The Dream Demon

Chapter 17 - Dodgeball

I walked into the gym changing rooms, wishing the day was over already. I'd rather do Physics or Algebra a thousand times over than this class. The athletes and Jocks would always stick together, with everybody else left on the sidelines. I found a place to get changed right at the back of the room, hoping to be away from everybody else.

Shedding my jumper and blouse, I was about to dress when something stumbled into me, pushing me harshly from behind. Turning around and ready to bite the person's head off, I was greeted none other by Moloch and Melody, both falling out on top of each other from the Janitor's closet. Melody's long caramel hair was all tangled, looking like she'd been dragged through a hedge backwards.

The both jumped up, laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world. As if finally sensing me there, Moloch's piercing eyes pinned me to the spot, as he took in my half-dressed appearance. A look of malice appeared on Melody's face when she saw Moloch's hungry eyes trained on my breasts.

"Stop being such a slut and cover up Scabby Abi!" Melody sneered, pulling Moloch away.

"Perhaps your boyfriend could kindly remove himself out of here when there are girls getting dressed, Melody." I called out after them.

I walked into the hall, feeling absolutely miserable. Even though I'd not known Moloch for long, I thought that maybe we had some kind of connection. I saw a funny, sweet side to him during the time we spent together, until his mask slipped and he showed me his true self. I was starting to think maybe he had an ulterior motive where I was concerned. How else could he be so caring and kind one minute, then nasty and ignorant the next?

The loud shrill of our gym teacher blowing his whistle, brought me back to reality.

"O.K Ladies and gentlemen! Everybody's favourite today.. Dodgeball!" He announced to the class.

"Great." I groaned, letting out my dissatisfaction.

"Who shall we have as our team leaders?" He stood rubbing his chin, as if in deep thought - which was pointless! He always chooses Adam and Melody.

"Adam - You come over to my left.. And you - yes you, new guy. You come over to my right." He said, pointing at Moloch.

God help me.

If I hadn't been apprehensive before class started, I certainly was now. Not only were we playing Dodgeball - The most lethal of all games, I'm almost certain that I'll be on the opposing team to Melody and Moloch. I'm going to get my face smashed in! My heart rate started increasing at the thought.

"Don't worry, I got you Abi." Adam whispered to me with a wink.

I was about to ask him to also pick Melody so that we'd be on the same team, making it impossible for her to target me, when the teacher interrupted.

"Time to flip a coin to see who has first choice. New guy - you can pick. Heads or tails?"

"Heads." Answered Moloch. I could feel his eyes burning into me. So much so, that I refused to return his stare.

"Heads it is!" Said the teacher with a nod. "Please name your first choice."

I looked over to Melody who was standing with her friends. She was beaming from ear to ear, her lip gloss still smudged on her face. She began making her way over to him, as he was deciding on who to choose.

"Abigail." He said, beckoning me towards him.

My mouth hung open wide in surprise. I could feel my classmates eyes on me as they all stared. I wished the ground would open up and swallow me whole. Why had he chosen me? Was this some ploy so that Melody would be on the other team and have the chance to pummel me?

I raised my chin in defiance. "No." I replied, standing firm and not moving. I refused to be on his team. He was not to be trusted, and I didn't want to be in any kind of proximity with him. Let him be with 'Mel-Hoe-dy' as he previously called her.

"Sorry Abigail, the new guy won first pick - go and stand beside him please, so that we can get on with making the rest of the teams." Sighed the teacher in annoyance.

I began shaking my head. "I said no." I doubled down, looking my teacher in the eye. "I don't want to be on his team." My eyes went to Moloch who looked like he was about to combust. He obviously wasn't used to being turned down. Tough.

Our teacher groaned in annoyance. "Last time I checked, you weren't a Team Leader, and you don't get to choose. Now go stand behind your Captain or I'll be giving your parents a call."

I sighed in defeat, walking over to Moloch and standing beside him. The heat radiating from his body would make Hell seem cold. He was pissed at me, I could tell.

Soon enough Adam and Moloch had made their way through choosing, only a few people left before our teams were complete.

"Claire" Moloch called out, leaving the last person - which was Melody, to join Adam's team by default. Melody was absolutely raging. Her being left as last pick was virtually unheard of. I guess it wasn't part of their plan to have her on the other team after all. She gestured to me, drawing her hand across her neck in a beheading motion.

Before we walked over to our respective sides of the court, Adam walked over taking me by the arm.

"I wish we could have been on the same team.. I was hoping to choose you." He said, dazzling me with a smile.

"I was hoping for the same.." I said, returning his smile. "Good luck though!"

"I don't need luck.. I got skills." He teased, flexing his muscles and making me laugh. It was cute when he showed a goofy side to himself.

I walked over to the only free space left, which coincidently was next to Moloch of all people.

"Saying goodbye to your boyfriend were you?" He snarled.

I laughed bitterly. "Get lost, Moloch. Maybe you should go hide back in that closet you fell out from earlier.. "

"Maybe after I annihilate your little boyfriend" He countered, flashing me a smirk.

"Highly doubtful. Have you not noticed he has all the athletes and jocks on his team?"

It was now his time to laugh at me. "And unless YOU haven't noticed, I am ME. He could have the whole Olympics team on his side and he STILL wouldn't beat me."

Shit. Dodgeball with the Demon-Boy. This could get messy.

The teacher blew his whistle loudly, everybody running full speed to the middle to grab a ball. Melody was opposite me, racing for the same ball.

