Terror Trap

Chapter Five. Normal Life Problems

Sliding in to my table the next day, I was greeted by my friends with a casual grin, and a punch on my arm from Alisea. "So, any news from our medium-in-training?" Ali joked, making me freeze up for a second. Victor and Ivan noticed my little freeze up, and glanced at each other. "You are okay, right Quin?" Ivan asked, staring at me. I waved his glare off,trying to pass off the moment for a crick in my neck. "Yea... I think I might have slept in a awkward position last night." I said, rubbing my neck.

Damn it, Ivan... Why do you have to be so observant?

"So... Since the big night is coming up, what's the plan for you guys?" I quickly changed the subject, hoping to draw attention to something else. "Yea. I'm going to be The Joker." Victor said, getting a laugh out of me. "So you're not dressing up then." I said, getting a peal of laughter from Ivan and Alisea. Victor grinned, jabbing me in my arm. "What about you two?" I asked, rubbing my arm. "I'm gonna be Death." Ivan said, getting a eye roll from Ali and Victor. "Well, while you two are going to be busy scaring little kids, I'm gonna be a ninja cat." I couldn't help laughing, imagining the three of them parading down the street, going from house to house. "What about you, new kid?" Ivan asked. I shrugged my shoulders, indifferent. "Maybe a Medical Examiner gone wrong." I said, tearing at my BBQ chicken with a passion. "Well... Isn't that cute?" A female voice said behind me, and I felt a small hand with long, manicured nails rest on my shoulder. "The Three Stooges trying to make a friend." Wiping my face, I looked behind me and saw a blonde girl about my age,wearing a cheerleader uniform, staring right at me.

Oi... What is it with the stereotypes of kids in this school? What's next?

"Ah, if it isn't Ms.Popularity." Ali muttered, glaring at the girl behind me. "Easy, Alicat." I eased her tension, trying to keep my voice low. Standing up, I noticed that the jock from earlier was watching from his table. Blondie grabbed my jaw with one hand, and forced me to look at her, digging her nails into my cheeks. "Why don't you hang with us from now on." She said, dragging me away by my arm now. Ripping my arm away from her death grip, I rubbed my arm, and turned from her. "What do you think you are doing?" Her voice rang in my ear. "I'm going to get the hell away from your crazy ass." I said, zipping back to my table, and planting my butt to the seat.

Later, after school...

Walking out to the curb, I left my friends laughing as they walked in the other direction. Bending over to tie my shoe, I straightened up to see my old friend, Baldy, standing right in front of me, his eyes slightly red, and reeking of cigarettes. "So... You think you're a big man, huh?" I compared his state of rambling to earlier, and nodded. "Yep. I don't know what's got your boxers in a bind, but whatever it is, let it go." I patted his arm, then pushed by him, only to be snagged by his large hand on my wrist. "You really are stupid, you southern hick." I felt my body tense up at the insult.

Well... I wish I could have gone this far without a problem.

Ducking under his wild haymaker, I jammed my elbow into his ribs, then ripped my hand away from him. I ducked under his wild, frenzied swings, disgusted at what passed for fighting now. "If you want to throw a punch, you moron, you throw a real punch." I growled, pushing a right hand away from me. Slipping away from a left handed uppercut, I jabbed his jaw with a left punch. As he stumbled back, clutching his jaw, I threw a quick right hook to the side of his head, knocking him out quickly.

I hate when people act all high and mighty...

Opening my would be attacker's eyes, I noticed that they were the same shade of green as Jack's eyes when I first saw him. Backing up quickly, I ran off, my entire body covered, no, drenched in that evil chill I felt before.