Chapter 3: A Toxic Routine
We're about halfway through the build-up part of the story, which will show Lynn's gradual decline in healthy mentality as she begins to develop unsociable and even criminal tendencies. I don't wish to rush this part of the story, since it's an integral part of the overall narrative.
Let's see what happens as Lynn continues to take more of the pills which Coach Henry provided her with in the previous chapter. It can't end well for her, that's for sure. Some of you are probably wondering why the coach gave her the supplements in the first place, questioning why he would just sabotage her sports career and her own mental health for seemingly no reason. Well, there is a rather significant motivation behind his actions, but you need to be patient. All will be revealed in good time. Remember, aspects to consider when working on a narrative storytelling type project include how you will add suspense as well as surprise into a story. Naturally, I'm not just going to spoil significant plot points and twists right now.
You'll just have to keep reading, so why not do so right now? Let's get started with chapter 3.
The sporty tomboy had returned home late after her standout soccer game, and having drained herself of her energy all day whilst under the effects of the pill, had begun to grow tired.
Lucy: "Lynn, where have you been?" she asked from her coffin as her older sister entered the bedroom and fell on her bed.
Lynn: "Soccer Practice." She replied, with her head buried in her bed cover.
Lucy: "Mom and Dad were really mad with you earlier! They said if you did something like that again, you'll be grounded indefinitely."
Lynn: "Whatever, I'm going to sleep. Night." She concluded, wanting the conversation to end as she had ran out of energy.
Lucy then looked over at the shattered and exhausted sports girl, lying face first on her bed. She was worried for her sister, and she was right to be worried.
Lynn woke up the following morning, and the process repeated. She consumed one of the pills with her breakfast, and following the consumption, her anger and rage levels went through the roof. Contrary to what her coach told her, she wasn't gaining more control of her emotional spikes either…
They were getting worse.
As the days passed, Lynn's emotional state continued to deteriorate. With each passing day, her anger and aggression was taking a dramatic increase, and not just at home, but also during her games…
Day two: In the morning, after breakfast, Lynn accidentally bumped into Luan while on her way out the door. Luan went to apologise, but before she could, Lynn grabbed her by the ponytail, swung her around the living room, and then threw her into a wall, hurting her.
Later that afternoon, Lynn was playing football. One of her teammates didn't pass the ball to her when it was beneficial, and that error cost Lynn's team points against the opposition. Lynn took out her frustration by picking up the football and throwing it into her teammate's face, knocking her down. Lynn was kicked out of the match for unsportsmanlike conduct… against one of her own teammates.
Day three: In the morning, after breakfast, Lynn was carrying a basketball outside of her room and across the hallway, when one of Lisa's dangerous science flasks came flying from out of her room, and the flask landed on the ball. The glass containing the acidic substance shattered, and the liquid dissolved Lynn's cherished possession. While in the right to be angry, Lynn took her anger to exaggerated levels. She walked over to Lisa, gave her an atomic wedgie, and then suplexed the 4 year old through her experiments table.
Later that day, Lynn was playing basketball, with another ball, with a close circle of her friends at the local park, though they were playing with a different ball since Lynn's was destroyed. One of her friends was able to outmanoeuvre her during one point in the game, and score against her. In a moment of losing control, Lynn let her rage loose and executed a takedown to her friend, before performing a submission hold and not letting go even when the other person was tapping out and squealing in pain. The other friends had to pull it apart.
Day four: In the morning, after breakfast, Lynn wanted to play wrestling with Lincoln. He refused, opting to play video games instead. Lynn's treatment of Lincoln usually wasn't perfect anyway. She had a tendency to be rough with him, but she usually had her limits. But this time, she couldn't control herself. She picked up her baseball bat, followed Lincoln back to his room, and then ran over to her younger brother. She tried to knock him out with the bat. Lincoln ran away, terrified of the sports jock, while Lynn chased in relentless pursuit. Even by Lynn's standards, she had really crossed the line at that moment. The only thing that stopped her from hitting her brother and giving him a savage beating was him managing to run behind Lynn Sr and Rita, who ordered Lynn to drop the bat and retreat to her room.
