Spewing Fire: Running

From all the looks of complete and utter disbelief that she was receiving they obviously didn't believe her. She gave as wide a grin as she possibly could to the class in an attempt to calm them down, several people looked as though they were going to bolt, as for Miss Hudson. The teacher was really unnerving her with the way that the light reflected off their sunglasses and that rather evil smile that rested on Miss Hudson's face. She gulped licked her lips and decided to try again. "I mean seriously, it's not on fire." it was probably the fact that she had just blatantly lied to their faces that done it, but that one statement seemed to snap the class from their stupor.

Almost all of the students jumped to their feet, only a few remained seated as the rest all pointed at her. Some of them began to scream, a few burst into spontaneous laughter and many of them hurtled statements of shock, fear and awe at her. "Monster!"

"Freak!"

"She burnt the table!"

"Do you think that she'd burn my homework if I asked?" many such statements were hurtled her way, but most of them washed right over her head as she began to focus more on the teacher again. Miss Hudson had brought out an odd purple spray can, one that hit a cord in her. Her bully survival instincts intact from years and years of bullying had her on her feet in a flash ignoring the pain that shot through her body at the action. Her bag was quickly pulled onto her back and before anyone could do anything she was out of the room and dashing down the hall.

She ignored the people that poked their heads out of the other class rooms, she just knew that she really didn't want to be sprayed with whatever was in that can. Her pack swung on her back and she heard a yelp, obviously Obi wasn't enjoying the ride. The yelp caused a full moment of pause in her pursuers and she took complete advantage of it shooting through the cooking classrooms and to the open door to freedom and the yard. [Hey! I don't suppose that you could go just a little bit slower?] Obi asked as she hurtled down the steps and gave the canine a rather bumpy ride.

"Nope..." she stated rather matter of factly as she skidded around the corner of a building only to come to a stop as she faced one of her old bullies who blinked in shock at her. "I haven't got the time!" she growled at the boy before leaping over the railing of the steps and down towards the gym. Only to freeze and instantly backtrack as a swarm of students seemed to spill from the building, many of them holding that strange purple can, it was like someone had flipped a switch on the school. "Okay... I guess that means that this is a nightmare rather than a dream then..." she stated before turning and darting around her old bully who failed to grab the strap of her backpack by a few seconds.

Her heart was pounding in her chest as she ran down the steps towards the art and woodwork rooms and darted down. She crouched down where she stood and panted for a while. She'd managed to so far lose most of her pursuers, as she stood in the area behind the woodwork and art room. Technically it was an off limits area, but she'd been there before, mostly when frustrated or she needed a place of quiet. She sighed and wiped one arm across her forehead even as Obi managed to squirm and peek from her backpack.

[What do you think that was about?] the canine asked and she shrugged before peering around the building. For the most part it seemed that the crowd of pursuers had disbanded, they were gone from the school yard. She didn't trust appearances though and her instincts were still on high alert. [I smell safety that way!] Obi barked her nose pointing back the way they had just came. [I can also hear music... it promises safety] she actually felt the need to roll her eyes at the canine's comment but sighed. Obi did have a point, and she had always felt safer, much safer in the music room.

She ducked down and began to creep around, her back to the lockers so that she could see any danger as she headed towards the music room, which was beside the drama room. She was extremely lucky, it seemed that nobody was around to chase her and she smirked as she entered the music room. She grinned at the teacher and his student who were in the room before closing the door behind her. The boy, the other student shot her a dirty look before he sighed and raised his clarinet back up to continue playing.

She smiled and pulled a chair up casually resting in it and watching as the boy played, almost wishing that she had her instrument to play along for a few moments. Of course as she watched and listened she began to notice that there was something a little bit off about him.

She narrowed her eyes as she tried to pinpoint what it was that was off about the boy, it was the smallest bit of movement under his hat that finally caused her to catch on. Her jaw dropped and she stared at the boy, sure he was short, shorter than Richard now that she thought about it, which was supposed to be impossible since Richard had never grown taller than a 1st or 2nd grader. Of course now that she'd noticed the boys pointy ears, she paid attention to the fact that he was also covered in dark grey fur, except for his hands and face.

She blinked as he finally finished the piece and so was kind of caught off guard by the teachers slow clapping to the side. The man had his eyes closed and a serene smile spread across his face. This immediately had her on guard just in case, she'd read enough stories to know that things might not be as they seemed, and besides the dog-boy behind her already proved that. [Be aware of everything Tammy!] Obi whispered muzzle beside her ear almost causing her to jump just as the teacher opened his brown eyes and looked at both of his students judging them carefully.

"That was an excellent practice Daniel. You only missed a few notes." the teacher praised the dog-boy who gave a wolfish grin back. "I trust that you'll keep practising even once you finish transforming right?"

