Chapter 3: The Invasion

Just like I assumed with my competitive brain, the system took half-an hour to be restarted, meaning of course a small time break. I decided to go and have a slight shut-eye, since I was exhausted from a small amount of work. I looked forward to my good night's sleep since the SE was finally finished. My life was going to change BIG time! I strutted down the corridors of the building, eying the scene for movement. I finally saw George, but even after his many decontaminations, I snorted back a insane giggle. It was just so weird seeing the giant monster with no fur! He eyed me with a stern look and I kept my mouth shut. I didn't want to make a mess of the situation. Although the embarrassing and revealing sight of him made me think how Sullivan would look with his hair all shaved. I didn't want to know to be exact, I just wondered if it would be funny, but a thought had entered my mind making me feel queasy. I made my way without witnesses into quiet lobby for Vim's. It was a massive, long room with black looming walls and a large, illuminated bar which was only intended to be used for the Board of Directors and important meetings as such. Hopefully, I wouldn't be seen in here, because not many monsters would be welcomed with open claws into a suite like this! The seats were extremely comfortable and floppy, giving my back the best support. I outstretched my long, elasticised 12-foot body. Yes, I'm quite long aren't I? You wouldn't really think so if I just stood on my four feet… I'm only 5 foot tall then. But when really stretched out like this, you could see the long part of the issue. My tail hung wearily off the end of the red, leather sofa. I closed my large eyes, making my vision fade into darkness…

All I remember after that is returning to the scare floor to do some more work. I had breathed a massive sigh of relief when the bell rang once again to signify lunchtime. I had gained quite a lot of points but my place on the board still hadn't changed and it was sickening me to death, not too mention I was extremely hungry as breakfast this morning hadn't been that satisfying to my stomach. I decided to take a taxi for the time period to one of my favourite place to eat… The Hidden City Café. I had been coming here for years and was a very well known regular there. The reason I go here so often is the fact that the food is absolutely scrumptious! Best in Monstropolis I say, even though it has never won a 'Restaurant of The Year' award. The yellow and black squared patterned car pulled over to the scraped curb, allowing me to exit the vehicle safely. It wasn't going to take me long to collect and eat my food so I decided to leave the taxi waiting for me. My feet hit the hard pavement instantly and I began to enter the clearly marked building in front of me. It was so brilliantly lucky that this city had a place like this to give monsters a place to dine with such pleasure. Other restaurants around here treat you like dirt and they have horrible food, well, let's just say you want to stay clear of those places. I opened the door, allowing myself to step in to the warmth, a instant change from the cold autumn air. I paced myself over towards the counter. Joe, a lively assistant with beady eyes and gigantic tentacles was next to the till. He was one of the usual employees that worked here and instantly recognised me.

"Hello Randall!" He greeted warmly. "What may I get you today?" I grunted and spoke calmly back, ignoring his boisterous attitude.

"Just a scream sandwich please." I replied back in my grumpy mood. I wasn't in the mood for a humble chitchat because since my incident this morning, I was more like a blown bulb then a lit one. I handed Joe the money for the sandwich with a mouldy cheese filling. Just how I like it! I sat munching in content, staring around at the diner. The floors were black and white tiled, just like an old classic kitchen and the walls were a bright orange. The tables were made of a beech wood with metal chairs with the same texture and colour. I sighed, realising that I should be getting back to the factory. I'd only just arrived here and now it was time to go back! How time flies eh? I swallowed the rest of my food down and sighed heavily, pulling myself to my feet and racing over slowly to the door. Placing my empty plastic plate in the provided litterbin, I ran outside, banging the door shut behind me. Looking back I noticed that Joe had nearly jumped out of his arms! I chuckled almost evilly to myself and clambered back inside the waiting car. The trip back was boring… I started to pat my fingers on the doorframe's grey plastic and it looked as if the driver was getting very agitated by this. I huffed in pleasure. At least it was keeping me interested. Then I resorted into watching the pay meter slowly raise its numbers. I hoped I would have the correct amount! Finally I was back at the place I could at least call my 2nd home, since I was nearly always here. I worked a lot of overtime, to work on my contraption AND to get some extra numbers in. I would need it… Even though I couldn't work for very long periods of time. Don't call it cheating… MI actually welcomes scarers to work overtime. Well, it's keeping the extra power right? I stepped out of the enclosure onto the side and paid the driver my notes of money. I almost even waltzed myself back inside the factory, a grim expression on my face. That was when I bumped straight into Fungus who wasn't watching where he was going.