Later that day, Lynn was grounded for attempting pummel her brother. But she had her boxing lesson coming up that evening, so she used her ninja skills to escape out of her bedroom window and then make it to the ground safely. Later, Lynn arrived at boxing, and was eager to spar in the ring with a suitable match. Lynn was paired against another girl, and the two began sparring. The other girl was a technical fighter, but Lynn just came at her with a ferocious assault. Lynn eventually cornered her opponent and dished out a furious series of power shots to her head and body. The instructor could see Lynn had her beat and called for Lynn to stop, but the Loud girl would not listen. She continued to beat the other girl to a pulp. Everyone else in the gym had to pull Lynn off her opponent before she ended up hospitalised. Lynn was then sent home in disgrace.
Day five: Lynn was still grounded, and had a padlock placed on her bedroom window, so she wouldn't be able to escape and play sports that day, which only exacerbated her anger problem. Especially since she was still allowed breakfast, and so still ended up taking one of her daily enhancer pills. Because she couldn't leave her room, it was unlucky Lucy's turn to feel her wrath…
Lucy: "Lynn, leave me alone! I'm wallowing in pain inside my coffin, just how I like it."
Lynn: "Aw, come on, Luce. Mom and Dad have grounded me, so I need someone to play sports with in here!"
Lucy: "You brought it on yourself, now just leave me alone and settle down, for once!"
Lucy then sat back in her coffin, but Lynn wasn't having it…
Lynn: "Okay, arm wrestle!" she demanded, placing her arm on Lucy's coffin and waiting for her sister to accept the challenge.
Lucy then slowly sat up, placed her arm in position, and then let Lynn win the challenge with ease, so as to satisfy her sporty sister.
Lucy: "There. You win." She stated, before lying back down in her coffin.
Lynn: "Come on! You weren't even trying!"
Lucy: "Can't you tell I'm just not interested in your little games?" she asked irritated.
Lynn: "Oh no you don't, little miss sunshine! We're not done yet!"
Lucy: "Of course not." She snarked.
Lynn: "Lucha Libre!" she shouted as she put on her wrestling mask and waited for Lucy to respond.
Lucy: "Pass." Was the simple reply that came from that.
Lynn: "How about a game of who can do the most push-ups?!" she asked as she took off her mask.
Lucy: "How about no?" she responded.
Lynn: "Sit-ups?!"
Lucy: "Sit down."
Lynn: "Pillow fight?!" she desperately requested.
Lucy: "No, but you can use the pillow for its intended purpose, and go to sleep. It would probably help."
Fed up with Lucy's resistance to her demands and snarky responses, Lynn snapped and went ballistic, which unfortunately was all too typical for her during that week…
Lynn: "DARN IT, LUCE! Why are you rejecting me!? Can't you see that I NEED YOU TO CHALLENGE ME!?"
Lucy wasn't exactly the outwardly emotional type, but she was struggling to hold in the fear she was experiencing at that moment. She was usually able to hold her own in a fight against Lynn, when the situation wasn't that serious…
…but this time, Lynn was truly mad, and dangerous. Lucy did not want to find out what could happen to her if she got on the bad side of her jock sister when she was in that state of mind.
Lucy: "Lynn, please just leave me alone." She pleaded, holding back the nervousness.
But Lynn wasn't thinking reasonably or rationally at that moment, as she was under the influence of the performance enhancer she had taken that morning…
Lynn: "FIGHT ME!"
Lucy: "What?"
Lynn: "LET'S HAVE A BARE-KNUCKLE FIGHT!"
Lucy: "Why would I do that?"
Lynn: "COME ON! BARE-KNUCKLE FIGHT! YOU, ME! LET'S GO!"
Lucy: "No, please just stop it!" she begged, no longer able to hold back the tears of fear.
