Orphis Brown and the Stolen Crown

Chapter 16

To say that the bus left just in time was an understatement. As soon as the bus rumbled down the road, a missile plummeted towards them and they all dove in different directions as half the playground was blasted into smithereens.

'NOOO!' screamed the old secretary Mrs Effie as she toddled toward them at the speed of a slow-motion slug. 'That seesaw was five million dollars from the school funds!'

'Nobody cares, old lady!' Selina yelled back. Orphis winced and whispered, 'I know you don't like her, but show some respect, okay?'

'She has crutches, and she sucks!' Selina answered as a matter of factly, and Orphis rolled his eyes.

'We're sorry about that!' Orphis called to the poor dear and she waved and grunted and turned around and headed back towards the school.

'We can't let her stay here.' Yankai and Simon muttered simultaneously and Selina said 'Don't worry I've got it covered.

Selina produced a million dollar packet of money and closed her eyes. Then she opened it again, apparently satisfied and the packet disappeared from her clutch.

'Ey, old lady!' Selina said, totally trying hard on the whole 'showing respect' thing. 'Your lucky numbers for the lottery are 3, 7, 19, and 21! Go or something!'

Orphis was aware that the lottery was next Thursday, but Selina whispered, 'The mist will cover that up.'

Orphis watched as Mrs Effie toddled as fast as she can to the school parking lot, where she hopped into a random Ferrari and zoomed out of sight.

'Well that certainly is a gangsta granny.' Henry raised his eyebrows, 'I expect she'll be...'

'Now what?' Wendy interrupted 'One missile and that's it? That was too easy.'

'Wow, daughter of Athena. Some great wisdom there!' Oliver said, doing air quotes at the word 'wisdom'.

Orphis jumped. Oliver hadn't talked since forever, Orphis thought. Apparently, he now recovered from his date with his precious golden toilet seat being interrupted.

'Well, am I wrong? Everytime you say something is too easy, something horrible happens and we basically all die!'

As if on cue, a swarm of comical dracaena started marching up the hill, followed by legions of Cyclops, and even a Minotaur in their wake. Hundreds of monsters that Orphis can't even name also marched toward them and even Selina whimpered and hid behind Henry, who was tall and the only one who provided enough space to cover Selina. Henry said, 'Hey!' and moved out of the way. Selina glared at him and went to hide behind Yankai, who was also exceptionally tall.

'Welp, I suppose this is the part where we all commit suicide.' Orphis said and he charged into battle, the others in his wake.