Kendall Perkins already hated this week
It started like any other week in her perfect life at the prestigious school that is Harvard. She had woken up, made herself some coffee, and not soon after doing her backpack left for school.
It had been one year since she was accepted by her dream school and life honestly couldn't get any better.
Until it worsens.
In her student days at Harvard, she had heard about the infamous trip that the school personal sometimes do but she never thought her class will be the one picked to go through all that shenanigan.
They were all focused on their studies, on what they would do once they finished this stage of their life so it didn't surprise her , when their teacher and principal announce whit glee in their eyes that all of them were chosen to partake in an all-autumn and winter trip to a suburban town on the other side of America, not everyone was ecstatic.
Kendall included
''Now, now I know that not everyone here is kin on the idea of leaving to a different part of a country but remember that your time there will be graded and put in your record which will greatly improve your resume, after all, we wouldn't do these type of trip if they weren't beneficial for our student"
Even though she didn't like the idea of leaving her dorm to a completely unknown place she didn't let it show on her face as she was handed the brochure that described the town and its culture.
She felt the floor collapse under her as on the paper, standing proudly was the place she wanted so much to forget.
Mellowbrook
It had been five years since she hadn't set foot in her hometown. And the thought of actually returning to that hell hole made her spine tingle.
The teacher could bribe her or threaten to make her repeat the year but never in her right mind will she ever accept to go back there.
"Oh I forgot to mention but the school already informed your parents about the trip and they all gave their accord so you won't have to worry about that"
Fuck
It seems the entire universe was against her because she knew right there and there if her parents gave their accord then her protests meant nothing
So here she was, with a suitcase in one hand and a loose backpack on her back. Beside her, all her classmates chitchatted whit each other as they all stroll out of the airport.
The flight had been delayed for one hour because of the incompetence of one of the pilots who got locked like a child in the bathroom. So in total,5 hours of being stuck in an uncomfortable chair, and the only way to kill time is by talking to her friend Andrei which in all honesty wasn't so bad but eating cheap cold snacks that could barely even be called food. defiantly was.
"What whit that scowl on your face, Kkkendal" The repetition of the consonant didn't help her mood, and as she turns her attention from the ground the so-called "class clown" stared back at her with childish glee in his eyes. He wore a dark corset whit slightly ripped black pants and a sunhat on his head
"Well Tommy, I just happen to remember that you existed" She shoots back even if she knew this bickering will amount to nothing.
Her status as class president seems to have created a rivalry between them because even if he like to play the class clown his intelligence was as developed as hers.
At the remark, the boy acted like he was heartbroken by holding one of his hands over his chest
"Wow Kendall that was cruel even for you, don't you have any pity for a poor lad like me"
"Ms. Perkins and , don't you think it too early for you to start bicker?"
The voice of their teacher made both of them jump a little. Behind them was Mr. Barron's whit an 'I am sick of both of you' expression on his face.
He stood at an impressive 6.2 feet whit black hair and what one might call a chiseled body.
"I apology /Sorry teach"They both said at the same time, and as an act of behaving she moved back near Andrei in a way of stopping any other argument from heating up again
Without any argument to stop the class from moving forward they all entered the bus that was waiting for them at the entrance of the airport.
The drive to the town will take another 2 hours so as she placed her face on the glass her eyes closed almost automatically as her tiredness slowly overwhelm her.
She tried to fight it but soon she was out cold
Lawrence S. Bacow loved his job.
He loved helping his student and giving them the tools necessary to build their career.
After all, it was his idea to hold a trip that would span from three to five months and it would not only help them develop their social skill but also improve their CV. And from the data he had gathered over the years, the student was always pleasantly surprised by the kindness of the people they meet on these trips
But sadly there were some cases when the town or city the class were outings didn't welcome them whit open arms but instead whit hatred and disgust.
So when he got the call from the Mellowbrook high school principal he in a way anticipated the conversation that will follow.
"So let me get this straight, you don't want my class to stay in your town because it...too dangerous?"
He didn't even try to hide how irritated he was at the claim
"Precisely sir this town is much too dangerous for your students"
Lawrence's calm and eery nature that brought a terrifying omen had gradually turned into anger that was directed solely toward the man on the other side of the phone
He could have asked many questions and even let his anger take the better of himself but instead, he chose to ask one simple question
"And why is that?"
The chimes of the classroom rang and pulsed throughout the school, signifying that class had concluded for the day. Thus, students began to gather their bookbags and walk out but the headmaster focus only on the voice on the other side of the phone.
"Sir, have you ever heard of the person called the Mellowbrook Demon?"
-/-
Her classmate didn't seem to notice Kendall's anxiety, as the bus strolled through the streets.
