Hellamorgue

Chapter 12: Convince

"Where did I go wrong?" the scientist mumbled while stroking her chin. Her eyebrows were curled and her eyes were exploring the ceiling.

Ronnie was still sitting on her metal stool, her legs crossed. One limb was relaxedly draped over her left knee, while the other one was touching and tapping the floor. The young scientist was lost in her thoughts. Trying to remember every details of what she did two years ago that made her portal machine work. Meanwhile, her friends were too busy minding their own business. The ventilation inside the testing room surely helped to make the ambience feel cozy and relaxing. The quietness of the three teenagers added to the peaceful ambience as well. The red haired girl, Poppy, was comfortably sitting on the stool and operating her phone. Scrolling and skimming through her social media account in silent. Her breathing was slow and blinking gradually. She heard her four-eyed friend mumbling. The nerd was few inches away from her seat. Poppy glided her ruby eyes to the scientist, buzzing in her place. The young woman blinked as she stares on her nerdy friend. She tilted her head, and furrowed her eyebrows a bit, suggesting a curious and a bit of worried look. Poppy approached the scientist with a light stroking of her hand to the girl's back.

"Hey, got an idea already?" the Flauraescan asked.

"No...I haven't thought about it yet, but I'm trying." the nerd responded. "But I'm sure I'll get in there, just a few moments more." she continued.

"Then, that's great." she cheered with a smile on her face. "But don't overdo it, you might get a headache." the girl followed.

"Yeah, I know. I'm trying to."

Poppy sighed and straightened her back. She removed her hand from the scientist's. Ronnie fixed her sitting position, she removed her leg draping on the other and landed it to the floor. She looked around the laboratory.

"Well, I guess I just have to start working on it again." she stated.

"Already?" Poppy startlingly asked.

"Yeah."

The petite girl stood up from her warm seat. She marched her way to the other side of the laboratory. She headed to the cabinet to get her toolbox. While doing her thing, the pink haired lad named Jay was busy rummaging the paper bags he brought inside. The young man was searching for the contents of each paper bags they got from the fest. These are the items they won from games and as well the things they bought inside the plaza. Jay was happily opening each bag with a silly look on his face. A face marked with enthusiasm and excitement. The noises of the crumpling boxes and the crackling sounds of plastics resonated inside the laboratory. Jay picked out a bunch of stuffed toys and snacks. Some things were practical enough to use in a daily basis such as a bag, arts and craft materials.

"Oh, these are lovely and cool!" the young man squeaked.

The lad gently placed each items to Ronnie's desk. He reached out for more paper bags on the floor to open. He was comfortably sitting on the soft desk chair which he swings slightly to his left and right, making a small rocking motion. His back was at rest and elbows were hanging on the chair's arms. After of opening a few more sack, he reached out for the brown bag with an old school design on it. Jay recognized the bag, it was the magical item he and Poppy shared bills about. The young man's hands opened it with dainty movements and picked up a box. He grabbed a cutter and unsealed the box revealing an average sheets of bubble wraps that supports the delicate item inside. He scooped up the crystal ball and admired its celestial look. Jay's eyes glistened and mouthed the word 'wow' with his lips. The crystal's beauty was phenomenal. It might be a pricey thing but absolutely every cents were worth it. Jay recalled the instructions that the merchant said in order to make the crystal globe work. He tapped the ball two times and said, "Show me Ronnie's laboratory."

The magic wisps inside the globe suddenly warped and formed an image of the laboratory. Jay saw himself sitting on the swivel chair and Poppy a few inches away from him in a metal stool. He saw Ronnie rummaging the cabinet for the tool box. Jay squealed in amazement and did little dances with his body and shoulders. Although, he remembered that this only works inside of a closed field. Since they were inside of a home, it was the only extent that the magic ball can project. Jay shrugged and placed the ball gently inside the box. Suddenly, his eyes was caught by the attention of something else inside the packaging. He blinked twice, and eyed for the small glass bottle. He picked it up with his fingers and stared on it. His eyes scanned every part of the bottle. Inside of it was a colorful, galaxy looking liquid. It resembled the crystal ball's contents but the lad has no idea what the bottle holds inside. Jay remembered what the merchant said earlier. A memory flashed inside his mind. Poppy and him was standing in front of the booth. The tall merchant handed over the paper bag and whispered,

"Oh, I also put a freebie inside the box."

Jay realized the colorful bottle was the freebie that the man told them about. Although he has no idea what's the use of it. The lad just shrugged and put the bottle back inside the box. He closed it and wrapped the box with plastic to secure it. Jay reached out for the black shoulder bag on the desk which was an item he got from the fest. He placed the box inside and other things and snacks he collected from the event. He arranged them properly inside and finally, zipped up the bag. The young man sighed and stretched his body. The continuous cracking of his bones satisfied the lad's ears. Jay saw Ronnie approaching him while carrying a blue tool box.

"Can I have my desk chair already?" Ronnie asked while narrowing her eyebrows.

"But I'm still using it." Jay responded in disagreement.

"You've sat there enough! It's my time to take it. It's literally my desk." the scientist persisted.

"Ugh, fine." Jay groaned and rolled his eyes. He yanked himself out the chair and stomped his way to the metal stool.

"And, politely, remove these paper bags on my desk." Ronnie added.

Jay's eyes squinted and pouted his lips. He flounced back to the desk and grabbed every empty paper bags.

