Paintshark

by Kingsley Pilgrim

  “Okay, okay …bugger…okay, okay.”

  The Chimera was drooling now and its red eyes narrowed at Kimberley, she armed both hands with orbs, keeping her stare with the monster, she was confident again. “Let’s get this over with.”

  The orbs rolled from her hands like marbles, brilliant white light was already streaming from the balls before they had even hit their target when they did it was like a firework display of white and blue energy, and they exploded all around the feet of the Chimera. The creature roared in defiance as it reared up on its hind legs as the explosions continued all around its feet.

  The bombs died down and crackled like wood on a fireplace and when they were done the Chimera still stood unaffected by the bombs, snorting hard. Viewing this from his seat Big Man punched the air.

  “BOOYAH, THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT, WHAT YOU SAYING NOW, ‘BOMBGIRL? WHAT YOU SAYIN? WHAT YOU GOT?”

  He and Apollo touched fists and looked for Kimberley’s response, she eyed the creature up again, exhausted.

  “This sucks on so many levels.”

  She turned to run back to Felcey, dodging the large craters in the ground, the Chimera’s snake tail sidewinded after her at great speed, extended from the body and wrapped itself around Kimberley’s legs she screamed fiercely as she hit the ground, “NO, GET OFF ME.”

  As the snake dragged Kimberley to the Chimera, it threw its head back and roared, bearing its blood-stained teeth and licking its lips in anticipation of its next meal.

  Kimberley’s nails scratched frantically at the dirt as the snake dragged her to the Chimera, she managed to spin around and throw some orbs at the snake’s body, as they exploded the effects were like firecrackers, but the orbs danced around the snake causing no damage to its skin whatsoever.

  Kimberley screamed out to Felcey and tried to wave her hands at him as she was dragged away, the disgusting smell of the Chimera grew worse as she became closer to it, the hissing snake tightened its grip.

  “FELCEY HELP ME, FOR GOD’S SAKE DO SOMETHING.”

  He backed away fearfully, looking at the milk still dripping from his hands, concentrating hard he released a jet of milk at the Chimera, the milk drifted aimlessly in the cool night wind, Felcey rolled his shoulders back and tried to increase the pressure, pushing his powers to the limit the milk just rolled down the Chimera’s side merely causing the monster to turn its head and greedily slurp up the milk running down its furry side. Felcey froze and thought, It’s not working, I’m doing more harm than good.

  Big Man also had saliva running down his mouth from laughing so hard. “WAY TO GO YOU NERD, YOU’RE USELESS.”

  He continued to back away, stopping the milk flow from his hands, it was useless, Big Man was right. Just like at school, just like his stepdad had told him every day, he clutched his stomach as a stabbing pain reminded him that there were still beetles in his body, he was no good to Kimberley…he was no good to anybody now, the beetles made sure of that.

  Felcey was going to die as soon as the beetles hatched from his stomach. He wasn’t going to die now though.

  The Chimera continued licking the milk from its hide, as Kimberley struggled with the snake coils, it swung her around and she rolled around on the ground.

  “FELCEY, HELP ME PLEASE.”

  Big Man turned to Apollo and pulled a face. “Doesn’t she moan a lot? Blimey, she reminds me of my ex-missus, she used to whine like a stuck pig too.” Apollo grinned and continued watching the girl struggle.

  Felcey caught the frightened look of his classmate and he held the stare for moment…and then ran away, Kimberley’s eyes widened in more shock.

  “FELCEY, HELP ME, COME BACK, YOU COWARD!”

  He carried on running, looking back at his friend and his head full of shame, not noticing the carcass of dead lion in his path, tripping over its body Felcey fell head first to the ground, knocking himself out. A slight twinge of satisfaction came over Kimberley as she saw Felcey fall. Big Man stood up and started pointing at Felcey, singing an old football chant. “HE FELL OVER, HE FELL OVER, HE FELL OVER!”