Sorry b***h, not today.

I felt my anger drive me, wanting to beat her at something for once. I ran at full speed for the ball. Managing to block everybody else out, I concentrated on her only. This b***h was going down. Reaching the ball first, I grabbed it, aiming straight for her face. Melody tried tried turning her head, but was too slow. The ball hit her on the side of her face, causing her to yelp in pain.

"Nice Abigail! First blood! That's how we like it!!" Yelled the teacher, fist bumping the air. "Melody - You are out! Go sit on the sidelines until one of your team mates manage to get you back in!"

"Scabby Abi! You wait until I'm back in the game. You are dead meat!" She practically screamed, walking off the the side of the pitch.

I was too busy basking in my own personal victory, to see a ball hurtling fast at me from the corner of my eye. Moloch jumped in my way, knocking the ball back with his own and preventing it from hitting me. I nodded in thanks.

Picking up another ball from the floor and expertly dodging the balls flying towards me from Melody's friends, I picked out my next target. Jodie. Melody's second in command, and one of those that were filming me as Melody egged me.

Jodie was a thin, rake of a girl. She'd prove a lot harder to hit. I aimed for her mid-section, sighing as she managed to catch the ball by the skin of her teeth.

"I bring back Melody" she shouted.

Jodie smiled at me, throwing her ball in to the air at a leisurely pace, watching me as if hunting an animal that was backed in a corner as Melody joined her side.

"What do you think girls?" She asked her friends, laughing. "I reckon I'd have a 100% chance of hitting that fat ass of hers!" She aimed carefully, as I was dancing from side to side, trying to throw her off target.

Out of no where, a ball went flying in to the side of her head, causing her to drop her ball in surprise. We all turned to look at Moloch who was grinning, happy at himself.

"You talk too much Jodie! Byeee" He yelled from the opposite side of the court.

Jodie walked off with a big red mark decorating the side of her face and unshed tears in her eyes. I could almost feel sorry for her. Almost..

Noticing a stray ball by my feet, I rushed to pick it up, aiming yet again for Melody. She was now armed with the ball that Jodie had dropped, trying to aim for me. She threw her ball, tossing it with such strength that if it managed to hit me, I knew it'd hurt. Holding up my ball, I managed to block her hit, throwing my ball back at her. Melody ducked just in time, but her friend behind her wasn't so lucky. She was too busy looking at her nails and didn't see my ball flying her way. She got hit straight in the stomach, ending up bent over and winded from the pain.

There were only three people left on Melody's team now. Her, Adam, and Adam's friend Toby. I think Moloch alone managed to get half of their team out by himself. We still had most of our team left, but none of us were the athletic types. Our team was mostly made up of the nerds, goths and loners. It was amazing to see how most of us were left still standing.

I looked to Moloch who was acting like an unleashed animal, firing ball upon ball towards Adam and Toby. His arms were like cannons, never once letting up. So far, Adam and Toby were managing to hold up, sweating profusely from all the dodging they were doing. They weren't moving to pick any of the balls up, just dodging as Moloch carried on throwing. It was obvious what they were doing. They were trying to collect as many balls on their side as possible, so that why could then rain down an onslaught when we had none left.

"Moloch.. no wait!" I called out trying to warn him.

I didn't notice a ball approaching me, which Melody had hastily thrown towards me in my distraction. It hit me straight on my thigh.

"Abi - Stand on the sidelines please!" Called out the teacher.

I walked over to where everyone else was standing, watching the match but not knowing who I should cheer for. I liked Adam, and had wanted him to win - then again, that was before he had Melody on his team. Moloch had also saved my ass earlier, preventing me from getting hurt when I was distracted in the beginning of the game.

"Go on Moloch! Go team!" I started cheering.

One by one, our team members started getting picked off as Adam and Toby made easy pickings of them. The two of them worked well together, picking targets and aiming towards them at the same time. At the same time, I could also see frustration building on their faces when they struggled to hit Moloch.

Moloch had learnt from their previous tactics, and has started accumulating all of the balls on our side of the court. When Adam and Toby had ran out of balls, Moloch gathered a bunch in his arms, thinking of his next target.

"Eeenie, meanie, minie.. Mo!" He playfully sang, throwing 3 balls in fast succession towards Toby, hitting him with every single one.

Adam tried being quick, throwing a ball towards Moloch's head at the same time. Luckily he'd noticed and caught it just in time. He began cackling manically, causing looks of worry to come from Adam and Melody. "Abi - get back in the game" He called out to me, picking more balls from the floor. Now it was Moloch and I, versus the two of them, and I was living for it!

"Lets go for Adam, I want to leave her until last" I whispered, pointing my ball towards Melody. Hopefully now, Adam will be lulled into a false sense of stability, thinking that we'd aim for Melody. Moloch nodded, circling me with his eyes on Melody.

"Now!" He shouted, as we both pelted the balls in our hands towards Adam. Moloch's ball missed, but mine hit it's target, getting Adam in the shoulder.

"Adam, you're out!" Called the teacher.

Melody looked between Moloch and I, a defeated look across her face as she realized what a predicament she was in. She reached down for a ball, holding it in front of her as if to defend herself.

"Please baby.." she pleaded with Moloch. "I thought I was special to you.. You wouldn't hurt me, would you?"

"I may not, but she would." He replied, motioning to the flying ball that was now on its way to Melody, this time hitting her square in the face.