Hello, my geeks and peeps. My explainers and entertainers. My little oo-duh-lallies. Rebecca Parham here-just kidding, it's me. (But go check out her Youtube channel, Let Me Explain Studios, she does animation and she's very talented). Welcome to another chapter of NCM. Unfortunately, things for Russell are only beginning, especially with Rudy's new demeanor. Let's see how the next day of school ends up for him.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 5: It Just Gets Worse

Russell walked into the school alone. Bill wasn't with him, and he wasn't sure why. But the second he walked into the building, he was met... with unseen laughter. As he walked, he heard laughter all around him. He didn't know where it came from, or where everyone even was... but nevertheless, he tried to ignore it.

He made it to his classroom, which was also empty, and sat down, waiting for his brother, friends, classmates, and Miss Wucher to arrive. The first thing he noticed was a TV at the front of the classroom. Curious, he got up to turn it on, and the show was a newscast.

"This just in. Russell Cosby of North Philadelphia is the newest laughing stock. He once said the words, 'No Class Ever', and has since been a riot ever since. Everyone around the world is laughing. Even the Queen of England." Said the news reporter.

The camera then cut to said Queen as she was laughing uncontrollably.

Russell started to back away from the TV, the laughter from around the world echoing around him. He crouched down and covered his ears, hoping it would stop. But he just couldn't block it out, "Make it stop, make it stop, MAKE IT STOP!" He whimpered.

Out of the corner of his eye, the little boy saw someone standing by the door. As he looked up, the door slammed, and to Russell's horror... it was Rudy. The rich boy smirked as he made his way towards the frightened child, "Look at what's happened, Rus... you're a sham now... everyone thinks you're a joke..." He chuckled.

"R-Rudy... p-please... I-I'm s-s-sorry..." Russell sobbed, "D-D-Don't d-do this..."

"It's far too late, shrimp... you brought this upon yourself... now you know how I felt..." Rudy suddenly grabbed the boy by his throat, "...All the mocking, jokes, shaming. All of it! I SUFFERED BECAUSE OF YOU!"

He then threw Russell back to the floor and started to glow red light. Russell watched in absolute horror as Rudy morphed from a human teenager... to some devil version of himself, with the horns, tail, and even red pitchfork...

"And now... it's time to make your life absolute HELL! FEEL THE WRATH OF THE NO CLASS MONSTER!" The monster growled in a demonic voice.

He took a deep breath and suddenly began to breathe fire... straight towards Russell, who could only scream in terror.

"AAAAAAHH! NOOOOOO! Bill, help me!"

"Russell! Wake up!"

Russell shot up in bed, breathing heavily. He opened his eyes to see that he was back in his room. It was all just a terrifying dream. Too terrifying. He looked to his right to see his brother standing by his bed.

"You okay, Rus?" Bill asked softly, "I heard you crying and screaming and came in here to check on you..."

The little boy sighed, "I... had a dream..." Was all he said.

"Wanna talk about it?"

"... No..."

"Well, okay. It's over. I'm here for you..."

"Bill... can you stay with me for a while?"

"Sure..."

Much like before when Russell has severely hurt a few months ago, Bill pulled up a chair and sat with his brother for the next few hours. It was only 2:30 in the morning when Russell woke up from his nightmare, but they didn't care.

"Hey..." Bill spoke, "I know things haven't been easy lately. But don't worry. I got your back. Everything's gonna be alright... I know we don't see each other a lot in school now, but if anything goes on with you. Like someone is picking on you or something, just tell me, and I'll take care of them."

"Oh... okay..."

In his own mind, Russell wished he could tell his brother what was going on. He wished he could reveal what really happened to his nose. He wished he could tell him about Rudy...

... But he couldn't...

He couldn't risk Rudy targeting Bill, not again, not after what happened last time. He just couldn't let that happen. If Bill knew, and Rudy found out... they both would be in trouble. So, for both of their sake, Russell kept his mouth shut.

The next morning.

The brothers walked to school together with the rest of the gang. Russell stayed close to Bill and kept looking over his shoulder every few seconds, mostly because Rudy was walking directly behind him. Every time he looked back, he received a sinister smile from the rich boy, prompting him to look forward and cling more closely to his brother.

Bill wasn't sure why he was being so clingy, but he didn't question it.

When they made it to school, they immediately went for their lockers. Russell was lucky enough to get one close to his brother, as all the student's lockers were mixed and not just separated by grade.

Putting in the combination, he unlocked the door, the first thing Russell saw made him squeak.

Taped to the back of the locker... was a picture of Rudy... with red cheeks, red on his clothes, and on the chest... NCE. He was also holding up a knife while making a sinister look.

Quickly, the little boy ripped the photo out and tore it to shreds, which Bill noticed, "Rus, everything okay?" He asked.

"Uh... yeah. Just some junk in my locker... that's all..." Was Russell's response.

Putting the torn pieces in a nearby trashcan, he then caught Rudy glaring at him. He immediately looked away and walked to hold his brother's hand. As for Rudy himself, he just chuckled to himself.

