The school had gathered together for the first assembly of the year. Bloodgood stood proudly at the front of the bleachers full of less than interested high schoolers. Frankie had been sat at the front next to a girl called Lagoona, she was super nice and overly chatty. Bloodgood wanted Lagoona to be Frankie's guide for their first day. She was like a fish but if a fish walked on two legs. She wasn't a mermaid though, the lack of tail would say so. She had large fish eyes that were bright green and gills where her ears should've been. Bloodgood cleared her throat and stood tall.
"Good morning students, I would like to start off by saying I hope you all had a good summer and completed all of your homework assignments," Bloodgood smiled widely prompting everyone to groan in unison. "As much pain as this causes me to announce, this year marks the five year anniversary of the tragic passing of Robecca Steam, a beautiful and bright student whose presence will always be felt in the halls of Merston High,"
Heath nudged Clawd and leaned in. "Wasn't she a robot? Couldn't they just put her back together?"
Frankie and Lagoona who were sat directly below them could hear almost every word. Frankie had no idea who Robecca was or why they had passed away. The idea of someone dying in the school sent shivers down their spine though. But as Heath mentioned she was a robot so how could you even say she died. He made a very good point, why couldn't they just piece her back together? Of course most of the students had never really met Robecca, they had only ever seen pictures and paintings of her. She was tall and had blue and black hair, cogs whirring in her eyes and always wore massive copper boots. Frankie's existence was similar to a robots, if they didn't charge at night their body wouldn't function.
'Put her back together?' Who or what tore her apart?
Lagoona smiled gently at Frankie who looked slightly worried. Her face was very kind and bright for a fish monster.
"Yeah it's been five years since Robecca's death and nobody has done anything about it!" A shrill voiced girl shouted from the audience. "They murdered Robecca and they could come for the rest of us whenever they want, all because us monsters have to be the bigger people"
Standing up in the bleachers was an orange cat like girl. Her ginger hair was short and cut like a boys with black racoon streaks in her fringe. She was wearing a black denim jacket covered in anarchy and 'free monsters' patches and pins. She stood with both arms folded scowling at Bloodgood directly. Her green eyes filled with fury.
"Miss Stripe I encourage you to sit back down," Ms.Bloodgood stated in a firm tone.
"You preach peace but let the blood of your own be spilled without consequence!" Toralei screamed once more.
Heath once again whispered to Clawd. "Technically wouldn't it be spilled oil?"
"The humans should feel our pain for once!" Two silent werecat twin sisters cheered Toralei on as she continued. "Down with the oppression of monsters!"
"Yeah she's right!" "Down with human scum!" "Monster rights!" "Avenge Robecca!"
Clawdeen sat silently staring at Toralei who stood across the bleachers from her. Cleo and Draculaura both pulling confused and bored expressions.
"Don't you think this vigilante act is so over done?" Cleo whispered to Draculaura.
Clawdeen felt like what Toralei was preaching wasn't completely unjustified, she was right, monsters had to always be the human boot lickers to even be treated remotely decent. Toralei and Clawdeen had never even spoke but she knew so much about her, mainly through the schools anonymous gossip forum 'The ghostly gossip'. The posts on there were always about Toralei defacing some sort of human monument or protesting by herself.
Clawdeen always hated her little cheerleaders though. They were a pair of twins called Meowlody and Purrsephone and they followed Toralei around all the time. Toralei herself didn't mind the attention but would probably admit herself that they could be obnoxious. The ghostly gossip would say they all met in a holding cell after Toralei was protesting and the twins were caught shoplifting makeup, but no one really knew for sure. Toralei would be a liar if she said she didn't enjoy two pretty girls following her around and cooing at her constantly. They saw Toralei as some sort of leader, like a tiger leading her ambush.
"If you ask me Bloodgood I would say it's been five years too long, we should've taken action that very same night" Toralei aggressively hissed.
Bloodgood muttered to a member of staff before clearing her throat. "Toralei I'm disappointed, you've landed yourself in isolation before first period, but I guess that's new record" She firmy stated.
Toralei huffed and without putting up any fuss hopped down from the bleachers and followed a large ogre like teacher out of the hall. Clawdeen felt bad for her, she wasn't causing a fuss over nothing. Her little sister had just started high school and was immediately greeted by the news of a student who was murdered. She would be lying if it didn't enrage her slightly. Her parents were very similar to Bloodgood though, they agreed that retaliation was never the solution.
"She's so unhinged," Cleo laughed. "Someone needs to keep her on a leash"
"Don't you agree with her though?" Clawdeen whispered slightly irritated. "Like she has a point,"
Cleo rolled her eyes and tutted. "Clawdeen there's always going to be human and monster conflict, one robot girls death isn't going to do shit,"
"I hate to be negative Clawdeen but Cleo's right, that's why the vampire council votes in favor of monster and human segregation," Draculaura butted in.
"Yeah but Drac the vampire council would have a vampire only future if they had it their way," Clawdeen grimaced. "Both humans and monsters are assholes, all because our ancestors talked shit about each other,"
Bloodgood coughed loudly silencing the whole auditorium. "I suggest you all get to class, oh and if anyone wants to sign up for the fundraiser in honor of Robecca the sign up sheets will be dotted about the school," The bell rang almost cutting her off at the end.
As people started flying out of the auditorium Bloodgood approached Frankie and Lagoona. Bloodgood seemed to have a look of apologeticness in her eyes. Frankie on the other hand seemed scared and confused. Lagoona though was trying her best to calm them down.
"I am so sorry Frankie, I know that's not exactly the best first impression of our school," Bloodgood stressed. "But please don't let Toralei get to you, she often uses tragedies to push forward her medieval attitude towards humans,"
"It's okay Headmistress," Frankie tried to stay positive. "I definitely can say that my first day has been anything but boring"
"I've signed you and Lagoona up for the fundraiser, I hope you don't mind, but I just need some people to set a good example," Bloodgood looked at her pupils desperately.
"Don't worry Headmistress, I can't speak for Frankie but I'd be happy to work Robecca's fundraiser," Lagonna smiled as Frankie nodded in agreement.