by Matteus Schmelke, Contributing Reporter

CHAPTER 1 : WRECK THE HALLS

My day was already pretty bad before I was getting attacked by a bat lady. I’m going a little fast so let me start at the beginning. My name is Mark Anthony. I’m thirteen years old and I go to ST. Matthew Prep in Washington D.C. My front tooth has a chip in it and my hair is always a mess. No matter what I do, I always get in trouble. I don’t try to constantly be in detention or to always have the teacher yelling at me.  It just happens.

So,  there I was sitting in class while my teacher Mrs.Valorey yacked on and on. She was saying something like “Shakespeare is important because bla bla bla”. Then I heard my name being called “Mark.  MARK!” by Mrs.Valorey.

“Are you even listening?” she snapped.

“Um… yeah I’m listening,” I replied. Mrs. Valorey began walking angrily towards me.

“Really?  Then what were we–” She stopped mid sentence and looked at me like a zombie. “I have to …..go,” Mrs. Valorey mumbled and she stumbled out of the room.  

Another lady came into the room. She had high heels, a black dress, and a really cruel face that was hard to look at. Then the lady spoke.

 “Mark Anthony,” she said in a raspy voice. “I have been hunting you for a long time. Hunting me? What was this lady talking about? “ I’m sorry to say…but you must die!” she said in an evil demonic voice.

I got out of my chair and screamed out loud “what?”.  Then things got really weird.   She began to change.  Leathery wings came out of her back. Her face morphed into a bat.  The weirdest part was how the high heels flew off and goat legs started to form.   The creature let out a screech that shattered the windows.  Kids started screaming, the alarm was sounded and students ran out into the halls.   I didn’t know much but I knew enough to run.

“You cannot escape me,” the creature screeched.  It came at me and knocked over a trophy case in the hallway.  Suddenly I noticed among the rubble of trophies and medals from the case a shiny sword I always admired.  I grabbed it almost without thinking and as the bat lady came towards me, I swung the sword upwards and slashed her two wings off.  The thing uttered a screech before coming at me but my body fought for me.   I swung the sword hacking its arms off and put the sword right through its heart.  The thing crumpled to dust.   I was so exhausted and confused I just wanted to go to sleep,  but I couldn’t.