9 Goblin, Witch and A Succubus

Margaret sat on the grassy hill, quietly preparing herself for the final round. That means it was time to meet the Game Masters. She was not looking forward to it at all. But she cannot avoid it either as they have taken 'hostages', and Margaret cannot heartlessly abandon them.

She sighed and looked at the small piece of paper in her hand, then she had a sudden thought.

'What was the remark for clearing the second round', she wondered.

Does she want to know? It would not be anything good, that much was certain. But she was curious and the more she contemplated it, the more she was itching to know.

Finally, she flipped the paper with an excitement she should not be feeling and she immediately regretted it.

[Hurry up or be prepared to say goodbye to the rest of your stuff.]

Damn it!

She cursed and stood up. Indeed, curiosity killed the cat. Why couldn't she restrain herself and relax for a moment. Its highly unlikely that she'll get her stuff back untouched even if she hurried over. If she didn't read the message, she could've at least rested her leg for a while.

Margaret turned around and hopped her way towards the C-Wing. The C-Wing was directly north to the chemical lab with a straight path. So after five minutes of huffing and puffing, Margaret entered the C-Wing. She crossed six halls before finally standing in front of the door with a golden number '7' on top of it.

She took a deep breath to calm her heart and opened the doors to the art room, very slowly and carefully. She looked around and stepped inside after making sure that there was no paint can attached at the top of the door.

The big hall was filled with the faint smell of oil paints and a tinge of turpentine. It was a rather large place with wooden flooring and large windows on the side wall to let the sunlight in. The hall was used to host art exhibitions and to display students' art works to visitors and potential buyers.

But now, there were only three people inside. The 'Main Boss' with her two Minions.

Not the small and cute yellow things. No, these minions are vicious and savage.

A crazy Witch, a dumb Goblin and the Main Boss, the most popular… Succubus.

The Game Masters.

The two minions, Jillian and Kade sat down on the floor with paint brushes in their hands and paint cans around them. While the Main Boss, Michelle sat on the stage at the back of the room, twirling her long blonde hair and admiring herself in the mirror.

The self-proclaimed Queen bee, Michelle and her underling Jillian were a year above her. And Kade was Michelle's brother, and a sophomore like Margaret.

Margaret hobbled her way into the room and as she reached closer, her eyes widened in shock as she caught sight of the Minions' actions. The Goblin Kade was scribbling black all over her Mickey mouse shirt while the Witch, Jillian was tearing her shorts with scissors, an innocent smile on her face.

Those were Margaret's humble spare clothes she kept in her locker, just in case. They were merely emergency clothes, but she never thought anybody would go after them. They were completely harmless.

Such a pity! They were a limited edition as well.

Margaret sighed. She knew it was naive of her if she expected any of her things to be returned unharmed. They left her books intact not because they respected the books, but because they were needed to be in shape to lure her in, and for that trap to work.

She found her pencil case, but the contents were lost forever and the pencil case itself was returned only to deliver the final clue.

But the spare clothes doesn't serve any purpose for them, so they were ruthlessly destroyed. And Margaret could only mourn for them silently.

Wait, there was still something missing.

Her diary!

Margaret could guess where it would be so she immediately turned her head towards the stage. There it was, her red book of secrets, lying beside Michelle. She took a few steps towards her and the Main Boss, Michelle finally turned her head away from the mirror in her hand.

Margaret was now in the aggro range and the final battle began!

The Sexy Succubus Vs The Silly Geek.

Michelle put the mirror aside and turned to Margaret, a mock smile plastered on her face. "Well well, look who's finally here? Took you long enough."

"Yeah, I was busy surviving your hunger games." Margaret turned aside and mumbled under her breath. But the Main Boss's skills are not to be underestimated. Due to the unceasing practice of eavesdropping for years, her hearing was now beyond ordinary.

"Hmph."Michelle dismissed the sassy comment with a sneer. She felt it was beneath her to argue with these lowly people like Margaret.

She was already sitting on a high platform but she still propped her chin up high, looking down on Margaret. She gave her a once-over, with disgust reflecting in her features. But when she noticed the limp in Margaret's step, her lips curled up into an amused smirk.

"Looks like you really enjoyed yourself. Was the game up to your standards?"

No, it was lame, predictable and half-assed, Margaret wanted to answer, but didn't. She wanted to save her diary from her clutches so she swallowed that comment.

"Lets get to the point. Why did I get summons from your Majesty on the very first day?" Margaret spoke, her tone full of mockery and sarcasm. It was unknown if Michelle didn't notice it or chose to ignore it.

