DIED A BEAUTY, REINCARNATED AS A BEAST

A THORN IN MY FLESH

Having no other choice, Alicia picked me up, gawked at my face, close her two eyes and chewed on my tiny lips. And the whole hall erupted with commotion when she did.

"Alicia had kissed Ugly-face. Hahaha!" Betty announced. 

"What's special about kissing Ugly-face? Just close your eyes and chew his lips," Alice mumbled. 

"Wow!" Madam Maggie exclaimed as she turned towards Alice and asked, "truth or dare?"

I was so happy that I didn't hear Alice answer. Among the three nuns, Alicia seemed to be the most difficult for me to kiss, because she hates me with passion, and rarely gets closer to me. 

'Boom!'

The holographic picture suddenly popped up, and the familiar automated voice whispered into my ear, "second task achieve, perform the last task to unlock a new power, and save yourself from death and the torment of hell."

"You don't have to keep reminding me of my fate," I babble back, and the image disappeared after. 

After the game of truth and dare, Mother Maggie declared the floor open, and all the nuns raced into the middle of the hall and began to wiggle their waists to the song from the speakers nearby. And it was when the sun left the sky for the stars to take over that they finally retire from their body twisting. 

All my effort to come closer to Betty proved abortive, and she always ignored my bewitching smiles.

But the fear of death and hell is the reason why I smile and giggle and never give up.

 My chance came a few days before the deadline.  I heard Alicia and Betty chattering close to my cot.

"Please, Alicia. Just do this for me, and I will forever be grateful to you."

"I can't, Betty. Only me can't give attention to fifty babies through the night," Alicia answered back. 

"I know, Alicia. Let's just put all of them to sleep before I sneak out."

"If they all fall asleep, then you can go. But you must come back early and don't forget what you promised me."

"I won't, Alicia. I will bring you a nice gift," Betty answered back, giggled and let out, "we will be lodging in a room after the party, and I will have Jack for the whole night."

"Aww! Betty. You are so lucky. Good thing Alice is not around."

"Don't mind her," Betty mumbled amidst her giggling, shrugged and let out, "Alice is a hypocrite and a snitch."

"The babies ought to be sleeping by now. Let's check."

"Okay, Alicia. You are very kind and understanding."

I watched as both ladies chattered among themselves, walked into our midst and peered into our faces.

"Danny is not sleeping," Alicia let out, sighed and resumed her speech, "but don't worry, I will take care of him."

"Danny is your favourite baby and I am sure you won't mind rocking him till he falls asleep."

"Of course, I don't... Oh! Ugly-face is awake."

"Can you take care of him as well?"

"Not me, babe. I hate that baby with passion and I can't go close to him."

"Is he the only one awake?"

"Yes."

"Can I go if I sing him a lullaby until he falls asleep?"

"Sure, Betty. You can go as soon as Ugly-face fall asleep."

I smile when I realise I now have the leverage to make Betty kiss me. No matter how long she sings or dances for me, I am not ready to sleep until she kisses me.

Betty stepped closer to my cot and glared at my smiling face. 

"Stop smiling, Ugly-face. I need to go and meet my lover, so you must sleep now."

"Not a chance, Betty. I won't even bat my eyes until you kiss me with that succulent lips of yours," I babble back, giggled out, and stretched my two arms towards her. 

Betty snorted as she picked me up, placed me on top of her two big breasts and began to sing me a lullaby.

"Sleep, Ugly-face. Sleep, please. Anty Betty needs to go out and have fun."

I ignored her pleading look, resisted her tempting breasts and keep smiling as I used her long ponytail to pull her face close to me.

"You need to sleep, Ugly-face. I don't have time to spend with you."

"Kiss me, Betty. Kiss me, and I will sleep with contentment," I babble back, pulled her hair and tried to leap at her face.

"Is he sleeping?" Alicia who had already put Danny to sleep asked.

"Not, yet. Alicia. He is just smiling like a moron."

Alicia walked closer, peeked at my face and sighed, "his face is shining like crystal. Did you think this baby has the plan to sleep tonight?"

"Help me, Alicia. Help me to take care of him."

"No, Betty. Put Ugly-face to sleep and you can go... I need to take my bath, please."

Betty glared at me when Alicia left, and if murder is not illegal, I am sure she will slay me instantly. 

"I will not forgive you if I miss this chance to spend a night with Jack."

"And I won't forgive you if I die and go to hell," I babble back with my usual smile.

"Please sleep, Ugly-face. Sleep and let me take my leave."

"No, Betty. Not until you kiss me."

Betty sing for a while as she cradle me to her chest, and the evening breeze seemed to be sending me to sleep when I heard the ringing sound of a phone and I quickly pulled my eyes open. 

"Hello, Betty. I am waiting for you at the car park. We need to go, it's getting too late," Jack's voice boomed from the other side of the line. 

"I need to put Ugly-face to sleep before coming out. Give me some minutes, please," Betty muttered back, glanced at my face and sighed. 

"Ugly face, again," Jack cried out, hissed and announced, "I will need to strangle that ugly baby whenever I have the chance."

"You won't do anything like that, Jack. I will put him to sleep and join you in the next few minutes."

"Okay, babe. I can't wait."

Betty sighed again as the call was disconnected from the other side of the line, peeked ar my face and asked, " when will you sleep, Ugly-face? This your smiles are becoming annoying."

"I will sleep when you kiss me," I babble back, and then giggled out loud. 

"I think I should allow Jack to strangle you. You are becoming a thorn in my flesh."

"I don't care. I will be dead anyway," I muttered back, pulling her face closer with her ponytail, opening my mouth and looking as cute as I can. 

"I think you want me to kiss you!"

"Yes, babe. That's what I want," I babble back. 

"Unfortunately, I can't. The memory of your dirty habit still lingered in my mind."

"That was a mistake, Betty. Kiss me and you can go and do whatever you like with Jack. Otherwise, I will cry and wake the other babies up."