Hey! I'm back. First off thank you to BakaClara for reviewing and to all those who have favourited/followed thus far.
Secondly, Warning – A bit of language.
See chapter one for the disclaimer.
It seemed time slowed down as April stared in horror at the insect that seemed to be getting closer and closer to Casey's head with every passing second. Eventually though she blinked herself back to reality she scribbled a note in her note-book, before tearing it out and tapping Irma Miller – the girl directly next to her– on the shoulder.
Irma jumped a little upon feeling the tapping on her shoulder. Making sure Mr Oraku was definitely still writing she turned her head a little and hissed. "What?"
"Pass this to Casey." April said, as best she could without moving her mouth.
Irma frowned. "What?"
The black girl rolled her eyes to the heavens, before saying again. "Pass this. To Casey. Jones."
Irma's frown got deeper. "What?" She said again.
"Oh for-!" April hissed before freezing and looking nervously at Mr Oraku's back. When she was sure he hadn't heard she tried again, this time however she just shoved the note in Irma's hand and pointed to the back of Casey's head.
Irma's face cleared in understanding and she quickly tapped the next person and thus started a cycle.
It took all the nerves April had to not start biting anxiously on her nails as she watched the note get closer and closer to its target. Eventually after what seemed an age it made it to him and she watched with butterflies in her stomach as he took it and read it.
Of course, seeing as she was behind him she couldn't see the look on his face, but she could imagine it. The only thing she saw was Casey's hand gently trying to shoo the little insect away without getting stung himself.
She heard the Oozesquito buzz and saw it hone in again. Casey's hand started flapping with a little more urgency.
It was at this point the boy next to him noticed what was going on and – completely un-aware of the danger he was placing himself in – helpfully wacked the insect away.
April watched, mouth open, as the Oozesquito started buzzing around near the front of the room.
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While April and Casey were playing Russian Roulette with the Oozesquito, Huggin and Munnin were watching the whole thing from a nearby tree-branch, taking great care not to lose their balance at the same time. "Ooh, look Huggin." Munnin said, putting down the binoculars. "An Oozesquito."
"What!?" Huggin snatched the binoculars from his co-worker. "Let me see!"
"Oh no!" Munnin grabbed them back. "It's my turn with the binoculars, remember!"
"The boss said I'm in charge, let me see!" Huggin snapped, reaching for them again.
Munnin shook his head and flew away. "Nuh-uh! They're mine!"
Huggin growled "They're not yours, they're the bosses! And I'm in charge of them!"
"No, I'm in charge!"
"No, me!"
"No, me!"
"No-" THWAK. The pair of them flew into the window and sank down it slowly.
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THWAK!
"What on earth?" Mr Oraku said, furiously as he turned round. Upon seeing two weird creatures glued to the window he hurried forward and opened it. "Go on, shoo! Shoo!" He said waving his arms about. "I'm trying to teach a class here, now GO!" He bellowed the last word before slamming the window shut again.
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"Yeesh, what was his problem?" Munnin asked, as the two gargoyles re-perched on the tree.
Huggin shrugged. "Who knows? Now shuddup and keep an eye on that Oozesquito." He raised the binoculars to his eyes.
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Meanwhile Mr Oraku was trying to calm his class down in his normal sympathetic and caring manner:
"BE QUIET THE LOT OF YOU!"
"But sir-!"
"Don't 'but sir' me. It was a pigeon, you hear me, A PIGION! Now, for goodness sake pull yourselves together and focus on the board!" As the class started quieting down, Mr Oraku stormed towards the board, muttering under his breath. "And to think these are the next generation of doctors, lawyers and teachers. God help us. RIGHT!" He snapped the last word, making all his pupils jump. "If we can resume normal service…" He reached for the chalk and paused upon noticing an insect with seemingly purple wings resting on it. Crinkling his nose in disgust he reached out a long finger and expertly flicked the insect away.
"Now-" He began, turning back to his class. "Can anyone tell me-BUGGER!" The class all jumped upon hearing their teachers yell.
April felt a chill creep down her back as she looked around for the Oozesquito. Surely not…hopefully not…not even someone who was as much as an all-round dick as Mr Oraku was deserved to be turned into god knows what with no foreseeable way of turning back.
Mr Oraku rubbed the back of his hand and tried to re-gain control of his class. "QUIET! There is no need to break into hysterics every time something odd happens!"
It was Irma who asked the question. "Sir…what happened?"
The tall man rolled down his sleeve and looked at the small puncture mark on the inside of his wrist. "I-I'm not sure, Miss Miller. I appear to have been stung by a mosquito." There was a beat and then their teacher rolled down his sleeve again and said, briskly. "Well. Never mind. The more pressing matter – there's only twenty-five minutes of class left for o-AGH!" He doubled over and clutched his stomach.
"Mr Oraku!?" April stood up and put her hands on the desk. "Are you alright?"
Irma gave her a look of disbelief. "Does he look alright!?" She shrieked.
Well. Okay, fair enough. April had to give her that.
"Oh my god, he's turning black!" Jane screeched, pointing at their former teacher.
Sure enough he was, Mr Oraku's formally brown skin was getting darker and darker, almost going rotten in effect. His hair was shrinking into his skull and…
"Eeew! Are those scales!?"
Yeah. He was growing scales on his face and hands.
The screaming intensified as Mr Oraku's limbs shrunk and his face grew more pointed.
"…A snake." April whispered, recognising the form.
"A SNAKE!" About half the class screamed simultaneously.
That was when the panic REALLY started.