Classes went by with a breeze today. The older boys didn't have too much homework, and all Russell had to do was read a few pages of a story his class was learning about. As soon as the school bell rang, the kids left the classroom, heading for the buses or their parents waiting.

"So, you wanna come by my house later, Russell?" Melba asked as they walked down the hall.

"If I'm not too busy, then yeah..." Was her friend's response.

To be honest, Russell did want to come to visit her. But he felt like he wasn't able to do so. Mostly because he got another threatening note from Rudy to meet him near in that same room again. What did he want now?

"Well, if not. We can always work out a date. Is everything alright? You seemed rather distant today." She asked in concern.

Russell looked at her, "Everything's fine. I'm... just tired."

"I noticed your nose has a bandage. What happened?"

What was he gonna tell her? That Rudy punched all the blood out of his nose? He decided not to. If he told Melba, would Rudy hurt her too? He couldn't let that happen. So instead, he said, "I fell yesterday..."

"Oh..."

He wondered if she bought that. She seemed a little doubtful, but she didn't anything else, so perhaps he did. The two kids made out of the building, where Melba's older brother, Devery, was waiting for her.

"C'mon, Melba. We better get home before Mom thinks I'm ditching..." He said.

Melba giggled, "Yeah. You have to come straight home after school, or else you'd be in biiiiig trouble."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever."

She then waved at Russell, "I'll see you later, Russell. Call me."

"Okay. I will!"

With that, the brother and sister left. Russell waited until they were out of sight before he decided to go back inside to meet with Rudy. He didn't want to, but he feared what would happen if he didn't.

But before he could even step foot into the building.

"What are you doing out here, shrimp?"

The little boy cringed before turned to see Rudy walking towards him, "Didn't you get my note?" He asked, a glare on his face, "I told you to wait for me, and you're standing out here!"

Russell nodded in fear, "Y-Yeah. B-But I-I wanted to walk Melba to meet her brother. A-And besides, I'm supposed to be out here to wait for Bill!"

He was suddenly grabbed by the arm, as Rudy sneered at him, "Well, you're gonna have to wait a little longer. I told Bill not to worry, and that I'd come to get you for him. And that I'd bring you to the junkyard..."

Russell was horrified. Rudy had led his brother away. He wasn't here to protect him. The thought of that brought tears to his eyes, as Rudy, unfortunately, noticed, and laughed, "Oh what. You're gonna cry because your brother ain't here? Relax, brat. You'll see him soon after I'm finished with you..." He chuckled, dragging the child away.

"You think you can just rip up one of my pictures, and get away with it! Well, you've got another thing coming, shrimp... a real other thing coming..."

The poor younger boy could only cry silently as he was pulled through the empty halls, and into that dreaded room again. He knew once the door closed... things were gonna get from bad to worse...

Meanwhile at the junkyard.

Bill checked his watch for what had to be the ninth time. He was patiently waiting for Rudy to come with his brother, and it had been an hour since school ended, "They've been at that school forever. Rudy said he was going to bring Russell with him. Where are they?"

"M-Maybe they got stuck in traffic," Donald suggested.

"That can't be. They should be walking, not driving a car."

"Speaking of driving. This year should be the year where we take Driver's Ed to try for our permits." Albert brought up.

"Yeah, that's right." Harold spoke, "I sure hope I pass. I've never been behind the wheel before."

Bill frowned, "You dudes are getting off topic. Maybe we should go back to see what's keeping them. I'm starting to get worried. You know how both of them have been since the whole 'No Class Ever' junk."

Albert nodded, "You have a point. But I think they should be coming anytime now."

A second after he said that, the door opened and revealed Rudy, "Hey, hey, hey. Speak of the devil." Albert chuckled.

"Where have you been?" Bill asked, "We've been waiting for decades. And where's Russell?"

Rudy smiled, and pushed the little boy to the front, "Here he is. We had a little holdup. But everything's alright. Sorry to keep you dudes waiting. Russell's been dying to see you, Bill."

As for Russell himself, he immediately clung to his brother, burying his face in his shirt. This greatly concerned Bill, as he rubbed his little brother's back softly, "You okay, Rus? I've never seen you so clingy before."

Russell didn't answer. He continued to hug Bill tightly. The older Cosby boy looked up at Rudy, hoping to find an answer. But Rudy only shrugged, but Bill noticed something odd.

Rudy's face was calm... but there was an unsettling and dark sense to it too. The fact that it was calm felt sinister. Not the mention that Rudy even suggesting to pick up Russell himself. But Bill decided not to dwell on that and diverted his attention to his brother. There was definitely something going on... and he intended to find out.

And Bill felt... that Rudy had something to do with it...

Well. We got a nightmare scene, a cute brotherly moment, and Rudy confronting Russell again. But this time, Bill is starting to notice, realizing that something is up, especially with how his brother has been acting. And he suspects Rudy too. Next chapter, we'll see him investigating. Will he discover the truth? You'll have to wait and find out. I'll see you guys, later. And don't forget to review, please. Thank you.