Okay everyone here we are! Time for the Scare Games chapter! Hope you all enjoy!


Chapter 20: The Scare Games

The next morning was very awkward for the three monsters in the apartment. Randall just kept to the coffee before making a quick exit, mumbling a quick "thanks" and running out. Not that Mike was complaining, the faster he was out the better. Sulley on the other hand was shocked on how fast he left. He was sick, he shouldn't be out. If anything they should've taken him back to his home so he could rest. But instead he was gone just as he was here. If you hadn't known that he had stayed you wouldn't known that he was there at all.

At work, he was nowhere to be found; obviously taking a sick day. So the work day was nothing special. Everyone did their jobs and with little mistakes. However it became more exciting at lunch with everyone asking Fungus questions about Randall; since he made a quite a scene the other day. Fungus however, just took off, saying he needed to check on something and didn't return till the end of their lunch break.

During lunch, Rivera took a hold of the book and opened to the next chapter. He opened it and flipped a few pages to get to the page that he wanted.

"Okay, Chapter 20: The Scare Games.

Okay, I bet most of you are going to wonder why I'm just skipping most of my freshmen year. Well, there's a reason. See, during that time I have fallen out of my friendship with Mike. Not that it was my fault, but since that outburst at me, we haven't talked much. And during that time I had joined Roar Omega Roar (ROR), the most popular sorority on campus. I could tell you what happened there, but I won't. Let's just say that I ended up growing a back bone with them and I started getting a short-temper from them picking on me.

Unfortunately Mike had joined Oozma Kappa and asked me to join. I didn't want him to ask me because well… I was already in with someone and… I still felt a little hurt at what he said to me. I still tried being nice to him. He had managed to make a deal with Dean Hardscrabble that if he won the Scare Games that she was to put all of them in the Scare Program.

Now personally, I didn't really care about the competitions. Yes it was the biggest thing on campus and though I was glad that I was in ROR, I wasn't exactly quite used to getting the kinda praise they were used to. Heck, the only reason I was in it was because they saw me blend and that my family was rich. Heh, yea. I didn't really explain that too well in earlier chapters. Here let me explain. Cheryal is a surgeon, so naturally she makes good money. But Emilia, yes she owned a flower shop, but what you didn't know that her flower shop was one of the largest exporting floral shops around the world. Boggs Bouquet was a worldwide national floral icon. Though I'm not quite popular in ROR. I blame that on the fact that I'm a freshman, being a reptile, and adopted into the family. I can only worry that they'll find out that I was raised by a gay couple. Though, I'll worry about that later.

Now, going through the Scare Games. I guess they're pretty easy. I've read up on the rules, listened to the strategies that my sorority told me use. Of course that wasn't a problem for me. I was very fast and agile. And with my blending abilities I was a natural for hiding, but it was still a large portion for me to still be picked on.

Okay so… where should I begin with the Scare Games? Well… I guess I should start with the last on, because that one was more painful over anything. Okay so it was the end of the Scare Games, ROR verses Oozma Kappa. We were all lined up making pairs on who was going against who.

"Reggie is first, then Chet, Chip, Javier, Boggs, than me."

We all nodded. I wrung my hands in upmost nervousness. I looked around the stadium looking for someone. Oh not my parents. Gods no! If they found out I was doing this I would be ten feet under! No, I was looking for my Papouli. Okay, I haven't mentioned my Papouli before and I'll tell you about him now.

My Papouli is Cheryal's Grandfather, making him my great grandfather. Like Cheryal he has her body type, but with a horn on the top of his head and spikes going down his back. His spikes are red and his body yellow, and he has a gray mustache. I never had a father figure growing up. Granted that Emilia and Cheryal are women, but they try at least. Me and him are very close. We tell each other everything and he's such a great role model. Well, I had told him that I was in the Scare Games and he told me he would try his best to make every game, but he would definitely make the last one if we made it all the way. So here I was, looking for him in the bleachers.

I managed to find him among the crowds standing next to a large purple furred monster. He caught my eye and waved at me, shouting an encouragement that I couldn't catch, but smiled at it. I turned my attention back to the competition. I watched Chet go against the Oozma Kappa Brothers um… Terri and Terry, I believe their names were. Chet turned his hat backwards and they took off running once the buzzer went off.