  She was right next to the Chimera now and the beast roared with menace, her bombs were doing no damage to the beast as the snake released her body Kimberley stayed on the ground and listened to the snarls of the Chimera. She closed her eyes, praying for a quick death, she flicked them open again and caught the glare of the floodlights. Nothing’s happening. I’m still alive. The Chimera swung its head low to the ground and nudged Kimberley, she rolled a few yards as the wet snout left a gooey smear on her back. She scrambled to her feet and wobbled only to take another nudge from the nose, knocking her flat on her back, winding her.

  It’s playing with me, it’s playing with its food.

  Kimberley was angry more than frightened, the creature couldn’t be bothered to eat her now it was just going to play around for a bit before devouring her, she wasn’t on its ‘things to do list’.

  She was Kimberley Watson and this creature was going to know who it was messing with. Can’t blow it up…then I’ll bury it.

  Kimberley didn’t stop to think, her impatience grew with the Chimera and she got on her feet again, flicking her wrists constantly to make the orbs appear, and then she pushed the two together, the Orbs pulsed with energy, slowly rubbing them together until they started to grow, time was against her as Kimberley knew roughly how much time she had before they went off.

  The two orbs together were now the size of a beach ball and Kimberley struggled with it in her hands so she simply let it go.

  The ground was sloping as the cracks worsened, and the bomb rolled underneath and then behind the monster, the bright glowing light fascinated the Chimera and it turned to chase it.

  Big Man jumped up and down like a man possessed. “NO YOU BIG STUPID IDIOT, LET IT GO, LET IT GO AND EAT HER.”

  Kimberley took a breath and sprinted behind her and began the countdown. “Five. Four. Three. Two…” She laid flat on the ground at a safe distance and saw the Chimera nudging the orb, and smiled as she could just about see Big Man waving his hands frantically. “…..One.….. Bang baby!”

  The stadium rocked to its foundations as the light bomb exploded, the whole ground gave way and the giant Chimera shrieked in alarm as it toppled back into the ground from where it first came.

  The explosion was bigger than Kimberley expected and she screamed as she began to roll into the hole that had taken the Chimera.

  The powerful and surging energy of the orbs made the stadium crumble and crack. Blocks of the magnificent arena came crashing down to the ground, Big Man watched in horror as his stadium came crashing down all around him.

  Felcey was still laying unconscious on the far side of the arena, some section of the seating had fallen just over him creating a bridge from other falling masonry, so for now he was protected.

  As Kimberley rolled toward the huge crater, she released more orbs that rolled like marbles all the way down through the giant crater, the new flash of light started a chain reaction of explosions which went all the way through the Network’s underground power generators.

  “MY STUDIOS!” Big Man yelled.

  It was too late, the light bombs had destroyed the Chimera and were now taking out all of his underground labyrinth of studios and laboratories, all of the research his technicians had put into making the grotesque monsters that stalked the barbaric game shows of Big Man and his Network were now up in flames.

  Kimberley tried to regain her balance but every time she stood up the ground moved again, forcing her to the crater’s edge.

  The sudden and powerful impact of the light bombs was taking down the stadium at an alarmingly fast rate, everyone in the audience had cleared their seats.

  The night sky made its way into the stadium as the floodlights came toppling to the ground. Way below the surface in the studios of Big Man, flames bought recordings to an end permanently. Fire alarms sounded and sprinklers went off, as secretaries working late and lab techn
icians working on new projects ran for their lives as their offices and laboratories exploded into balls of flame. Paint blistered and expensive cameras shattered as a trail of fire ended the Big Man’s broadcasts.

  Kimberley had fallen into the crater as the arena debris came down. It boomed with the sound of destruction as the once mighty football stadium which had been turned into a gladiatorial arena by Big Man, was bought to its knees.

  There was no sign of Kimberley as the crater finally gave in and the whole ground was swallowed up, the ‘Theatre of Screams’ collapsed like a house of cards and there was nothing left. Finally the ground stopped shifting and there was nothing left to fall from the stands.

  Making their way down to the arena floor Big Man and Apollo stumbled from their executive box after witnessing this fantastic display of power from Kimberley, and the Network king fell to his knees. “It’s gone, it’s all gone, she’s got rid of the lot, she took the whole lot, my arena, my studios, my cameras, it’s all gone.” He began to laugh hysterically. “IT’S ALL GONE, I’VE GOT NOTHING, THOSE FREAKS HAVE KILLED ME.”

