Hate to Apathy

Making Friends

Elizabeth dragged me down the hall before I informed her that I was perfectly capable of using my legs as a form of transport. She apologised and let me go, allowing me to walk beside her. The problem now being the fact that I had no idea where to increase the likelihood of finding friends, or how to initiate a friendship in the first place. When I told Elizabeth ab up this, she faltered, then said she didn't either.

     Our first encounter was outside. We met the sandworm of the school (there weren't any others). It was less of us meeting her than her meeting us. She simply appeared in front of us all of a sudden, and it was apparent she was holding herself back from assaulting us. When I asked her if she was alright, she moaned slightly and her outer shell ate me, leaving me in the narrow cylindrical tube that was her body with her human shaped tongue. She tried to hug me using her humanoid tendril, but I slapped her head and climbed to the top, holding her back using my cane. I then told her if she didn't open up, then I would kick out a few teeth to get out myself. She growled slightly before opening her maw reluctantly. When I stepped out, Elizabeth hugged me like a bear. I told her to get off of me. After that, we talked to the sandworm, and became friends, seeing as she didn't have any either. Her name was Sandy.

The second encounter was when I saw an Ushi-Oni breathing heavily with a blush on her face, staring at a group of the human boys hanging out. I walked up to her and asked her if it was going to be a problem that she was in heat. When she looked at me, she gulped, then pinned me down. I called for Elizabeth and Sandy to come to my aid, but I was cut off halfway through by the spider lady snogging me. Luckily, Elizabeth and Sandy was with me at the time, so they both helped me out from under the Ushi-Oni. That was when we had a chat. Her name was Charlotte.

The third encounter was with a Kraken hiding below the surface of the water of the small lake in the school grounds. She seemed to be hiding from people, but when I waved for her to come up, she did so without complaint. I asked her why she was hiding, and her answer was that she found all the people slightly overwhelming. Elizabeth then came up and told her that she, Sandy, Charlotte, and me would help her get used to it, and that hiding away wouldn't help. After a few more minutes of persuasion and convincing, the Kraken, whose name was Inky, came out of the water and agreed to be our friend.

The fourth and last encounter was in the halls with a Hellhound. She was being bullied by the very same group of human boys that Charlotte was eyeing earlier that day. They had pinned her to the wall of the corridor when I arrived. The moment I saw it, I went up to the four boys and told them to see me in my office. I bid goodbye to my new acquaintances and told them to check the Hellhound to see if she was alright. Then, I left with the boys.

     We entered my office and I sat down behind the desk. I said nothing for a while, waiting for them to sit down. Once they did, I leaned back in my seat, crossed my legs, a crossed my fingers. I waited a moment longer, taking them all in. They were all exceedingly generic. Three white, one black, all wearing the school uniform with the top button undone. They sat with their legs spread out exaggeratedly, and three of them had their arms crossed. I said nothing, making the atmosphere uncomfortable. They had planned on me saying something, and thus silence was scary.

'Hey. Come on. We know we're in trouble. Just tell us, already!' One boy said.

'Yeah.' The other three intoned.

     I continued to stare at them, not saying a word. This continued for another thirty seconds before they cracked.

'Oi! You tiny piece o' sh*'! Jus' tell us, awready!' The blond boy stood up.

'Please sit down.' I told him, coldly. He did so with trepidation. 'Listen. I don't usually tell people this, but I have a room downstairs for people I don't like. And at the moment, I really don't like any of you.' I looked at them. They flinched. 'I told you explicitly that no discrimination or bullying is permitted at this school. You broke that rule almost immediately. Your parents must never have told you this, but when you play with fire...' I paused and pressed a button. They were all locked into place with metal bindings. I took out a lighter and lit it. '... you're going to get burnt.'

I walked around my desk, taking my time. They began to struggle against the metal, saying things such as "come on, man", and "no! Please, just stop". I stood in front of them, leaning on my desk. They calmed down slightly, looking me. One seemed to talk for the other, telling me that they wouldn't do it ever again, and that they would "be cool, man". I smiled at them.

'Ah. The pleading. You see, there are several steps to torture.' I looked at them. Their eyes widened.

'No! You aren't allowed to do this!'

'You're not in any kingdom. This is essentially my country, and I do whatever the hell I want.' I smiled at them.

'No! This can't be happening!'

'Okay. First, there's the surprise of being in danger of torture, right? You lot were quite surprised when your were just trapped, yeah? Well, that's the surprise. Then, there's the denial. You try to deny that this is happening, and that the torturer isn't allowed to be doing what he's doing, and in most cases, you'd be right. You're just forgetting two things. They don't care, and, in my case, I am allowed to.'

'Come on, man. Please don't do this. You don't have to do this.'

'Then, there's the bargaining. As you've just shown. Then, there's the pain of he torture, followed by despair once I've finished the first session. These last two alternate until you lose your mind.' I grinned at them.

'Help! He's a madman! Please, help us!'

'Shut up!' I shouted at them. They didn't, so I gagged them. 'You were being too loud... and I hate loud noises.' They stopped moaning in their gags. 'Right. However, I believe that countries are better ruled by love than by fear, so... I'm going to ask you a question.' They went silent. 'How would you like to be the disciplinary committee?' I took their gags out.

'Uhh. What?'

'Well, I'm going to allow students to make clubs. However, there are a few I have to start already. I need a student council, which will be done by vote, an activities committee, which people will be able to apply to once I've appointed a president. Lastly, I need a disciplinary committee, who will keep other students in check. Of course, I'll appoint someone else to be in charge, but you lot seem to be capable of keeping others from being idiots... even though you don't seem the brightest yourself.'

'Okay. We'll do it.'

'And also, you'll get badges.' I handed them a badge each saying "discipline". 'If you see anyone breaking the rules I explained, stop them. Don't use violence, unless it's self defence. You are to tell each other when you see something so you get some backup.' I handed them a walkie-talkie each. 'Use that. Instructions are on the back. No leave my office, and home you're never in here again.' I told them before pressing a second button and the bindings releasing the kids.

     I sighed before sitting at my desk and resting my head on my forearms, which in turn were resting horizontally on the desk. I couldn't be asked to go talk to Elizabeth or the others, so I got up, locked the door, returned to my previous position, and fell asleep. It was around 19:00, so I knew I would be up around 03:00. That was enough time to get my first lesson in the amphitheatre ready, as well as make signs pointing all students to the amphitheatre.