Lost In Purple

Chapter 80: The Unexpected Dispatch

Melanie's POV

This year's Monsters University seniors graduated a few weeks ago. I asked Johnny when it happened and if I could go and watch him graduate, and he gave me all the details for the event. They had it at the MU football stadium and opened it up for anyone that attended the university or anyone that was invited by a student. Johnny personally contacted the school to let me go see him graduate but couldn't let my parents come along with me because there was a restriction to 3 people per student. I ended up sitting with Johnny's mother, aunt and uncle, so that was lucky. Apparently, his dad was too busy working, and his grandfather was out of town so they couldn't witness that tremendous achievement. I wasn't interested in seeing his dad though. Johnny gave an amazing valedictorian speech for his graduating class and gracefully received his degrees in Scaring and Business adorned with several signatures and the MU emblem. I sadly couldn't see him afterwards. My dad had a psychiatry appointment to attend, and I had to take him; My mom was too busy working her last shift at the diner.

After that, it was radio silence from Johnny. It's frustrating to be basically ghosted by him, but after thinking about it for over a month, I can understand why he's as busy as he says. Aside from graduating, he had to move everything he owned out of the ROR house, help Chet and Bruiser recruit new members for the fraternity, teach Chet the reigns since he's the monster who's obtaining the title of ROR President, find a Scaring job with the help of his father who's had issues with him, be trained at said job, figure out how to follow through with his promises on helping me even though he doesn't need to…the list goes on.

I just wish I could spend some amount of time with him so that I could see how he's doing and tell him about some things that have happened to my family. My mom ended up finding a job at a gourmet restaurant downtown and was able to successfully leave the diner without conflict. She's never enjoyed a job so much in her life. My grandma still hasn't gotten over my grandpa's death and has become kind of mute. She barely talks to anyone unless she's talking to my little cousins, but on the happier side, she's developed a love of gardening. She ended up growing quite a massive flower garden out in the farmlands of Cormeadow. Juno was also miraculously discharged from the hospital, and they found that she will recover very smoothly, but that's only because Johnny was able to pay for the medical bills her treatment racked up. She's been cautiously resting at home regardless though. Nobody in my family lets her leave bed, not even Axel or Fenix or Sora or…any of my cousins. Usually they're all getting into trouble but they've supposedly been dead quiet at school lately, probably because the last few months have been nothing short of scary for them.

I'm glad that Johnny was able to help us pay for my family's medical bills though. Without his generosity, we would have been out on the street. I'm not so sure that my dad would have been around if that happened, which is a thought that always digs its way back into my head. He also hasn't been able to find a job since all of this either. He still goes to those psychiatry appointments every week, but his perception of life hasn't altered in the slightest. To him, there isn't a reason to feel or think without my grandpa; The only time he feels at ease is when he's sleeping the day away.

Aside from all the depressing matters that can't be easily fixed, I've been doing pretty alright. After I got home from campus, I was able to spend a few days relaxing a little. I was finally able to get back into drawing and painting again, and the first thing I did was start doing some insanely realistic paintings of the MU campus from memory but with an abstract twist to them. One of them was of a giant oak tree engulfing the Scaring School with black vines, and another was the pathway in between the amphitheater and Frat Row. I had fun with the second one because I painted the trees red and yellow and even hid some of the RORs faces in the foliage while I was in the middle holding an umbrella over my head. I don't know…I got a little homesick in a way.

All my belongings were also delivered to my house like Johnny promised. He sent a professional moving company with a giant moving truck over to my parents' house even though I only had a couple of boxes worth of stuff. All my clothes, my sheets and blankets, my accessories and necessities were all there without damage. His gift was also with everything too. The black, round stuffed animal resembling my grandpa was sitting in its own box while holding a bouquet of pink, blue, and black roses. There was also a white wood violin with blue roses printed on it laying up against him. I told him a long time ago that I used to play the violin as a kid but had to sell it for school tuition money, so that's probably why he got that for me. As much as I love it with all my heart, I have it buried underneath my bed because it's worth more than my life. I can't tell anybody how horrified I am of it being accidentally broken or scratched.

After sorting all of that out, I've been grabbing some babysitting jobs here and there around the neighborhood. I almost never meet any of the kids' parents since they're working all day and night like my dad used to do. It's really sad to think about. I haven't had any issues with any of the kids yet either, so I guess that's the only good thing . I don't think I'll be doing that for very long though; I'm a very nervous and antisocial person to begin with. Each child I watch over thinks I'm boring and don't really enjoy me being around, so maybe it's time I just leave that behind me. It's a pretty lonely and borderline hurtful gig in my eyes.

That's pretty much the gist of what has happened. I have no idea what's going on with Johnny or the rest of the RORs. I don't even really know what's going on in my family either, so I'm feeling a little lost again. I'm just back to square one, hoping that something will change. I did that all throughout high school, so nothing has changed even after everything I went through this year.

So here I am again, scribbling away in my sketchbook, locked within my room. I'm not really sure what I'm drawing; I add some curves here and there followed by some shading. Somehow, I end up drawing Johnny in the most perfect manner. Everything from his height, down to his musculature, is flawless. I make it so that he stares down at the ground in a regal yet intimidating manner, and then I hear the front door open downstairs.

"Oooohhh Melodyyyyyy!" My mom sings.

The anxiety within me builds and builds because I'm secretly hoping that I don't have to do something I don't know how to do or answer a question I don't know the answer to. I know better than to hide from my mom though and place my sketchbook next to King Ambrose the Castle Conqueror who's laying against my pillow. I swing my door open and make sure that my clothes are in order by looking down at myself. I have a red short-sleeved shirt on underneath a thin black cardigan. I'm also wearing some skinny jeans and my black converse. I'm basically wearing the same old hipster rocker clothes I've always worn. After making sure everything is in order, I throw myself downstairs before seeing my parents sitting on the couch reading some mail.

"H-hi. Is something wrong?" I ask nervously.