Michelle shrugged casually. "Of course, it's because we missed you. Very dearly." She gave a smile so sweet it buried her original sinister aura and turned the atmosphere into a flower garden. Then as if she realized something, she gasped and put her hand in front of her mouth. "Don't tell me, you forgot about us?"

Margaret rolled her eyes and chose not to answer her. But, she was right, Margaret really did completely forget about them. They were mere side characters after all.

But were they?

Michelle hopped down the stage and walked closer, and Margaret involuntarily took a step back.

"And what the hell is this...thing?" Michelle held the diary up in the air and asked, with a confused expression.

"It's a diary." Margaret answered with a straight face, as if it was a matter of fact. And it was the truth too, but not everyone likes to hear the truth and Michelle was one of them.

"I know that, smarty pants." She smacked the back of Margaret's head with her own diary. The nerve of this girl. "I thought it was a personal diary. There's nothing in it but... tests and scores. It's a total waste of my time."

Margaret rolled her eyes involuntarily. Isn't this Boss's AI very low? Why would Margaret bring her personal diary to college, much less put it in the locker. That would be plain suicide, she might as well publish all her life's secrets on social media.

Margaret was not dumb and she values her life. And speaking of personal diary, she doesn't even have one. Nothing eventful happens in her life which was worth writing in a diary. She could write about the various pranks she deals with every day but that would be miserable and pathetic, and they were not something she would like to read and reminiscence in the future.

Michelle might not be impressed with it, but that red diary was Margaret's pride. Every test she wrote, her scores and grades on various projects and reports, her average on the subjects for every particular lecturer and many other details were recorded in that diary. It started as a silly hobby but now it became her own progressive report.

"Give it back, Michelle." Margaret tried to grab the diary but Michelle was faster. She swiftly pulled it away as a cold glint flashed in her eyes.

'Stupid. Idiot.' Margaret immediately scolded herself silently. She should not have said that. She should've acted indifferent. But it's too late for regrets now.

"Not so fast." Michelle took another look at the unremarkable and useless diary in her hands. Suddenly, it didn't seem so useless anymore. Her lips twitched into an evil smirk as she considered all the possible ways to get entertainment from the diary. "Well, If you want it, then-"

"Holy Sh*t."

Kade's cuss of a yell interrupted her, and both of them turned to him.

Michelle frowned in confusion while Margaret gasped at the scene.

Her spare clothes... they were burning to a crisp within the blazing flame. As if ruining them wasn't enough, they were burning them. When the clothes were being painted black, Margaret only felt pity. But now, watching her clothes burn, she felt as if a part of her was being destroyed. She couldn't brush it away lightly as various unknown emotions were bubbling up inside her.

Self-pity? Anger? Grief? Hurt?

"It's burning... it's burning..." Jillian spoke in singsong voice, as she stood back, giggling and clapping.

'Of course its burning, you idiot. And those are clothes not fireworks; you wear them, not set them on fire.' Margaret directed a deadly glare at Jillian before her eyes went back to the fire.

"What the hell, Kade?" Michelle yelled at her brother, her expression genuinely angry.

Well, at least someone was feeling bad about it.

"It wasn't on purpose." Kade put his hands up in surrender, a cigarette stuck between his fingers. "I was just lighting my cigar, and suddenly they caught fire. It's not my fault."

Dumb, useless, pea brained moron.

"I don't care. Put it out quickly." Michelle growled at him.

"Okay okay, I'll put it out." Kade grumbled. "Its not my fault, why are you yelling at me?" He looked as if he was unfairly wronged.

Michelle huffed annoyingly and turned to Margaret, who was still looking at her blazing pile of clothes. She was stiff from top to bottom, her hands clenched, her lips trembling in anger and her brown eyes full of hurt.

"Hold on." Michelle held up her hand, as she watched Margaret's calm and composed attitude slowly crumbling away. Margaret's eyes were tearing up and she was biting her bottom lip hard to hold back the sobs. "On a second thought, let it be."

Kade, who was about to stomp on the fire, paused and looked at his sister in confusion.

'Do I put it out or not?' Poor goblin was in a huge conflict.

"I might have a use for it." The Succubus clarified, as a viciously seductive smile bloomed on her face.

That statement hit Margaret like a thunder bolt and shook her awake from her agitated state. She immediately turned her head towards Michelle and saw her waving her diary back and forth as if she was contemplating something.