"Thank you." said the scientist with a sarcastic tone in her voice.

"You're welcome." bantering replied by the pink haired lad.

Ronnie put down the tool box on the desk. She grabbed the desk chair and pulled it near the table. She jumped and sat on the chair. She can still feel the warmth of the chair after hours of sitting her friend did. Jay busily fixed and fold every paper bags. Poppy suddenly jumped on the scenario.

"Hey! You seriously doing it this time?!" the girl asked while looking at the scientist.

Ronnie glanced on her red haired friend while rummaging on her tool box. She raised her eyebrows and rolled her eyes slowly to the ceiling. Her lips curled and hummed.

"Hmmm...yeah..I think I have to." the scientist replied with an unsteady look on her face.

"You looked like you're not sure."

"I mean yeah...but the machine isn't going to fix itself! So I have to try it again." Ronnie explained with actions of her hands.

A silence occurred for a moment. The red haired girl raised an eyebrow, "Can't you just call it a day? The fest only happens once a year. You still have plenty of time to fix the machine." Poppy suggested, arms crossed.

"Oh! Is that why you're so persistent on asking me if I'm starting my work?" Ronnie replied with an eyebrow raising. "You still want me to attend the festival?"

"Pfft... duh!" she scoffed. "The program hasn't officially started yet! The town's leader will make his speech, and entertainment will be held afterwards." The young woman explained.

"And don't forget about the buffet! They're still preparing them!" Jay added confidently while raising his index finger.

"Hey, Ronnie. Maybe we could relax just this day! Come on. The festival is actually better this year than the last years." Poppy encouraged.

"Yeah! I got some beautiful stuffs from it." Jay added and tapped his black shoulder bag. "I still want to explore inside the plaza!" he followed.

"You might find some things that will caught your interest. Ahaha!" the girl chuckled. "Who knows something there mind help you to fix that portal!"

"Gee, you two are just so persistent to convince me!" Ronnie yelled with her hands in the air.

"Gahaha! Of course, shrimpy." Jay scoffed.

Ronnie rolled her eyes. She walked towards the desk and grabbed the screwdriver and wrench inside the tool box. The scientist walked away from her friends and headed to the portal machine. The two teenagers seemed to fail to convince their friend but this doesn't stopped them from trying again.

"Hey! You might find a mage there to help you out!" Poppy yelled while cupping her mouth to amplify her words.

"Yeah! Or you might find tool in handy!" Jay added.

Ronnie didn't even startle from her friends' words of encouragements and continued walking towards the portal machine. She knelt and grabbed the white sheet, she slowly raised it but then her friends said something that caught her attention.

"Hey! The fest will be having a program to showcase your talent and other things you possess! Maybe try introducing your other inventions there?!" Poppy yelled with her might.

The scientist startled. Her eyes widened from what she heard. She blinked multiple times and slowly turned her head over her shoulder. She looked at her red haired friend who was standing as few feet away from her. Jay was on the background with his arms crossed.

"What...did you say?" the scientist asked full of curiosity.

"Uh... I said there will be a program to showcase your talents?" Poppy repeated and tilted her head. She raised her hands and shoulders.

"You mean...anyone can do anything...in that program?" Ronnie followed while slowly standing up from the ground.

"Hmmm yeah... I think so? That's what I understood from the banner." the young woman replied.

Ronnie slowly stepped on floor. Reciprocating her soles towards the two teenagers in front of her. Approaching them gradually while asking questions.

"So I can introduce my inventions there, just like what you said?"

"Yeah! Yeah... of course!" Poppy nodded her head promptly.

The scientist stopped her trails. She was in front of her freckled friend. The red haired girl's height was looming over the small scientist, however, the nerd's fiery stare was more intense than the fact of Poppy being taller than Ronnie. The scientist was looking up and glaring at her Flauraescan friend. It was bold and full of excitement yet covered with suspicion.

"Are you sure you're not just tricking me to attend the festival?" she asked firmly.

"Of course not! I'm not gonna do that! A-actually, that's one of the reasons why we go back here, we wanted to inform you about it." she stated. "Right, Jay?" Poppy looked at her friend behind her to support her explanation.

Jay glanced at Poppy. Then looked at the small scientist in front of them, "Yeah! Right. That's true." He nodded while grinning.

Ronnie squinted her eyes, she scanned her friends' faces. Poppy and Jay was displaying a wide beam on their faces. Their eyes were sparkling while looking at their nerd friend. Ronnie closed her eyes and sighed.

"Fine. I'm going with you for that matter." said the geek.

"Hooray!"

"Yahoo!"

The two teens rejoiced after convincing their serious and stiff friend. Poppy jumped on her ground while Jay danced all around the spaces. Ronnie put her right hand on her waist while she raised the other one. Her small yet steady index finger caught the two youngsters' attention.

"But!" she interjected. "If you two are lying to me I will send you to an another planet!" she threatened with a high-pitched tone.

"Pfft, we're not fooling around." Jay said in defense.

"Yeah, that's true." Poppy's supporting reply.

"That better be the truth." the scientist said. She turned around to reach for her other inventions on the storage room.

"I will get my newest and greatest inventions. Just wait for a moment and we'll head our way to the plaza."

"Alright, brainy. We'll be just here." said the young woman with red hair.

Ronnie vanished in front of the two and headed to the chamber. Poppy and Jay watched their friend marched away. They were both smiling and smirking. Their eyes met and the two high-fived in success.