The Shrink Program

Chapter 18

"... So it's not my fault?"

Vain's eyes twitched in a way that promised I would regret opening my mouth, but before he could speak, one of the girls from the group stepped forward.

"Hand her over." She snapped, drawing Vain's attention and possibly saving my life.

Still, I frowned at her, not happy with where this was going.

There was only one way to gain a place on the Hill, and that was to defeat one of the occupants.

Now that they had weakened me, obviously, they had come to finish the job.

Vain tilted his head.

It was a simple action, but I knew.

The scary switch had been flicked.

"I think..."

The fact that he was severely outnumbered and outgunned didn't seem to bother him as Vain took slow strides towards the girl who had spoken.

"You should..."

He closed the distance, staring down at her from his greater height. Not something he got to do all that often.

"Reconsider your tone."

Vain lent forward, and the girl backed up a step.

The calm expression never changed.

"Forgive me for not knowing all the details. Beyond my duties as a student council member, I take very little interest in the affairs of other students." He remarked in a business-like tone, reaching up a hand up, straightening his glasses.

"But do you really think that you can get away with assaulting normal students indiscriminately?"

"Yea, actually. "A boy to the left spoke up, smirking. "Hate to burst your false sense of security dude, But I don't exactly see anyone here stopping us."

Vain was silent for a long moment, blinking at the nervous girl in front of him before slowly turning his cold gaze over onto Mr Big Mouth.

...I almost felt bad for the guy.

"Hmm. When the Cat is away, the mice will play." Vain murmured his voice dangerously gentle. "But that's what mouse traps are for."

Vain reached a hand up to his mouth, showing him the blood that came off on his fingers.

"I am not a participant in your game and am in no way obliged to uphold your secrecy. That is likely the reason why they tell you not to attack the regular student body in the first place."

He had a point. If there was one thing taboo in this game, damaging the school's reputation and drawing attention to them was it.

Vain already had all the evidence he needed.

"If you want to keep this little assault in-house. " Vain took a step back from the girl. "I suggest you leave now, while I'm feeling charitable."

"Ah, Vain..." I protested, flinching at his words. It was impressive that he was standing up to them, considering the limited options he had, and if these guys had been the regular run-off the mill thug, his threats would have been enough to chase them off.

But there was a good chance that this could backfire on us if these kids were desperate enough to silence him themselves.

Considering what they had done so far, these guys really didn't seem like the backing down type.

Deep down, I had known the threat of exposure wouldn't be enough to keep people from attacking me while I was Vain.

From the very beginning, I had been prepared.

I could do this on my own.

Even if this, involved loosing horribly.

"How about you... Go get my cat from the oven." I placed a hand on my hips, waving my toothpick with the other. "I'll deal with this by the time you come back."

Smooth.

"Maddison... that's just insulting." Vain muttered, actually sounding a little hurt.

"Fine. Go the Hell away so I can get my ass kicked in peace. Is that better?" I hissed at him.

"Try saying please."

I stared at him in disbelief.

"I'm going to kill you as soon as I'm back to normal!"

"You can't kill me if you die here." He sniffed indignantly. "That much should be obvious."

"They're not going to kill me. " I growled in frustration. "Just torment me until I wish I were dead. So shut up and get lost..."

Our bickering was interrupted by the sound of a roaring trumpet.

Vain jumped, and my stomach dropped at the sound.

Everyone in the courtyard turned, searching for the source of the sound, and finding it on the roof of the west corridor.

"Hello, everyone!"

An insane maniac, disguised as a high school boy, waved his trumpet down at us.

"Sorry, I'm late."

Oh Great.

I slapped a hand to my head.

The worst had officially happened.

"Not him!" I groaned desperately. "Anyone but him."

"You know him?" Vain asked softly as the blond boy skipped to the edge of the roof.

"That's Nigel," I told him, watching in dread as the boy flipped off the low roof.

Landing in the courtyard in a perfect crouch.

"He's the Joker."