King of Deceit

Prologue

Sophomore Class, June 2, 2017

With my knees visibly shaking I stoop behind the podium; eyes skimming the class that sat before me.

"I'd like to announce that...," I shuffled my papers vigorously, "I have no idea what i'm doing." A few snickers rose from the group, making me blush. I glanced sparingly at my immaculate papers; giving them a run-through for the umpteenth time. I made glaring eye contact with each student. I stomped down my nerves letting trembling in my legs shorten to a quiver before I began.

"The world doesn't make sense so why should I paint pictures that do? This..." I trailed off clicking through various slides of Picasso's work, "is an inspirational quote by Pablo Picasso. He," I cleared my throat and continued. I knew no one was listening as I went through the rest of my project. I noticed all to quick. I ignored their stupidity. The uncultured peanuts. I saw the bully pick his nose and nearly gagged. I noticed the teacher dose off after the first paragraph. I even cringed slightly when the smartest kid in class groaned about how boring this was. But what I didn't see was the figure, a terrible cloud of dread that clung to the walls behind it. It stood attentively in the far corner; its mirk amused and dangerous.