  Apollo frowned. “These things happen.”

  Big Man failed to answer and Apollo spoke again. “All the creatures, all the experiments…all the monsters, all dead?”

  “Probably,” said Big Man.

  “Boy, the R.S.P.C.A are going to be well pissed off.”

  Big Man bit his lip and stood up. “Hope the cameras got that.”

  From the centre of what used to be his stadium Big Man heard a huffing and puffing noise, he beckoned Apollo and they climbed over what was left of the ground to look down the gigantic hole in the centre of the arena.

  They were about to peer into the gap and they both jumped back, startled by what they saw. Climbing out of the crater was Kimberley, giggling, her hair was still covered in blood, but now had bits of rubble stuck to it, her dress had stopped being white a long time ago and it was shredded and black, her face was dust covered and only her teeth remained a radiant white, she was still giggling as she stood upright and stretched, she widened her eyes as she noticed Big Man and Apollo and stopped laughing, breathing hard, she looked back at the crater she had just climbed out of and then back to the men. Kimberley put her hand to her mouth and made a supping motion to them.

  “Anyone fancy a cuppa? I’m gasping.” She collapsed in their arms before they could answer.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Freaks, Geeks and Dragon’s Cheeks

  Big Man didn’t even want to throw a party; it was planned way in advance of that evening’s proceedings in the arena, but it was late in the night now and the party was in full flow.

  Scantily clad women danced seductively to the popular tunes of the moment as business associates of Big Man leered through smoke-filled haze at the nubile young dancers.

  The older, balding men stuffed their faces with copious amounts of free food laid out for all the guests, and threw grapes and other various fruit at the entertainment on show.

  The dancers found their perfect poise across the other side of the room and with the much younger and better looking male guests of Big Man much to the annoyance of the more mature ones, who in turn, opened bottles of wine and showered the dancers with them amid squeals of shock and drenched eyes widening through detest.

  The mansion was filled, wall to wall with Big Man’s dinner guests of who roamed freely around the rooms nosing their way through the magnificent building, drunk on fine wine and cheap gossip.

  The glamour models who frequently adorned any available space at the house kept to their job of providing eye entertainment and serving drinks to the assortment of crooks and henchmen at Big Man’s disposal.

  They danced in the centre of the main hall, the glamour girls swayed and gyrated to the music, and well aware of the attention they were receiving from the other males, the girls danced on.

  Aphrodite glided onto the dance floor and was glad she decided to come; she secretly wanted to do something after the Sabrina business but she still expected her phone to ring again tonight.

  She had even gone late night shopping to take her mind off it and had bought a new pair of black knee high boots which she wore tonight and as she twisted and pivoted to the music, her heels held firm in the middle of the hall. Aphrodite’s heels were high and occasionally there was a flash of awkwardness as some steps were harder to perfect when you’re on stilt-like shoes, but still Aphrodite was attracting more attention than the models – she was a beautiful blond-haired centre of attention…and she loved it, Aphrodite beamed a tremendous smile and pushed her long blond hair back over her ears, feeling the left ear lobe which had a sparkling gorgeous earring in it as did the right, her arms were still covered as the hair on them had grown even thicker.

  Her phone vibrated from within her bag and she answered it, putting a finger in her other ear to make a half-hearted attempt to block out the noise, making sure that nobody saw her arms, she had to shout. “YEAH, I AM GLAD I CAME, THANKS FOR PERSUADING ME.” She felt her ear again. “AND THANKS FOR GETTING ME THESE GORGEOUS EARRINGS, PARDON? WHAT? YOU’VE BROUGHT HER HERE? OK…WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO? OK, I’LL DO IT…SAME RATES AS BEFORE…HEY I GAVE YOU SABRINA AND SHE WAS MY FRIEND…OK….SPEAK TO YOU SOON…AND–”

  Before she could utter any words, champagne was sprayed all over her and the dancing girls; they shrieked as everyone in the room just started pouring wine over each other’s heads and wasting expensive bottles of champagne, until the floor was soaking wet and the girls in heels were sliding all over it, but still they continued to dance in this fury of spent alcohol.

