THE WRATH OF THE SEVEN SEAS

Episode 7

C7 STRIKE OF THE WEREWOLF

Convincing Anthony is not an easy as what the girls had thought it to be. With no actual conclusion, the girls headed to school the following day. Jocelyn had decided to iron it out with Marcellus, but Gwendolyn declined saying she will sort it out. She can't afford to watch Jocelyn cause another havoc to what was still on ground for them.

Today, the contesting will start with the swimming contestants. Then, those that make it to the rope will be able to participate in the next round. The next day will be for another segment of the game, high jump.

Jocelyn walked up to Olivia as Gwendolyn made for eight room to meet Eleanor.

"Are you sure you are ready for this Jocelyn?" Olivia asked.

"I cannot be as much prepared as I am now. Let's show Zoe her downfall." Jocelyn boasted and Olivia almost laugh out loud.

"I don't know why I don't believe you Jocelyn. You're never a match for Zoe." Olivia said mockingly.

"Thanks for reminding me Olivia. Now, can we go to get prepared?"

"Of course."

Gwendolyn made towards room eight. She can't afford to be sorted out to the swimming contest. She knocked on the door and it was gently opened by a boy peeping through.

"Hi. Is Eleanor here?" She demanded.

"Who are you?" The boy asked.

"A friend. Tell her it's Gwendolyn." She muttered.

The boy slammed the door shut and a moment later he opened it summoning her inside.

Gwendolyn walked into the room and marveled at how neatly arranged everywhere was. She can count up to six of them. Three boys and three girls.

Eleanor was sitting at a corner with her violin on her laps. She smiled at her and she smiled back.

Gwendolyn can see one of the boys holding a paper and it seems he is the leader of the band.

"Hi. Gwendolyn greeted.

Oscar walked up to her nose to nose.

"Are you Gwendolyn?" He demanded.

"Yes........I'm......Gwendolyn."She stammered.

"What do you want?" He demanded harshly moving close to her as she began to retrace backwards. She looked at Eleanor's direction for help but her expression seems blank.

I wanted....... to join the band.." she stammered.

"What? Have you settled your score with Mitchell?" Oscar demanded with Gwen staring straight into his eyes.

"No." She snapped.

"So, why are you here? To spy on us?" Oscar asked and she can feel the giggling of others fanning her ears.

"No. I was never on his good side." Gwendolyn highlighted.

"We don't want anybody on his bad side in our group. Perhaps you should go and iron things out with him before thinking of coming back here Miss Gwendolyn. Did I make myself clear?" Oscar demanded seriously.

"Of course."

"Good." Oscar said excusing himself and showing Gwendolyn out of the room and slammed the door shut. Gwendolyn stood outside staring at the closed door and exhaling hard. As she stared at the door trying to picture what just happened inside. Marcellus emerged from the corridor with his friends.

With much uneasiness, Gwendolyn tried to concentrate on the closed door pretending not to see them but he stopped when he got to her.

"Seeking alternative?" He demanded.

Gwendolyn hesitated. She didn't take her stare away from the door and she refused to answer his question. Marcellus signalled to Owen and the latter made towards Gwen. He held unto her and twist her around to face Marcellus. She stood facing Marcellus. She didn't utter any word and neither did he for some minutes.

"Are you seeking alternative to run away from me?" He asked.

"Why should I seek alternative? Besides, there is no point running away from you." She fired back.

"Great. I just hope you're more than eager to start your work today dear Miss Cleaner?"

"Of course Mr Mitchell but I have an objection."

"Who cares if you have an objection?" He spits pompously.

"I wouldn't be able to be sleeping over at your place. I will like to be working after school hours."

"Anyhow. Besides, I don't want your filthy body in my father's well accumulated wealth. Good for you." He said pompously as he left with his friends.

Gwendolyn heaved heavily as she sat down at the corridor with her hands clasp over her head.

Jocelyn emerged in her swimming outfit. Olivia burst into a loud laugh upon seeing her.

"What's funny?" Jocelyn asked.

"Sincerely. I don't really know what is funny. You really have the shape of a fish." Olivia pointed out.

"Maybe I am." Jocelyn answered.

"You can never earn that title."

"Why are you so keen on seeing me fail?"

"Don't you think it's funny Joce? She just pushed you into the pool some days back and your sister came running to your rescue. There will be no such chance today Jocelyn. I advised you back out now. I don't want you to start choking down there. It won't be funny. You wouldn't want to be bullied by the crowd."Olivia warned.

"I love bullying Olivia. I have passion for bullying."Joce said and tap Olivia by the shoulder passionately as she headed to where other contestants were waiting. The students were all seated and Joce marvelled at the thousands of eyes staring down at them. It was then she realised Olivia's fear. It actually worth it.