''How frustrating"
She heard the driver mutter under his breath and she could relate to the sentiment
The street was busting whit students and parents blocking the traffic some more eager than others to get to their school.
"I'm sorry, sir, but there's a traffic jam out front," the driver laugh.
"No worries mate but do the street is always this full or just today?"
Her professor asked as he walk at the front near the driver and rested his hand on one of the iron bars.
"Nah usually is pretty empty unless those crazy teenagers at Mellowbrook High School get in big trouble"
"Getting in big trouble at such a young age?"
The driver just kept laughing, which only confused even more
"There ain't a single day when those kids don't get themself in tr-" His sentence was interrupted abruptly as a shout shot through the air.
A warning
It was like someone has flipped a switch, as suddenly everyone on the pedestrian crossing run in a different direction. It couldn't have been more than 10 seconds but the crosswalk was left barren.
However, the strangest thing about the situation was the way the driver reacted.
Instead of being delighted that the street was empty, he was petrified. With his right hand, he pressed a button, and almost all the windows of the bus were covered by curtains and now the bus was only illuminated from the front
One minute they stood like that in almost silence waiting for whatever to happen. Everything seems frozen and right as our teacher was about to say something someone walk on the crosswalk
A tall man, wearing a black overcoat whit dark jeans whit hair the combination of black and purple. Long gloved fingers were griping an obsidian stick that made contact with the street once in a while. A row of razor-sharp teeth decorated his mouth that he didn't shy from showing to the world.
Maybe it was her imagination playing tricks on her but she could swear she knew him from somewhere.
The driver remain tense the entire time, his eyes trained on the figure, and only when the man was out of their sight did he slam the acceleration making a few in the buss stager back a little
"What the hell just happen mate?" Her professor demanded and honestly she wanted to ask the same thing
His question was completely ignored as the driver turn back to them just for a second as the bus was stopped at a traffic lights
"Well, sir, I'm going to give you some advice so you better take it into account" the driver looked back at the semaphore, and seeing it was still red he continued "If you want to live peacefully in this town you must never interact whit that obnoxious, pompous piece of sh-" His rant was cut off but the sound of notification that pops up on his phone.
He gave the phone a glace and freezes as the colors of his face was drained out. Something change after he saw that notification because every question his professor asked was completely ignored which was strange considering the man seemed eager to talk whit her professor
"Quite a strange fellow isn't he?" Tommy exclaim and even though his casual smile was stretched on his face she could see that even he was weirded by the situation
"Yeah, this town is kinda strange don't you think so Kendall"
At the mention of her name she turn to Andrei who was looking out of the window
Before she could answer the bus came to a stop and as she redirected her eyes to the left where Mellowbrook School stared back at her.
"Pick your bags and suitcases and meet me in front of the school, you have 5 minutes"
She exit the bus and picked up her bags before leaving the bus and with a sigh, she looked back at the bus once last time before she follow her professor into the building
"This is going to be the worst months of my life" Kendall muter under her breath
How accurate you are
The frigid air that chilled her bones was pushed back by the hot air in the building.
Everyone in the school looked at them weirdly as they stroll to the halls and Kendall covered half her face with the scarf that was hanging loosely on her neck hoping no one would be able to recognize her. She feared her cloth will give her way as they were a little similar to what she wore years ago.
The Chanel heels her boots had made a sound every time they made contact whit the floor tiles but once again no one seem to care as all the other female classmates wore similar shoes
She could hardly recognize anyone, as teenagehood completely change them but she guesses the same could be said by her.
As they all rounded the corner the gym came into the view. It seems a lot has been changed about it as now it was almost two times as big as it was when she was a child.
Her ears were bombarded by the chatter as the room was full to the brim by kids, teenagers, and even parents.
In the middle of the gym on a makeshift platform stood all the school workers, the principal, and the right of the stage, 20 seats were left empty which were probably meant for her class.
After they all sat down, with her eyes she searches once again through the crowd for someone that could at least look familiar to her. And sure enough, she recognizes someone.
Although to compare his past self to the way he looked now is like comparing a lake to an ocean.
It was a gigantic teen, with muscle double the size of the most muscular person she meet in her life. His legs were the size of logs and his chest was as broad as a mountain. The only reason she even recognize him was because of the blonde bush of hair that ornated his head arrange in a way only a Viking would wear it.
'Gunther' she thought but didn't dare to say it out loud
On his right stood Jackie who was easy to recognize by the huge glasses and the tangled orange hair. She was tall with curves that stood out in the nylon dress she wore that would make most men salivate behind her.
Suddenly the buzz of a microphone resonated throughout the room putting a stop to some of the conversations in the room as they turn their attention toward the podium.