My mom looks over her shoulder to smile and hands me an envelope. "No, you just have some mail. I also wanted to make sure you were here, alive and all. Even though you're back from school, it still feels like we barely see you."

"Oh…sorry. I just…don't know what to do," I reply while hoping I'm not accidentally making my parents sad.

"Don't apologize, Melody. We both know that us old folks can't keep you entertained these days. The psychiatrist isn't a very fun person to listen to either," My mom beams.

Oh yeah. My dad had a psychiatry appointment today too and my mom took him since it's her day off.

"Did it go well, dad?" I question as I see him read his own mail.

He exhales in exhaustion, carefully taking in every bit of information that's placed on that professional-looking letter.

"…Yeah…It went as well as all the other sessions," He sighs.

I'm assuming it wasn't very helpful. He's been vocal enough about the psychiatry being ineffective, but the doctors insist on continuing to work with him. I'm beginning to think that they're just trying to siphon as much money out of us as they can.

"Oh…I'm sorry," I whimper.

He sighs again and places his letter down on the coffee table in front of him. His hands rub his face and then his eyes before laying back against the cushions of the couch. "Don't worry about me, Moondrop…"

Mom looks over her shoulder again. "The doctors and I are still working on getting through to him, but we'll get there soon. Why don't you open your letter though? You never get mail, so I'm really excited to see what you got!"

It's true. I never get mail, but that's because I don't go outside. There are no subscriptions I pay for, there's no online shopping I do, and I don't really own anything. Regardless of that fact, I still feel nervous because this is a relatively new experience for me. I hold the envelope out in front of me to see that it's made of red paper with the edges being black. The borders have a damask pattern, and the back has a wax seal on it. The stamp on the wax reads 'FC' too. I then carefully open the envelope to find a piece of paper that looks horrifyingly official and begin reading its contents.

"To Miss Melody Everett,

It is with great pleasure to inform you of your acceptance as a Fear Corporation scarer. You have been given this opportunity in recognition of your academic achievements and outstanding performance at Monsters University.

After carefully surveying your performances, we have become aware that you have not achieved the current satisfactory requirements to become a full-time, professional scarer. However, due to an overwhelming number of recommendations from your peers, teachers and Scaring Scouts, we are willing to recruit and train you to not only change your life, but to change your future for the better.

We wholeheartedly request for you to visit Fear Corporation with a government issued ID and banking information and begin your Scaring journey with some of the best scarers in the world. Please use the information below so that you may arrive at Fear Corporation in an organized fashion. If you have any questions feel free to call the number below.

We look forward to seeing you join our team.

Sincerely,

Dr. Blake King

Chief Operations Officer

Fear Corporation"

I then read the rest of the letter, noting the address of Fear Corporation and the phone numbers to call. There's also a signature from the Professor which tells me that this is legit. After reading those few short paragraphs, I already feel uneasy.

"Are you alright, Melody? Is it bad news?" My mother asks.

I have a moment where I feel like I have an ultimatum. A part of me wants to keep this a secret and just forget I ever received this letter because it sounds…scary… but another part of me wants to just immediately go down there and get a job so that I can help my dad get on his feet again.

"U-um…It's a Fear Co. recruitment letter," I spout shakily.

My dad's ears shoot towards the sky, and he turns his head with speed as it still lays atop the couch. His eyes are wide open and it looks like he wants to say something but doesn't. My mom on the other hand squeals after gasping. She jumps a mile into the air and lunges over towards me when she finally plants her feet back onto the carpet.

"WHAT?! ARE YOU SERIOUS?! WHEN WOULD THEY LIKE TO SEE YOU?!" She asks.

"U-uh, I, um…I don't know. They didn't say in the letter," I answer.

For the first time in forever, my dad actually says something without any sort of delay or sadness behind it. "Melody, they don't recruit people who don't have degrees. They're also supposed to tell you when to show up. Are you sure it's not a fake?"

I look again and observe the signature on the paper. I even take my hand and run it across the page to feel the indent of the pen that was used for the signature, confirming that it's a one-of-a-kind letter sent directly to me from my favorite Professor.

"Y-yeah. The signature is real. It's…also from Blake King, my past Professor, so I trust that it's real," I reply.

My dad becomes more than just surprised, he becomes bewildered.

"Professor King? Y-you're talking about Blake King? The Blake King? Why is he working at Fear Corporation?!" Dad interrogates.

"Oh…I d-don't know…he didn't really tell anybody where he was going to end up. Um, all he said was goodbye to everybody," I counter.

Dad puts his hand on his head as he lifts it up from the couch. He then shakes his head and looks back over to me. "Whatever…listen, if he's recruiting you, then you must go and get started as soon as you can. And I mean that you should get started today."

T-today?! But I'm not ready to start today! What would I say, who would I go to, what would I do exactly? There are so many things I haven't thought about yet and now I'm being thrown into the deep end.

"I agree," Mom states while nodding, "Why don't we go and get all your documents ready and get you over there by lunch time?"

I try my best to interrupt her. "B-but mo-"

"No buts! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! It's also been your dream to become a scarer, so I'm not letting you walk away from this! Trust us when we say that everything will be alright," Mom shouts.

The constant honking of cars starts to get on my nerves. It's so odd seeing so many cars on the road after living in a neighborhood that's more desolate than any desert in the world. I also won't ever get used to all the skyscrapers and smokestacks that surround this part of Monstropolis. Driving down the highway also gives me an incredible view of the Monsters Incorporated factory in the distance. The giant tent-like building that houses all their doors and watches over all the scare floors and offices beneath its grandiose presence. It's still as giant as I remember it. The last time I was in the factories general vicinity was before the beginning of the school and…I've never felt so uncomfortable being somewhere in my life.

"Do you think it's a good idea to go inside with her, Ronan?" Mom asks behind the wheel.

"No. We'll walk her in and wait for her there. It's not a good idea to make them think that she's dependent on us to do basic tasks," Dad responds while reading over my 'acceptance' letter.