Lynn: "Come on, you pale, skinny, dorky little freak! If you won't accept any of my other challenges, then you're left with only one option. Now raise your hands… AND FIGHT ME YOU LITTLE WUSS!"
Lynn then rushed towards Lucy, who quickly retreated inside her coffin and sealed the door shut from the inside. But Lynn wasn't going to let that stop her. Using her physical strength, enraged state of mind, and rush of adrenaline that was resulting from it, Lynn grabbed onto the lid of Lucy's coffin and physically ripped it off, terrifying the young goth in the process.
Lucy: "Just stay away from me!"
Lynn: "COWARD!"
Lynn then reached for the nearest heavy object in the room, which happened to by Edwin. Normally whenever Edwin was involved, Lucy would be all too quick but to fight Lynn over him. They'd had plenty of scuffles in the past concerning times when Lucy thought Lynn had damaged her cherished possession…
…but this was different. Lucy's immense fear for her sister's livid actions was enough to cancel out any other thoughts she might have had at that moment. All she could do at that point was curl up in a ball and try to shield herself from the damage her sister was about to inflict.
But as Lynn prepared to strike her sister with the heavy stone object, Lynn Sr, Rita and the other siblings entered the room, having heard all the commotion coming from the two middle children.
Rita: "Lynn Loud Junior! Just what are you doing?!"
Lynn Sr: "LJ! Put down that head, NOW!"
Lynn: "Or what?! You already grounded me! And stopped me from playing all my sports!"
Lynn Sr: "Yeah, well, I'll just have to think of something more drastic!"
Lynn: "Whatever. You jerks don't scare me!" she bit back, challenging the authority of her father.
Rita: "That does it! Lynn Jr, you're going on my knees!" she declared as she raised her hand, making it clear that she intended to spank her disobedient child, in front of her siblings.
Lynn: "Oh… that's the way it is, is it?" she asked and paused.
Rita: "That's right, young lady! If you won't listen to your parents, and insist on behaving like this, then I have no other choices."
Lynn Sr: "You know your mother and I don't usually agree with punishments like this, but you need to get what you deserve!"
Rita: "Now, I'm going to sit down, and you're going to lay over and take your punishment!" she stated as she walked over to Lynn's bed and sat down.
Lynn Jr was not in a compliant state of mind, given her enraged and riled up mood. For a moment, she actually thought of following her mother's orders. But then she overheard her siblings whispering in the background while she was being confronted by her parents…
Lola: "Wow, they're really gonna do it, aren't they?"
Lori: "It looks like it. Can't say Lynn doesn't deserve it, though."
Lana: "Yeah, she's been acting really mean and aggressive, lately."
Luna: "You mean, more than usual?"
Lisa: "I concur with Luna. Lynn's temper and trigger for violent altercations were already at a dangerously high level. Recent events have just tipped her over the boundaries!"
Lincoln: "That's right! And I thought Lynn couldn't get any more aggressive before this week!"
As Lynn overheard her siblings discussing what they saw, the last ounces of respectful obedience and reasonable thought in her head were gone. She found the current predicament she was in too demeaning and humiliating. She wasn't about to let her mom and dad embarrass her in front of all her siblings. She decided it was time to make it known who was boss…
Lynn: "Make me."
Rita: "What did you say, young lady?!"
Lynn: "I SAID MAKE ME!"
Lynn Sr: "Lynn Jr, listen to your mother!"
Lynn: "NOT A CHANCE!"
Lynn Sr: "Right! You come here, you little…" he said as he reached towards his defiant daughter and tried to force her to lay down on her mother's legs so she could take her punishment.
And in the midst of the struggle, Lynn Jr decided to make short work of her father, by aiming straight for the plums. She delivered a solid kick to the groin area…
Lynn Sr: "ARGH!" he screamed in pain.
The kick was enough to send Lynn Sr to the floor. Rita then got up and tried to grab Lynn Jr, but she managed to avoid her mother's grasp. Lynn Jr then raced for the door of the bedroom and sprinted right past her siblings, who all looked on at what just happened in utter shock…
Rita: "LYNN JUNIOR! GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW!"
