CHAPTER 4 Misery:mission begins
724 Words
*Later that Day – Middle School Hallway*
The clatter of trays and the aroma of hot lunch filled the middle school corridors. Mrs. Emma Paige, the school's lunch lady—a stout, firm woman in her late thirties—pushed a large container of food toward the cafeteria. As she turned a corner, she found herself face-to-face with Mrs. Elena Jay, Maya and Mason's strict but composed fifth-grade teacher.
“Elena,” Mrs. Emma greeted coolly.
“Emma,” Mrs. Elena replied, her tone equally guarded. “Good to see you again.”
“Likewise,” Emma said. Her hands remained firm on the food container.
“What are you doing in the middle school hallway?” Elena asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Delivering food, obviously. How’s your... pathetic little job going?” Emma asked, a smirk tugging at her lips.
Elena gave a tight-lipped smile. “It’s going just fine. Not everyone crumbles after failure, Emma.”
Emma’s eyes narrowed. “Get ready for my comeback, Elena. It’s not going to be... tasty.”
Just as Emma turned to leave, Elena’s voice cut through sharply. “You’re going to use the red-haired girl, aren’t you?”
Emma froze briefly, then chuckled. “Well, look who finally got smart after all these years.”
“She’s mine,” Elena said coldly, stepping closer. “Stay away from her... or you won’t like what I’ll do.”
Emma leaned in slightly, her voice low. “You’re still chasing powers you’ll never get. Keep dreaming, Elena.” With that, she rolled her container down the hall, leaving Elena fuming in silence.
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*Later – In the Cafeteria*
Carmella stood in the lunch line, her tray in hand, eyes widening as she recognized the woman behind the serving counter.
“You’re the lunch lady?” she asked in disbelief.
Mrs. Emma winked. “Yes. Don’t be late today.”
“I won’t,” Carmella replied, still processing the oddity. She took her tray and made her way to an empty table.
Across the room, three impeccably dressed girls—Natalie Jefferson, Leslie Berch, and Ruth Allen—exchanged sly glances. Known as the "Perfect Three," they ruled the school’s social scene with a mix of confidence and cruelty. With synchronized grace, they strutted over to Carmella’s table.
Natalie leaned in dramatically. “Hey, new girl!”
Carmella didn't look up.
Natalie reached out and touched her hair. “No dyed hair allowed in this school.”
Carmella calmly pushed her hand away. “Don’t touch me.”
“Wait,” Elena said, stepping into her path. “I’m still talking to you.”
“I don’t have time for chit-chats,” Carmella replied coolly.
Elena stood stunned as the girl walked past her without another word.
Natalie clicked her tongue. “And no artificial eye contacts either.”
“Yeah,” Leslie chimed in. “Haven’t you read the rules?”
Carmella kept eating, unfazed.
“Hello?” Natalie snapped her fingers in Carmella’s face.
“Let it go, Natalie,” Ruth said mockingly. “Let’s not ruin her precious little first week.”
“More like her first *boring* week,” Leslie added with a laugh.
As they turned to leave, Carmella’s eyes flickered. She muttered a soft incantation under her breath, almost undetectable. Suddenly, water splashed down from nowhere onto the Perfect Three. The girls shrieked and slipped, crashing to the floor.
“Ahhh!” Natalie yelped.
“My hair!” Ruth shouted.
The entire cafeteria erupted in laughter. Carmella smiled subtly to herself. Natalie sat on the wet floor, staring at her, confused—and slightly afraid.
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*After School – Middle School Grounds*
As Carmella made her way toward the middle school building, a familiar figure spotted her from a distance—Mrs. Elena Jay.
“There she is,” Elena whispered to herself, eyes narrowing. “My chance to bring her to my side.”
She approached quickly.
“Hey, look at the twins’ big sister!” Elena greeted cheerfully.
Carmella offered a polite, “Hi,” but didn’t slow down.
“Wait,” Elena said, stepping into her path. “I’m still talking to you.”
“I don’t have time for chit-chats,” Carmella replied coolly.
Elena stood stunned as the girl walked past her without another word.
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- Writer