"But this is a big step for her. I can see her shaking, Ronan," Mom whines.

I look down at my hands and, I am in fact, shaking. What a shocker.

"Lynn, she already knows who King is. She will be fine," Dad groans.

I want to scream at my mom when she looks in the rear-view mirror and gives me puppy eyes. I don't want her to worry about me like I'm an infant going to their first day at daycare; It's just weird!

"Ok, calm down. You were somehow alright with her going to college all on her own, but this…this is what has got you all worried?" Dad questions.

"Come on, you know how she feels about doing new things," Mom counters.

"Ok, mom, can you just…like…dial it back? Please? All I have to do is go up to the reception desk and see where they need me to go, it's…not that complex," I chime in while trying to show some confidence that I never had.

Mom uncomfortably shifts in her seat as we merge off the highway and down to a stoplight. She says she understands and then we all become silent for the first time since we left the house. Observing the area becomes the most interesting occurrence for us. This whole area is weird because both Monsters Inc and Fear Co are located right next to some really beautiful urban/suburban communities and then switch to full blown industrial areas once you go beyond either a chain fence or wall of some kind. After turning off the off-ramp, we pass by a few shopping centers and then maneuver through some streets filled with massive mansions. The front yards are beautifully trimmed, filled with rose bushes or tulip gardens, and the houses are made of sandstone or light-colored brick that's adorned with gothic trims. They're all perfect representations of rich suburbia that you usually see in the movies. The windowsills have window boxes showing off many types of flowers and are contrasted by the many-colored bushes and fir trees that make this neighborhood seem like we're on privately owned deciduous land.

We eventually make it to an intersection that separates the suburban community and Fear Co with a large open field of emerald green grass and then a stone wall infested with vines. There are spikes on top of the wall and signs that say 'No Trespassing.' My mom drives us under an archway built into the wall and we find ourselves on Fear Co property. Assuming that this is the front entrance, my dad and I watch the world pass us by. Many stone buildings that reach a few stories high are accompanied by various smokestacks, giant metal pipes, water towers, and electric fences. These buildings look like prisons and give off…depressing vibes. That is until we reach what could be considered the center of the Fear Co district. Those horrendously dull vibes vanish once we clearly see the massive headquarters of the company tower brilliantly into the cosmos. Everything opens and isn't a confined concrete jungle anymore. I know I've been here before…but it's like I'm rediscovering a wonder of the world.

We eventually slow down to a gate that's guarded by security, so my mom has to explain what's going on. I unfortunately don't pay attention because I notice the giant moat surrounding the factory out of the left car window. The water remains unbothered, begging for someone of something to disturb its peaceful blue rest. Chimera Pigeons happen to be bathing within it, but even they don't move a muscle. I don't know why but this factory is the exact opposite of what I imagined it to be. Monsters Inc is the literal epitome of a publicly owned factory. It's just old run-down buildings with gravel and dirt roads, chain-link fences, and walls of graffiti. Fear Co on the other hand, feels like a sanctuary within a chromatically modern city. I mean, there isn't nearly as many smokestacks suffocating the general populace here, unlike Monsters Inc. I don't know how to describe it…this place just feels good to be at.

"…ody…Melody!" I hear my mom shout.

"H-huh, what?" I say shaking my head.

"This nice security guard needs to see your ID," She sings, "He'll tell us where you need to go afterwards."

I shuffle through my black crossbody purse, take out my ID, and then give it to my mom who then proceeds to hand it to the security guard. He takes a few seconds to read it and look at his computer before giving it back.

"So yes, Dr. King has been expecting you. He told us to inform you that he would like Mr. Everett to come in with Melody as well. If you would like to go with them Ms. Everett then feel free to," The security guard states.

My mom lets out a little gasp and then does a few cute claps. "Oh good, it seems like I really didn't have to worry then."

"Oh you don't have to worry about a thing ma'am, we take care of our employees and visitors alike. All you must today is head all the way down to the front entrance roundabout. For you ma'am, the car can be parked alongside the curb so that you can drop off those two, but it cannot park in any of the closest parking lots as those are for employees only; You will have to park at the visitor parking lot that's behind you, across the street. As for the other two, they are free to enter the building, and from there, they can head straight to the reception desk to be checked in," The security guard explains.

My mom thanks him relentlessly before driving through and parking along the roundabout curb like the guard said. We all take the time to observe our surroundings, finding a couple topiary trees that are sporadically placed along the grassy lawns, white and red shell-like buildings that are smaller than the average home, and bus shelters made of white cement and glass. The entire area is basically a futuristic living community even though that's not what it's being used for.

Anyways, once my dad and I assure my mom that we'll see her soon, we get out of the car and head towards the factory that also has futuristic inspiration behind it. The entire factory is cylindrical in structure and is almost entirely supported by white cement ramps at its base. The cement continues alongside the building, acting like pillars, and then reach back into the sky which makes the entire building look like some sort of fuel cell. The glass that encases the building and the lattice-like pattern over them only furthers that aesthetic.

We finally arrive at the front doors and it's my dad who the double doors open for us. I thank him before entering and wait for him to follow so that I don't leave him behind. I can only imagine how giddy he feels to step inside one of the greatest Scare Factories of all time. It would be best to make sure he doesn't wander off and get lost without me. We then wait for about five minutes so that mom can catch up to us.

"All locked up?" Dad asks my mom.

"Mm-hmm, all good! Now hurry along, we can't keep Melanie's professor waiting!" Mom hurries.

I know I said that my dad and I shouldn't get lost in here, but to be honest, I wouldn't mind that. As take some more steps into the factory, we take in the amazing solarpunk atmosphere that the entire building possesses like a kindergartner does during their first walkthrough of their school. Nothing has changed since Johnny brought me here all those months ago. The inner walls are made of floral-patterned white cement, and the floor is made of white tile that arranged into a honeycomb-like pattern. The sun's rays are seeping through the glass windows around us, blessing the entire reception area with light. At the reception desk is a giant landscape painting that shows Johnny's father and many of the factories greatest scarers. There's also their slogan on the front of the desk that says 'Let Fear Power You.' The place looks impeccable. However, I still never got to see any of the scare floors or offices. All I've seen is the giant cafeteria in the center, and the daycare, so I don't quite have an opinion on the work environment yet; If anything, it just feels like a normal office building.