There stood a man in a greyish costume who he recognise as Principal Henry whit the same black glasses she remembers him wearing. On his left stood Profesor Fitzpatrick whose only change in appearance was the white hair that now stood out between the black ones.
"Test, one two three, test...Hello to everyone and I will like to welcome all of you to a new year of school"
There was a pause of silence before almost a fourth of the gym groan to which our teacher snorted slightly, already expecting this kind of reaction.
"Now, now I know some of you are disappointed that school has begun but please remember your time here will be the deciding factor of your future careers as an adult"
Already figuring out that the things the principal was going to say she turned her attention to her phone. Not more than 20 minutes had passed and almost everyone stops listening to the principal and teacher's rant and that including her class who almost all were quietly chatting whit each other besides herself, , and Amelly which was her friend.
Amelly would best fit the description of a small Christian girl with round glasses and kind nature. She was in her opinion the most precious and pure person in the world and would let herself get hurt if it meant helping someone else. At a moment she was reading from a black book that she couldn't identify the name off.
Everyone was slowly starting to get bored from standing around doing nothing, including Kendall herself.
'I would pay hard cash for anything to happen' she thought as her head rested on her palm.
Careful what you wish for
Just as the microphone was about to be passed to the vice-principal
Fitzpatrickthe door of the gym busted open as the sound of metal scraping on wood silenced the room
Kendall could only watch in confusion as the figure enter the auditorium almost the entire room froze. From kids to the adult, they all looked in terror as the person strolled to the room like he own the place
Because he did
Not even the principal or the professors were in better shape as they were slightly coward in their chairs. It was like a predator had entered the room and the only way to avoid it was to hold their breath and pray for the worst not to come
"Hello" the word came slightly distorted and yet she knew everyone in the room heard salute
No one in the room returns the greeting and the man seem to expect that so he continued his walk until he was in front of the Principal
"And hello to you too principal, long time no see how's life been going?" He asked as his eyes and grin bore down on the cowering man
She felt bad for the old man as he tremble like a leaf before the unblinking purple orb that floated in the smiling man sockets.
But it seems the universe itself took pity on him because took the microphone from him.
" I know your games but you also know my rules so you should already understand the consequences that your next action could be"
Everyone in the room seem to hold their breath and Kendall couldn't deny that even she felt in the air that something bad was going to happen
She moved her eyes back to her old classmate and Jackie kife the rest was frozen but Gunther on the other hand,
He stood tall whit his muscle bulging as if ready to spring in action if something were to happen as his gaze fixed on this Ozymandias person.
The ice was broken by the grinning man as he burst into a fit of laughter his hand banging on the podium shaking the entire platform because of the force.
As for the laugh.
The sound was horrible. Like wet meat and rocks being tumbled into an old drier. It was so bad that the sound banged against her ears tunnel long before the laughter stopped.
Her gaze fell on her classmates and just like her they were completely disturbed by the strange situation
"Oh, my dear if I wanted to hurt anyone I-" That all she could make out between the ringing of her ears as the man whisper something into the vice-president's that made the woman's mask of annoyance break ever so slightly before reverting back to irritation.
"So now that I erase any doubt that I came here whit bad intentions I will like to personally to welcome them into the town" He didn't leave the vice-principal any time to object as in second he was already in front of her class
Without anything else to do each of them shook his hand whit no world being exchanged...until she shook her's
"My dear this might be my imagination playing tricks on me but do I know you?"
Kendall is not going to lie but under those purple unblinking eyes, she felt smaller than she felt her entire life. But to not give the man in front of her any satisfaction from seeing her afraid her facial expression remain expressionless as she gather all the courage her body could muster
"No, I don't think we ever meet, a pleasure to meet you...Ozymandias?"
Her greeting caught him outguard but not a second later he composed himself and bow down slightly
"The pleasure is mine"
As he did so his smile stretch from ear to ear giving her a glimpse at those pearly white dagger-like teeth.
For her class, the interaction looked a little strange but for the locals in the gym, it looked surreal.
The great demon that terrorise their little town was actually bowing in front of someone. Many could only watch in awe yet it seem one of them manage to encapsulate their feeling and shout it to the world to hear.
"DEMON TAMER"
The words shot through the air like a firework as the man in front of her straighten up and turn his head almost to 180 degrees as he glared into the crowd. The effect was instantaneous as the people in the crowd looked ready to scramble from their seats and run out of the gym.
In the end, the man let go of her hand and moved to greet the rest of the class before returning to the stage.
"With that out of the way I want to thank you all for coming here and wish you all a happy first day at school."He exclaims as he moves his stick in the air almost hitting the principal and making him fall from his chair. The action made Ozymandias giggle but in the end, he just continued on his way, and not a minute later, he was gone. Only when the sound of his stick hitting the ground disappeared did the crowd finally relax.
