The door looked so imposing. Had it always been this tall? This wide? This intimidating?
Abby felt bugs crawl on her insides. Her hand, raised to knock, shook helplessly in the air.
She was a monster, she reminded herself. She wasn't to be scared. She was to be scary. She steeled herself, insides and all, and threw open the door.
Hardscrabble was already on the other side of the enormous entryway, heading to her office. She stopped when the door opened, only barely turning her head.
Abby's breath couldn't come. She hastily pushed her fear away and yelled "HEY!" across the hall.
Hardscrabble turned to face her, seemingly annoyed at the shout. She raised a brow. "Yes?"
"I did it," Abby forced out. It took everything she had to speak. Her fear crept closer and closer. "I won the Scare Games."
"That you did," Hardscrabble drawled. "I'll have registration promptly re-enroll you." And with that, she turned to leave.
Abby scuttled forward, eyes wide. "That's it?!" she shouted.
Hardscrabble winced, as if Abby's voice was more bothersome than anything. "Yes, but I assume you're not finished shouting at me yet."
"You're right, I'm not finished!" As Abby approached her mother, the door opened to reveal Arabella and Nate. Their sister didn't notice as she launched into a tirade. "You are such a stuck-up, arrogant bitch! You're too proud to even admit to me that I did well, even though you're really impressed on the inside! But no, I'm your bastard child, right? Can't show that thing any appreciation! She might get attached!" Abby roared and smashed her fist into the nearby wall, making an impressive hole and knocking a vase onto the floor. Her eyes were wide and furious, her serpent irises the barest slits against the silver.
All through her rage, Hardscrabble stood calmly. She looked somewhat unimpressed by Abby's wrath.
"And you know what I've decided? Fuck you! And fuck me for ever thinking even for a tenth of a second that you would ever put aside your fucking pride and show me the barest hint of warmth!"
Arabella held her hands close to her heart. "Abby..." she whispered.
"Arabella," came a gruff voice. Arabella's eyes widened to dots as Professor Knight lumbered over to her. She barely got past her greeting before he clamped his huge hand on her arm and pulled her away to his classroom. Nate looked between Abby and Arabella, not sure who to watch over.
"Are you quite finished?" Hardscrabble asked dryly.
By now, the light had hit Abby's eyes to reveal they were slick with tears. She gave one last attempt at a brave face before running full tilt towards Hardscrabble. Her mother barely sidestepped before Abby knocked into her, sprinting towards the exit on the other side.
Nate's eyes widened. He unraveled his wings and flew towards Knight's classroom.
Hardscrabble huffed, brushing herself off. Then she froze, patting herself down.
Her keys were gone.
"Daddy- Father- please-"
"Shut up," Knight growled, throwing Arabella into the room. "It's bad enough your bastard sister is a better scarer than you. But tonight threw that fact into everyone's face. It should have been you on that field. It should have been my child- the legendary scarer!"
"I'm so sorry," Arabella croaked, backing away until she was trapped in the corner. "Please...Mummy..."
Knight advanced. "Don't even bother. Your mother isn't coming. She doesn't want to see your face ever again after tonight. You are an embarrassment to her name. You're pathetic! You're weak!"
He raised his hand to strike. Time seemed to slow. Arabella's face was full of fear. Knight's hand seemed to slowly come down. And then, just when it was about to make contact-
She was whisked away.
The classroom flew by as a blur. Arabella blinked, then looked up to see her half brother with the grimmest expression that she had seen on his face. He set her down carefully on the top step.
Arabella paused for a second before frantically gripping her horns in panic. "No no no no no please no! He'll be so mad! He'll be so mad!"
Nate glared at the offender in question. "It's OK, Bella. He won't hurt you ever again."
"But...but..."
"GIVE HER TO ME!" Knight roared, charging like a bull up the stairs. Nate grabbed Arabella and took off just before he smashed into the wall. Setting her down gently, Nate took off again, but this time straight for Knight. He threw a punch at high speed, but Knight's massive fist struck him first. He rocketed back into the wall.
Arabella gasped as debris fell around Nate's limp form. She couldn't bear watching this, but what could she do? She could never stand up to her father...could she?
Nate came to life just before Knight reached him again. Nimbly darting away, he stayed in the air as he tried to formulate a strategy. Knight stared hard at him, baring his teeth.
Just then, Arabella stepped onto the floor.
"Bella, what are you doing?" Nate cried. "Get back!"
"No, Nate," Arabella said calmly, but firmly. "I have to do this."
Knight turned to her, temper visibly flaring.
"I have to make sure no one gets hurt because of me," she whispered.
Knight stomped towards her, fist clenched.
"Don't be scared," Arabella repeated, a mantra of her mother's, "Be scary!"
Knight raised his fist. Arabella's hand flew to her pocket, then shot out to the side.
A flash of silver, then Knight screamed. Blood poured from his eye, stemming from the needle embedded deep into his iris. He continued to scream as Nate rushed Arabella out of the classroom. They pushed shelves and bookcases against the door to keep him inside.
"Bella," Nate panted, "That was awesome."
"Not very ladylike, though," Arabella sighed, frowning at the blood stains in her clothes.
Nighttime had fallen, but the city of Monstopolis was very much alive. Lamps lit the highway as Abby floored the gas of the expensive convertible.
"What's she got in the way of music?" Abby murmured to herself, digging through the glove compartment. She pulled out a CD and made a face. "Classical? Absolutely not," she scoffed, throwing the CD out the window. She turned the radio on instead, jamming out to the rock station.
"Ah. There's my exit," Abby muttered, swerving over three lanes of traffic to take the road off the highway. The lights of the factory came into view. She careened into the parking lot and smashed up against a minivan before hopping out.
"Not bad for a monstress without a license," she commented, locking the vehicle.
Up above, yellow eyes flashed in the dark.
"What do you mean, she's gone?" Bonnie asked sharply.
"I mean, she took the dean's keys and left," Nate said flatly.
Bonnie slapped her hand to her eyes. "Okay," she huffed. "Do you know where she went?"
"The factory."
"Why?"
"Do I have to say it?"
Bonnie huffed again. "Let's go."
"Can I come too?" Arabella piped up.
"Sure, why- what. Why are you covered in blood?"
"It's a long story."
"What the- never mind. Get in."
A/N: hey guys! about time i finished this up, right?