Chapter 3
Eventually, Greek Mythology class became a fear. Mrs Starch made her classes more dramatic by bringing knives to school. The next day, the recess ladies filed a report for stolen butcher knives. During classes, Mrs Starch's tonality was continuously monotonous. Her bloodshot eyes seemed to consistently land on me like an eagle, which has spotted its prey.
One afternoon, the sun was blazing hot as usual. However, my classmates and I could enjoy ourselves with the invigorating cool air of the auditorium. A few of us were rushing to eat our last spoonfuls of rice before Mrs Starch set foot into her territory.
We could here the clocking of her shoes as she made her way towards the auditorium. Pupils scrambled back to their seats as others yanked out textbooks from their school bags. Meanwhile, I flipped to the page Mrs Starch was screaming as she walked down the aisle.
In a split second, our class was like Prisoners of War. We all bowed our heads and stared aimlessly at the textbook. The words were seemingly swimming off the pages as Mrs Starch continued her boring yet awakening speech. I didn't know why but today, her voice didn't seem so monotonous. It felt chirpy. It felt attracting. I just felt like obeying every order that came out from her lips. For awhile there, she was an angel.
"Corrie!" Grover hollered, as he shook me from side to side. "When did you get here?" I asked, obviously confused. He told me there was no time to explain and grabbed me by my wrists. If I had been where I was a few moments earlier, I would have been turned into pulp.
I stared at the chair which I had been sitting on earlier. Steam was emitting from the burnt areas of the chair. The plastic table attached to the chair had vaporized. As I stayed on the floor, still in a daze, Mrs Starch walked towards me. Grover, trying his best to pull me away, tripped over his legs and fell to the ground. Consequently, his shoes fell out and revealed two giant hooves. "OMG, Grover…" I murmured.
Out of the blue, another blast of greek fire flew past me and blew up another chair. The other students in the class were completely oblivious to Mrs Starch. Abruptly, the old ugly Mrs Starch transformed into a completely different creature. Her head slowly grew hair, which turned into a mane. Her previously leathery skin transformed into fur, golden brown fur. She even grew a long scorpion-like tail and wings, much like a dragon's.
Another blast of greek fire flew towards our direction as Grover and I took cover under a few unblasted seats. She had become a Manticore. A mix of a lion, a dragon and a scorpion. "Come with me, Corrius Nakamura…" Mrs Starch rumbled, shaking the entire room.
Corrius Nakamura. No one has ever called me by that name.