Merlin's Curse

CHAPTER 7: My Worst Nightmare

"That was amazing," Luke says. He throws a seashell down to the rocky shoreline below as we meander back up the cliffside path. His skinny jeans and my sweats are soaking wet from the unexpected wave that crashed against the rocky outcrop we were exploring.

"Totally," I agree. If it weren't for Luke's angry stomach, I could have spent the rest of the day discovering every nook and cranny of the shoreline wrapping around The Breakers. Food is rarely a factor for me. Maybe I am an Explorer. 

I turn and walk up the trail backward—the crashing waves and ocean vista in front of me. "I love this place," I say. When Luke grows quiet, I offer, "You know...I can help you with your classes."

"Thanks. But that's why I'm in DOOM. Fydor is the first PC to lead a squad as a junior. He's my tutor."

"Oh." I shiver in my wet clothes as the ocean breeze swirls around us.

"But he kind of sucks as a tutor," Luke spats, throwing the remaining shells in his hand down the steep embankment. Then he bumps me with his shoulder as we walk and smiles. "Maybe some extra help would be ok."

"Luke Landry! Merlin Sambrook!" We stop and look up. Headmaster Hayes stands at the top of the trail with his strong arms folded. He's dressed in black. Always black. Black suit. Black shirt. Black tie. Black shoes. After we scurry to the top of the cliff, he removes his black sunglasses and even his deep-set eyes are black. Coffee black—straight-out-of-the-pot-steaming-hot black. "Having fun, mates?"

"Yes," I say. "I love the ocean. I found this cool—" Luke elbows me in the side.

"Next time you bludgers want to skip off for a bit of fun, eh...don't." He holds his index finger up in front of us. "I have one simple rule. No one leaves the school grounds without permission...or plays on the cliffs."

"That's two," I reply.

"Excuse me?" The headmaster's eyebrows tilt down toward his angry eyes.

"You used a conjunction. That means—"

"Merlin!" he yells. His frozen jazz hands look like they want to strangle me. "I didn't ask you to speak." He looks at Luke who is now a full step away from me. "Who's bright idea was this. You know the rules."

"Mine," I say. "It's my fault."

"Fine," he replies. But he says it like a four-letter word. The bad kind. "Merlin, I'm docking you -1000 XP. And Luke, you get -500 XP for following. Now hurry up and get changed before you miss lunch."

Before I have a chance to speak to Luke, he takes off running. I have zero chance of catching him. So I walk. But this time, I don't feel the lush blades of grass between my toes or notice the salty ocean air in my breaths or hear the majestic seagulls and crashing waves. Instead, I feel a small twinge in my ankle with every step. And I hear the flat thumping of my heart. The dull ache isn't from lost points—those can be replaced.

I'm not so sure about Luke.

My fist tightens around the knobby seashell in my hand until my palm hurts. When I uncurl my fingers, deep imprints remain—kind of like the boy who ran off without me. How can life be so good and horrible at the same time?

By the time I change, get my tray of food, and enter the dining hall, everyone is already seated, and a hushed wave spreads across the room until no one is speaking. All eyes are on me. 

Well, maybe not all. Luke is sitting next to Fydor, staring at his food. 

The Russian squad leader stands up and faces me. He folds his muscular arms, making his spider tattoo wriggle to life. Ok, not alive, alive—but I hate spiders. The creepy sight sends a ripple of shivers down my spine.

"Yai du za toboy," he says to me. And then, "I come for you."

Before I know what to say or do, Jupiter is standing in front of me. "Then you'll have to come for me first," she says. The entire Gauntlet Squad stands and bangs their fists against the table in unison.

"Thanks for invitation," Fydor says. "I accept." All of DOOM cheers for their leader. Well, everyone except Luke. He's still staring at his food.

While Jupiter leads me to my seat between G and Zahir, the entirety of Gauntlet lets out a whoop of cheers that rivals DOOM. Some PCs clap, others shout, and a few call out my name. Zahir pats me on the back and smiles his toothy smile as I sit down. Even G manages a little mouse smile. And Jupiter shines on me as she pulls me back into orbit with the rest of the squad.

"Look," Zahir says. He points to the large media display panel on the wall, something I had missed until now because the gaudy room is one massive distraction. "We're in second place...because of you!"

"Mi cielito!" Isa gushes. "She leans over G and kisses me on the cheek. "Now we don't have to clean the bathrooms!" 

Another cheer erupts. I want to ask what she means about the bathrooms, but there's something more important they need to know. And I can't get a word in. My feeble attempts to interrupt, to stop the celebration, are all lost in the frivolity of the misguided moment.

"Merlin—you're a freaking legend," Niko says. He's Jupiter's second in command and has cool surfer hair. "No first year has ever been awarded over 1000 XP."

"Merlin! Merlin! Merlin!" The squad chants my name. "Merlin! Merlin!" 

I want to hide. I want to snap my fingers and make this whole unexpected possibility disappear. Because I'm not a hero.

Freak'n Merlin's beard—why can't I do anything right!

Contra Squad erupts in laughter and shouting and hoopla—DOOM quickly follows suit. A number of PCs are pointing at the display board. Gauntlet Squad is now in last place—again. And my XP is at the bottom of the rankings—again. 

Although, I'm at zero XP...so I'm not negative. That's progres, right? Only 300 more to go and something tells me my odds of another big XP award are not good. Because Headmaster Hayes is standing like a bouncer at the entrance to the dining hall with a knowing grin on his face. The jerk is gloating over my punishment.

"Merlin!" Jupiter is standing at the head of the table. "What happened?" 

The entire squad stares at me, most of them are confused and have what-the-heck looks on their faces. A few of them have I-knew-it looks. And a couple, like G, have I-don't-care looks. I don't understand why—G was so friendly my first day.

"Sorry," I say, "I didn't think. I just wanted to put my feet in the ocean." 

"That's -1000 XP—moron!"

"Great, now we have to clean the bathrooms. Again."

"Glupyy!"

"Thanks for nothing."

There are so many groans and complaints and protests, I can't keep track of where they're coming from.

"That's enough," Jupiter commands, holding her hand up. 

All I can do is look down at my untouched peanut butter sandwich. I understand why Luke is staring at his food. 

I'm such an idiot.

Once the squad is silent, our leader continues, "A second ago you were all cheering for Merlin. He made a mistake. So what? He's a killer and has more guts than anyone sitting at this table. Including me. I dare anyone to say otherwise." 

When I look up, she's peering up and down the table, making eye contact with each PC in the squad. No one challenges her even though I don't feel like a Killer. Her eyes come back to me. 

"But Merlin," she warns, "if your glupyy butt ever leave campus again without permission, you'll be cleaning all 30 bathrooms by yourself for the rest of the year."

Zahir leans over and whispers, "Don't worry—I'll help you." 

But before I can respond, phones ding and chime and ring all around the dining hall. When I pull up the message on the Codex App, I see my worst nightmare. An old news article from when I was four-years old. Father Abandons Son & Wife. And below the title is a sad picture of me and my mom standing in front of the Mystic Mermaid Bed & Breakfast. 

The post is from @WizardSlayer666.