Chapter 10
Mister Shallowgrove
"Mister Shallowgrove it is? What is the lesson plan for today?" Clarise asked.
"Improvisation" Mr. Shallowgrove began, "Mainly because I was too lazy to come up with anything else."
"Improv? Seems to me like you just wanted an easy way to start off the class." said a boy in the back of the room.
"Well would you look at this, a smartass, let's see here, you must be Ron Lightley, am I correct?" Mr. Shallowgrove asked walking towards the boy.
"Yes, that is my name, although I don't really appreciate being called a smartass." Ron replied. Ron was a skinny boy, about five-foot-three and one hundred pounds; he has blonde surfer style hair, and blue eyes. On this day, he is wearing a yellow Hollister shirt and blue jeans chewing on a toothpick.
"Well, whatever name I choose for you is the name you will get." Mr. Shallowgrove responded.
"Yeah, I don't think that is going to happen." Ron replied with a smirk on his face.
"Actually, I'm pretty sure it will unless you want to spend the next three days at in-school suspension. Would you like that instead?" Mr. Shallowgrove asked.
"I'm pretty sure I could care less where I am, let me check my calendar. Yeah, I'm free those days, go ahead." Ron said smartly.
"If that's what you desire, you will have your wish." Mr. Shallowgrove pulled a paper and began writing on it. After finishing, he walked over to Ron with the paper, "Sign this."
Ron pulled out his pen and signed his name on the paper, "I think you should do something about Larry too, he's been whispering about how cruel you are and laughing it off with his friends this whole time." Ron lied.
"Funny, the only lips I have seen moving are your own, now would you like to continue showing off in which case I can throw you out of class or would you like to shut up and do the easy lesson?" Mr. Shallowgrove asked.
Ron stood up and walked out of the room, "I don't have time for this kiddy crap, see you in four school days teacher."
After Ron's departure, Mr. Shallowgrove began, "Now that the distraction is out of the class, I can separate all of you into groups of three." Mr. Shallowgrove began calling out groups until the final one was named, "Larry Pragmer, Clarise Johnson and Sora Whitmayer."
Sora was a rather tall dude; he was six-foot-three and two hundred and forty pounds and captain of the high school football team. He was wearing a blue jersey which said "#1" on it and black jeans. "So, I'm stuck with you two? This could be interesting."
"What do you mean interesting?" Clarise asked bluntly.
"Nothing, just saying you two are probably the best students in the class and might be able to help me get better." Sora replied.
"Oh well, thank you." Clarise said back.
"So Mr. Shallowgrove, what exact subject are we improving on?" Larry asked.
The teacher came around with a hat, "Why whatever you pull out, figure this could make things more interesting at random."
Larry pulled out the paper for his group, "This one is blank."
"Then if you desire you are free to go now, if you want to make up your own improve and present it within the next two weeks it will be considered extra credit." Mr. Shallowgrove responded.
"So, what do you guys think? I say go for the extra credit, this could be fun." Larry asked.
They all three agreed to work on the extra credit assignment and tried to come up with ideas for a topic.
"That idea works for me, what do you think Clarise?" Larry asked.
"I like it, you are pretty good with coming up with topics Sora." Clarise responded.
"Thank you, should we go ahead and do it or wait a little bit?" Sora asked them both.
As the bell was close to sounding they decided it would be best to hold off on doing it until a later day. They said their goodbyes and left the classroom.
"Larry, may I speak with you for a minute?" Mr. Shallowgrove asked as he exited the room.
"Can I come right back? I usually meet my girlfriend after class." Larry responded.
"Sure thing, don't want to infringe on that, I will be in the classroom waiting." Mr. Shallowgrove said politely.
"Alright," Larry replied before going out of the halls to meet Marie.
Marie stretched out her arms to hug Larry when he got there, "I missed you. How was your day?"
"It was okay, just a regular day we have an interesting new drama teacher; he seems like a cool guy. How about yours?" Larry asked.
"Basically, the same, just you know, a day." Marie replied, "So how did it feel to finish your training with Kevin?"
"It was nice, I'm sure there will be a lot more to learn, but at least I have the strength to keep you, my friends, and my mother safe now." Larry said with a smile.
"Yes, that is definitely a good thing to be able to do." Marie said before lightly kissing him.
"Indeed, I won't be riding the bus home; I have to go speak with my teacher before I go home." Larry stated.
"Oh okay, would you like me to wait for you?" Marie replied.
"Nah, go on home, I will call you when I get to mine." Larry smiled.
"Alright, I love you Larry!" Marie said kissing him one more time.
"Love you too Marie." Larry replied after they finished.
They said their goodbyes and Marie went to the bus as Larry went back to his drama class. As he walked in the door, Mr. Shallowgrove was sitting at his desk rummaging through some papers. "Larry, glad to see you, how was your little chat?" Mr. Shallowgrove said with a smile.
"It was very nice, we also have nice chats." Larry answered.
"That's a good thing, anyways as to why I called you here." Mr. Shallowgrove began, "I've heard a lot about the people who have died around you; your father, your friends, your teachers and I wanted to let you know if you ever feel the need I don't mind you coming to me for guidance, I have gone through similar things in my lifetime and I know how hard it can be on you."
"Sure thing, sir, I will remember that, it was a little hard at first and occasionally the thoughts still bug me, but for the most part I try to not think about it anymore." Larry responded.