"Of course Mr B!" Daniel barked offering a salute to the man while she watched with wide eyes and Obi laughed from her backpack. "So why are you here Tammy? Did something happen?" Daniel asked and she tilted her head unsure how to answer. "Are you like me? Are you one of us?" Daniel asked his eyes lighting up in glee at the thought and she waved her hands in front of her and spoke fast.

"I have no idea what you mean? And why would I be anything like you... that's just weird I mean... I uh..." she ended up trailing off as both males burst into laughter. She growled her eyes narrowing at their laughter. "Could one of you explain what the hell is..." she was cut off by the sound of footsteps outside the door. Mr B grabbed both her and Daniel and rushed them out of the room. "Hey wait a second... what's going on?"

She never got an answer as both her and Daniel were shoved into the usually locked side music room. The door slammed shut behind them and she heard Mr B lock it, lock them in. She growled again and crossed her arms across her chest, ignoring the pain that was in it and her back, not to mention the growing headache that she was suffering from as well. She decided to ignore Daniel, she wasn't happy about sharing a room with him, and definitely wasn't happy with the way that he seemed to know what was going on but she was left clueless. Of course that wasn't even beginning to question why Mr B seemed to have an idea of what was going on, or why he'd shoved them into this room.

Sighing she pressed an ear to the door and attempted to listen in on whatever was going on. Of course that resulted in absolutely nothing, even as Obi also listened, ears flopped against the canine's head. [No clue... I can't hear through the wood.] the dog stated and she sighed before deciding to actually look around the room that they found themselves in. Across the room sat Daniel, who was quite happily sitting on his haunches and staring at a poster on the wall, a poster that had all the musical students on it. Some of them with circles around them and others scratched off.

She blinked seeing a photo of herself there playing the saxophone with a circle around it. Shaking her head she deemed it unimportant though and instead looked around the room at all the instruments stacked around or laid gently against the wall. Although these instruments were a little different, as though they weren't built for use by humans, but by something a little bit different. Curiosity piqued she walked over to one that she guessed was a modified saxophone. It was smaller, and the points that she remembered having to press down on where spread differently, almost as though it had been made for use by someone with no fingers.

She looked up from the instrument when she heard the door open. Mr B stood in the doorway with a smile on his face. She watched Mr B warily even as he walked into the room and closed the door behind him and knelt down by a closet that she had deemed rather unimportant earlier. "Now I suppose that I should give you a bit more of an explanation shouldn't I?" the man asked and she rolled her eyes.

"You think?" she asked sarcasm dripping from her voice. "Of course you should! I'm not really enjoying been out of the freaking loop here!" she declared causing Daniel to snort and laugh from his corner. That of course led to her giving him the evil eye before focusing once more on Mr B "now explain please!"

"First things first, you may know be as your teacher, but I am part of something much bigger than just what's happening here at the school." Mr B paused and she looked up at him with a raised eyebrow. "You are as well. Also, much like Daniel You. Are. Not. Alone, not in the least. There are many, many others like you. My son Ryan been just one of them." She stared at the son comment, she'd never known that Mr B had a son, even as he bowed his head obviously remembering something. "Anyway, just because you're not alone, it doesn't mean that every Pokéuman that you meet is going to be a friend." Mr B's face darkened and she tilted her head nervously. "There is an organisation that goes after transformees like you two, they're known as Pokextinction. I don't really have all the information on any of this, but they are very dangerous, they'll try to use you and you mustn't let them catch you at all!" his tone clearly showed that was the end of it but she wasn't so sure that it was.

"And how can we trust you? What if you're one of them? And also another thing... how do you even know any of this?" she asked teeth bared even as her canine companion tried to alert her to something. A kind of sad smile flickered across the teacher's face before he stared at the floor.

"Because I lost Ryan to them..." he stated and she stared in shock. "I haven't seen the real him since that day, the duplicate is similar, but not quite exactly the same." Mr B stated before standing up and walking over to the closet. "Now, this is a secret passage out of the school, it will take you as far as the supermarket, after that you're on your own. Also, you may take that instrument if you wish. It might just come in handy." she nodded her head and slipped it into her backpack. As the closet opened she watched as Daniel quickly disappeared into the passage way and paused before entering herself.

"Can't you help us anymore than this?" she asked and Mr B gave an almost secretive smile.

"Not at this point, it would be risking my memory too much." he stated and her brow arched at the revelation. "And besides, most Pokéumans tend to distrust people like me, mostly in part because of Pokextinction, but there are other reasons. Of course know this, not everything is clear now is it Tammy?" he asked and she froze, gave him one last glance before she disappeared down the tunnel. Mr B rubbed his head before shaking it and closing the closet behind them. With a small sigh he walked away as she walked onwards into the darkness, suspicion swirling through her belly and head.

