Gregor and the Prophecy of Destruction - a Gregor the Overlander fanfiction

Chapter 1

Gregor stared at the blackboard and sighed. Algebra was far too boring to keep his attention span. He spent most of his time thinking about what he would do when he got home.

"Gregor?"

Gregor snapped out of his boredom and looked at Mrs. Jenkins. "Yes?"

Mrs. Jenkins clicked her tongue. "You should really pay attention, Gregor. Almost all jobs these days involve math, and Algebra is just the basics. Besides, I could give you detention for not paying attention, and you don't want that, do you?"

Gregor resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Sorry."

Mrs. Jenkins sighed. "Eliana, what's the answer to question number four?"

Gregor's friend froze and looked nervously at her notebook. "Um... forty-two?"

"Very funny," Mrs. Jenkins said sarcastically. "You don't think I've heard that before? The answer to life, the universe, and everything is forty-two? Yeah, I've heard it before. Now give me a real answer or I'll give you a detention!"

Eliana was near tears. "I... I got forty-two as my answer, ma'm."

"Let me see your work," Mrs. Jenkins demanded before snatching Eliana's notebook and looking at it. "Nope. All wrong. Have you even been paying attention?"

"Y-yes, I just don't understand it!" Eliana protested, her voice shaking.

Mrs. Jenkins threw Eliana's notebook back onto her desk. "Pay more attention."

Eliana and Gregor shared a look. Gregor was furious. Mrs. Jenkins shouldn't be allowed to harass a student like that, and he knew it.

The rest of Algebra passed by quickly. The only good thing about Algebra was that it was the last class of the day. Unfortunately, Mrs. Jenkins had given the class a hard math problem and wouldn't let anyone leave until it was solved. The kids all started to get up when the bell rang, but Mrs. Jenkins ordered them to stay. Luckily, a smart girl named Jenna figured out the math problem. As soon as Mrs. Jenkins finally dismissed them, Gregor ran out of the class, still fuming from everything that had happened.

Eliana hurried to catch up with him. "Gregor, I can't believe she did that to me!"

"I know. It sucks," Gregor said, clenching his fists. A familiar buzzing feeling occurred in the pit of his stomach, but he quickly dismissed it. "She's a total witch."

"Tell me about it," Gregor's other best friend Justin agreed. "You guys want to come over later?"

"Can't," Gregor replied. "I have work."

"You have a job?" Eliana asked.

Gregor nodded. "Yeah. My family is... economically challenged, to say the least."

"Oh... I'm sorry," Eliana said. She turned to Justin. "I'll come over."

"Cool, cool," Justin replied. "Does 6:00 work for you?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, shoot, I'm going to be late!" Gregor gasped, checking his watch. "See you guys later." He waved to his friends before running off towards the local coffee shop.

He burst in the door just as his shift was about to start. His manager, Zack, glared at him.

"Sorry... my math teacher held us back after the bell rang," Gregor said, panting.

"That's the second time you've been late this week, Gregor," Zack commented. "One more time and you're fired."

"Jeez, you're just like Ripred," Gregor thought, then guiltily took it back. Although Ripred could be rude and grumpy, he wanted nothing but the best for Gregor and his friends.

After Gregor's long shift at work, Zack reluctantly handed Gregor a $20 bill. Gregor thanked him and left without another word.

When he got home, Lizzie was bouncing on the couch, waiting for him. "Gregor! You're home!" She ran forward and gave him a hug. As she wrapped her arms around him, she whispered a message:

"Come into my bedroom after dinner. Something's happened."

Gregor pulled back from the hug. Lizzie's expression told him to act natural, but her eyes were worried.

"Gre-Go!" Boots squealed, running for Gregor. Gregor grinned and picked her up, spinning her around.

"I miss you!" Boots exclaimed as Gregor hoisted her onto his chest and held her.

"Hey, you," Gregor said, kissing her forehead. "How was your day?"

"Good! I see Temp's fwiend!" Boots replied enthusiastically.

"You WHAT?!?" Gregor shouted. Thoughts of Boots in the Underland scared him to death, even though it was mostly safe in Regalia.

"I pway with Temp's fwiend!" Boots repeated, motioning for him to follow her. She walked into her room. In the corner sat a cockroach.

"Oh." Gregor relaxed. "Cool."

"I see Temp again soon?" Boots asked, her eyes big and pleading.

Gregor felt a pang in his heart. "No, Boots. We can't. I'm sorry." Then, he thought about what Lizzie had said. "I mean, maybe, but probably not."

Lizzie probably hadn't even been talking about the Underland. She was probably talking about money problems again. She'd been very helpful with the bills and stuff. She'd even tried to make money herself by tutoring kids in math, but so far, she'd only made about $15. Turns out not many people trust an eight and a half year old girl who has panic attacks every couple of months to tutor their kids, even if she was twice as smart as all the other kids in her class.

Dinner was chicken noodle soup from a can. Again. Gregor never dared to complain, though. Anything was better than raw fish. Besides, his parents were trying their best, and they weren't bad at all.

After dinner, Lizzie gave Gregor the look again. In order to decrease suspicion, he waited for about three minutes before knocking on Lizzie's door. Lizzie instantly opened it and let him in.

"Gregor," Lizzie said worriedly. "I found this letter in the mail."

She handed Gregor a piece of paper. Underland paper. Gregor's breathing increased rapidly as he unfolded it.

Dear Gregor,

He could recognize that handwriting anywhere.

Yes. It's me, Luxa. I'm fine. But the Underland is not. You must come back.

I know it will be hard to convince your parents, so my advice is to ask to stay with Mrs. Cormaci over winter break, which is apparently coming soon.

Long story short, you, Lizzie, and Boots are all needed in the Underland as soon as possible. I'm sorry to bring this news to you, but there is a new prophecy that you three must fulfill. Please. Times are desperate.

Love,
Luxa

Gregor looked up into Lizzie's scared eyes.

"The letter didn't say anything about Ripred," Lizzie said, her breathing becoming more shallow and faster. "What if he's... w-what if he's..." Lizzie burst into tears, sinking to the ground. Gregor quickly ran towards her and caught her in his arms.

"Sh. Lizzie, it's okay. I'm sure Ripred's fine," Gregor comforted her. But doubts began to creep into his minds also. Ripred was known to the rats as a traitor, and they'd all been trying to kill him ever since his alliance with the humans.

But Ripred was a rager. A natural-born killer. Just like Gregor, except far more deadly.

"What does this mean for us?" Lizzie whispered, her tears starting to stop as she looked into Gregor's eyes.

Gregor took a deep breath and looked Lizzie in her eyes before he spoke.

"It means we have to go back to the Underland."