Chapter 5- Friends and Enemies
Randall had arrived in the nick of time; he had run most of the way. Now feeling very tired out and extremely aggravated he opened the classroom door with a slam and sat down at his scratched and shabby desk. The teacher was halfway through the register and was particularly peeved that Randall had interrupted him. Nevertheless he carried on, not without a quick glare at the unsuspecting lizard-monster.
The morning lessons went by so rapidly it was as though Father Time himself was playing a trick on Randall. The bell echoed through the countless classrooms that made up the school and doors were swung open as young monsters ran through the dirty corridors eager to get to get to break.
But not Randall.
He was one of the few that absolutely despised break for only one reason: what the other monsters would do to him. You would think that you couldn't do much in such a short space of time, and with so many teachers on guard, no monster would try and do anything. Unfortunately, this was not the case. They would do all they could to make Randall's life as painful as possible.
Randall gradually crept up to the double doors that led to the playground of terrors and was just about to grasp the grime-covered door handle when he thought of a better idea. He would go the back way, even though it was strictly forbidden. At least that way no-one would see him coming out and ounce in him like a cat on a mouse.
You see, Randall, contrary to rumours, was not as brave as most people thought. He acted tough just to deter the bullies that infested the school like cockroaches. Yet, even though this tactic worked, all he was really doing was creating a cocoon around himself; one that would protect him from all the hurt in the world. Randall didn't acknowledge all the wounding things that were said to him; the cocoon prevented all the cruel words from penetrating his heart. Yet his defence would make him worse off in the future. He would have to face the world one day, and when he did, it would be more of a shock than ever. So, he kept to himself and acted as though he were invisible. He didn't know that one day he would have this ability.
The bullies targeted him, and the remainder ignored him. It was a tough life.
Randall warily pushed open the crumbling back door and peeked outside. Once he was sure that the coast was clear, he headed directly for a corner of the playground that was hidden from prying eyes by a large wall that the young monsters would throw balls at. He slipped softly into the shadows, the silence being pierced only by the constant thump as the soft, rubbery balls made contact with the rock-hard wall. Randall had spent many a break there and not many of his schoolmates knew that the small space even existed.
"What a brilliant birthday this is turning out to be," said Randall sarcastically as the slight headache caused by the ongoing thumping and banging grew to a huge migraine.
"My head's thumping more than the wall is. Great," he commented sulkily, but he was used to it by then having spent so much time in this secluded corner of the playground.
The time went by painfully slowly and relief swept over the thirteen year- old monster as the end of break bell rang out through the playground. Randall, breaking out into a run, speedily slinked across the sun-baked playground that seemed to grow before his very eyes. The door came into view. He was going to make it without encountering even one of the numerous monsters that would hurt him, mentally and physically, at first sight.
Or so he thought.
Just as he was about to push the door open he felt something tug his tail. Barely turning around he tripped over something that was in his way and a green hand pushed him onto the gritty concrete floor. Then a cheerful voice rang through his already aching head. One solemn word came into his mind upon the arrival of that voice;
"Wazowski," Randall muttered under his breath.
He gathered up all his strength to get up but was immediately pushed back down again, much to his annoyance. Then he felt some feet walking up his mottled back and then onto his head. As Mike Wazowski, a short little green monster with one eye that was always accompanied by his best friend James P. Sullivan, stepped off the bedraggled lizard-monster, he smiled.
"Hello there, Lizard-Boy. Ya know, you make a really good rug, don't ya think?"
Randall only growled in reply.
"Well, we had better be off. I somebody saw us with you, well, let's just say that might affect our reputation, huh Sul?" He took a glimpse at his friend who was regretfully looking down at Randall.
"What? Oh.right," he answered, his mind drifting off somewhere else.
"Well," Mike continued as Randall got up glaring at the pair of them. "See ya later, alligator!" Turning his attention to Sulley, as he was better known as, Mike added in an undertone "Give 'im one, and make it hard."