On sighting Jocelyn on the line, Zoe moved close to her. She tipped the contestants at her front and the latter quickly moved to the back giving Zoe's enough space to move to the front. When she is close to Jocelyn, she tapped her shoulder and she looked back.

"Oh! You're finally here." Zoe said chuckling.

"Of course Zoe."

"Don't you have any shame? You'll be gravely disgraced." Zoe said mockingly.

"Oh! Really?! Maybe there is still something else you haven't figured out about me Miss Zoe. I actually have no shame and I love being disgraced. I and disgrace have been together right from my birth." Jocelyn said smiling mischievously.

"Maybe you're born with the least of disgrace. I am sure you're not used to big disgrace like this."

"I will be more than honoured to have big disgrace today. It's what I have been expecting."

"There is no point asking you to back out now. You are nothing but a fool Jocelyn. "

"Thanks for the compliment Miss Zoe."

"You are so full of yourself. Why don't you just let's reach a deal?" Zoe offered.

"Are you used to disgrace Miss Zoe? You're probably going to sign a contract with one today."

"Then let's see. You'll be my errand girl for a whole week if I win and I will be yours if you did which I'm very sure you will never."

"Think twice before you made a deal Zoe."

"I should give you that chance."

"Good then. Deal." Jocelyn accepted.

Gwendolyn heard the announcement through the PA. She stood up from where she sat and headed down the corridor. As she make to swerve to the next corridor, she can clearly hear the voice of Mrs Grey, their Biology teacher. She stopped and peeped through, she was talking with Layla.

"........ that is who you are Layla. You're nothing but a shameful shadow." Mrs Grey retorted.

"I will make it up to you Mrs Grey." Layla begged.

"You're making nothing up to me Layla. I am not the cause of your predicament. I shouldn't have helped you out with anything when I did. I thought you're a promising little girl with much ambition. How wrong I am. You're no longer that promising child anymore."

"Your words are hurting Mrs Grey." Layla spouted.

"Of course they are meant to hurt you as much as they can."

"But I do promise to pay you back."

"How and when? Are you going to pay me back when they eventually close down my store and I no longer exist? Or when you eventually ended up like your father?"

"I am not going to end up like my father Mrs Grey."

"And what if you did? You never participate in anything anymore in the school. You always bring bad luck. If you don't pay up my money before the end of this week, you'll regret ever knowing me."

"And what are you going to do to me if I didn't pay up your money Mrs Grey?"Layla asked angrily.

"I will make you pay with every flesh on your body. And I will see to it that you no longer exist in this school. Your name will never be on record and you'll never be heard." Mrs Grey threatened as she left.

Tears drop off Layla's eyelid in great quantity. Eversince Noah William's trial, Mrs Grey had stood by her because she claimed her to be her favourite student.

Mrs Grey is so bent on helping her even when other teachers and students deserted her. She had been up and doing assuring herself that Layla is a promising child and that she has a promising future. She did everything within her power to help Noah William's trial until he ended up in prison.

Seeing the turn of event, Mrs Grey allowed Layla to work at her restaurant after school and she in turn give her money for every hours she worked. Mrs Grey believed the money will at least sustain her and her grandmother for the time being. But everything turned a new event when huge amount of money was found missing at the restaurant. Layla didn't deny taking the money to hire a good lawyer who is interested in revisiting Noah William's case. She is so full of herself that her father will be discharged and she promised to pay Mrs Grey back when he eventually did. But it turned out that the case never worked out. Noah William was never released and Layla keep on promising until the latter couldn't take it any longer. She is already bankrupted. And every chance of Mrs Grey to make Layla pay up quickly always end up on the opposite side.

Gwendolyn watched Layla play with the chain on her neck. She wondered how much havoc Layla had done to Mrs Grey for her to have voiced out like that.

Gwendolyn turned back and walked away. Maybe Layla didn't want any help anyways. By the time Gwendolyn got to the stadium, the contestants were already at the starting line. She tried looking for Olivia. When she sighted her, she walked down to her side.

"Hey Olive!" She greeted.

"Hi Gwendolyn. You looked worn out ." Olivia retorted.

"Of course. I've been through two hell the last minute." She said and Olivia chuckled.

"Funny you." She added.

"Of course."

"I don't think Jocelyn should be down there Gwendolyn." Olivia retorted.

"There is no cause for alarm Olivia."

"You think so? Did you remember you rescued her the last time she stepped into the water."

"Maybe because she was pushed."

"You're so confident about this Gwendolyn."

"Yeah. And you should always think positive of your friends."

"Not when Zoe is inside the water. She can't win."

"Can you bet your lunch?"

"With all my heart."

"Good." Gwendolyn said and they both concentrated on the contestants below. For some minutes, everywhere was silent. As soon as the whistle was blown, the race began. Jocelyn still stand for some seconds watching others swimming hard in the pool. Some students were pointing to her, murmuring while some of the teachers and Judges were wondering maybe she had already given up. Jocelyn started stretching her knuckles and legs.