As for her class, each one of them including her looked petrified and confused.
The rest of the speech was finished by as the principal himself didn't seem capable of doing anything besides sitting in his chair.
Once the ceremony was over, everyone left the gym, some remaining in the yard others leaving the school perimeter. Her class was brought into a different room where they were given a more secluded welcome by the school staff. Alongside that, they were also handed their timetables
for the next couple of weeks and a set of rules that they would have to follow so no problem should ever be encountered.
Unsurprisingly one of the brackets of rules was dedicated to this Ozymandias guy.
Kendall was starting to get more irritated each time she saw the people of the town treat him like an actual demon instead of just a creepy weirdo.
Don't get her wrong some rules like don't start a fight whit him or play a prank on him were understanding but some weren't as much.
For example, rule number eight "If by any chance late at night you stare outside of your window and Ozymandias is looking directly at you, smiling for the rest of the night keep your light on and don't listen to your shadow as they are not yours anymore. The next day inform the school staff immediately"
"Are you people batshit crazy or just trying to be funny and spook away the so-called 'elite' " looked more pissed than Kendall has ever seen him. She knew it took a lot to get the adult mad, but this was on a whole other level.
His eyes were wide with disbelief and anger as they glared daggers at the school faculty. If looks could kill, then her teacher would have been charged with homicide.
She might have not seen him this mad before but she had seen him get upset whenever someone disrespects his class.
"Sir we can assure you there would be no point in us making fun of you quite the contrary but besides that, if it makes you feel any better almost everyone follows the rules regarding Ozymandias." The vice-principal said in an almost bored way as the other teacher nodded their head at her response
He didn't seem to be fully convinced by the answer so the argument continue but Kendall had already heard enough and instead chose to focus on her classmate's conversation.
Something you might not know is that Kendall is out of her class there is only one person she doesn't like and no it isn't Tommy even though they bicker all the time.
Jasmine is a short teen whit tan skin, long hair, and a beautiful body.
She is what one might call the queen of the class and the only one to have a boyfriend. Her boyfriend whose name is Noah is a tall kid whit an athletic build and brown curly hair.
He in her opinion is a gentle giant but her influence made him look like the jock of the class. Noah is a good but jealous kid and every time his so-called "soulmate" doesn't like someone or is just bored she would pretend to flirt or even say she likes them just to rile him up to do something rash and then end up in detention.
Kendall tried to explain to him that even if she was doing it out of "love" it wasn't right but he always shrugs it off.
"Man this Ozymandias guy is something else but he sure didn't look bad" She could see the wheels working inside Noah's head and Kendall felt disgusted.
How DARE she do something like that knowing full well how gullible Noah was. A vein in her head started to pulse but right before she could go at her someone did it instead
"How about you shut your mouth Jasmin because until now you didn't say anything worthwhile" Tommy's reply made some of her classmates snicker.
This is why she didn't hate Tommy because even if sometimes he gets on her nerves he always cares about his classmate even if he doesn't show it.
"Calm down Tommy I was just joking beside this guy looks like a stick figure so he could do nothing to my strong Noah" As she said that she pinch her boyfriend's bicep making him blush.
And while the excuse worked on Noah it didn't have any effect on Tommy.
"This skinny guy manage to scare shitless an entire crowd of adults and hit that wooden podium so damn hard that I honestly thought it was going to break under the force but sure Jasmine throw your boyfriend at him"
And Kendall knew he was right. Even if Noah's body looked much stronger somehow she knew somewhere deep down that he wouldn't last a second.
The tension in the room was ascending quickly and if it wasn't for her teacher a fight might have broken out.
"That's enough! I will not tolerate fighting in my presence. This is only the first day so I will not reprimand any of you but from now on I want all of you to be on your best behavior" ordered , anger and annoyance blazed in his eyes as he caressed the bridge of his nose to calm himself down
Jasmin ceased her glaring instead choosing to do small talk whit the other girls in the room.
"Now with that out of the way follow me now so I can show you where you are going to sleep for the next month" He ordered as he didn't wait for their reply and left the room at a quick pace. She was about to follow him but a voice stopped her.
"Kendall Perkin can you wait for a second I would like to talk whit you for a minute" Her body tense at the sound of her name leaving her old professor's mouth. Andrei looked at her worryingly but Kendall pretended to shrug of telling him that he can wait for her outside
When the only two persons in the room were herself and the vice-president she turn to her mustering the best smile she had in her.
"Long time no see is a pleasure to meet you again"
She expected the old woman to try to at least make some small talk but just like she remember the woman went straight to the point
"The more you stay in this town the more you put yourself in danger miss. Perkins " Her tone was rigid and authoritarian that it made Kendall shiver slightly.
