
Shut her up.
That voice…the one from the pendant? Why is it suddenly–
"Huh? Are you still zoned out with that empty head of yours? You still have slobber dripping down your cheek!"
Thena touches the side of her mouth confirming that her teacher was right. She quickly wipes the slobber with her sleeve, simultaneously blushing red as the class's quiet snicker evolves into boisterous laughter
Shut her up.
That voice again! Why don't you shut up? This isn't exactly the best time…
Right now, all eyes are on me. Every. Single. Person. Now matter how many times I scan the classroom, all I see are my peers laughing at my expense. Everyone included without exception. Even…
"Not you too, Gene…"
Shut her up.
Finally caving under the intensive pressure, Thena feverishly shakes her head. She rises out of her seat.
"Miss Honey, I am sorry for not paying attention to your lecture, okay? There, I said it!"
"And I'm sorry that I'm going to be forced to teach you again next year, while your peers are busy being successful adults. But saying sorry doesn't change anything, does it?"
Just like a dormant volcano that awaits eruption, the entire class bursts out in laughter, losing all sense of tactfulness. Thena's once reddish-pink blush becomes crimson red.
Why is she aggressively picking on me?! It's not like I'm the only one not performing so well in this class!
Shut her up.
Leave me alone! Both of you leave me alone! Everyone needs to leave me alone!
Thena closes her eyes and covers her ears, as if experiencing a bad headache. However, Miss Honey is a relentless predator.
"Ooo, what's wrong, Thena? Can't handle hearing the truth? The truth that you don't stand a chance at being half as good as your sister at treasure hunting, despite that being all that you are good at?"
"...What did you just say?"
Thena opens her eyes and ears, slowly lifting her head to the stern woman before her. She gradually zones out, her mind unable to process the overwhelming input.
Shut her up.
Shut her up.
Shut her up.
Shut her up.
These thoughts…won't leave my mind…
They keep bombarding me!
Shut her up.
Shut her up.
Shut her up.
Shut her up.
Miss Honey's stupid voice…my classmates' obnoxious laughter…this annoying voice in my head!
Too loud! It's all too loud!
The class continues to laugh in an uproar.
Shut her up.
Shut her up.
Shut her up.
Shut her up.
Shut her up.
"Eh? You need me to repeat myself, Thena? How typical of you. I said–"
"SHUT-UP!!!!"
Thena opens her eyes wide open, exposing her radiant green pupils for all to see. She forms a thick clump of slime in her palm.
"Thena, what are you doing? How dare you talk to me like–"
"I TOLD YOU TO SHUT-UP!!!"
GLOOP!
"?!"
Thena uses all her might to launch the clump of slime towards Miss Honey. Due to her being in the middle of talking, her mouth remained wide open. Wide open for the slime mass to force itself down her throat.
THUD!
Miss Honey falls to the ground, holding her hands on her throat tightly, desperately gasping for air.
"Ack…ack…ack!!..."
"Miss Honey!!"
Several students scream out their teacher's name, ceasing their laughter. Nearly the entire class springs out of their seats and into action.
"She's suffocating! Quick, go get the nurse!"
"Got it! Let's go, guys!"
"Come on, I need some more help over here! Can one of you boys hold her up so we can pat her back?"
Amidst the chaos, despite being the culprit, Thena stands still, frozen in place.
Oh no…what have I done? Is she going to die because of me?!
"I'm sorry Miss Honey, I really didn't meant to–"
"Stay away from her! We're going to get the principal!"
Before she could take a closer step towards Miss Honey's side, another student blocked her path. Thena slowly backs away, unsure of what to do.
I know that I strongly dislike Miss Honey, but I would never throw slime at her in class–especially such a thick amount down her throat.
Thena looks at her hands, no longer focusing on the chaotic environment around her. Slime secretion rips from her pores.
What's wrong with me?!
Gene walks from behind her and places one hand on her shoulder.
"Thena, are you–"
Smack!
"Don't touch me! I-I don't want to talk right now!"
Slapping her friend's hand off her shoulder, she sprints out of the classroom, pushing aside anyone in her way.
I need some space! I can't think straight under this pressure!
She sprints down the halls, causing a commotion to other students. Her green eyes return to black.