Sulley looked back at Randall who was slowly edging away from them, and prepared to punch him. But then a little voice at the back of his mind told him otherwise. Gradually lowering his furry hand he looked at his companion who was frowning slightly. He had a choice; he could punch Randall and get it over and done with, or he could just walk away and be discriminated for the rest of his high-school life.
He made a decision
Sure, he would have to go against his conscience, but that wouldn't be as bad as everyone, including his best friend, thinking that he was on Randall's side. Which he most certainly wasn't. He knew what he had to do. He raised his spotted purple right arm and, as Randall lifted his alien hands to protect himself, gave an almighty punch.
Sulley indicated to the now overjoyed Mike to leave and they went up the worn steps into the building, leaving Randall on the floor unconscious.
As he was coming to, Randall felt a horrible feeling flowing through his veins that he hoped he would never have to experience: hatred. He hated Sulley and Mike for what they had done and for ruining his already wrecked life, but the way they had just left him there, alone was just.
It was unforgivable.
Chapter 6- Silencing the monsters
A pair of octopus-like monsters sat at a circular table in their modernised kitchen, the phone, like them, silent. The mother's face was damp with salty tears. Their son had been missing for five hours though, to them, it seemed like five years. Looking intently and determinedly at the phone and wishing it with all his might to ring, the husband spoke words of comfort to his anguished wife.
"Everything will be alright. The police will ring and they'll have found him." He tapped his companion's tentacle lightly.
The empty silence that followed was cut like a knife slicing through soft butter by the doorbell ringing. Startled, they both jumped up and hastily slid their way to the door. The mother grabbed the handle with a shaking tentacle and swung open the door to be greeted by two large monsters. The terrors had to duck underneath the doorway to be able to enter their humble abode.
Swiftly, they each gagged a parent and dragged them like dogs into a cupboard under the stairs. The parents responded by flailing their eight arms to be held and bound even more. Once they were shoved in, the white furry henchmen slammed the door shut with a hearty guffaw.
They were enjoying this.
They went outside, one of them closing the front door while the other climbed into their rusty car. His friend then joined him and they drove to their next destination.
All over Monstropolis this was happening to the friends and families of ones that were missing. And, as Waternoose said, the CDA didn't have a clue.
Chapter 7- The Pit of Doom
The next thing Randall saw was a button-nosed face with circular glasses staring down at him. It didn't look very happy. All of a sudden he was being shaken and something was shrieking into his ear.
"Get up you lazy old so-and-so!"
Subsequently, Randall was pulled up to his fours and was being dragged into the dull grey building. He was just about to ask what was happening when the shrieking voice he despised so much started again.
"The Principle wants to see you, and don't ask questions. You will know what's going on soon enough."
Randall was just about to complain, but before he could retaliate they had gotten to the Principle's Office. The bird-monster threw the bewildered Randall into the office and slammed the door shut.
"Today just isn't my day, is it?" Randall scowled. But the tremendous fear that had been in the depths of his stomach for such a long time took over his body and mind, sweeping away any remaining anger and sadness and leaving him with one thing: the bone-chilling awareness that he was now standing in the Principle's Office.
Surrounding the walls were shelves of the most disturbing things in jars. As Randall took a closer look, he saw an eye slowly rotating in some green fluid.
"There's Wazowsi," Randall chuckled to himself trying to lift the uneasiness that he could feel. But Randall was scared out of his wits for many good reasons. It was a well-known fact that every pupil that had ever entered this pit of doom had never left it still being a pupil. Randall's whole body shook with anticipation as the swivel chair swung round to reveal the most feared monster in the whole of the school.
If it wasn't for the fact that he was about to be expelled, Randall would have burst out laughing.
In the humongous chair sat the most miniscule monster Randall had ever laid his eyes on. He was about the size of a tennis ball except a bit more squarish. Three eyes evenly spaced around his large mouth (large for the size of him) scanned Randall with immense accuracy. But the funniest thing of all about this miniature head-master was what was on top of his orange limbless body.