"Why?" A simple question but at the moment she couldn't think of a better one
"Sadly the kid you once knew as Clarence Buttowski has taken interest in you"
Old and almost forgotten memories flood back into her mind. She couldn't comprehend how she had completely forgotten about her acrobatic neighbor.
The future was her only concern that not once had she thought about her old "nemesis".
Yet one single piece was missing from the complicated puzzle that now will plague her mind. Not once has she encountered her old neighbor and yet for some reason, Clarence has taken interest in her. It seems her confusion must have shown on her face because corrected herself.
"I see the confusion, I meant to say that Ozymandias took interest in you."
There it was
The last piece has fallen into its place and now she was left with the aftermath. Her eyes bulged wide and her mouth hung open as she process everything and nothing at the same time. Not once second had she even imagined that the so-called great demon of Mellowbrook was her old nemesis.
It was mindblowing as nothing beside those pearly white teeth look familiar between his younger self and how he looked in the present.
"Does she know who I..?'' That was all she could muster as her mind was bombarded by hundreds of thought
The old woman for the first time since their reunion smiled slightly but Kendall didn't feel any better
"Thankfully I had been able to hide the information about everyone that is part of your group but I don't know how much time I can hold this information off before he finds out" Before she could ask something else she was promptly cut off by the teacher that already knew her next question
"No, you don't have to worry that you are in any kind of danger, the rules have been made to protect this town for the past 3 years" She finished off as her hand reached under the desk for a white envelope before promptly putting it in her arms.
It was made of a strange material that was slightly itchy to the touch but besides that, it looked like any other envelope.
"I know you have hundreds of questions that are slowly rummaging your sanity but sadly I don't hold many answers but if you truly want to learn what happened to this town since you left, find Gunther and give him this" Whit that said she turn her attention to the papers in front of her and that was Kendall cue to leave.
Muttering a goodbye she closed the door and slightly let her weight onto it as a sigh escaped her mouth. She felt like vomiting as her thoughts coil around her brain as a snake does to its prey.
From up here the image of Andrei could be seen through one of the windows, waiting for her. Not wanting to make him worry she quickly made her way down the stairs and out of the school.
After that everything blurred between getting on the bus again and arriving at the hotel her school has rented for them to stay in for the rest of the excursion.
'What has happened to you, Clarence?' She thought silently as she looked out of her window down at her childhood town
He has become something more than you could ever understand
-/-
Two hours later and the vice-principal could still be found in her office
surrounded by hundreds of papers and documents, deep in her work.
The start of the year was always stressful and she always felt tired after the first day but now with the arrival of the Harvard class, her work was almost double. To make it even worse hedecided to come and introduce himself to all of them like he was some celebrity happy to meet his fans.
From the moment the mayor had brought to the table the idea of putting their town in the lottery of Harvard's next yearly trip, she was against the idea. It was so stupid that for a second she honestly thought the man was under the influence of alcohol.
But what made a vein bulge on her temple was the audacity of actually calling Ozymandias just a kid and comparing him to any other trouble maker in the town.
The lunatic man whit no common sense didn't even realize the consequences of his actions. Those students have dreams and a shining future and those kinds of people were the demon's "favorite".
Sure the rule will protect them like the rest of the town and they are Harvard students so she is sure they behave better than almost every teenager in this town but at the end of the day, they are still a teenager.
Ozymandias could easily torture one of them mentally at least until he makes the great mistake of trying to fight the demon. That action will be followed the next day by their parent arriving to collect their child in different plastic bags.
Her train of thought was cut off by the familiar tune of a high pitch whistle drowning most of the sound of the halls.
Speak of the devil and he shall appear
The office door swung right open and stopped a millimeter away from impacting the wall. She didn't move from her head as the sound blurred into nothingness.
Fitzpatrick has already grown accustomed to the way sound disappears in the presence of the thing that disguises itself as any other human.
"Not even going to great me my dear, have I upset you with something" The old woman honestly wanted to continue to ignore but in the end, she relented as her black onyx eyes glared into those radioactive purple orbs.
However, instead of letting all of her frustration and anger out she stared at him impassively waiting for his next move.
"Oh please don't tell me you are mad about my grand entrance from three hours ago plus it was your fault not mine so why are you even offended by my action" Ozyamandias's claws caught one of the curtains slowly ripping the material. The teen sight to himself just like a parent would do when faced whit their unruly child.