Luckily my dad snaps me out of my trance, grabs my wrists and forces me up to the reception desk where a literal puddle of mud is typing away at a computer. I'm… not joking. Like, this poor old woman has glasses straight out of the 1980's, a beehive haircut, no bones, and parts of her body are just drooping down to the ground like slime. Every so often she must snort and magically reposition her entire face with her…m-muscles? Her eyes and mouth just slowly move down her face like rocks in a mudslide. I don't know, this woman is honestly the weirdest anomaly of a monster I've ever seen.

"Hello dears, how might Mrs. Slimothy help you today?" The old slime woman asks in a slow and raspy voice.

Oh my…she's cute but not at the same time. She's one of those monsters that talks in third person and tries to be the nicest person in existence. I don't know why, but something tells me she's not the smartest person either. I know that sounds extremely rude, but… you know what forget it, I'm being presumptuous.

My dad gives me a small push to insinuate that I should speak up.

"U-um, I got a letter from Dr. King saying that I should v-visit today," I nervously explain.

"Hmmmmmmm…Dr. King? Who is that aga- oooooh, Mrs. Slimothy remembers. The new COO. He's such a nice young man, isn't he?" Mrs. Slimothy states.

I laugh and put on my best smile before saying, "Y-yeah, he's…very helpful."

"Did you know he was a college professor before deciding to work here? I would bet everyone loved to be in his classes. I just wonder what it was that he taught…Hmmmmmmmmmm," She rants.

I stammer a little from becoming genuinely confused. I would like to guess that the whole reason he even got hired as Fear Co.'s Chief Operations Officer is because of many years in varying Scaring businesses. Considering his position, she should know that he has knowledge in Scaring, Quantum Portals, Scream Capture, and Door Technology.

The sludgy woman then snorts and readjusts her entire face structure which makes me a little uncomfortable.

"Things are already better with him here though let me tell you. He's already helped me sort out days of backlogged paperwork and helped Mr. Worthington expand the company in ways that he could never have imagined. I hear that we're rivaling Monsters Incorporated now which is something I never would have thought would happen, I mean that just feels unfounded, but it's happening," She continues.

I slowly turn around to see the most confused looks upon my parents' faces. Even they're not sure what the hell is going on and why she's just switched from a seemingly professional employee to one of those old folks who can't stop talking. None of us want to stop her though because we don't want to be mean, so we wait for her to get back to the topic at hand after another minute.

"I'm sorry dear, it's gets rather lonely up here and I tend to go off on tangents. Are you here to just speak with Dr. King, or were you sent a recruitment letter from him?" Mrs. Slimothy asks.

I take out the letter and show it to her. Her sloppy eyes read it over before typing away at her computer while slowly humming. Afterwards, she takes out visitors passes that are connected to some lanyards and places them on the counter for us to take.

"Here you are dears. As you know, Dr. King is our amazing COO, so he has also taken the position of a Scare Floor Manager to maintain operations in such difficult times. Currently he is on Scare Floor 10 which is below us on level SF. All you have to do is press that button labeled SF on that…that thing…what do you call it? Oh yes, the elevator, and wait for him there," She directs.

I put the lanyard around my head and say, "Thank you."

"Anything for you, dearie. Please come by and see Ms. Slimothy again if you have the chance," She beams before returning to typing in a violently cartoonish way.

I pull my parents behind us and to the right before we somehow get pulled into another confusing conversation. Within seconds we're cramped into the elevator right next to the reception desk and head down to floor SF. I'm guessing that stands for 'Scare Floor' but maybe I'm incorrect. Only five seconds pass by before the door slides open and we're greeted by the dull gray factory atmosphere that's adorned by various sizes of pipes and walls that have zero decoration on them. Panels and decoration cease to exist on these walls, but there is an occasional numpad and card-swiper that's placed beside many doors. The floor isn't entirely devoid of life though. There are a couple of employees greeting us every so often when they pass by to enter the elevator we just got off, or to enter the various scare floors on this level. All sorts of monsters grace us with their presence. Some are as small as an ankle-biting pet, while others are as big as boulders.

Scare Floor 10 ends up being a little bit down the hallway, and when we make a 90-degree turn to face it, we see a few monsters sauntering out of a door that leads somewhere dark. A few Scare Assistants seem to be setting things up for another shift of Scaring by reading some scare files, stockpiling Scream Canisters, and doing some simple paperwork. Aside from that, my parents and I can see Professor King talking to a small, fuzzy pink scare assistant with six arms and a red hard hat as he exits that exact doorway. It's funny how he's not even the tallest monster, but he easily towers over every scare assistant on the Scare Floor. Now that I mention it, even I'm bigger than all of them. Is it common for smaller monsters to only become scare assistants when they're less than five feet in height?

While there's a systemically interesting argument that could be had about that topic, I'm here to talk about Scaring with Professor King. I pick up the pace to leave my parents far behind me and call out to Professor King once I see the pink Scare Assistant continue with his work. Professor King turns around to see me and gives me a soothing smile, which is one that I feel like I never got from him before. He was always so serious at Monsters University, probably because he had to follow a strict code that requires him to be intimidating.

"Ah, Miss Everett, I wasn't expecting you to show up so soon," He states.

I slow down a little and stop a few feet in front of him. His body language is much…happier… and it makes him much more approachable than before. He also looks very different and that's likely attributed to his change in attire. The black and gold, floral-victorian patterned suit he always wore to school is no longer being worn. It's instead a black and red suit with baroque patterns on it. The chain of pocket watch finds its way out of his waist pocket and a matching tie drapes down from his neck and into the suits unwrinkled folds that reach down to his sternum. This must be his way of strutting the Fear Co colors.