Pink strands of long hair dangled over his face, partly covering his scrutinizing eyes. Randall couldn't help but let a smile flicker over his otherwise emotionless face. But he would regret it almost immediately.
"You think I'm funny then, do you? You think you're better than me, you scaly freak? Well, I would love to see you laugh at this!" And with that, the little monster that Randall could have held between his thumb and forefinger opened its mouth to its full extent, revealing teeth as sharp as a butcher's knife. The Principle's mouth was so big that it was all Randall could see. Its body seemed to have completely disappeared.
Then the monster threw back its head and the most thunderous roar Randall had ever heard was released. It nearly deafened him.
The effect that the noise had was astonishing; dusty books that hadn't been read or even moved for centuries fell off shelves, computers all over the school crashed to the diamond-hard floor and many students toppled off their chairs in agony.
Randall, being the closest monster to this mad Principle, slowly sank to the ground, his top pair of hands over his head to block out this disgusting sound that was infecting the building. Lying there, sprawled on the floor, Randall felt wave after wave of nausea spreading through his stomach and the effects caused him to stay there long after the screeching and wailing had ceased.
Daring to rise from the shiny brown floor Randall took his hands off his head and peered up at the Principle who had now returned back to his natural form.
"Enjoy that, did you?" the Principle asked with a sneer.
"N.no," Randall stammered, turning a pale shade of green.
The Principle continued. "Good. You must be wondering why you are here."
Randall had been wondering, but after that disturbing experience he found he didn't really want to know. Actually, all he wanted to do was get out of that room and put as much distance between him and the Principle as possible. Nevertheless, he hazarded a little nod of the head.
"Well, now I am going to tell you. That sister of yours- do you know where she is?" The mention of his sister snapped Randall back into reality.
"No," he replied, becoming more confident as the anger welled up inside him once again. "I haven't heard anything from her since she was adopted by some stupid foster parents." As Randall finished, his voice became very sour. The Principle smiled; the type of smile that would make even the most tolerant of creatures sick.
"Well, I know where she is. Actually, to be more precise, I am the foster parent who decided to adopt her."
Randall had arrived in the nick of time; he had run most of the way. Now feeling very tired out and extremely aggravated he opened the classroom door with a slam and sat down at his scratched and shabby desk. The teacher was halfway through the register and was particularly peeved that Randall had interrupted him. Nevertheless he carried on, not without a quick glare at the unsuspecting lizard-monster.
The morning lessons went by so rapidly it was as though Father Time himself was playing a trick on Randall. The bell echoed through the countless classrooms that made up the school and doors were swung open as young monsters ran through the dirty corridors eager to get to get to break.
But not Randall.
He was one of the few that absolutely despised break for only one reason: what the other monsters would do to him. You would think that you couldn't do much in such a short space of time, and with so many teachers on guard, no monster would try and do anything. Unfortunately, this was not the case. They would do all they could to make Randall's life as painful as possible.
Randall gradually crept up to the double doors that led to the playground of terrors and was just about to grasp the grime-covered door handle when he thought of a better idea. He would go the back way, even though it was strictly forbidden. At least that way no-one would see him coming out and ounce in him like a cat on a mouse.
You see, Randall, contrary to rumours, was not as brave as most people thought. He acted tough just to deter the bullies that infested the school like cockroaches. Yet, even though this tactic worked, all he was really doing was creating a cocoon around himself; one that would protect him from all the hurt in the world. Randall didn't acknowledge all the wounding things that were said to him; the cocoon prevented all the cruel words from penetrating his heart. Yet his defence would make him worse off in the future. He would have to face the world one day, and when he did, it would be more of a shock than ever. So, he kept to himself and acted as though he were invisible. He didn't know that one day he would have this ability.
The bullies targeted him, and the remainder ignored him. It was a tough life.
Randall warily pushed open the crumbling back door and peeked outside. Once he was sure that the coast was clear, he headed directly for a corner of the playground that was hidden from prying eyes by a large wall that the young monsters would throw balls at. He slipped softly into the shadows, the silence being pierced only by the constant thump as the soft, rubbery balls made contact with the rock-hard wall. Randall had spent many a break there and not many of his schoolmates knew that the small space even existed.