"I'm sorry… UHH! It's yyyou Rannndalll!" He nervously spoke. Stuttering a little. My baring expression calmed down. I couldn't be angry with him for just walking into me, my only considerably mate. 'Just calm down' my mind eased, but even so, I spoke in a sarcastic manner:

"Sorry Fungus." We both then proceeded to pace ignorantly down the long hall. I had thought to myself that I should be getting back to the scare floor since lunch was almost over. How did I know? Theirs plenty of clocks around this place. The metal, metallic hands pointing to the intrepidly simplified numbers. As I walked straight onto the floor, the bell rang out so loud I had to cover my unprotected ears! I had arrived just in time. 'That's my luck out of the window.' I grimaced, not really wanting to begin work again. Anyway, today was Friday, so I wouldn't have to work tomorrow, unless you were of course a scarer who could make time. Even so, I am a bit lazy and didn't have anything planned anyway, so I decided to spend a day relaxing at home, hopefully enjoying my newfound success of the SE. I groaned in displeasure. It was going to be a long afternoon…

Work dragged on… My arms ached from all of the exercise I had been doing. My jaws had been locking from all of the snarls I had to do with bared teeth. My voice was sore and hoarse from overuse. I'd rushed in and out of doors with all my might, trying with my bad shape to hopefully improve my numbers. I had done well today… but not well enough for me to become Top Scarer for good. But what can I say? Days were usually like this for me… You catch up and are only a tad behind, when all of a sudden; your forced back down by some miracle pulled off by Sullivan! It was very suspicious to me how he came to get loads of perfect scares. But I was trying my hardest and that counted. As the setting around me glowed a rich orange from the setting Sun at 5:00pm, I myself was utterly exhausted. The contraption that seemed to tell us where to go and what to do gave a final last ring for the day, signifying that the work shift was over. I was relieved from my duty. Looking around me, I noticed the other assistants beside Fungus write inside the paperwork files and chuck them onto the desk as they left, the scarers quickly signing them too. I noticed Fungus had completed his section so I quickly signed my name and threw the pencil onto the other stacked pieces of paper. I then continued onwards, following all of the monsters in front of me into the Men's locker rooms. I first took a trip to the bathroom, entering one of the cubicles to do my 'business'. I decided to take a shower like I always did at the end of the day, so I grabbed a spare towel from the laundry baskets, hanging it on a rail as I reached the compartment. I let the perfectly warm water wash over my scales. I was in utter heaven at that moment, lifting my head in a straight position to let it wash over my face too. I scrubbed with some soap all over my body, ridding of any dirt in little crooks and crannies between my scales. I had to end my pleasure so other monsters could 'enjoy' the showers. I washed the soap off easily, exited and dried myself off with the large towel, wiping all over to rid of the water. At least I was clean for tonight's speculation. I felt like a movie star at their first premiere! This was it! The big kahuna was ready! I sat myself down on the hardened bench, having some difficulty. I wanted to wait until everybody was gone so I could perform the deed I had been waiting for all those tiring and laboured 6 months of hell. It was only around 5 minutes later I was sure that everybody had gone home to rest and maybe even have somebody to greet him/her there. I wish I had that… I shook it off and began to walk around the long-winded corridors of MI until I had reached the very place… the entrance to my secret hideaway where I'd confided to build this thing and keep it a straightforward secret. Only one monster had heard about this contraption and he was well… banished to the human world. You may him. Legend calls him the Abominable Snowman but his real name is Daniel. He was a kind and jolly monster, but you don't want to get in the way of Waternoose when he's furious. I mean it! He's like a bull in a china shop! The door to my SE was basically a normal looking tool holder. I grasped the spanner tool and moved it upright, allowing the door to open wide. Since nobody was here, I took the liberty of leaving it open… It's not like people are going to be sneaking around this place. My footsteps echoed as I followed the trail towards my machine. Waternoose was already in there. Mind you, it seems he doesn't have much to do these days so he probably lines up early to get down there. I folded my arms in a carefree way and waited for my instructions.

"Your expertise in machine engineering has given us the key, Randall. You should be very proud." He expertly told me. There was a hint of sarcasm in his voiced, so I just licked my lips with my forked, blue tongue. "Finally, my plan can go into action! Now, fetch the child… her door should all be ready for you in your own station. Hurry now, I want to get this over and done with." He proceeded to explain. Now he's finally getting some sense! I grinned rather cheesily.

"Whatever you say…" I sprinted over to my cart of what looked like to be normal, full scream canisters. This is actually a contraption I also built to sneak the child down here. It's really like a box for storage. Waternoose watched me carefully as I wheeled it out of the basement. I decided to take a different route to the main entrance to the scare floor as if there was actually someone STILL there, might be suspicious of little me carting around canisters. So I took the fire exit route. My shadow inclined through the strange material on the windows. I decided to check first. I opened the door quietly, poking my large head around the door, my eyes scanning the room, focusing on any movement. BLIMEY! It was dark already! The coast was clear. I slipped back through to the cart holder as quick as lightning and trundled it through. The door was there as promised by Waternoose. I stopped inches from the entrance, clipping the cart into place. I materialised into the air and slipped through the door, anxiously awaiting my prize inside. I crouched down onto all eight limbs and crept up to the child's wooden bed. Her bedroom was full of clutter too! Yes the child is female. But what did that matter? I sprung up with incredible force, reaching to grab the helpless figure… But to my surprise, there was nothing there! I knelt down to look underneath the bed. Nothing (except for more toys). That was odd. Wasn't' a three year old supposed to be in bed by now? Loads of thoughts crossed my mind, but what did that matter… she wasn't there! I gave up. My moment of glory today was gone and I'd have to do this tomorrow. Waternoose would better believe me! I walked towards the exit again as slow as can be and noticed a few pictures on her tiny table. I studied them carefully and picked on of them up. Was that… me? It surely looked like me. Gosh she was good! Although my fronds were in the wrong place, it was almost like looking into a mirror! At least I was popular with 'somebody', even if it was in the wrong type of popularity. I left the room, throwing the picture back down. I opened the door, thinking to myself, giving a murmur to tell I was puzzled. I shook my head at my mind and closed the door with my tail wrapped tightly around the knob. I pressed the button and sent the door back to the main vault, grabbing the cart and setting it in a position to walk with. I paced off, still thinking about why she wasn't there. What was that?! I stopped dead in my tracks, a weird expression spread across my face. I could have sworn… I sneezed heavily. Damn cold! Must have caught it from the place I've worked in. If your wondering, I do have a nose, but they are very tiny slits between my scales, so you wouldn't see them normally. I shook it off and proceeded my way back down to the basement.