"S-sorry. The letter you sent didn't have a date on it and my parents said that I should talk to you as soon as possible," I reply while putting my hand over my head.

"Pffft, that figures. The moment I leave school is when I start forgetting about specifics. Maybe I'm just getting old," Professor King laughs.

Yet another thing that's making me feel more comfortable. He's so informal now and doesn't care about doing things in an organized and timely manner. He's an entirely different person.

"I-it's alright, Professor. I just hope that I'm not interrupting anything," I add as my parents join me at my side.

"Oh you don't have to call me Professor anymore. Feel free to call me Blake or Mr. King or Doctor or…something along those lines. That is unless you feel uncomfortable doing so, then maybe it's best to keep it the same. And it's also nice to properly meet you, Mr. And Ms. Everett," He divulges.

Oh my god, I'm so thrown off by this. He's still exuding a refined and wealthy demeanor as the flames within his throat aggressively burn gold, yet he acts like a respectful and charming friend. Teaching must have really put a burden on him, a really big one in fact; He could never have dreamed of being someone like this at MU.

My parents nervously greet him back and my dad even lowers his head a little as if he's bowing to him.

"Anyways, I don't have much time before our newbie Scarers come back, so I have to make this kind of quick. I'm sure you're wondering why I sent you that recruitment letter even though you technically have no qualifications…right?" He discloses.

All three of us nod synchronously.

"Well, I sent it because I really do think you have the potential to become a scarer. Nobody goes into their first year of college being able to masterfully conduct paranormal scares, nor can someone just naturally become a living, breathing banshee the way you do, Melanie," Professor King explains.

"B-but that's what's confusing me the most. I can't even do basic scares correctly. L-like I just feel awkward and, um, silly and…stupid. And like you said, I haven't really, completed any classes worth noting," I sigh.

"And that's ok," Professor King states, "I'll let you know right now that basic scares are barely used by professionals these days. The only times they are used is by scarers who miraculously work their way up to a scaring position without a degree. So, like I said, you were waaaaay ahead of the game the moment you stepped into Scaring 101; Before the school even really knew you."

My dad's confusion becomes verbal. "Aren't all scarers required to master basic scares though?"

"Mmm, yes I forgot that you graduated from Fear Tech, Mr. Everett," Professor King mumbles, "By technicality, no. Scare programs do make it seem like they are though. In almost every case, if a scarer cannot show us that they can perform the basics, then they cannot perform the more advanced scares. Melanie here was one of those exceptions. I'm very sorry to the both of you that that whole concept was wrongfully drilled into your head, but it's become a rule of thumb."

This surprises my dad and I beyond belief. Why was I even put in Scaring 101 and Scaring 102 if I had this kind of potential to begin with. Shouldn't there have been a placement test of some sort then?

"Anyways, there were several mentions of your name not only from me, but from some of the friends you've made that caused a great deal of interest within the Scaring world. The Scaring Scouts that overlooked you during the Scare Games this last semester at MU were also really impressed by you. With a little bit of digging, the entire Scaring World came to know your name…at least in terms of the higher ups. Mr. Zomburn of Scream Industries, Mr. Waternoose the Third of Monsters Incorporated, and Jack Worthington of Fear Corporation have been absolutely scrambling in order to figure out how to contact you, and it turned out that your name was the only thing they could legally find. I ended up being the one on behalf of Fear Co to know the correct people to find information and subsequently snag you before anyone else could," Professor King elucidates.

"W-wow Melody, you must have done better than you thought in school," My mom smiles.

I blush and look down at the ground while Professor King chuckles with his arms behind his back. It's like they've all forgotten that I wasn't going to have a good grade in Scaring 102.

"Oh very much so. To give you some perspective, it was Carrie Williams, Rosie Levin, Javier Rios, Chip Goff, Professor Derek Knight, Dean Abigail Hardscrabble, and none other than Johnny Worthington the Third that recommended you to all three Scaring companies. So seven of some of the best newbie scarers in the world wrote on paper that you are even scarier than them, and that sent everything into chaos," The Professor adds.

My dad gives me a side eye. "What have you not been telling us, Moondrop?"

"Well, for starters, has she told you about her…transformation?" Professor King answers.

Wait wait wait wait wait, I'm not ready to show them that yet! They're both going to freak out if I just show them out of the blue! Well, at least my dad won't, but my mom definitely will since she knows nothing about this thing.

"What does that mean?" My mom asks with narrowed eyes.

With everyone now looking at me, I exhale nervously and just let myself turn into a banshee since I've slowly come to figure out how to control that now. My hair turns blue along with my scales, making my mom become somewhat hysterical. "Ronan, what is this?! Why have I not known that she can do this?!"

"Calm down, Evelyn. It's something she got from my side of the family. My dad had this 'transformative' thing he could do too," Dad growls.

"Whaaat?! Does that mean you can do that too?!" Mom exclaims.

"Grrr, no. If I could do that, you would already know," Dad lies.

Wow…way to downplay your own abilities dad. If anything, yours is more extreme than mine, but I don't even want to begin to imagine what would happen if I tried coercing him to show us. He's been supposedly hiding it for decades and I don't plan on being the one to suffer his wrath if I were to show him for who he really is.

"Y-yes yes, genetics likely plays a role in this. There was likely a recessive gene that was dormant in Ronan but became dominant in Melanie. But yeah, this is what was impressing everyone on campus before life got in the way. I can confidently say that she was even scaring some of the scariest on campus to the point where they felt threatened. I'm…sure you know about the whole story with Faust and his fraternity," Professor King explains further.

I return to my normal, non-banshee magenta state and see my parents nodding. After I 'broke up' with Johnny I ended up telling the whole story from the moment I met him. I told them about how many people were afraid of talking to me and how Faust might have become jealous because I was scarier than him…but I excluded the part where I became a literal ghost. I think I might have just said all of that because I was emotionally unstable. Some of that might just be overexaggeration.