"What a brilliant birthday this is turning out to be," said Randall sarcastically as the slight headache caused by the ongoing thumping and banging grew to a huge migraine.
"My head's thumping more than the wall is. Great," he commented sulkily, but he was used to it by then having spent so much time in this secluded corner of the playground.
The time went by painfully slowly and relief swept over the thirteen year- old monster as the end of break bell rang out through the playground. Randall, breaking out into a run, speedily slinked across the sun-baked playground that seemed to grow before his very eyes. The door came into view. He was going to make it without encountering even one of the numerous monsters that would hurt him, mentally and physically, at first sight.
Or so he thought.
Just as he was about to push the door open he felt something tug his tail. Barely turning around he tripped over something that was in his way and a green hand pushed him onto the gritty concrete floor. Then a cheerful voice rang through his already aching head. One solemn word came into his mind upon the arrival of that voice;
"Wazowski," Randall muttered under his breath.
He gathered up all his strength to get up but was immediately pushed back down again, much to his annoyance. Then he felt some feet walking up his mottled back and then onto his head. As Mike Wazowski, a short little green monster with one eye that was always accompanied by his best friend James P. Sullivan, stepped off the bedraggled lizard-monster, he smiled.
"Hello there, Lizard-Boy. Ya know, you make a really good rug, don't ya think?"
Randall only growled in reply.
"Well, we had better be off. I somebody saw us with you, well, let's just say that might affect our reputation, huh Sul?" He took a glimpse at his friend who was regretfully looking down at Randall.
"What? Oh.right," he answered, his mind drifting off somewhere else.
"Well," Mike continued as Randall got up glaring at the pair of them. "See ya later, alligator!" Turning his attention to Sulley, as he was better known as, Mike added in an undertone "Give 'im one, and make it hard."
Sulley looked back at Randall who was slowly edging away from them, and prepared to punch him. But then a little voice at the back of his mind told him otherwise. Gradually lowering his furry hand he looked at his companion who was frowning slightly. He had a choice; he could punch Randall and get it over and done with, or he could just walk away and be discriminated for the rest of his high-school life.
He made a decision
Sure, he would have to go against his conscience, but that wouldn't be as bad as everyone, including his best friend, thinking that he was on Randall's side. Which he most certainly wasn't. He knew what he had to do. He raised his spotted purple right arm and, as Randall lifted his alien hands to protect himself, gave an almighty punch.
Sulley indicated to the now overjoyed Mike to leave and they went up the worn steps into the building, leaving Randall on the floor unconscious.
As he was coming to, Randall felt a horrible feeling flowing through his veins that he hoped he would never have to experience: hatred. He hated Sulley and Mike for what they had done and for ruining his already wrecked life, but the way they had just left him there, alone was just.
It was unforgivable.
Chapter 6- Silencing the monsters
A pair of octopus-like monsters sat at a circular table in their modernised kitchen, the phone, like them, silent. The mother's face was damp with salty tears. Their son had been missing for five hours though, to them, it seemed like five years. Looking intently and determinedly at the phone and wishing it with all his might to ring, the husband spoke words of comfort to his anguished wife.
"Everything will be alright. The police will ring and they'll have found him." He tapped his companion's tentacle lightly.
The empty silence that followed was cut like a knife slicing through soft butter by the doorbell ringing. Startled, they both jumped up and hastily slid their way to the door. The mother grabbed the handle with a shaking tentacle and swung open the door to be greeted by two large monsters. The terrors had to duck underneath the doorway to be able to enter their humble abode.
Swiftly, they each gagged a parent and dragged them like dogs into a cupboard under the stairs. The parents responded by flailing their eight arms to be held and bound even more. Once they were shoved in, the white furry henchmen slammed the door shut with a hearty guffaw.
They were enjoying this.
They went outside, one of them closing the front door while the other climbed into their rusty car. His friend then joined him and they drove to their next destination.
