A week had passed since the invasion of the Slitheen, and there had been considerable change since. The Headteacher Mr Hughes had strangely gone missing out of the blue. Whilst the police investigated his disappearance, Mrs Malhotra had taken over his role as the head, along with promoting Miss Burton to her previous role as assistant head. During her initial assembly in her new role, Mrs Malhotra announced some new policies. There was to be an immediate ban on vinegar within the school premises due to an apparent student allergy, anyone caught with vinegar would have a private detention 1on1 with Miss Burton. The second policy was that all school dinners would now be served with a helping of a new unknown food, Rakweed. The greenish plant hadn't been heard of by any of the students or staff, but was quite tasty after they had tried it. However one member of staff had a problem with the new food on the menu, Mrs Wilmott. She was a thin 40 year old with short brunette hair. Barely a bit of fat on her body, she was the head of food technology at the school, and prided herself on being very fit and healthy with her diet, and always wanted to ensure that the students who ate school dinners at the school were being provided with good nutritional meals. She had looked into this Rakweed, and after doing some digging on the web had found some stories by an investigative journalist who had claimed the plant wasn't from this world, and the long term consequences of eating the plant were unknown. Mrs Wilmott didn't tell anyone else her findings, and took it right to the new head. She found her by the school field at lunchtime and approached her hoping to have a conversation about her findings. "Hi Mrs Malhotra, how's your day going?" the food tech teacher asked. The Slitheen occupying the skin looked down at this human, she was small and pathetic, like most of the species. "Very well" she answered coldly. "What do you want?"
"Well, I was hoping to be able to talk to you about Rakweed. You see I've been doing some digging and I think we may need to take some precautions". She looked around to make sure no one was close and leaned in to Mrs Malhotra. "I think it's alien…" she whispered. Mrs Malhotra pulled away, hiding her true expression on her skins face. "Alien? Really? And what makes you say that?" With a sneer.
"Well I've read some reports from a journalist, Sarah Jane Smith. She's had experience with Aliens before, and says that this plant, this Rakweed, it's not from earth!"
"Wow, this sounds… serious. I think you need to show me these reports so I can make a decision going forward. Why don't you come to my office later this afternoon, once the students have left the building". Mrs Malhotra replied, touching Mrs Wilmotts shoulder as she did. "Sounds good, I'll find the articles and gather them to show you."
"Oh and Sally, don't tell anyone else about this for the moment. We don't want to cause a scene if we can help it!" Mrs Malhotra smiled. When the food tech teacher turned her back, she laughed to herself. Dinner had brought itself to her…
Charlie, Ellie and Ameera were all sat in the canteen having lunch. Charlie and Ellie had their own packed lunch from home, whilst Ameera was currently digging into her school dinner, which included a very healthy helping of Rakweed. "What even is that stuff?" Charlie questioned. "I don't know, but it's so good!" The large student answered. "I think I'll stick to my sandwich…" Ellie muttered. "You should try it, it's so addictive." Ameera said as she shovelled even more of the green plant in her mouth. As the twins gave her a strange look, Miss Burton came striding over to their table. "Ah Ameera, I see you're enjoying your Rakweed!" She said beaming in delight. Her facial expression then changed when she saw the twins with their own home lunches. "You know girls, you really should be eating Rakweed. It does wonders for your brain!" She giggled. Suddenly she stopped dead in her tracks and started profusely sniffing the air. "What, what is that stench!" She looked down at Ellie who had a packet of crisps in her hand. "What… what is that!" She said panicking. Confused, Ellie looked down "it's just a packet of crisps Miss, salt and… vinegar." She instantly realised she had a banned food item and couldn't stop herself before she said it. "Did you not listen to Mrs Malhotra you stupid girl!" She pulled a plastic bag out from her pocket, opening up the sides, ensuring her hands wouldn't come into contact with the crisp packet. "Put it in there, you can explain to Mrs Malhotra why you thought it was acceptable to have this in school later today!"
"Oh but Miss!" Ellie tried to complain. "SILENCE CHILD" Miss burton snapped. She walked away, throwing the plastic bag in the nearest bin she could find. "What a fucking joke" Ellie moaned. "Guess you'll be trying the Rakweed then!" Ameera joked, met with a scowl from her friend.
