WHAT IF… DARIA WAS ACTUALLY WELL-ADJUSTED, SOCIABLE, AND NICE?
Manson listened, mouth agape, as Daria Morgendorffer, in that monotone voice, gave such a cheerful, upbeat discussion of true love and happiness to the blank figures.
Well, she certainly doesn't need the self-esteem class! What a well-adjusted young lady! I can only imagine what the world will be like with her in it...
Three years later.
The half-burnt ruins of Lawndale High School, site of so much horror over the last few years, caused every soldier in the Maryland Rifles to have creeping horrors - especially the "DRINK SODA" scrawled in human blood - but it was still the strategic high ground.
"Confirmed, Lima Papa Two, hold position and await further instruction." Captain Eichler turned from the radio set to the stern, half-scarred form of Acting-General Bernstein. "Two reports having DeWitt-Clinton pinned down, but they think some of his victims are still alive in there."
"Lima Papa Three still free?" he rumbled.
"Yes, sir."
"Task them to come round the back on foot and make surprise raid."
"Sir." She pressed to transmit. "Lima Hotel Sierre to Lima Papa Two..."
Bernstein surveyed the battlefield map: a large screen showing the positions of every patrol, hostile, and safe zone in the Lawndale County Exclusion Zone, updated every five seconds. Three months in this hellhole and he still didn't get it - sure, everywhere had been hit by the global recession when both Halloween and Christmas failed for no reason back in 2000, but why was Lawndale so much worse than anywhere else? And weird things had happened before then too.
No matter. He just had to handle the job.
Lima Papa One were on recon duty to see what Amazon Modelling was up to with all the vulnerable Lawndale girls they were getting. Two and Three had that maniac DeWitt-Clinton cornered (had no one ever taught him basic human interaction?). Four were keeping the woods clear of whatever was in them eating people. Five to Seven were on routine patrol but attack could come from anywhere -the Crewe Neck "government" and their scumbag mercenaries under Conroy were acting up again. That left half the Rifles, just in case-
"Attack warning red!" screamed Eichler. "Glitterberry freaks incoming!"
"Strength?"
"Watchtower estimates one hundred plus, Mad Jake himself in lead! Coming up our rear!"
Bernstein hit the alarm button, warning everyone to arm up and prepare for contact.