My Predator System

Chapter 16: Venting out of his "system"

"What_" He winced when a few girls came forward laughing.

"Nice outfit."

"Team spirit. Go Hawks! Woo!" They mocked.

Hailey hid deeper behind the curtains.

Sadie said. "Three hours bitch. No more, no less. Don't forget the finishing move."

"Woo!" They whooped leaving.

He scoffed while he watched them leave. Then she stepped outside.

He turned to her. "What_finishing_move?"

"I didn't want to be embarrassed. Okay? That's your department. You have to do the chicken dance."

"How selfish could you be?" He asked and shrunk into himself when she looked drily at him.

"Okay, okay."

...

The students danced and he had to shuffle around couples, bumping into tables. At first people thought it was funny but then it became annoying.

The chaperones exchanged dry looks.

The other sipped punch. "Look at him go."

...

"Outta my way, posers, this birdie's rockin' body's on fire...I can't believe she made me do this." He whispered dreadfully and found Dom with a blonde girl.

He looked astounded when he saw Irma. Shaking his head.

[ What the fuck? ] His wings dropped. His face softened.

[ What? ]

"Do your job!" Sadie pushed him and he turned back and in so doing, he whipped her in the face with the edge of his wings.

She staggered cupping her face. Her tongue traced the inside of her mouth tasting blood.

"Why you_"

"Oh my gosh. I'm_I'm so sorry. I'd never hit a girl." He said quickly and the boys started to laugh.

She growled at him while he shuffled off, sweating in the suit. She might have taken that as an insult.

"Hey!"

"Nice." Hailey said videotaping.

Maks hardened and went toward them. " 'xcuse me." He leaned down on the couch inbetween them.

"Hey. Hello, Dummy and..." He scanned the blonde. "...Amanda." He ruffled her hair.

She gasped.

Dom frowned and shoved him out.

"Get lost, birdbrain." His grey eyes were severe.

Maks recovered form the push. "I'm not gonna take that from you. Frat boy." He crossed his winged arms boldly and nodded.

The other seniors heard him roar and gasped when Dom speared him across into the dance floor poking him in the eyes.

"No."

The electronic dance music stopped.

Sadie gasped when Dom roughed him up.

"No, no. That's Hailey!" She said ironically, unbeknownst to her.

Others struggled to pull him off, he roared and Maks pulled away. Struggling to get up.

He took to his heels before anyone found out.

***

He groaned massaging his cheek and neck. He winced when it cracked painfully.

It was late and the gym was littered with streamers and empty. The promenade had ended for the night.

Hailey marched to the podium where he sat rotating his sore shoulder.

"Ow."

"Maks. You okay?" She said holding down her wig mournfully.

His rage brewed at the front she was putting.

"Well...my shoulder's busted. Thanks for asking." He grinned tiredly.

"You did way better than I expected." She started to chuckle scrolling down her phone.

He glared at her and she dropped it and cleared her throat. Settling down.

"Sorry."

"No more sorry than I feel for you." His voice was throaty. "It was a great plan though."

His shoulders shrunk. He ignored how awkward he looked in a hawk costume with a paunch, his long legs dangling on the podium and claws for feet.

She held his shoulders. "I don't think I'm getting expelled anytime soon."

He scoffed at that. "Course not."

He sighed at her closeness. He could smell her fragrance and he rellished the heat of her fingers when she massaged his shoulders. "Yeah..." He made a low throaty noise.

Hailey flushed in surprise at that. "You did good tonight...but you're still a shit bird."

Crack!

She adjusted his neck.

"Ah!" He held his chin when she stood up.

"I had a great night...I'm gonna go."

She hopped down and made a sly face at him leaving.

Maks blushed at that and raked his hair.

***

Maks snuck into his room, flustered and exhausted, he closed the window. He tried not to think about what might happen the next day.

He got several hours of venting all those "small acts of rebellion" as his Physical Ed teacher Mister Ronan told him in class. To be honest, he enjoyed it.

He rolled his eyes and the dull pain resettled on his neck. Throbbing.

He freshened up wearing a grey shirt with black sleeves and pajama pants.

Then hurried to the living room where Jessica laid reading a story from a pop-up book to Melvin.

Melvin mumbled his complaints when she closed the book shut.

"Time for bed."

"One last chapter?" He urged.

"No."

He scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"Are you done sulking?" He slyly referred to him.

He hardened from up the stairs. "Does this mean I'm not grounded?"

Melvin couldn't bear to look Maks in the eyes.

He huffed and looked pointedly at Jessica who whispered to him about the freak accident.

"What the_?"

Maks swallowed. "I'm going back to bed."

"Maks."

The door slammed shut and he reached into his smartphone.

10:08PM

News

Mongoose on the loose: Woman suffers fatal injury to the ankle.

He swallowed at that. Scrolling faster.

Man survives tranquilizer darts overdose. Identified as fake animal control officer. Arrest required immediately after treatment.

Local student at Prescott High Schooler. Bombs the prom themed pH level up.

He groaned.

Typing on his laptop. [ Emily... Emily... what's her maiden name? ]

He sipped diet coke. He had a weird impression in his stomach. He felt sick about that burger and pushed it aside.

His panel became clear. The scores for the last battle rolled in.

Qi points: 450k

You have unlocked a sneaky animal power!

His arms darkened and he grunted when it painfully doubled into four arms then six. His eyes doubled. He hunched and his senses tingled. He slowly crawled under the mattress.

Melvin opened the door and he hardened.

"I don't understand this attitude of yours. There's just no pleasing you is there?"

"I dunno. Were you trying to please me?"

Melvin was thrown off by that question.

Did he see the news? Maks wondered.