"What's she doing?" Some of the students were whispering surprisingly.

Olivia stood up from the crowd and almost yell down at her.

"Don't stress yourself Olivia. Jocelyn is just exercising the body." Gwendolyn said.

"What do you mean? Others were already at the middle of the race and Zoe is already taking up the lead." Olivia yelled at Gwendolyn.

As they all watched with great awe, Jocelyn looked out through to the stadium and yelled.

"I love disgrace.!!" She said stupidly before jumping into the pool.

"Run Jocelyn." Gwendolyn screamed down at her and Olivia stare at her stupidly before sitting down.

The students were calling out Zoe's name as she is about to make it to the finishing line and Jocelyn is just half way away. Olivia bow her head in shame and she almost cry.

Suddenly, everywhere was silent. Someone had made it to the finishing line and it's definitely not Zoe.

"I told you nobody can match up with my sister Olivia. You owe me your lunch." Gwendolyn boasted.

Gently, Olivia raised her head up and traced it to the finishing line. There she is wrapping her arms round the rope and whistling joyously.

"That's my friend." Olivia boasted and it seems that jabbed everybody back to life as the students stood up cheering Jocelyn up happily.

Zoe came in just ten seconds after and Penelope followed. She was very disappointed to meet Jocelyn at the finishing line.

"b***h!" Zoe retorted.

"I told you I love big disgrace. Oh! You think I really mean disgrace? Of course not. I mean big cheering. Now, you've already signed a contract with big disgrace. I will be looking forward to when you're going to start your work as a maid. Remember, deal is always a deal." Jocelyn said before stepping out of the pool. As she stepped out, all the students stood to applaud her.

"What do you think just happened now?" Some teachers asked themselves. They were all marveled by what happened.

Olivia run down the stairs to meet her. She flung herself round her neck and shouted happily to the already gathered crowd.

"She is my friend."

Jocelyn smiled stylishly as she walked up to her sister.

"How did you see my style?" She asked jokingly.

"It's overwhelming. I'm sure Zoe will feel like shitting her pants." Gwendolyn said mockingly and the trio laughed.

"I still can't believe you seriously made it Jocelyn. I sincerely can't believe that." Olivia pointed out happily.

"You have to have a good and solid belief in your friend Olivia. Always." Gwendolyn advised.

"Honestly, you broke that b***h record. She is so full of herself. I am glad I made friends with you two." Olivia pointed out happily.

Just then, Marcellus and Lucas walked up to them.

"That is your victory little bitch." He spouted.

"And your doom Marcellus Mitchell." Jocelyn fired back.

"Well quoted. You know, you keeps me more fascinated don't you? Your confidence. Nobody has ever stand up to me. Not even to my mother. I'm beginning to wonder who you are." Marcellus threatened.

"Perhaps, you'll realise soon enough how stupid you've grown, Mr Marcellus." Jocelyn retorted.

"Enough Jocelyn." Lucas said and Jocelyn turned to him. She wanted to give him his own piece, but when she realised the calm state at which he had talked, she changed her words.

"Why dont you tell your friend to mind his words?"

"You are still my maid nevertheless." Marcellus retorted.

"That's my sister not me."

"Enough Jocelyn. Let me handle this." Gwendolyn answered standing between the two facing Marcellus.

"Why don't you just find your way out Mr Mitchell?" Gwendolyn said calmly.

Marcellus chuckled before leaving them while Lucas gently followed after winkling at Jocelyn.

"You have to be watching your words Jocelyn. " Olivia pointed out.

"Why? You wanted to start giving me another round of advice? "

"What am I now Jocelyn? An advisor?" Olivia retorted.

"Maybe." Jocelyn whispered.

Soon, the result of the swimming were shown vividly to the students and Jocelyn Grayson popped out as the first swimmer and Zoe as second.

As soon as the result was announced, they heard the screaming of some students down the school laboratory. They all rushed down there. The trio also run forward. Lo and behold, Mrs Grey's body was found in her own pool of blood. She is dead. Olivia burst into a loud wail as she turn her back to the corpse.

Jocelyn rushed away to vomit and Gwendolyn stood rigid.

"What has she done?" She murmured to herself.

She began searching for Layla in the crowd and she is nowhere to be found. Some students who could stand the view were seen taking pictures before the ambulance came to pack the corpse. Mrs Grey was brutally killed. She was tore to pieces. The camera at the lab was destroyed. So, the event was never captured. Gwendolyn left the crowd searching vehemently for Layla in the midst of crying students.

By the time Gwendolyn got to the class, Layla was there on her seat staring at her. Gwendolyn walked inside and stood facing Layla angrily.

"We need to talk Layla William." She said.