"The other thing that I would say Melanie has been keeping from you is that she is extremely intelligent in regards to everything scaring. I'll be upfront and tell you, Melanie, that I actually gave you entirely different tests than what I gave your peers. You might remember certain out of place questions on your midterms and quizzes that asked not only about Scaring techniques and concepts, but also Door Technology and Human Biology. I purposefully changed your tests to see exactly how well-versed you were in every subject pertaining to scaring and you passed with flying colors. I especially saw extraordinary proficiency in the Door Technology questions, which I'm assuming is knowledge you obtained from your father here," Professor King clarifies.

I can see my dad giving me another side eye with my peripheral vision. It's a side eye filled with pride. I probably should feel happy about that, but there's this slight gut-wrenching feeling in my stomach after thinking about that some more.

"B-but what would have happened if I didn't do so well on those tests? Would I have…like…failed horribly compared to everyone else?" I ask, dreading what would have happened in an alternate universe.

"Not possible. Monsters who are at your level can easily extrapolate Scaring information, apply it in many different fields, and even help further Scaring research and technology. Everything you had was nothing more than elementary," Professor King counters.

My mom chuckles as she walks up behind me and begins playing with my ears. "I don't know what any of that means, but I'm very proud of yooooooou."

Professor King speaks up immediately afterwards. "That brings us to the present where I would like to recruit you to Fear Corporation. With many recommendations and a beyond satisfactory academic performance, you make an unmistakably incredible addition to the Scaring workforce. However, because you don't have any real proof of qualification or experience, we would have to start with putting you back into the Scaring Program at Monsters University or Fear Tech, whichever you choose. Fear CO would gladly take care of all costs; This includes tuition, textbook costs, transportation costs and meal plans. I should also mention that the only thing that will be different is the degree. If you do choose to take a position here at Fear Co, then you'll have special permission to basically override the requirements needed to get your Scaring degree. This means that you'll only have to take Scaring specific classes, not common core or residency classes. We can of course also help you go for any minors of your choosing. Since you have proficiency in Door Technology, you can do that, but I've also heard that you have a knack for art. If that's something you want to do as well, then so be it."

Mom starts scratching my ears while jumping up and down in happiness. Neither she or my dad ever thought an opportunity like this would pass me by.

Professor King takes out one of his famous notepads that he always keeps tucked away in his suit somewhere and begins reading over it. I'm guessing it has something to do with his responsibilities on the Scare floor so I don't ask him about it. He does keep talking while reading though.

"I do think Monsters University is the better pick since you already have a semester of experience under your sleeve. I'm sure Johnny and his father would be very vocal about you going back to MU as well, but it's entirely up to you. As for your position here at Fear Co, the best we can do until you get the proper credentials is have you start out as a Scaring Assistant during certain Scaring shifts. Doing this will help you get a true feel of how the technical side works before moving you into the actual Scaring position. We can also throw you in as a Substitute scarer once you complete your second year of the program. That position lets us throw you in as a replacement whenever the scarer you're assisting becomes sick or needs a break or whatever the case is. Regardless, you'll still get paid the same as a real scarer because we really do want you to work here."

My parents can't help but smile uncontrollably. Seeing my dad act like this only makes me happier too. I'm getting a glimpse into why his depression remains, and it probably has something to do with me being unsure of where to go or what to do. He's worried about me, and this is the first path he's seen open for me.

"I also want to mention that Johnny has been working around the clock to find ways in which you can be his only assistant on top of other things. Like, he has been actively refusing to have an assistant that isn't you, and this has been the first time that I've been able to maybe fulfill that request. So, if you do accept that position, you'll be working with him every time you step foot on a Scare Floor. Once you do become proficient enough in the art of Scaring, you'll basically been working with him, and he can rely on you to be his replacement in case things go wrong," Professor King adds.

"J-John is working here?" I ask in surprise.

"Yes ma'am. Within a week after graduation, his father hired him immediately to fill up one of many Scaring positions available here. He's been going full speed ahead so that he can quote on quote 'fix things' for you three. At least, that's what he tells everyone when they ask why he's so serious all the time," The Professor answers.

The butterflies in my stomach disappear almost instantly. I can perfectly envision a life where I wake up only to see Johnny looking at me with excitement, excitement that pertains to going to work with me every day. I can envision walking down these hallways with Johnny and loving every second that we spend together while powering the city. It's basically a dream that's just one answer away from becoming true.

"Um…yeah, that's pretty much it. We'll need you to return to college and we'll throw you in as a Scaring Assistant that's in the process of becoming a Substitute scarer. That's up to you though, Melanie," The Professor offers.

I look over to my parents and see them unable to contain their excitement for me. I can't either though. Who wouldn't be able to keep all these kinds of emotions inside after learning that your childhood dream is easily obtainable.

"Y-yeah, I'll do it. But only if I can be Johnny's assistant," I say to the Professor.

"You got it. I'll have you start three days from now, on Monday. Ooo, that's something I should get finalized for you. Johnny's schedule is Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Does that work for you?" He negotiates.

I nod and let out a toothy grin.

"Awesome, I'll see you then. Oh, and before I forget, I also wanted to talk to you, Ronan," The Professor adds.

"Oh y-yes. We were told that when we arrived. I hope it's not something bad," My dad worries.

The Professor shakes his head. "No no no…Mmm, well, it's mostly good. I actually want to know if you'd be willing to try out for us here at Fear Co as well."

My mom and I both gasp and wrap our arms around him, making him extremely embarrassed.

"Oh my gosh, Ronan, you can't say no to this after all these years!" Mom yelps.

"Well it is up to him, I can't force him to work here if he doesn't feel comfortable or welcome or willing," Professor King interrupts, "He has been exposed to the darker side of Scaring companies after all."

Dad looks back to the Professor and asks, "I-is that the, uh, bad…part?"