"My fault Ozyamnidas? How is that so may I ask?" She didn't like playing in the demon game but she was curious how it could be her fault
"Well if you would have so kindly lent me the list of the newcomer's ID's I wouldn't have been a force to come all the way here just to meet them"
Fitzpatrick's blood felt like fire and ice, sending chills down her spine and raising goosebumps on her arms. She knew she had breached one of the rules but she hope the demon wouldn't realize so quickly.
Rule number 3(humans rules): Every reasonable demand( that don't breach any human rules) made by Ozyamadias will be followed without any hesitation
This rule while a little too vague so she usually bypasses it by simply calling the demand unreasonable but this time that trick wouldn't work because she knew while his intention themself were bad the request wasn't.
The teacher's jaw clenched as her hands tighten
"Just... Tell me what you want." she hissed through her teeth as she waited for his predicament
"Ah, so impatient. So eager to get it over with"
Her surroundings were starting to become irrelevant as the demon had a way of filling a room until all Fitzpatrick could see were those bright, purplish eyes and the crescent blade of a smile.
" I want you... To erase rule number 1"
She felt her hands tremble but she hide them under her desk.
"No. Ask something else. There are lines I will not cross"
There are rules I will not break
The things behind the eyes laughed, his sickening snicker reverberating through the room.
"Ah yes, your precious rules. Do you still believe they can stop anything? They stop nothing, Amanda. They only delay it" The woman hesitated. just for a second, but it was enough for Ozyamnidas to notice and laughed cruelly at her predicament
"I've already told you that I won't do it. That rule will never be broken"
Her word was final but it didn't stop him from trying his hardest to convince her
"You know what happens to them when my price is not paid. Do you seek to atone, with this meaningless resistance, for the sacrifice that was made because of your mistake?"
Her eyes locked with Ozymandias's and Amanda could see nothing behind them but a monster curled under human skin. Its signs were slow, deliberate, and deathly sinister, as her breath caught itself in her esophagus
"The fate of these kids are is in your hands, Amanda. You know what happens to them when my price is not paid"
Their staring contest lasted for some time until surprisingly the demon was the first to relented, rolling his eyes at her determination.
"Fine, I will choose another rule" As the word left his mouth she felt her body relax ever so slightly.
His hand reached into his suit as he removed from one of his pockets a blue paper where she could vaguely recognize her rules written upon it.
"If you are so stubborn about not removing rule number one then how about number seven" He said nonchalantly and the world echo throughout the room
Rule number 7(demon rules): Ozymandias shall stop interacting with a resident of the town once the writer of the rules says so
Number seven was probably one of the useless rules in the entire list with a few cases where it came into any help when dealing with the demon
"It's a reasonable demand especially when I could have asked for something much worse, so please tell me, my dear.." The can he was holding in his right hand moved to his left as Ozymandias extended his right one in front of him
''Do we have a deal." For a moment, every shadow in the room stagnated
His voice was as smooth as ever, and that was more than enough to make the woman's hair stand on end. Contrary to her better judgment, she shook the demon hand but luck seemed to shine on her because no strings were attached to the deal
"It's was a pleasure doing business'' He saluted one last time before opening her window and jumping from the second floor.
Amanda stood silent for 5 seconds before collapsing in her chair as she cupped her face gingerly. It always infuriated her how much Ozymandias scared her when he wanted to.
She knew she had nothing to fear under the protection of the rules but that didn't mean her body shook with primal fear every time she stared into those unblinking eyes.
''I am too old for this"
Her retirement should have come a long time ago but every time the thought of leaving all her students and people of Mellowbrook to fend
by themself always made her hesitate. The rules would still be there but without her presence in the school, they would be one hundred percent exploited into uselessness by the demon.
But that didn't stop her from dreaming of a different life where instead of fending off against the threat of a maniac with too much power she would instead move to New York whit her son and grandson where they would live mostly happy until the end of her life.
Fitzpatrick inhale through her mouth slightly before checking her watch: she was 10 minutes away from another meeting the principal wanted to conduct to make sure everyone knew what they had to do when the school's second day begins.
Thankfully, it would be a short meeting so in the end she relented, picked up her empty mug, and exit her office.
-/-
Kendall stood outside her hotel room, staring at the sky as the cold slowly crept onto her. Slowly, she pulled her key from her pocket and let herself in the room. The light was already on, as Amelly was already in the room. The teen shut the door behind her, checked if the lock was on, and leaned back against the wood material, inhaling through her nose. The first day was over and she felt like a truck has hit her.
Not long after they have arrived at the hotel her phone began to ring as the number of her parents flash on the screen. The conversation didn't span more than five minutes, with many word exchanges between them that she will forget until tomorrow.
The only important part was how they had just arrived in the town from the airport and that they brought her little sister with them. They will meet with her tomorrow after she finishes her school activities and although Kendall wasn't that happy whit the idea, she could at least talk whit her sister in person which was always a plus.