"Where is she?" Waternoose asked in amazement, curious as to why I didn't have her.

"She wasn't there." I replied in absolute calmness. Although I myself was concerned, I didn't want to show it in front of my boss. Waternoose clenched his fists together into tight scrunches and glared angrily at me.

"Are you absolutely sure Boggs!" He hollered at me. Waternoose wanted his plan to go perfect and this surely was going to mess things up. He advanced slowly on me, with his crabby claws tapping on the ground and the horrible creaking of his crabby skin was nearly too much too bear. I began to back away a little.

"Yes." I simply replied with no fear. It's just he creeped me out a little… nothing too reasonable to notice. Waternoose stopped mid-walk and glared down at the floor. Finally after a moment or two, he sighed.

"This changes things… We'll continue this work tomorrow. Go home." He simply said to me. I thought he was really going to outburst at me! I wasn't going to disobey the head of command so I ran off upstairs. I passed through the never-ending corridors and the empty locker rooms, finally reaching the main lobby hall. I exited through the doors and breathed the fresh air into my lungs. I breathed gasping sighs of relief. I didn't want that to end up very bad, but it turns out things are ok. I wouldn't worry about the child. She's probably in her room right now! I didn't want to go back inside. That was just being disobedient. Come to think of it, Waternoose is just waving a bone in front of my face, ordering commands. The thought made me confused and bitter, so I decided to get walking home to take it off of my mind.

Using the glittering beam of streetlights to guide my way, I stumbled my way back through my path that I used to go to work to make my way back home. I shivered from the cold wind that chilled up my spine.

I hated it when the wind did that. It made me feel horrible! From now on I'm bringing a coat to work! The setting around me was totally different at night… Small groups of monsters stood together chatting quietly. I'd best not bother them. I for one am not willing to get my face punched in as there are loads of gangs around this territory. I noticed some yobs spray-painting even more graffiti on that out-of-place bus shelter. Finally, I reached my block after a couple of more minutes and sprinted inside. Climbing up the old stairs I reached my flat and opened it vividly. I was home. I relaxed my muscles, worn out from the day's shift. I flopped down onto my battered couch and clicked my remote control to turn on my own small television. I looked at today's telebook on the table, scanning through the listings. Ahh! Top Cog was now on! I clicked in the channel number and peacefully settled down to watch my favourite show. Basically, contestants are selected to compete against each other to see which of they're inventions are the most creative and best designed. My troubles from the day began to flow out of my mind as I enjoyed the moments I had. 'Thank god for the tele!' I thought in my head. I laughed as one of the monsters on the show had set his fur on fire from his machine called the 'Flamehoser', designed to set alight your lawn to rid of ghastly grass.

" We interrupt this broadcast for a very important news item!" The show was cut off straight away, allowing a amphibian monster to appear on the screen with sheets of paper in his claws.

"Oh! Just what I need!" I groaned, resting my broad head on my tiny, thin arm.

"If witnesses are to be believed, there has been a child outbreak for the first time in Monster history." The reporter read up.

My reaction was outrageous. My fronds stood on their tippy top and my eyes flew wide open. 'Oh my god!' I thought instantly to myself 'Did I…' The scene flashed to a CDA agent who stood outside of the famous sushi restaurant 'Harryhausen's'.

"We can neither confirm or deny that there was a human child here tonight." He spoke through his fitted radio transmitter, built to allow speeches through his yellow suit. Then interviews with monsters that supposedly witnessed the entire outbreak in the restaurant began speaking in panicking voices. The scene once again switched back to the news studio were an expert was talking about what he predicted was going to happen. While adjusting his shimmering, shallow glasses he began to speak:

"It is now my professional opinion that now is the time to PANIC!" The scientist shrieked, waving his tentacles around in the air. I'd heard enough. Almost like a zombie, I switched the television off in one whir of the remote. I sat their dumbfounded… and expression I'll never forget wiped across my entire mouth, eyes, nose… everything. I was speechless. Only one thought was entering my mind about this crisis because I immediately knew who would be to blame for this…

'Waternoose is going to kill me…'