Chapter 2. Welcome to Hell High
       
       
       Conversations about the prank filled the halls, everyone had a comment to do about it –until the bell rang, then everyone had to make it to their first class.
       Everyone knew where to go, except for Octavia who was now lost and clueless of where to go and what to do. She was new to the standardized school experience –and her strong independence-seeking nature refused to let her brother help in any form.
       Looking at everyone go around with books or backpacks. They knew where to go next and those who did not have probably already asked someone else –but with no way to know that herself, she assumed they knew as well.
       Minutes of clueless wandering around being finally interrupted by a curious looking imp.
       Wally Wackford, the Hall Monitor. You could tell this from his uniform that included a band going across his torso with the same words printed on.
       Wally is a sneaky, opportunistic hall monitor who enforces school rules with glee. He too holds a grudge with Blitz and his crew after a prank from last year, and tries to catch them breaking the rules, hoping to get them kicked from school one way or another.
       When he is not monitoring others, he’s trying to find his way into any big “business scheme” he can find –often in hopes to steal it all for himself.
       A weaselly character, sucking up to teachers and students alike to maintain his role as the “eyes and ears” of Hell High’s administration. He is not very well-liked, but he manages to stay relevant by being useful to both students and staff.
       The moment he saw Octavia become the only one in the hallway when everyone was supposed to be at their classrooms, Wally did not hesitate to try and strike conversation.
       —Well-welly-well! Aren’t you one lost little lamb. —Wally sounded cheerful—. It is against the school rules to be out and about during class hours. Do you have a pass?
       Wally had a mischievous smile drawn all over his face. The normal procedure would have been to report her as soon as she said no, but helping out a Goetia was something he wasn’t going to pass out on. He was already daydreaming of the school principal appreciating his endeavors and Stolas himself talking about how much of an impact he had to the school as a whole.
       —A pass? No, I don’t-
       —Oh, don’t worry miss, happens to all first-year students. We just need to find where your classroom is.
       Octavia, on the other hand, wanted no involvement with the little imp. Trying her best to persuade him not to get involved.
       She passionately believed that if they were seen together, others would judge her as an abuser of her position or see him as an opportunist and a bootlicker for trying to be nice.
       —My name is Wally, by the way. Double L and a Y… not a dash and an E, like certain..
       —I-It’s ok, Wally. —Octavia tried to avoid getting dragged by the imp—. I was just uh- looking around!
       —Please, miss Octavia. I must insist. It’s my job after all!
       —Oh my gosh! Your job? But you are just a young imp! —Octavia’s ramble began—. Are you even getting paid? You’re so thin too, you probably can’t even afford food, and how little budget you guys get no wonder the Goetia stepped in. Makes sense they made my brother the president of the student body, and you wanting to help me. Oh, don’t worry you don’t need to give me special treatment wh-
       Like it did with Stolas, the same happened to Wally. As he tried to defend his pride, his actual “job” as monitor, but continuously getting interrupted by Octavia’s non-stopping chatter –her voice once more turned into a high-pitched monotone chirp that left him dumbfounded and paralyzed as his last pieces of ego crumbled. A tool of the system? Part of the late capitalism of hell as a lower income class citizen that had to do anything to survive.
       Poor Wally was left standing in the middle of the hall as Octavia kept apologizing for his undergoing in life while cheering for the rise of the lower classes.
       And as Octavia’s presence disappeared on the horizon, Stolas appeared behind him. But Wally was now motionless, emotionless, lifeless.
       —Looks like you just met my little sister, isn’t se wonderful? —Stolas chuckled as he also passed by—.
       Meanwhile, at a not-so-distant part of the building, Blitzø; Millie; Moxxie; Loona; Stella; Striker; Verosika and so on were having class. No one seemed to notice Stolas’ seat being empty –except for Stella who stared at it with spite. Wondering where he was or what was he planning.
       Still, she was alone to think about this –when everyone else had a better idea in mind.
       —So, my place, at 8. —Verosika’s voice comes through—. Blitzo, of course, is not invited.
       —As if we wanted to go. —Blitzø mocked—. Right gang?
       Everyone looked away, Loona scratched behind hear head and M&M simply looked at him with shrugged shoulders.
       —And.. —Verosika ignored his comment, instead she looked around and with a fait tone continued—. Booze!
       The whisper albeit impossible to hear, her lips moved enough for everyone to read them. Tens of giggles spread around like wildfire as one would’ve expected.
       —Is that so? —Blitzø once more butt in—. Be a shame if someone spoke up, then.
       —Blitzø, let’s be real. No one is going to believe you. —Verosika chuckled—.
       —She’s kinda right dude… —Loona confirmed—. You’re on your own this time.
       Loona then glanced at Vortex, a big hellhound sitting next to Verosika. The popular jock, muscular, big, unbothered by nothing that wasn’t related to football. He was as easy to read as any other of his kind, yet hidden beneath all that testosterone, somewhat of a more regular Joe hid inside.
       Clearly a friend of Verosika, everyone wondered why they never dated.
       —Fine, I guess I’ll have a party of my own then. —Blitzø fought back the insults—.
       Everyone laughed. So much so that the teacher had to ask for everyone to shut it if they wanted to avoid detention.
       —And just who are you going to invite, Blitzø? Half the school doesn’t know you and those who do; hate your guts. —Verosika could not let him go—.
       —My crew is more than enough, isn’t that right, guys?
       Millie and Moxxie smiled the most uncomfortable smile of their lives, and Loona was still distracted with Vortex to even listen.
       —Good luck with that.
       Nothing else was said after that, instead the class continued like any other until the end.
       And as everyone made their way to the next classroom, deep in the distance you could picture Wally still standing motionless, being avoided by all who walked next to him like the plage.
       Eventually been taken away by school staff; lifted like a piece of plywood from Home Depot.
       —You guys aren’t seriously thinking of going, right? —Blitzø fought to not stutter—.
       —Dude… of course we are going to. —Loona did not hesitate—. At least I know I am.
       —Maybe this is your chance to learn to apologize, Blitzø. —Moxxie suggested—. For all the things you did last year.. or will do this year…
       —Oh! An apology in advance! That sounds handy! —Millie added to the topic—.
       —I have never apologized for anything I’ve done!
       —And it shows.. —Loona mocked him—.
       —Well, then it seems I got no choice but to join everyone at the party one way or another.
       Unlike Loona or Moxxie, it seemed like Millie was the only one who felt sorry for Blitzø. Her smile struggled to keep its shape.
       —I mean… We could all just.. not go. Like a statement to support Blitzø. —Millie caved in—.
       —Millie, you can’t be seriously thinking about it. —Moxxie sounded annoyed—.
       —I just think it’s a little sad. Imagine if you didn’t have friends either!
       Blitzø looked at Millie first with happiness, then with astonishment.
       —No offense, girl, —Loona interrupted—. But what other friends do we have?
       —Well, I got Moxxie of course, you.. and… my family?
       —A ha.. And you fatty?
       —Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the entire drama club, Millie-
       —Uh! And that fancy Goetia lady too. —Millie added—.
       —We are not friends. She’s just after my dad. Too bad for her –since I don’t talk to him. —Moxxie looked angry—.
       —Whatever dude. —Loona brushed over—. I at least want to try and make other friends.
       Blitzø looked at the scene and twisted his mouth subtly, thinking about saying something.
       —Loonie is right. —He finally did—. You three can go. It’s probably going to be lame without me anyways; so, it’s your loss.
       —Are you sure, boss? —Millie was surprised at the sudden change of heart—.
       —Don’t press our luck, Millie… —Moxxie tucked at Millie’s shirt from behind—.
       —Absolutely! —Blitzø crossed his arms, ignorant of what Moxxie did and said—. It’ll teach you to treasure this family a little more..
       With that said, everyone seemed to agree now; except for Loona, who looked suspiciously at Blitzø one last time before walking out –bumping into Octavia who apologised and walked away so fast it looked like a blink-and-miss-it moment.
       She was still figuring out the school and where everything was, with time ticking for the next class as she tried to follow others around as a last-ditch effort. Eventually reaching her science class.
       