Straightening herself she snapped out of her daydreaming and walk out of the hallway.
The hotel room had a bedroom whit two-bed, a simple kitchen which had all kinds of utensils that she didn't know how to use, and a small bathroom.
When they were given the room each one of them had to choose one roommate which out of her classmate she chose Amelly who now stood on the bed whit her legs crossed, looking in one of her many books.
She was the first person which she has met to read more than Kendall herself and combined whit her kind and polite demeanor she knew they were going to get along.
On Kendall's small table that stood near her bed were her phone, headphones, and purse. She went to it, picked it up, and remove from it the letter her old teacher has given her.
She looked at it and even though it was just a simple letter something made her unable to open it. So here she was, an almost grown-up woman that is studying at Harvard being afraid to open a damn letter
"Are you alright Kendall?" Ameliy's voice cut through her little pocket of reality, startling her as she hastily put the letter back in her purse before turning to face her as nothing happen a second ago.
Amelly looked at her weirdly as she eyes the purse she has assaulted a second ago from the force she pushed the letter in it.
"What was that?"
"What?" She tried to sound innocent but failed miserably
"Come on, if you don't want to tell me that fine but you have been staring at that letter since you enter the room if it affects you that badly you should talk with someone, about it." She put her book on the bed before giving Kendall her full attention.
Kendall knowing she won't be getting away from this conversation flopped dramatically on the bed, sighing loudly making her roommate chuckled slightly.
"I am so confused every since I return to this town" Her sentence was cut off by the girl in the room
"Return? you mean you have been here before"
Kendall really wanted to punch herself for letting out that information out
"Y..yeah I have lived here for almost 12 years before moving to New York and then Massachusetts and now that I am back things change a lot, ...people I have known have changed a lot," She said, surprising herself that she actually had the courage say it.
"People like who?" She ask innocently but the answer was far from innocent
"Ozymandias" Kendall replied, and they both fell silent again.
She looked at Amelly. Her friend had a pinched expression like she was holding something tightly inside.
"Why do you have that look on your face?' she said
Amelly face contorted before talking shape of a somewhat happy expression "I just haven't had any food since we left the bus" But she could see something that linger in her eyes
The awkwardness of the situation was unbearable and she knew from now on she would not talk about the so-called "demon of Mellowbrook" whit Amelly. She should have figured out that talking about someone whose called a demon by the people of the town wouldn't sit well whit the Christian girl
Knowing that trying to make any small talk would be too force she instead activates her alarm, put on her sleeping clothes, and went to sleep even though it was a little too early for that.
In a different part of the city, a man stood in front of his bus, checking if anything had damaged it throughout the day.
He shivered and rubbed his arm, looking up to the sky. It was turning black, and the shadow all around him would have been slowly drowned out if it wasn't for the light poles that illuminated the street.
He was trying to fix some wires that had been cut by some hooligan. They hung down from it like the branches of a weeping willow,
He would have put the blame on the Harvard kids but he knew they were all good kids and wouldn't do this kind of shit.
So instead of wreaking his brain trying to find the culprit, he focus on his day as his hand worked on the cable. In all honesty, when he got a call from the mayor that he had to pick up some Harvard class that was going to spend some month in the town he wasn't delighted whit the idea but he was pleasantly surprised to learn that none of them was as destructive and uncaring as the teens in Mellowbrook high-shool.
Even their teacher was a delight to talk to as their small conversation were forgettable but pleasant nonetheless. Then like the stupid man he can sometimes be, he had to mention him.
He knew he should have kept his mouth shut but when he got that message on the phone he knew it was too late to retract his comment
The message was as simple as it was threatening.
It's Rude to Talk About Someone When They Are Listening
Afterreading that you better be sure he didn't open his mouth even though he could hear the professor asking questions.
Whit a final grunt the cable was finally in their place so he stood up slowly stretching his muscle.
That when he saw it
The light that seconds ago illuminated the street were all turned off and the only one left was the one above his head. That is when he realizes it was quiet. Too quiet. And to his despair, there was only one person who was accompanied by that kind of silence.
The light above him started to flicker and a moment later the street was left in darkness.
Fuck
"Well good evening Gabriel" The voice came from the darkness and it bounce all around him making it impossible to pinpoint where it came from. The man frantically looked around but there was no trace of the unforgettable purple glowing eyes.
"What a coincidence to meet on this fine night, isn't it?"
The voice this time didn't come from everywhere but instead from behind him. Slowly as he turn his back to the bus he was met whit razor-sharp teeth grinning down at him. His entire body freeze
FUCK FUCK FUCK
Gabriel didn't know if he wanted to scream to cry or run but he knew that he didn't want to be stuck whit this freak.
