The Sun and Sky

A Monster in Disguise--Char

"Take a seat, young lady," Ms, Diez scolded Char, once again for being the last student to show up for class. Her pitch black eyes seared through Char's body, like a hot knife cutting through butter.

"S-sorry, ma'am," Char stuttered, taking her seat, searching for the correct page number.

She then realized a paper, turned over, sitting on her desk.

Ms. Diez surveyed the room, almost as if she was about to pick which student she wanted to eat first.

"Students, turn over your papers," Ms. Diez said.

Char stared at her, thinking that this woman could not possibly be human. Ms. Diez's head turned to Char. As soon as she caught Char staring at her, the teacher's onyx eyes narrowed.

"NOW," she said more forcefully, obviously directing it at Char.

Char snapped her head back to her paper, instantly turning it over. It was then when Char realized why her teacher was glaring at her. On the paper, written in a big, red marker, was F, circled.

As if she couldn't put any more emphasis on it.

Char looked at it, dumbfounded. She did not think she would get an A, but she certainly did not think she would get an F.

Char's hands shook with anger, causing her paper to shake with them.

"Something wrong, dear?" Ms. Diez asked, staring Char down.

This was not fair. There was no way that Char could have gotten a grade that low and Ms. Diez definitely had a bone to pick with her. It felt like she was trying to get revenge that lasted an eternity with her.

"I think my test is graded wrong," Char said sternly to her, trying her best to contain her anger.

Ms. Diez immediately walked over to her table, with her hands behind her back. She stared down at her, eyes glowering.

"I will talk to you alone after class."

Char gulped, as a few kids behind her started snickering.

Then, suddenly, there was a loud pounding on the door.

Ms. Diez turned at lightning speed, hissing at the door.

Another pounding sound.

Char instantly started to sweat, as she watched.

The door suddenly fell to the floor, breaking away from it's winches, as a small fleet of soldiers, dressed in Roman battle armor strode into the classroom. Every student's jaws dropped as they noticed the soldiers.

"I don't think so," the front soldier spoke.

That voice.

It couldn't be.

Could it?

The soldier in the front unstrapped her helmet and took it off.

Char gasped, realizing who it was.

"You," the teacher hissed at her.

"Charlotte," Char breathed. "You're...alive."

Charlotte took out a golden sword that was kept at her side.

"Make your move, you monster," she sneered at Ms. Diez. "We all know what you are."

A low growl grew in the teacher's voice.

Her body suddenly started changing form.

Her clothes instantly ripped off her body, revealing the body of a lion with four large paws and two massive feathery wings. Her head, however, still looked the same.

Char's jaw dropped as she let out a small whimper. She fell out of her seat, trying to scramble backwards.

The Roman soldiers behind Charlotte braced themselves.

Char recognized the creature from mythology.

A Sphinx, she thought, horrified. This cannot be happening.

The creature looked at Char, then to the soldiers. She focused on Charlotte. Oh no, Char thought.

She spun her golden sword. Where did she even get that? Who were the soldiers?

The Sphinx lunged at Charlotte, knocking several of the front tables backwards.

Students scattered as Charlotte dove out of the way of the monster, making her face the fleet of Romans. But the Sphinx was smart. Her giant wings propelled her back, away from the pointed spears and swords.

The creature bared her enormous fangs at Charlotte. She scented the air. "A child of the Big-Three," she snarled. "It would certainly make a statement if I killed you."

"You won't get the chance," Charlotte replied as she charged the Sphinx.

The two were at it for a while. Charlotte ducking and stabbing when she could, and the monster slashing when she got the chance. The soldiers were trying to surround the two, helping when possible.

Char's instincts kicked in and she felt the urge to help. She quickly surveyed the floor, looking for something to help her. She swiftly grabbed an electric pencil sharpener that had been ripped from it's socket. Char braced herself and hurled it at the creature.

If the monster and her best friend were not moving so fast, it would have hit her target, but unfortunately, it hit the wrong one.

The electric pencil sharpener whistled through the air and hit Charlotte right in the head. She stumbled backwards. "Watch it!" she yelled. The Sphinx took advantage of the moment she had, and slammed her body into Charlotte, slashing her arm and sending her across the room. She propelled backwards, hitting the whiteboard, and crumpling to the floor.

"Charlotte!" Char screamed.

The Roman soldiers charged at the Sphinx, but she was too fast for them. She slammed some into the ground, while some were launched across the room. The creature was simply too good for them.

She turned to Char, baring her enormous fangs. Char scrambled back as the Sphinx strode towards her. Char felt the wall behind her as she tried to back up. This was it; she was cornered.

The monster grinned, showing off her teeth. "I have waited a long time for this."

Just as the Sphinx was about to pounce, she suddenly gasped.

Her eyes, for once, had a small flash of worry before she exploded into a yellow powder. The powder faded, revealing a long, golden sword, stabbed where the monster's back was, and Charlotte leaning on it, exhausted.

"Charlotte!" Char scrambled up to help her stand. "What is going on?!"

Just as Charlotte was about to speak, five students stood from their seats, their eyes glowing gold.

Char looked to Charlotte, noticing her eyes widening. "We need to go," she said, as her soldiers got up as fast as possible. "Run, now!"

And at that very moment, the classroom was left in ruins, as Char, her best friend, and a fleet of Roman soldiers raced out of the room.