Professor Kings hands raise up to his temples and he starts rubbing them in frustration. "Ummm…yes, but it's not something that was because of you specifically. However, it is something that I think you should know after all these years of suffering."

"Wh-what is it?" My dad spouts.

"So," Professor King says before scoffing, "I have been told about your troubles finding a Scaring position from Johnny in full detail, and I went and did some digging for information regarding that matter."

He then raises an eyebrow and looks as if he can't believe what he found actually happened by crossing his arms and shifting his weight to one leg. "Apparently Scaring Scouts are required to accept all scarers who wish to try out according to Company bylaws, and they're supposed to document when that try out occurred. On top of that, Scaring companies have this superiority complex amongst their most elite scarers and Scaring Scouts. So…ugh…basically what's been happening is Scaring Scouts have been denying you because they don't believe you have what it takes to be scarer, which goes against the bylaws, and they have been documenting fake try outs under your name so that they don't face the consequences of their systemically discriminatory actions towards you."

"…Y-you're joking right?" My mom asks after a few seconds of silence between us all.

"No. Unfortunately not. Johnny is actually the one that pressed me to look into this issue immediately. Although, I do want you to know that I have completely flipped the entire Scaring Scout program on its head. I manually reviewed thousands of documented try outs from Scream Industries, Fear Corporation, and Monsters University with the permission of the Monstropolis Energy Regulatory Commission. I then matched them up with our databases filled with tryout recordings, which are used for this exact purpose, and I basically fired every Scaring Scout that made any false documented tryouts for any reason," Professor King explains.

"Ugh! Thank you so much, I can't tell you how infuriating it is to know that they willingly did that to Ronan," My mom growls.

The Professor nods his head. "Of course, I myself can't believe that nobody has been checking these for decades. I also would like to tell you that I have gotten Fear Co, in its entirety, to place class action lawsuits on these Scaring Scouts for the injustice they caused you and many other monsters. I can't promise that you'll be compensated financially for it since this it was more of a matter of…uh, an employee keeping the company from functioning at its best. Overall, I want to personally apologize on the Scream Energy Industry's behalf for causing such injustice on your family, and I hope that a real tryout will make up for a small bit of it."

My dad chuckles a little and takes a moment to breathe. "I…I'd be…glad to. I've only been waiting for this day for nearly twenty years."

"Great. How about Monday at lunchtime?" Professor King proposes.

My dad agrees and it's around that time that some of the scarers begin to arrive for their next Scaring shift. I forgot that they do things a little differently here. Instead of having the scarers all come out in one big egotistical group, they all just show up whenever they can within the required time. It's kind of like high school; Some kids arrive five minutes early, while others arrive five minutes late. At least that's what Johnny told me a long time ago.

"Alright well before you go, Melanie, I need to have you sign some things and talk to you about certain policies. If Mom and Dad would like to go to the car and drive up to the front door to pick you up, they can. If not, they can stay here, but I'll need you to enter the scare floor to get that finished," The Professor smiles after clapping once.

"We'll go pull up the car. Take your time, we're not in a hurry," Dad decides.

I nod and watch as my parents walk out of the Scare Floor with some pep in their step. I can already see my dad's mood changing for the better. His aura is more colorful and noticeable than what it was yesterday and the day before that. He really was just existentially worried about our future and couldn't stop thinking about it. Hopefully these signatures can permanently keep my dad from experiencing all of that again.

I try my best to keep myself from getting distracted. The scare floor is only supposed to be occupied by official scare floor personnel, but here I am, a clueless little girl that can't keep her eyes off the cave system laid before me. The winding door rails that swerve to each station, the arena-like structure that even has a giant jumbotron hanging at the center, and a projector shining the Fear CO logo onto the center of the floor…it's all so breathtaking.

I make sure to listen carefully to Professor King though. After a few short minutes of listening to him explain and signing things, I'm able to say that I'm an official Fear Corporation employee. All it took was a couple minutes for the Professor to explain the fine print in extreme detail followed by a couple of quick signatures. We even got all the banking information ready to go and now all I have to do is show up in a couple of days. Instead of standing back and watching the process of Scaring unfold, I'll be helping the process. Honestly…I didn't think that would happen so quickly.

"Ok, you're all set. I'll see the two of you on Monday," Professor King smiles while compiling all the files.

"Y-yes sir. Do you, um, need my dad to just go to Mrs. Slimothy on Monday? Or would you like him to find the Scare Simulator and meet you there?" I ask while thinking about my dad.

"Oh you don't have to worry about anything. I'll be at the reception desk waiting for him and we'll go through the same process as any other scarer," The Professor replies.

The last bit of anxiety I have about starting a job here dissipates. I'm so happy that Professor King was here to change Scaring Operations completely. Without him, this never would have happened, and there's no way I could ever repay his kindness. The first thing that comes to mind is to hug him. He stiffens a little before relaxing and placing one hand on my back.

"…Th-thank you, Professor," I stammer.

"Of course. Just be sure to get some sleep and eat a good breakfast. We can't have you slackin' on your first day," Professor King instructs.

I break off the hug and begin stepping away, making sure I don't step on anybody's tail or run into anybody with a blunt amount of force.

"I'll make sure that I'm ready! I'll see you later, Professor!" I beam.

To end my visit, Professor King shouts, "Have a good one!"

Just like that, I'm actively leaving a Fear Corporation Scare Floor with the intent to return with confidence. My dad and I have only ever dreamed of being on a Scare Floor for decades and now we can say that we're no longer bystanders. We're the part of the next generation that inspires younger monsters, and we can finally turn a new leaf that allows us to live comfortable lives while simultaneously changing the world. I finally don't have to resign myself into prolonged isolation…and that makes me ecstatic.

Now that my adventure within the Fear Co depths is over, I head towards the scare floor entrance so that I can head down the hallway to the elevator. A few more of my soon-to-be scaring assistant co-workers pass by, conversing with each other about their jobs or lives outside the factory. A couple of scarers pass by too, grunting with each step that connects to the cold cement floor. Knowing that I shouldn't keep my parents waiting for much longer, I pick up the pace, sensing a slight breeze brushing against my body due to the speed I move.