As they went in we saw Chet shift himself around so he didn't touch the toys and made his way over to the fake child and scared it. I looked at the other side and saw Terri and Terry looking like a human adult. Wow… if you didn't know they were monsters you could've sworn they were a human coming out of a closet. It was pretty much even. I looked over at Javier. Out of all of them, he was pretty much the nicer one to me than the rest. Well… him and Chip. Javier was actually a very quiet guy. But when you did get him to speak, you can tell that he's very smart.

I watched as Chip took his turn against the little five-eyed monster. I chuckled to myself. I didn't really expect much from the little guy. But to be honest the little guy surprised me.

"Alright Javier, show 'em who's boss!" Johnny told Javier as he went up.

I wanted to say something too but I couldn't figure out what to say. Javier and Johnny were best friends, that I knew off. And they knew each other so well. I could help by blink at Javier's opponent. He certainly was an odd character if I do say so myself. But I knew little about him. I don't think anyone knew much about him. He was just… odd. Well I can't really say much because I'm odd too in my own sense. I guess you could say that we were pretty even. Javier's scare was quite unique. Instead of roaring like most monsters, he shook his body, giving it a rattling sound. Just as I was about to take my place to the starting line, Johnny grabbed my arm.

"Don't blow this Boggs. You do and you're out."

I gulped and nodded. After that he took my jacket. This was my chance to prove that I was meant to be in ROR and had what it takes to be a scarer. I nodded and took my place next to Sullivan. I gave a quick glance at my Papouli and heard him shout over the rest.

"Go get him son!"

Son… Just hearing him call me that filled me up with confidence. I gritted my teeth in determination. I was not going to disappoint him and proved to ROR that I deserved to be with them. Once the air blew, we both took off from the starting line and went up to the stimulator. I grabbed the folder and looked at it. The kid was afraid of lions and thunder. That means I need to roar. I went into the room and looked around. I slithered around the toys that were on the ground and climbed onto the wall and made my way over to the side of the bed. Just as I was ready to scare, a loud thunderous roar was heard. I looked around and noticed that the walls started shaking.

I ended up falling off due to Sullivan's roar shaking the walls. I started to panic and quickly stood up and roared at the child. I came out of the stimulator and made my way over to my fraternity. I heard the other team cheering and glanced over and looked at my Papouli. I ended up bumping into Johnny. He looked furious.

"Hearts!?" Johnny snapped.

"Way to go, Boggs." Chet replied.

I looked over at Oozma Kappa and unblended myself. I growled and clenched my hands into fists.

"This is the last time I lose to you, Sullivan."

I didn't even care about the rest of the competition. I was so ashamed. No doubt I was going to be kicked out. I looked up at my Papouli. He didn't see me looking up at him, pay attention to the last leg of the race. I could only imagine how much he was disappointed in me. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts, that it was a shock to be startled out of the entire stadium roaring in cheers. I looked up to see that Oozma Kappa had won. Personally, I didn't care, but knowing that I was going to be kicked out and fearing what my Papouli was going to say to me was enough.

I sighed and followed my fraternity out. I wrung my hands together in nervousness. What were they going to do to me? The whole entire time that we made our way to the fraternity house, I kept hearing everyone whispering about my failure. I clutched the front of my jacket nervously; hurt by everything that had happened. Why did my life have to be some joke to everyone else?

Just as I entered the fraternity house I saw Papouli standing out there. Obviously he was going to wait for me. As the door was shut, I was thrown against the wall. After years of getting beat up, I just let out a grunt of pain. Getting slammed against the wall was nothing new to me. I've been beaten and abused my whole life, so this was nothing new to me. Especially when it was being made by my peers and adults.

"You cost us the game, Boggs! You are officially out of ROR."

He snatched my jacket and I could only feel what I knew what was coming. Shame and complete utter disappointment. I stood up, holding onto the wall to help me keep my balance. I was so sick on getting picked on and humiliated! I growled.

"No… I'm not being kicked out. I quit!" I snarled.