'No she wouldn't.' Margaret wanted to convince herself that she wouldn't go that far, but she can see Michelle's intentions clearly on her face. Her eyes had an evil glint and her lips were curved into a sinister smirk.

"Don't, Michelle. Please." Margaret spoke, her voice trembling. She was now completely defenseless and didn't care if she sounded desperate or miserable. She just didn't want to see another of her possessions burnt to ashes in front of her.

"Hmm, since you sound so desperate, I really feel bad about it. Well, you can have your diary." Michelle smiled, extremely pleased with Margaret's reaction. "Here." She stretched her hand out, with the diary firmly gripped in her fingers.

Margaret internally sighed with relief and took a step forward to get her diary back. As she reached out her hand to grab it, Michelle raised her arm and threw it to the side. Suddenly the world went into slow motion as if in movies. Margaret eyes followed the diary as it flew in a perfect arc and landed on the burning pile of clothes.

Such Accuracy!

Margaret stood there in a daze, with her hand still stretched out to receive her diary. Michelle smiled and leaned close to her ear as she whispered. "Its all yours now."

She then chuckled and shoved her away. Margaret stumbled backwards three steps, and fell flat on her back, knocking over a paint can in the process.

Green paint spilled out and slowly made its way to her hair. But Margaret didn't even seem to notice it. Instead her mind was still reeling with numbness.

Why was she falling down so many times today? This was already the third time.

'Damn it, why am I counting them? And most importantly...'

She turned her head to the side and watched as her diary was slowly burning black in front of her eyes. She could clearly see the pages filled with her writing turn into black dust as they were swallowed by the orange flames mercilessly.

Michelle wore an satisfied smirk on her face as she looked down at Margaret lying on the floor with a pale face and blank gaze. Although she was bored until Margaret made it to the last round, she was quite happy with the final result.

"Let's go, you two." Michelle turned to the side and called back her minions. "We wasted a lot of time here already."

She flipped her hair over her shoulder and walked past Margaret, her hips swaying from left to right She was oozing with pride and charm unequaled among her peers. Just a casual glance and a fleeting smile from her was enough to bewitch numerous guys and turn them to be her slaves and do her bidding.

A Succubus, indeed.

Margaret slowly sat up as she felt her body ache all over. It was a turning out to be a really long day.

"Oh, and one last thing." Michelle's voice jolted Margaret to straighten her spine. She slowly turned around and saw Michelle walking back towards her, with a paint brush in her hand.

'What? Are you not done yet? Do you want to paint my face now?'

Margaret had no strength nor any desire to fight back anymore. So she just closed her eyes and waited for the grimy feel of paint on her face. But there wasn't any, instead she felt a tug on her feet and looked at her outstretched legs.

"I hate your shoes." Michelle declared. "They are hurting my eyes."

And well enough, she proved it with her actions. Margaret's white vans were now scarred with green blemishes.

There it was. The final touch!

She then strutted away, her joyous laughter echoing in the hall. Jillian skipped behind her, giggling like a crazy old witch. And the goblin, Kade smacked her head before he too followed his sister.

Margaret looked at her shoes in pity and let out a deep sigh as she slowly laid back down, facing the white ceiling.

After lying there silently for a couple minutes, Margaret slowly stood up and walked out. She never once turned her head back to look at her burnt clothes or her diary. She knew better than most, that there was no use being sad about the past. She had learnt to let go and face forward with a smile.

She exited the C-Wing and went to the main campus and headed directly towards the bathroom.

- -

She was washing the paint off her hair and venting her frustrations when she heard the bell. That meant she missed her Math class too and now it was the last class of the day, Literature. It was Margaret's favorite class and according to the new schedule, it was only twice a week. If she missed it today then she will have to wait till Friday again.

She rushed out of the bathroom, ignoring the pain in her ankle and started hopping along the way to quicken her pace. She was only a few feet away from the classroom when she bumped into someone.

She was in such a hurry and with her distracted mind, she didn't even notice a person in front of her. She lost her balance and stumbled back, and as she about to fall for the fourth time in the day, a hand caught hers and pulled her straight. Margaret quickly steadied herself on her good leg and took a deep breath.

'Phew, that was close.'

"Thank you." She breathed out. "And I'm sorry." She quickly bowed her head in gratitude and apology.

One second passed by, Two seconds passed by... And as she didn't receive any response, Margaret slowly looked up and was left stunned.

Damn!

Its still only day one, why were there so many surprises at once?

'Dear God, please save some things for the future. Its a lot to take on in a single day.'