All over Monstropolis this was happening to the friends and families of ones that were missing. And, as Waternoose said, the CDA didn't have a clue.
Chapter 7- The Pit of Doom
The next thing Randall saw was a button-nosed face with circular glasses staring down at him. It didn't look very happy. All of a sudden he was being shaken and something was shrieking into his ear.
"Get up you lazy old so-and-so!"
Subsequently, Randall was pulled up to his fours and was being dragged into the dull grey building. He was just about to ask what was happening when the shrieking voice he despised so much started again.
"The Principle wants to see you, and don't ask questions. You will know what's going on soon enough."
Randall was just about to complain, but before he could retaliate they had gotten to the Principle's Office. The bird-monster threw the bewildered Randall into the office and slammed the door shut.
"Today just isn't my day, is it?" Randall scowled. But the tremendous fear that had been in the depths of his stomach for such a long time took over his body and mind, sweeping away any remaining anger and sadness and leaving him with one thing: the bone-chilling awareness that he was now standing in the Principle's Office.
Surrounding the walls were shelves of the most disturbing things in jars. As Randall took a closer look, he saw an eye slowly rotating in some green fluid.
"There's Wazowsi," Randall chuckled to himself trying to lift the uneasiness that he could feel. But Randall was scared out of his wits for many good reasons. It was a well-known fact that every pupil that had ever entered this pit of doom had never left it still being a pupil. Randall's whole body shook with anticipation as the swivel chair swung round to reveal the most feared monster in the whole of the school.
If it wasn't for the fact that he was about to be expelled, Randall would have burst out laughing.
In the humongous chair sat the most miniscule monster Randall had ever laid his eyes on. He was about the size of a tennis ball except a bit more squarish. Three eyes evenly spaced around his large mouth (large for the size of him) scanned Randall with immense accuracy. But the funniest thing of all about this miniature head-master was what was on top of his orange limbless body.
Pink strands of long hair dangled over his face, partly covering his scrutinizing eyes. Randall couldn't help but let a smile flicker over his otherwise emotionless face. But he would regret it almost immediately.
"You think I'm funny then, do you? You think you're better than me, you scaly freak? Well, I would love to see you laugh at this!" And with that, the little monster that Randall could have held between his thumb and forefinger opened its mouth to its full extent, revealing teeth as sharp as a butcher's knife. The Principle's mouth was so big that it was all Randall could see. Its body seemed to have completely disappeared.
Then the monster threw back its head and the most thunderous roar Randall had ever heard was released. It nearly deafened him.
The effect that the noise had was astonishing; dusty books that hadn't been read or even moved for centuries fell off shelves, computers all over the school crashed to the diamond-hard floor and many students toppled off their chairs in agony.
Randall, being the closest monster to this mad Principle, slowly sank to the ground, his top pair of hands over his head to block out this disgusting sound that was infecting the building. Lying there, sprawled on the floor, Randall felt wave after wave of nausea spreading through his stomach and the effects caused him to stay there long after the screeching and wailing had ceased.
Daring to rise from the shiny brown floor Randall took his hands off his head and peered up at the Principle who had now returned back to his natural form.
"Enjoy that, did you?" the Principle asked with a sneer.
"N.no," Randall stammered, turning a pale shade of green.
The Principle continued. "Good. You must be wondering why you are here."
Randall had been wondering, but after that disturbing experience he found he didn't really want to know. Actually, all he wanted to do was get out of that room and put as much distance between him and the Principle as possible. Nevertheless, he hazarded a little nod of the head.
"Well, now I am going to tell you. That sister of yours- do you know where she is?" The mention of his sister snapped Randall back into reality.
"No," he replied, becoming more confident as the anger welled up inside him once again. "I haven't heard anything from her since she was adopted by some stupid foster parents." As Randall finished, his voice became very sour. The Principle smiled; the type of smile that would make even the most tolerant of creatures sick.
"Well, I know where she is. Actually, to be more precise, I am the foster parent who decided to adopt her."
