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Chapter 13: Vomiting Apocalypse
Stephen left the hall and headed to the school toilet—which, oddly enough, looked more like a parlor with a toilet tucked into the corner. She stepped into the room.
"Stephen," Hannah said, turning around.
BANG! The door beside her flung open with a loud kick. Stephen's foot was still in the air as she stared deadpan at Hannah. "It's not working," she said flatly.
Hannah sighed, trying to steady her nerves. "It'll be fine, okay? Everyone devoured their cassoulet. It's going to work."
Just then, laughter echoed as students began pouring into the room. Hannah quickly joined Stephen and shut the stall door.
Clowe and Sofia stumbled in. Clowe wore a sleek white dress, while Sofia glittered in silver. Without warning, Sofia collapsed. Clowe gasped, "Oh my God! Bitch, get up!"
Sage staggered into the bathroom, her dress wrinkled, her steps chaotic. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes unfocused. She crouched beside Sofia. "What's wrong with you? Get off the floor—it's so gross."
Clowe clung to the wall, barely managing to stay upright. "Is anyone else feeling... weird?"
Sofia slowly rose to her feet, swaying. "I feel floaty... like a little butterfly," she whispered, before grabbing Clowe's hands. They started twirling.
Sage, trying to focus, made a beeline for the toilet. But as soon as she touched the stall door, she slumped to the ground.
Clowe stared at her reflection. "Please, my pupils are massive," she whispered, fingers tracing her red cheeks.
Sage stumbled upright and banged on Hannah and Stephen's door. "Can someone open up? Please?" She knocked harder. "Someone's in here—I don't feel well either."
No reply.
Sage groaned and turned toward the stall she had avoided. She bent over and vomited. Sofia shrieked in response, pushed Sage aside, and threw up next.
Wiping her mouth, Sofia stood up, pale and glassy-eyed. "Something's happening…"
Meanwhile, inside the stall, Stephen and Hannah were silently dancing, trying to contain their giggles.
Sage blinked at Sofia. "Wait… do you go to school with us?"
Clowe gasped. "Oh my God! We're at school?" All three of them burst into laughter.
Stephen twirled Hannah, who nearly climbed onto the toilet. Luckily, Stephen caught her before disaster struck.
Back outside, the event had descended into chaos. Some students danced in the water fountain; others sang on tables or swayed like trees in a storm.
"I'm levitating!" a girl shouted, balancing a spoon on her forehead.
Priea stood frozen in horror. She hadn't eaten yet—and thank God for that.
"Light as a feather, stiff as a bag!" some girls chanted while trying to lift each other.
Stephen and Hannah stood atop the mini stage, looking out at the madness. They burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Elsewhere, the headmaster entered the kitchen with a calm, calculated demeanor. She spotted the pot still on the stove, lifted the lid, and stirred the contents with a spoon. Her eyes narrowed as she spotted the foreign substances.
Back in the garden, Priea ran to a snoozing Andrew, panic rising in her voice. "Andrew, I think we've been drugged!"
Andrew grinned lazily. "Nah... we vibin', Priea."
In another corner, a girl cried into her phone. "Just come get me! I don't want to be here anymore!"
Under the table, NK was curled up in a ball, rocking gently. "No, no, no—they can't get NK. Don't let them."
Stephen knelt down, lifting the tablecloth. "Hey, NK."
He looked at her with wide, terrified eyes. "Don't let in the spiders."
Stephen blinked. Perfect opportunity. "Oh my God, NK—there are spiders all over your phone."
NK shrieked and hurled his phone away like it was on fire.
Stephen grabbed it and left.
Later, she sat at a library table, fingers flying across her keyboard as she hacked into NK's phone. Hannah rolled her chair over beside her and leaned in with a smirk.
"Hello, my little tech whiz." Her eyes flicked to the phone. "Download complete?"
Stephen grinned. "Processing, revenge mommy."
"Very good," Hannah said, standing. She walked to the window and gazed outside.
"There she is," she murmured. Stephen joined her, peeking through the glass.
"My hero," Hannah whispered as they watched the headmaster approach the barn.
"Oh my God," Stephen said. "Is she going to the greenhouse?"
"I anonymously tipped her off," Hannah said, turning with a wicked smile. "It's called double assurance, sweetie. Look it up."
She drew a happy face on the foggy window.
Stephen raised an eyebrow. "Are you on mushrooms?"
Hannah grinned. "May... be."
Stephen burst out laughing.
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