Later that day, Ellie walked down the corridor to Mrs Malhotras new office. She opened the door which revealed an awful stench from the room, almost like rotten eggs. "Jesus Christ, she needs to open a window in here" Ellie muttered. There was no sign of the headteacher, and Ellie thought of just going home, but being quite nosey she thought she might snoop around the office first and see if there was anything interesting she could see to tell the girls about. She briefly looked over her desk, but there was nothing of importance to her there, then saw the large brown
cupboard in the corner of the room. Strangely there was a large padlock on the handle. This intrigued Ellie and she wanted to see what was being hidden by Mrs Malhotra. She had seen a few videos on YouTube on how to pick a lock with a bobby pin, and had a few spare on her. She got to work with the lock and in a couple of minutes heard it click, she was in. She took the padlock off before opening the door, then she got the shock of her life. Inside the cupboard, on two coat hooks hung some sort of human skins. She looked at the faces and nearly fainted. It was the missing headteacher Mr Hughes and the young TA Miss Brooks. She hadn't been seen the last week but Ellie had assumed she was just off sick. She went to get her phone out and take a picture when suddenly she heard footsteps from outside the office. Quickly thinking, she stepped into the cupboard, next to the hollow human skins and closed the door, peeking through the gap in the middle.
Mrs Wilmott entered the office of Mrs Malhotra, there was no sign of her. Looking at her watch, Mrs Wilmott was suprised that the head was not present. She noticed a musty smell within the office and sprayed a few drops of her perfume to try and freshen the room up. As she went to sit down, she thought she heard a noise coming from the large cupboard in the room. She stood up and just as she was about to open it the office door opened and Mrs Malhotra came stomping in. Mrs Wilmott forgot the cupboard and turned to face the head. "Ah hello Miss! I thought you had forgotten for a moment" she chuckled. Mrs Malhotra looked up with a smile, laughing as well. "Oh Sally, I wouldn't miss this for the world! Now please, take a seat." She gestured. Mrs Malhotra then went round to her chair on the other side of the desk, before breathing in deeply. "Lovely perfume!" she exclaimed. "Oh thank you Aisha!" Mrs Wilmot replied. Yes, I got it for my birthday, very nice smell. Now, shall we get to business?" Mrs Wilmott asked.
"Oh yes, please, show me these articles which prove these outlandish theories…" Mrs Malhotra laughed.
"Well I don't think we should totally out rule anything, I know it does sound a bit strange but even you have to admit, this sudden emergence of this plant, does it not ring any alarm bells in your head?" Mrs Wilmot said passionately.
"Hmmm, let me think, no not really!" Mrs Malhotra laughed evily. Suddenly her stomach then rumbled and she placed her brown hands on it, almost stroking it. "Do excuse me, this new head job leaves little time to eat. Then again, that's why you're here…"
Ignoring this strange comment, Mrs Wilmott again tried to defend her case. She placed the articles she had found on the desk. "Please, I'm begging you Mrs Malhotra. This journalist, she did some great work and research into Rakweed and then went silent. I've tried contacting her today but haven't heard anything back, but maybe when I do she can help provide us more information!" She said desperately.
"Remind me, Sally, what was this journalists name?" Mrs Malhotra said, her tone now darker.
"Um, Sarah. Sarah Jane Smith" she replied.
"Ah yes Miss Smith…" Mrs Malhotra leaned forward and licked her lips. "She was a good hunt". Grinning, like a shark, as she looked intensely at Mrs Wilmott.
"You, you know her?" she managed to whisper out. "Knew her. One of my siblings took care of her, always sticking her nose in our business. A bit like you really. Although you'll serve more use to us than she did." She said leaning back in her large chair. PARPPPPPP. The loud fart filled the silence in the room. "What, what did you do to her? What, what are you!" The timid human said, unable to take her eyes of the brown figure of Mrs Malhotra. "Hahaha, Miss Smith was right about Rakweed. It is Alien. However, just like you she didn't think past the plant."
"You… you're, you're an alien!" Miss Wilmott croaked out. "But you look, look…"
"Normal? Yes well when I have to squeeze myself into this meat bag to hide I expect nothing less. Now at least, I can be free…"
Ellie looked on with horror as she saw Mrs Malhotra reach up to her forehead and brush aside her dark hair. On her caramel skin was a metal zip which she grabbed and began to tug. The room lit up with a blue light which made her and Mrs Wilmott cover their eyes. Mrs Wilmott was frozen in fear. The creature opposite her groaned as a long squelching sound came from its body. A green head popped out from where Mrs Malhotras skull had been and wriggled its way out of her skin. The alien then spoke in a croaky voice, "Don't you think you should run Mrs Wilmott?" With a long giggle. This broke her trance and she stood from her seat, and began fumbling with the door handle. By them time she had managed to open it the Slitheen had stepped out of Mrs Malhotra, its full true form on display. "RUN HUMAN, I'M COMING TO GET YOUUUU!" It called. Mrs Wilmott screamed in panic and ran down the corridor, the Slitheen not far behind her. The hunt was well and truly on...