       ***
       
       In the interim, at the teachers’ lounge was Wally –covered with a piece of fabric and a cup of tea. He never looked so distressed before, and it didn’t help that everyone around him was effectively ignoring him –left alone to wonder about what happened to him.
       Now more than ever he wanted to be someone, he was going to not only talk back to Octavia this time around, but he was going to prove to her that even as an imp he was capable of greatness too. As many other imps have done so before him.
       Sip after sip; it was as if the warmth of the tea heated his spirit back up. Wally Wackford was going to become a household name one day.
       And with this in mind; and a couple of hours of self-pity just to vent it all out –he stood up ready for their next encounter.
       Suddenly, the door opened, and a familiar voice was heard:
       —All I did was play with it a little..
       —Miss Octavia, I understand this is your first time at a school. —A teacher seemed to be scolding Octavia—. But you do as we say, and we said no playing with the frog’s body.
       —But I already know these things. You see I actually have a fascination for taxidermy and-
       —I understand miss, but I need you to understand us as well.
       —I do understand. It’s what I was saying about the system being put in place to attack creativity and free thinking in order to foster easy to control masses so those above can take advantage of those below-
       And now for a third time, her speech had begun and in the background of it all, Wally was curled up in the sofa once more while the secretary poured new tea on top of the old one for him. He couldn’t wait for the day to end, and maybe himself.

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