The New Girl

chapter fifteen

chapter fifteen - december, 1983

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 "Something is coming," Mike said a month later. He had finally taught Alex how to play, so she was sitting in between Will and Mike, her eyes wide. "Something angry. Hungry for your blood. It is almost here."

"What is it?" Alex asked. 

"It's the thessalhydra," Dustin said, "I'm telling you."

"It's not the thessalhydra," Lucas said, not believing him.

"I'm telling you, it's the thessalhydra," Dustin said, determined that it was the thessalhydra. Mike held a small figurine in his hand and slammed it onto the table. 

"The thessalhydra!" Mike yelled as Alex groaned.

"Damn it," Dustin said.

"It roars in anger!" Mike yelled, "Will, your action!" Alex, Dustin and Lucas turned to Will.

"What should I do?" Will asked, "I. . . ."

"Fireball him!" Lucas yelled. Will turned to Alex and Dustin who grinned. 

"Fireball the son of a bitch," Alex said as Will smiled. He rolled the dice and they all watched it closely. 

"Fourteen!" Will yelled happily as they all cheered happily. 

"Direct hit," Mike said as Alex smiled, " Will the Wise's fireball hits the thessalhydra. It makes a painful. . . ." he stood up and screeched loudly as Alex smiled at him, ". . . .and then. . . . it crumbles to the ground. Its clawed hand reaches for you one last time and, and, and, and. . . ." he faked died onto the floor as Alex, Dustin, Lucas and Will cheered and high-fived each other. Will and Alex hugged, cheering as Mike got back up and sat down, watching Alex with a smile as she ran around the table with Dustin, Lucas and Will, the three of them still cheering. "Lucas cuts off its seven heads, Alex used her magic to destroy the body and Dustin places them into his bag of holding. You carry the heads out of the dungeon, victorious, and you present them to King Tristan. He thanks you for your bravery and service." The other four sat back down, staring at Mike.

"Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa," Dustin said as Alex looked at Mike, "that's not it, is it?"

"No, there's a medal ceremony. . . ." Mike began but Dustin cut him off.

"Oh, a medal ceremony?" Dustin said looking utterly confused, "what are you talking about?"

"And. . . ."

"The campaign was way too short!" Alex said as the other boys nodded.

"Yeah!" Will said agreeing. 

"It was ten hours!" Mike said. 

"But it doesn't make any sense," Dustin said as he, Alex, Lucas and Will were not happy with how long the campaign was.

"It makes sense," Mike said as Dustin shook his head. 

"Uh, no," Dustin said. 

"What about the lost knight?" Will asked.

"And the proud princess?" Lucas added.

"And those weird flowers in the cave?" Alex asked as Mike looked at her.

"I don't know, it's. . . ." Mike began but was cut off when the door opened and they heard footsteps. 

"Jeez, what's that smell?" Jonathon asked as they all turned to him. "Have you guys been playing games all day, or just farting?"