"Not a talker? but you seem to be so talkative when you insulted me in front of the newcomers'' His tone was just as carefree as ever and yet it held a sharp edge that made Gabriel think about the next word he was going to speak like his life depended on them.
Because it did
"I am so sorry..sir and I promise it won't happen again" He put up the best smile he could muster but inside he felt like beating himself.
Here he was twenty-five years out of school, a grown man with family apologizing to some crazy teen. His pride took a hit right there but he will survive it.
"You know already that apologizing won't help your predicament so how about I make you an offer?" He said as his grin somehow grew even wider
"You will bring me information ranging from names, hobbies, or other useful stuff that you can gather from the new class that has entered my town, and as a reward, I won't let any accident happen to you, my dear friend"
His mind was slowly processing what it was learning but it didn't take long for him to respond whit something that no doubt hinder his predicament
"Do you really think I am going to steal information from fucking kids to give them to you huh? well, I am sad to inform your highness but you can take your deal and shove i-" His words were cut off as he felt his entire body picked in the air and shoved into the bus whit so much force that the metal bent under it. He screamed in agony as his body was impaled by the scrapes of metal
"You insult me and now you also insult my deals? Now that just rude"
His vision turn white for a second as he felt the demon other arm hit him in the stomach making him vomit onto the cold pavement
"What you have to say in your defense" The word barely registered as the pain from the blow made his brain work differently because instead of calming the situation he only dug his own hole deeper.
"Go fuck yourself" He waited for another hit to come from the demon but instead he was dropped onto the ground, his pant dirtying whit vomit.
"So you are that kind of person" Looking up he could see the teen slowly scratching his chin with his impossibly long and obsidian like fingers
Then it spoke and George felt his soul leave his body.
"How is your daughter doing" His body for the second time in that night froze as the blood in his vein gelt like broken ice shards
"I don't know what her name was but I dully remember she went to college and got together with quite a gentlemen hasn't she?"
Everything that he might have said was caught in his thought as he felt his heartbeat beat in his throat
"A great future awaits her and yet the dream could turn so easily into a nightmare"
"Don't you dare touch her" The knot in his throat broke away but his word only made the demon snicker
"Imagine this my dear friend, the last time you hear your poor daughter's voice would be her screaming at you that you should have taken the deal'' This was a nightmare. A disgusting dream that his mind was playing on him
His family were all good people and he made sure they all were under the demon radar and yet here he was trapped under the guilt of hurting those kids or his own family
Family always come in the first place
Ashamed whit his selfishness even though he knew no one would blame him he opened his mouth again
"Fine, I accept your deal but... I won't hurt none of those kids so you better get that in your sick head" His word was coated in venom but that didn't matter because, in the end, he shook the hand of Ozymandias
"Attaboy you won't have to worry about that but sadly I think our conservation must end here but don't worry we will meet another time" His words swirl around him and before he knew it he felt his eyes assaulted by different colors. When his eyes adapted to the new light he realize he was alone and every light pole was working once again as the sound of the fauna finally return.
Whit a curse he picked he dusted the dust himself, curse under his breath, and then made his way back home where he would no doubt will be bombarded by a question from 'Why did you came so late' to 'Why is your back bleeding' but he couldn't bring himself to care as the guilt of throwing the Harvard student into the demon maw overwhelm any physical pain
-/-
Deep in the heart of the town, a monster under human flesh was walking, whistling loudly. His tune was sick and yet at the same time melodic that would make the citizen of the town cower in fear.
Suddenly he stopped dead in his track as he found himself in the middle of an intersection that hours ago was crowded with hundreds of people now empty of any human life.
The shadow around Ozymandias swirls around like flower petals in the air. With no logic or reason
"I can feel it" Were the first word has spoken since his "meeting" whit Gabriel
"The time is coming my dear shadowy friends'' His eyes shoot open the light that was radiating from them slightly illuminating the road in front of him.
"The beginning of the end" He raised his staff in the air before bringing it on the ground the force of the blow shattering the pavement and leaving deep cracks on it. The action wasn't necessary but it always amuse him how much time it took to be repaired just because the people of the town were too afraid of touching something he broke personally.
"The game is set and my cards are on the table but now it is your turn mankind greatest warrior"
A distorted laugh follows that statement as the shadows envelop him like a dark blanket before exploding with a loud bang, the sound of it traveling in the air and walking some of the residents.
Seconds later, the street was empty.
-/-
So here it is the fourth chapter of this series and the fun has only just begun. As I mentioned in my last note this story will be dark too say the least and the people of the town are not as good as you might at first think.
As for who knows the true nature of Ozymandias well there is only one character who knows the full truth.