Strike One

 
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Strike One
October 16 2003 at 7:00 AM
Harbinger of Death

Seven ghoulish figures stood before the Harbinger of Death as he paced in front of them slowly, inspecting them to ensure they were well prepared for their jobs. He nodded in approval and marked a few things on his clipboard.

“Excellent. Everything is in place. The first hit will happen today. There are six victims for this one. Pride, you’ll be taking care of this.”

One of the figures stepped forward, taking the list that HoD held out. She glanced over it and bowed her head slightly. “It shall be done.”

“I’ll be making up a schedule for the rest of them,” he continued. “Stand by. You can relax, but don’t go too far.”

The other six slipped away while Pride made her way toward campus. Harbinger followed, shimmering out of sight. He would observe each kill, but not be seen. They arrived at a study room where there was no studying going on at all. The students there chatted about unimportant things, but as Pride entered the room, invisible to mortal eyes, the atmosphere changed.

“I suppose you heard I got a new job,” said Antares loftily. “It’s ever so much better than my last one.”

“Me too,” Kat said. “They really wanted me at this new job. They love me there.”

“I just up and quit my job. I don’t even have to get a new one yet. I have principles you know,” Sairah interjected, flipping her hair.

“Yeah, well, I’ve had LOTS of new jobs,” Castalia said, not to be outdone. “Everybody wants me to work for them. I’m in very high demand.”

“So? I can use the computer at my work to post on senseless chat forums!” Ladybug jumped in. They all chorused together in groans and phrases like “big deal” and “everybody can do that.”

Cathbad cleared his throat. “Excuse me. But I have the best job of all of you. Do you know why? Because I am a boy and boys get paid better than girls just because we’re boys.” There were cries of outrage at this.

An argument ensued as to whose job was most important, with the best benefits, who was smartest and most qualified for this or that. Tempers flared and no one noticed that all of their eyes began to glitter with a very bright green. They snarled and snapped at each other and tried desperately to prove that he or she was the most of everything among them.

All of a sudden they turned and saw Pride. Their shouts stopped instantly as they gazed upon her haughty features, her broad shoulders and her condescending stare. They were transfixed by her glowing green eyes. She smiled cruelly and said in a cold voice, “Pride goeth before a fall.”

There was a flash of green light that exploded through them like a nuclear wave, and they all were thrown into the air before coming back to the ground with a sickening thud. She held out a green crystal bottle as their souls were sucked into it. She corked the bottle and made her way back to the mansion.

Harbinger of Death watched the whole event in silence. Well done. Catching the Debs on their vices would be the easiest thing in the world.
 
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