I didn't even looked at them and just climbed up the wall and up to the room that I was staying in. I started packing my stuff and grabbed them and walked out. Once I was out the door, I saw Papouli still waiting for me. He looked at me and smile.

"Hey kiddo. You did great. Sorry about that little flummox. But I'm sure you'll get it next time."

I shook my head, blinking back tears.

"There's not going to be a next time. I've been… I was kicked out."

He frowned in sympathy and wrapped a tentacle around me, trying to comfort me.

"Hey, don't worry son. That's their lost. Let's move your stuff back into your dorm and we'll go out for some ice cream or something. What do you say?"

I nodded. I really wasn't in the mood to argue with him. How could I not? He's the oldest monster I know. He's actually almost 1000 years old. A thousand! There is no monster that I know could've lived that long. Maybe up to 300 at least, but never a thousand. I was still waiting for him to say how much of a disappointment I was, but it never came.

We walked into my dorm and started unpacking my stuff. Once we were done, he pulled me into a side hug. I don't know what for. But I think he was trying to cheer me up. What was the point? My life was utter hell. I only felt worse. I looked up at him and he smiled and ruffled my fronds.

"Come on Son. After that display you deserve some Chocolate ice cream with lady bug sprinkles."

I nodded once again and allowed him to lead me out. He tried cracking several jokes in attempt to get me to smile, but I wasn't having any of it. I sighed and looked out the window of the car. It was pretty quiet the whole ride. Once we got to the Ice cream shop, we got out of the car and walked in. We pretty much got our usual, chocolate ice cream with lady bug sprinkles for me and butterscotch with centipede legs for him. I ate my ice cream in silence, ignoring the attempts that Papouli made to get me to smile.

"Hey, son."

I looked up at him.

"Yea?"

"Have I ever told you the story that I was fired from Monsters Inc?"

I practically choked on my ice cream. My Papouli? Fired from one of the greatest scare companies here in Monstropolis? It couldn't be true.

"Y-y-you were fired from Monsters Inc? Why?"

"You got time for one of my stories?"

"Always!" I replied, sitting up straight.

I loved listening to my Papouli's stories. I could always envision the stories that he told me. He's been all over the world and had so many adventures. I always wanted to grow up to be just like him. He leaned back in his chair like he always does when he's going to tell a story.

"Well, it started with Henry J. Waternoose the first opened his factory. I had just gotten back from travels in Roarupe. I had done everything and met practically everyone. I had plenty of people tell me that I was scary and that I should work for the new factory that was being built. After I managed to get in, I had managed to get respect quick for being the oldest monster working."

"How old were you?" I asked.

"I was nearly 687 years old."

"Wow… and when did the factory open?"

"1822, on April 13."

Wow… I felt like a hatchling compared to him. I tried doing the math in my head but it kept getting jumbled up. I shook my head.

"Papouli, when were you born?"

He chuckled.

"Kid, I was born in 610AD."

I blinked in surprised. Man… he really was old. I still couldn't believe that he was that old. He seemed so young. At least in his hundreds if you didn't know any better. I nodded, waiting for him to continue.

"Well, during my time, a few youngsters came but one of them got jealous of my success. Do you know Earl Thompson?"

"Boy, do I!" I piped up happily. "He held the Scaring record for three years straight. He's at least 156 years old! What happened?"

He took a bite out of his ice cream.

"Well, Thompson was in his early teens when he started working. Well, he thought since I was an "old timer" that I should have been retired long ago. Soon he got several others to start thinking I was too old to do anything. So years of working there we developed a fierce rivalry. Then one day, he staged several cans of screams and had them hooked up so it would seem that I was cheating."

I was shocked. Earl "The Terror" Thompson tried to sabotage my Papouli? I didn't want to believe it but I didn't want to call him a liar. I just nodded. I swallowed my nervousness.

"I know it's hard to believe son, but it's true. And don't you dare let anyone tell you any difference."

"Y-Yes sir."

I was still in shock. He seemed so serious, and my Papouli was always a joker. He always knew how to cheer me up. Just seeing him so serious was unsettling. Then he asked me something that I kept a hold to this very day.