When I reach the door, I push it open and look back to get one more good glance at the place. However, when I turn my head forward, I suddenly find myself face to face with a wall of solid yet soft fur and slam into it. A pained grunt also echoes off the wall and into my ears when my snout pokes into it. I would be lying if I said that I didn't yelp when my nerves feel like they were lacerated for half a second. When I bring my hand up to rub my snout, I look at the wall I ran into and take a split second to analyze it. This wasn't here when we came in. That's probably because the walls are supposed to be gray and not dark purple. Walls also aren't furry or have abdominal muscles protruding through the fur.

Hmm…

I basically look up to the ceiling and see something that isn't even close to a wall. It's not even an 'it', it's a he, and he's someone I know. It's Johnny…looking down at me with wide-eyed concern.

"M-Mel?" He divulges.

I feel myself freeze up. He's…really different from when I last saw him. His horns have grown a tad bit thicker, he's easily a few inches taller, and way more muscular. Anybody can see the refined depth between his muscles to the point where a thick layer of fur doesn't hide them. His lower body muscles have also become more even with his upper body, making him seem more massive up close than before. His horns are a cleaner, more pristine white and the fur around his jaw has become fuller and more voluminous. He just looks more…mature…and it hasn't even been more than 2 months since I last saw him.

A smile builds upon his face before throwing his arms around my body. Lifting me up, he spins around once while moving away from the scare floor entrance to let others enter. His head presses against my neck, and he rocks his head up and down while letting out those purrs that I've missed these past few weeks. Everyone and their family can see us, and I feel my face flush. He stops in a position that allows me to see some of the monsters on the Scare Floor staring out the door and at us. Is physical contact something that's considered odd around here?

"Wh-what are you doing here?! I only needed another few days before I could see you again!" He questions in disbelief.

"U-um, I-uh…There was…Um," I stutter.

"Awwwwww, it hasn't been that long! Don't tell me you're nervous to talk to your favorite scarer ever," Johnny teases, "How can I live with myself knowing that Lady Blue can't even speak a word to me?"

I can't help it. He's always had this effect on people that makes them terrified to talk to him. Since we haven't spoken in the flesh for a while and he's a completely different person, it's as if I haven't spoken to him ever. I really missed him though, so maybe it's an emotional response.

"S-sorry…," I sigh.

"Sorry? I should be the one saying that after disappearing for weeks on end. I hate having absolutely no time to blow up your phone with texts and calls," Johnny chuckles.

"I-I know," I smile.

Johnny sets me back down and grabs my hands so he can hold onto them, putting them in front of us. His fingers intertwine with mine and they're warm to the touch.

"Have you been doing well? I would guess it's going well considering you're here to see me during my time off," Johnny questions in a soothing voice while raising an eyebrow like the charmer he is.

"Yeah, I'm…I'm fine. I just…got a recruitment letter from Professor King," I answer while laughing myself.

"You did?! What did he say?! Are you going to scare along with me?" Johnny Interrogates looking like an excited child on Christmas Day.

He also leans down a little, placing his face as close to mine as possible so that I see nothing but him. I have to place my hands underneath his jaw and push it back up so that he can calm down.

"He, um, told me how you're being impossible to work with and refusing an assistant. That's disappointing to hear," I say in an attempt to tease him back.

Fortunately for me, it works.

"Wh- disappointing? For your information, I've been actively trying to get you a job here," Johnny scowls.

"And that's exactly why I've decided be your Scaring Assistant position so you can stop making things difficult for everyone," I reply before sticking my tongue out at him.

Johnny reacts by hugging me with a noticeable squeeze and swinging me around some more. My astonishment only increases when he plants his lips onto mine.

"That's all I ever wanted," He admits.

"Is it really? Not having an assistant means you've been switching your doors for weeks. To be honest, I feel like you could work your shifts without me," I state while watching his smile fade into worry.

"Please don't say that…," Johnny begs.

I decide that I've had enough fun messing with him and drop the act. "I'm just joking. I just want you to be more cooperative. You've only worked for four years to work here, you know. We can't have you making all of management mad at you. You'll lost that charm everyone loves."

Johnny sighs as he sets me down for the second time. "Ok, point taken."

I then readjust my clothes and tell him about how I'll likely be his Substitute scarer as well, which makes him even more ecstatic. However, since Johnny is the only monster who still hasn't made it onto the Scare Floor, all the monsters are starting to flood out the Scare Floor entrance to coerce him to stop talking. This causes Professor King to intervene in our conversation as he struts out into the hallway. "Mr. Worthington, we're on a time crunch… Please finish your conversation with Miss Everett!"

Johnny then reaches for my hand once more while turning his body towards the Scare Floor. "Sorry, we can talk again soon. Just give me another week and I'll have everyone's money ready to go."

"Wait what? Money?!" I exclaim.

"Yeah. My mother and I have been scraping together large fortunes for everyone. Your cousins, your parents, and the two of us… We can finally get our own houses and cars or whatever else we want," Johnny explains while winking at me.

I try my best to verbally object to that but get interrupted when he breaks my grasp, and he power walks down the Scare Floor. "Wait wait wait, I didn't think you wer-"

"Just wait a little longer! Love you! Say hi to your parents for me, princess!" Johnny shouts while leaving me.

I stare at him as he struts onto the scare floor and watch as he prepares himself for another shift of Scaring without an assistant. His chest is puffed out and it's obvious that the other monsters are noticing him acting differently now. I clearly had something to do with that. The lights dim down, and a couple of doors come flying from the rail system above. Professor King then magically appears beside me. "You'd better get going, Melanie. Your parents are probably getting worried."

Oh shoot! I almost forgot that they were here with me!

Professor King treads to the entrance and slowly begins shutting the door. "Alright! Scarers! We're on in ten…nine…eight…"