Rita, Lynn Sr (once he regained himself) and the children then all ran down the stairs and followed Lynn as she walked outside and headed for her bike, which she had since recovered from the day she forgot it after baseball practice.
Rita: "Where do you think you're going?!"
Lynn: "Anywhere but here!"
Lori: "Listen to mom and dad and get back inside!"
Lynn: "NO WAY! I'm done with this house! You're all just so weak and scrawny and frilly, it makes me sick! I never wanted to be a part of this dumb family anyway!"
Lincoln: "Lynn, we know you don't mean that." He said as he tried to make her see reason.
Lynn: "SHUT UP, STINKOLN! You know, you're the most disappointing to me. The others are dumb, prissy, girly runts, but you, you're supposed to be my brother! You're supposed to play sports with me, play wrestling, have a rough and tumble personality that matches my own! You're supposed to be someone that can play on my level!"
Lincoln: "Well, I'm sorry I couldn't be the boy you wanted me to be! Actually, I'm not sorry! Not all boys have to be rude, gross, rough and tough guys who dogpile and fart on each other all the time! Lord knows I've had nightmares about that kind of thing!"
Lynn: "Whatever! You're just a weakling, bro!"
Lincoln: "Is that why you picked on me all those times?! Because you were mad that I didn't live up to your hopes and expectations of what a brother was in your eyes!"
Lynn: "I dunno, I thought I could toughen you up for the big bad world!"
Lincoln: "I did toughen up, Lynn. Remember what happened with Viribus and the school a few months ago?!"
Lynn: "WHO CARES?! You're still a nerdy little weakling to me! I'm done with you, and the rest of those jerks next to you! You hear me… I'M OUTTA HERE! AND THERE'S NOT A THING ANY OF YOU CAN DO TO STOP ME!"
Lincoln then tried one last attempt to convince his hostile sister to calm down and stay…
Lincoln: "Lynn, please just come inside so we can talk." He requested as he slowly approached his violent sister as she got on her bike.
Lynn: "DON'T TOUCH ME OR I'LL PUT YOU IN THE HOSPITAL!" she threatened as Lincoln got near her.
Lincoln: "Lynn! Stop!" he pushed on, showing he did have a bit of a backbone after all, and wasn't going to shut up so easily.
But his efforts were in vein. Lynn had lost any sense of calm or reason in her head at that moment. Her anger, aided by the influence of the performance enhancers, had pushed her over the edge.
Lynn Sr: "LYNN JUNIOR! COME BACK!" he shouted as she cycled up the road and away from the house…
…but to no avail.
She was gone. Now the rest of the world had to deal with her trouble.
Well, Lynn is in serious trouble with her family, and considering her state of mind, it appears it won't be long before she's in trouble with the law, too. It looks like soon enough, she will be serving a sentence. It won't be long until that happens now. But what will she do to go over the top of break the law? Find out in the next chapter.
By the way, some people are finding my writing style to be weird and distracting somehow. But here's the thing. I write my stories and their chapters in a format that is essentially an amalgamation of a traditional story book, with slight elements of being a written script for a TV episode/movie as well. The reason for this is very simple. I do not design my FanFictions to just be fanfics for the sake of fanfics. I write these stories in such a way that they could feasibly be adapted into actual episodes (or more realistically, extended special episodes) of the show. To be honest, I don't see why a slightly different writing style as opposed to the norm needs to be that distracting. It's only distracting if one chooses to be distracted or annoyed by it. As such, this is the writing format I choose to work with, as I like to write stories in a way that they could actually be real episodes. Hopefully, it's not something that anyone feels the need to consider a deal-breaker in regard to their invested interest. I don't see why it needs to be (besides, classic literature like the Harry Potter books, for example, use the same sort of writing style, and nobody complained there).
Anyway, that's all for now. Be back for chapter 4, coming soon, after I finish posting my reactions to next week's new episodes on DeviantArt.