"Randall, promise me you will never cheat to get ahead or sabotage anyone's work for your personal gain. Understand me? It will only lead to trouble. "

"I promise Papouli. I will never do that."

"You're a good boy, Randall." He smiled at me.

For some reason Papouli never called me Randy. It was always son, or kid, or kiddo, sport or Randall. But never Randy. I made a mental note to ask him. I finished off my ice cream and waited for him to finish.

"Well I was soon fired for what he did. I vowed that I will never step foot in that factory again. Son, I don't want anything like that to happen to you." He took a hold of my top right hand, "I know times have been hard for you but always kept my advice in the back of your mind, alright?"

I nodded. He stood up and threw our trash away. I followed him out and he took me back to the university. I did feel a little better after what happened and once I was dropped off, I could help but smile as pulled me into a side hug.

"Son, do me and your mothers proud. When you're here, get the highest grades and work hard. You're going to do great things if you keep this up."

"I will Papouli. But it just hurts that I was so close to actually having some friends."

"Son, if they treat you horrible, they aren't true friends."

I nodded. I got out and waved good bye to him as it drove off. I wanted to do him proud. I went up to my room. I stopped when I heard one of the older students talking.

"Can you believe it? Sullivan cheated in the scare games!"

I turned. Did I hear that right? I went over and tapped the monster on the shoulder. The student was taller than I am, about a few feet with dark maroon fur. He turned to me and I saw that he had five eyes.

"Um… excuse me? What this about Sullivan and cheating?" I asked, trying to containing my nervousness.

"Well during the game, he broke the box that contained the difficulty level on it and tampered with it. He cheated so his team to win. And he's totally being expelled for it! So in actually ROR won!"

He cheated… he cheated!? Are you serious!? I was ready to explode. But I didn't. I thanked him for telling me and went into my room and shut it. I stood there and ranted to myself. How dare they? How dare they?! If this is what Scarers are like then no wonder my family doesn't like them! I blinked and remembered what my Papouli told me earlier. I made a vow to myself out loud.

"I, Randall Jonathon Boggs, will NEVER scoop to cheating as a scarer. Never!"

I nodded to myself. I wasn't going to be anything like ROR or Sullivan. I was going to follow my family example and prove to everyone that we Boggs, had what it takes to be a Scarer and not. Whether people would admit it or not."

Everyone looked at Sulley, who was rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment.

"Look, I know what you're all going to say, but let me explain. See, I had a lot of pressure on me put on by my dad. I was constantly worried about failing my family's name. Well the night before the last event of the scare games, the Dean told me that we could make it as scarers, but Mike could not because he wasn't scary looking. Well during the last event, I broke the box and tampered with it, making sure that Mike would be proven that he is scary. And… doing so, I was so caught up in guilt that I realized mistake. So I gave the trophy to the rightful winners and I was expelled for it. I'm not proud of it, and I'll admit it to anyone who asks."

They nodded.

"Well, you did learn your lesson. At least you're not doing it again." Celia replied.

Sulley nodded. He learned from his mistake and he was certain that he was never going to do it again. No matter what.

"There was something else that Randall wrote down. Earl "The Terror" Thompson sabotaging his Papouli? Does anyone know that story?" George asked.

Everyone shook their head, then stopped and looked at Celia.

"Hey Celia, you know about this stuff. Is there any records about this?"

"Well I'm sure there are. But I can't do it. If someone can manage to do it, then they should go and do it after work."

"Then who's going to go do it?" Mike asked.

They all looked at each other. None of them speaking up or volunteering. They needed someone to do it, but no one was.

"Okay fine. We'll draw straws. Whoever has the shortest straw goes. How's that?" Mike asked.

Everyone nodded in agreement. Mike took all their milk straws and cut one of them shorter than the rest. He spun back around, making sure that you couldn't tell which straw is the smallest. Once all of them picked one up, they looked at the results.

"Aw man!" Frank whined, revealing that he had the smallest.

"Well, it looks like you're the one doing the research." Claws told him.

Soon the bell rang. They all stood up and headed back to work. Yet there was still more about what happened between Earl Thompson and Randall's Papouli that was still left to uncover and they had only begun to scratch at the surface.


Thank you for reading and I'll see you in the next chapter!