  Big Man cut a forlorn figure in the corner of the room; usually he was a great host with two models on each arm; he’d bounce around the halls like a man half his age, cracking joke after joke with his sycophants.

  But since the destruction of his stadium and the fires that bought an end to his studios, the weight of the world was on his shoulders and he had bought it on himself.

  His mansion was nowhere near the area and this party was meant to celebrate the season finale for the game show, but thanks to the girl, Kimberley…there would not be another series, not for a while anyway.

  He had cameras everywhere in his mansion too, but very rarely did he film any shows there.

  Apollo entered the hall with Dandridge in tow and Big Man watched their every move as they sidestepped the drunken revellers to speak to him.

  “Boss, the prison transport to Gommerstall is ready to leave now, we have the scheduled pick-up of the prisoners you know about and we’ve acquired some new ones just added to the list, what’s the score with the stadium?”

  “You were there, you saw what happened, the little bitch freak has ruined me, I didn’t have any insurance on the arena so I’m screwed.”

  A fly buzzed in Apollo’s ear and it swished it away. “No insurance, Boss? What were you thinking?”

  “I thought it was S.E.P, so that’s why I didn’t pay it.”

  Apollo raised an eyebrow. “S.E.P?”

  “Somebody Else’s Problem, anyway so I’m skint, can we change the subject please?”

  Dandridge stepped in. “Do we have to send this transport, Sir? Can’t we just let everybody out and give them a clean slate?”

  Big Man made a little sound of irritation. “Listen, I’ve lost everything thanks to those super-powered kids, no game shows, no studios. Nothing. And do you know why? Because I didn’t give them any respect, those kids are the most powerful creatures I’ve seen in my life, I made them and they’ve ruined me, but I want them to play again, I want them to be a part of the games again, which they will.

  Take them to Gommerstall Prison, throw them in with those useless teachers, send them far away from here and keep an eye on them Apollo, don’t let them escape…Not yet anyway, because by the time they do escape, which they will…Olympia will be very different.” Big Man raised his voice in sarcasm, “Do you think you can handle guarding a bunch of no-mark teachers?”

&n
bsp; Apollo shrugged his shoulders. “I’m working on it, Boss, just leave it to me, they won’t get past me.”

  “Oh they will get past you, Apollo, and they will defeat you, that’s what I’m counting on, when the time is right and the wheels are in motion they will come home so just get it sorted, Apollo, whatever it takes.”

  The sudden upsurge in Big Man’s voice surprised him.

  “Whatever it takes, Boss.”

  Big Man wasn’t finished. “Lock up every single teacher, I don’t want nobody learning nothing.”

  Dandridge thought, that doesn’t sound good, literally.

  The yellow teeth of Apollo came to the fore once more. “With pleasure, Boss.”

  Cassandra woke up, still dazed and very confused, her head hurt and as she shifted herself from the double bed she found herself laying in, her sides ached more than her head. It was a plush and very lavish bedroom, quite big with a huge chandelier hanging above where she had been sleeping. Lavish curtains hung from the many windows, they were drawn so it was still night time. Her clothes were different, better than her last ones. Somebody had changed her clothes.

  Cassandra painfully swung her legs from beneath the covers and stepped from the bed, still holding her head, she looked up to the huge ceiling and screamed. “WILL PEOPLE PLEASE STOP KNOCKING ME OUT!”

  She felt woozy again and fell backwards onto the bed which was when she heard the door handle click. She lifted her head wearily and saw a familiar face walk in carrying a tray of tea and biscuits.

  “Wakey wakey, sleepy head.”

  Cassandra shot up immediately when she saw who was carrying the tray.

  “APHRODITE, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?”

  Aphrodite carried on walking towards the bed. “SHH-shh, you’ve got to rest, Cassandra, you’ve taken a big knock to the head and you must take it easy, I’ve got some cocoa and some custard creams for you.”