"That is a good way to go with these things, just remember that you can come chat with me anytime, my door is always open. Well until I have to go home that is." Mr. Shallowgrove laughed, "Also, can you take this In-School Suspension paper to the Office on your way out? I would do it myself, but I'd rather just sit here for awhile."
"Oh okay, I can do that, are you okay?" Larry asked.
"Why do you ask?" Mr. Shallowgrove answered.
"It's just, usually when someone says that they'd rather sit here for awhile there is something wrong with them." Larry replied.
"Oh, it's nothing, nothing I want you to worry about at least." Mr. Shallowgrove said unconvincingly.
"What's the matter?" Larry asked taking a seat in front of Mr. Shallowgrove's desk.
"If you really want to know," Mr. Shallowgrove started off, "My wife was killed just a month before today. That was the reason I left Indiana and came here. It was very strange, people suddenly began disappearing into black fog and the town was being destroyed. I was there when my wife died, there was a black scruffy wolf that attacked her and after he finished her off he disappeared into a black fog with my wife. By the time I noticed the wolf and what he was doing to my wife I didn't have enough time to get to her and the dog never spotted me. I had no idea what to do, I still cannot live a day in peace due the memory of my wife. She was my world, the one part of this Earth I held dear to my heart. The world is changing I can sense it, I heard about you in our town and how this wolf directly focused on anyone you held dear to you and thought we might be able to help each other through our hard times, if you would like that that is."
"That really is a sad story, I'm sorry to hear that about your wife, I would stay and chat a little longer, but my Mom will get worried if I do not come home soon enough. If you like we can schedule a conference after class one of these days and we can speak more." Larry responded with gratitude.
"That would certainly work out well, just give me a date when you think of one and I will be here." Mr. Shallowgrove said thankfully.
"Sure thing, I will speak with my Mom and see what can be done." Larry replied, "Until tomorrow Mr. Shallowgrove."
"See yah Larry, hope everything goes well for you." Mr. Shallowgrove said.
Larry left the classroom as Mr. Shallowgrove sat at his desk holding on to a picture of his wife.
On his walk home from school, Larry felt a strange aura in the air and felt as though the world was about to begin turning for him again. The black fog showed up again in the distance as Larry ran towards it to see what was going on. By the time he reached it, it was too late there was nothing left, but blood and remainders of flesh. Larry began to walk away until he realized the blood was forming letters. Larry moved closely in to see what it was saying and read:
To create bonds a pact of blood shall be made.
Larry confused by this moved further down the road where he looked over and saw more blood on the ground and it read:
A bond with a friend will soon be made.
Larry understanding the message, but not understanding the meaning moved further down to see another message in blood that read:
He will ask and you must accept or else.
Larry now creeped out by this message ran home as fast as he could and walked calmly into the front the door. "Hello mother, how was your day?" He turned to where his mother would normally cook and saw nothing as the room began to shake and he was pulled back in total darkness.
"The day will come Larry when you must make a fateful decision. Would you risk your life for those dear to you? Would you care too much about your own safety? The time will come, I will see you soon." He heard a voice say as the blackness left and he was standing where he was originally in his house.
"Are you listening? I asked you how you were too Larry." Ms. Pragmer asked.
"Oh sorry, I drifted off for a second there; I am fine, just a normal day at school." Larry replied.
"That sounds good, I suggest you go work with Eric on you guys homework, he's waiting upstairs. Supper will be ready in a half hour." Ms. Pragmer stated.
Larry walked upstairs to his room and sat with Eric prepared to do their homework. "How was your day Eric?" Larry asked.
"Not exactly the greatest, Shyann is going through a tough time right now, her mother, sister and brother were all killed today and there was no trace. Not even a drop of blood. All they received was an official letter confirming their death." Eric replied.
"Are you serious?" Larry asked thinking back on the three areas of blood he ran into on his way home.
"Yes, I'm afraid it was that damn wolf again, I saw three black lights while looking out your window earlier nearby." Eric responded.
"This is going too far," Larry began, "Why does he pick off people's family members and leaving them with so little? Why does he let certain people live and others die?"
"I don't know, but I think it's almost time for us to make a stand." Eric replied.
Meanwhile, somewhere else, a dark, strange place with blood, corpses and tombstones as far as the eye can see sat the dark-hooded figure known as The Reaper with his black wolf. The moon was bright giving some light so you could see the Reaper's face and the blood running down it.
"It's almost time my pet, these souls are making a delicious treat for my rebirth you are doing your job well." The Reaper said in his sickly, snakelike voice.
"It was my pleasure. I enjoy seeing all those innocent victims squirm beneath my teeth." The wolf replied in his own raspy voice.
"Soon enough we will have enough souls and I can take down that brat, Larry Pragmer myself." The Reaper stated.
"And then the world will fall under our control, death will increase and the demons of hell shall feed eternally." The wolf replied.
"We cannot take our enemies too lightly Nyx, remember what happened last time with Larry's parents." The Reaper reminded his pet.
"Yes, all the more reason for us to tear them apart limb by limb." The wolf began, "We will crush their bodies and kills them organ by organ."
"That we shall, that we shall, there is just one more matter to address now." The Reaper replied.
"Are you speaking of what I think you are?" The wolf asked.
"Yes, the man has opened his mouth too much now, he must killed he will fill up my soul to a point where I can almost completely return. We cannot show him mercy." The Reaper replied.
"I know not the meaning of the word mercy, I will hunt this man down and he will feel my teeth, he will cry for me to let go, but I won't. Consider this soul hunting over." The wolf said confidently.
"Then it shall be done, find the man and let me steal his soul." The Reaper demanded.