It took a lot of stumbling through the pitch black before she finally emerged from the tunnel, the light blinding her even as Obi trotted happily beside her and Daniel remained missing. She actually wanted to swear at the sky but was weary to just in case it drew unwanted attention to the two of them standing there. [So I guess this is the beginning of that adventure that you always wanted to go on then.] Obi cheerfully stated and she looked down at the canine a ghost smile flickering across her face.

"Yeah. I guess that it is." she stated even as they strolled down the street ignoring the many pedestrians around them. "Although, the whole been replaced by a doppelganger is going to suck... do you think that I've already been replaced, and what about Daniel, has he suffered the same fate?" she wondered quietly, avoiding the crowds as best she could. Obi tilted her head and thought on it for a few moments before a doggy grin spread on the canine's muzzle.

[Probably] Obi stated even as they left the bustle behind [Now what I think that we need to do is get further away from here, probably head back towards home you know, or at least that area, it's less likely to be as dangerous.] the dog stated and she admitted that Obi certainly had a point. [Oh another thing! You may want to hang onto that shark tooth of yours!] Obi stated and she looked down at the canine confused. The dog actually seemed to roll their eyes [I mean it! You'll want to hang onto it, it's literally soaked in spiritual energy, seriously it reeks of the stuff!] Obi explained as an attempt to clarify for her. She nodded her head even as their surroundings gave way to less of the hustle of the supermarket area and more fields. [Anyway the simple meaning is that it'll offer you more protection as we learn more about what's going on!] Obi finished rather lamely causing her to laugh.

"Yeah okay, so I'm been protected by a mystic shark tooth, awesome! I wonder if there is someone else been protected by a mythical toothbrush?" she joked to a deadpan stare from her companion. "Gee, can't take a joke now can you?" she asked crossing her arms as they continued down the road. She smiled even as she walked, maybe the future was uncertain and she'd been replaced by a clone. She could handle that, she'd survived this long with health problems, what was an entire change to her life-style, nothing not really. She smiled even as they walked in the vague direction of home, even as they had absolutely no idea what was awaiting back at home. "You know what... I don't think that I'd actually mind the change, nor whether I'll miss my old life-style." she mused causing her canine companion to roll their eyes.

She laughed, although that laughter quickly died and both of them simply continued down the road in silence. They actually stuck pretty close to the actual road, since she didn't actually trust herself to have a sense of direction if they lost sight of it. Even when it came to the cross sections along the way she kind of grew nervous, did she actually have any idea of where they were even going? She gulped as they approached the first one, she actually didn't know if she did or not. Of course she also noticed a figure in the nearby field. It was obvious that something more was going on here, and she was just about to run into trouble.

The figure was green and white, mostly humanoid and wearing a flowing dress. Of course what stuck most in her mind were the glowing angry red eyes. "Oh really..." she mumbled before slamming a hand to her face, it figured. She escaped from the original bad guys only to run into trouble with someone else. She glanced down at Obi and gave a small grin, she'd need to be quiet here, as quiet as she could be. Of course there was going to be a little problem with that, since Murphy's Law just had to kick in when they were almost past the extremely angered psychic Pokéuman.

A sudden shift went through her body, her shoes became several sizes too big for her feet. Since it was unexpected and rather abrupt she ended up yelping as she toppled over into the grass, her head slammed against the ground leaving her a bit dizzy. The Gardevoir was actually on top of her in seconds via teleportation and before she could sort out her head she was dangling in front of the enraged beyond sense Pokéuman. Unable to properly formulate a response she simply pulled a weak and extremely cheesy grin at the Pokéuman.

That was definitely the wrong thing to do. The psychic energy that surrounded her strengthened and pressed down on her, invading her mind and causing the pain from hitting the ground to intensify tenfold. She grit her teeth and her eyes closed even as her mind put up some weak but automatic defences against the invasion. Each of them were simply knocked aside causing the pain to worsen until the point that she let out a silent scream and her hands automatically rose to clutch her head and attempt to block out the pain. It probably would've gone on for much longer until she had nothing yet but something interrupted the attack and she abruptly met the ground again. She actually whimpered as pain spread through her entire body centering in her head and leaving her rather confused.

She whimpered and squirmed before managing to peer up through watery eyes. In front of her stood a nearly fully transformed dark grey furred canine. A poochyena in fact, the only thing left to actually form on the other Pokéuman was it's tail. She winced as more pain filled her head and closed her eyes, she vaguely heard sounds of them growling before the Gardevoir apparently left and she heard a sigh. Opening her eyes again she met the red and yellow eyes of the poochyena who seemed to be extremely worried about her. Although she couldn't really tell if she knew it or not. "Hey! You alright?" he asked and in that moment a brief reprise of clarity came to her, the poochyena's identity.

It was Daniel.