“Mmm...crackers…” I’m crunching away when my phone buzzes. “Shut the fuck up!”, I tell it, like anyone would. But when I look out across the other side of town, I see something like a huge cloud in the sky. I check my device and see the news alert for a mothman pollen alert. “Ah shit. Never seen one of those around here”. I amble inside the building, down a hall and inside one of the classrooms to crouch under one of the desks. When the cloud has passed I’m finding the sexiest girl in school and asking her out. I smirk.
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“Why would you need to hide under anything if you’re already inside the building?” Georgia asked, glancing at the boy.
“Well no, it’s just a sort of generalization of how I’d react, I’ve just, uh never-” he hesitated.
“Chad, you’ve been announcing to the class now for months that you’re going to try to date one of those mamono, why don’t you just do it already?”
“Oh uh, then do you want to go out with me?” He asked, standing up straight to face her.
“I’ve known you for too long to be interested in spending time with you outside of class”, she responded, maintaining eye contact for just long enough to see the life snuffed out of him. Chad sat down, sinking low into his seat and taking enormous interest in the craftsmanship of his desk. A chorus of “oooohhhh” filled the room.
“Georgia, I’ve seen more merciful kills on the battlefield. Wasn’t that rather harsh?” Georgia looked at Mrs. Murlough, sitting at the front of the room with a lighthearted smile.
“No. If he was serious he should have asked me at a better time”. Georgia tried but failed to look at her teacher as she talked. The look in her eyes was kind but also intensely unnerving. It wasn’t helped by the bits of metal that seemed stuck to her body, visible near her wrists, shoulders, and ankles.
“Well, students, we’re going to end our lesson a little early today. I expect you all to finish A Midsummer Night’s Dream by the end of the week. Now does anyone need any information on the incoming pollen cloud?” She asked, walking to the back of the classroom to check that the windows were shut tight. A few students raised their hands. “Nothing to worry about. Mothmen regularly release spores from their wings to entice mates. When large groups gather they spread clouds of pollen that can travel further than their normal range. It can have an effect on one’s libido but even many mamono are able to restrain themselves from the effects. The cloud should pass within an hour or two, anyone who is worried about the effects can stay after school, but otherwise the rest of you are dismissed. Have a lovely day”. Some of the students started to collect their things but as they moved toward the door a man stepped into the doorway and stopped them. He was dressed in military fatigues. Mrs. Murlough too one look, picked up her sword from the corner of the room. The students cleared the way as she marched over to face him. The man almost stepped out of the classroom, but held his position even as she stood a whole head taller than him and met him with a look that cut through any facade he could muster. “Can I help you, young man?” She asked, smiling sweetly.
“Madam, this is Private Hannison of-”
“Stuff it”, she snapped, then continued to smile. “Is there something I can help you with, sweetheart?”
“Madam, I’m here to bring any and all persons at risk of infection into custody, and for further inspection if needed”.
“That won’t be necessary. The pollen is entirely harmless to the one’s health, and has no affect on anyone not in direct contact”.
“My commander told me very clearly, I’m to round up all potentially infected persons in the school-”
“Really? You’re expected to bring in the entire student body for inspection? What do they have you kids doing at that base? I told you already, there is zero risk to anyone not in direct contact with the pollen. And I’m not going to let you harass any of the other classes”. She gripped the man’s wrist with an unbreakable strength and led him inside the room, sitting him down at one of the desks. “Give me your radio”. It was not a request. The man handed it over and she fiddled with it. “What’s your name?” She asked.
“Private Hannison”.
“And your first name?”
“Robin”, he answered hesitantly.
“Here we are. Hello? Is there someone on the other end I can speak to?”
“Private, what’s the situation?”
“Hello, I am a teacher at Marlin County High School. One of the boys that you’ve got doing your dirty work is here in my classroom after trying to scare my students into compliance. I am going to keep him here until the pollen cloud passes, or one of your superiors can come fetch him. But you bring him right back to your little base, alright?” There was silence for a moment.
“We’ll send someone over”.
“And for goodness sake you had better not bring any weapons with you. I’m not holding him hostage, I’m keeping him from disrupting my students. This is a school. For civillians. For children, like the ones you get to-” The transmission cut off. She set the radio down, then looked at the students who had all mostly returned to their seats, completely at attention.
“Mrs. Murlough, can we go?” Ellen asked.
“Oh my, of course. But I believe extracurricular activities are also suspended for today”.
“Oh. Then I think I’ll stick around to see what happens”, she muttered to herself. The classroom went silent, students looking at the boy dressed in camo, and he staring at the floor.
“Hey dude, isn’t the quarantine thing a bit much?” Jake asked. The boy looked up.
“What? No, it’s bare minimum procedure to ensure minimal harm of civilians by foreign invaders”.
Yeah, I think that is kind of too much. I mean, it’s not even getting in the building”. Jake pointed and everyone looked outside as the air had turned hazy, with an orange tint.
“I have to follow orders”. Robin answered. The door opened.
“What is up you cool cats!” A girl stood in the doorway as everyone turned to look at her. “Me and some friends are going to go get a whiff of that pollen, you wouldn’t believe how good it is. We want to find out if there’s anyone else feeling adventurous today?” She grinned, her tail swishing back and forth as she looked at the class.
“We have one guy who might be interested”, Georgia spoke up. She pointed to Chad.
“Oh? Then how about it, bro?” The girl asked, her grin a mile wide and yellow eyes locking on to him. Chad froze, trying to decide how to answer. Then he thought about Georgia’s comment. He stood up as tall as he could manage.
“I’ll go with you”.
“Great! Hopefully we can get some more guys now”. She turned to walk out of the classroom, Chad following behind. Someone clapped him on the back as he passed.