ⁱˢ ⁱᵗ B̸A̸D̸ ᵗʰᵃᵗ ⁱ ʷᵃⁿᵗ Y̸O̸U̸

Chapter 9

You know, the chorus of Death by Melanie Martinez always felt like the messiest explosion ever. If you blast it loud enough, it drowns everything. But it somehow made an exception for that fucking beeping sound. I tossed away the soldering iron, with a groan. It had been in my hand for so long that it kinda felt good to finally let go of it. I rolled my chair towards the other end of the desk, scattering the empty bottles of Monster Energy on the floor like bowling pins. I removed my safety goggles and smashed my screen, turning the alarm off.

I had spent the night working on Zapper, bastard will be launching nets in no time. I smirked at the thought.

Feeling ready to talk to Jela, Mylo mocked.

I clicked my tongue. My eyes felt drenched in acid and my head hurt so bad I could rip my skull open. But at least I was getting shit done. Now, there was no escape. Melanie's overautotuned demonic-sounding voice screaming, "DEEEATH! DEAAATH! DEAAAAAATH!" summed up everything so perfectly I could laugh.
I grabbed my phone and got up, kicking down a graffiti-covered scrap box on my way out.
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I hated the feeling of having my insides doing backflips when I thought about Jela not answering my text last night. I don't care what the voices say, I need to hear it from her!

I scurried across the hallway bumping into a butler so hard, he almost dropped his tray. I heard him hiss at the feeling of hot coffee splatters landing on his uniform and it felt weird to not laugh about it. I barged into my bedroom.

"Fuck!" I groaned, not remembering where the hell I threw my backpack at. Deciding to look for it later, I rushed to my bathroom while yanking off yesterday's sweaty shorts and crop top. I grabbed my toothbrush and hopped into the shower. When the water started running, I realised I had splattered body wash onto my toothbrush. I made a stank face and shoved it in my mouth, all that mattered was getting clean. I managed to brush my teeth and take a semi-decent shower. I rushed out, throwing my toothbrush into the bathroom sink and not bothering to dry myself off. The random clothing I put on was quick to stick to my wet skin while I rummaged around, shrieking, looking for my backpack. I heard a knock on my door and yelled, "WHAT IS IT?!"

The door opened to reveal a woman in a suit. "Miss Lexter, you left this in the car,"

I paused to see the navy blue backpack she was holding. Walking past her, I grabbed it and muttered, "We're leaving, now,"

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.

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I couldn't help the jittery tap of my heel against the bottom of the car.

I don't know about this, she might think you're a creep, remarked Claggor.

"Ugh, hit the gas, damn it!" I slumped down in my seat.

"This is the fastest I can go without compromising our safety, Miss," answered Dilara in the driver's seat.

Morgan adjusted her glasses, "If I may ask-"

"You may not," I snapped, a sarcastic smile pulling on my cheeks.

I got out the moment the car slowed down in front of Venestra's gates, looking around with a frown. Only a few extras were arriving this early. I made my way in and leaned against the wall right by the open gates. I glued my eyes to the entry, my breath hitching every time I caught a whiff of coily black hair or glasses.

This is giving sooo desperate, said Mylo, you'd give her a jumpscare at best.

I aggressively grabbed the end of one of my braids and wrung it, drops of water splattered at my feet. Minutes passed and all I could do was pace around like an idiot, listening to Mylo shit-talk in my ears and starting to think that Jela might not even fucking show up.