Very Early Draft Excerpt from 'A Villain's Journey' (Patreon)

The plot of the current book I'm writing on and off right now (and doing goofy drawings about): Sam has a crush on her best friend, Alyssa. Sam's best friend is secretly a superhero. Sam knows this, and also knows Alyssa is depressed about not having a cool supervillain to fight. Sam decides to become that supervillain for Alyssa.

I've gone through several fits and starts with this book, (20,000 words worth, ugh) but recently landed on some ideas that might work better. And recently I joined a local small critique group with an IRL friend (we're doing Zoom meetings right now of course tho) and did part of a scene, and I'm pretty happy with how fun it turned out! It's pretty short, and though this is still an early draft, I thought I'd share it.

This is also based on REAL EVENTS I went through as a twelve-year-old wannabe skit writer, actor AND director, you might be able to tell.

  ----

Kelsey’s skit was not going well.

Not that it was poorly written or performed or anything (it wasn’t bad for a bunch of twelve year olds), it was more like she had the wrong audience. I’d personally enjoyed the idea of ‘A Very Crucible Christmas’ when Kelsey described her script to me, but it looked like some of the teachers and parents in the audience at her school’s dress rehearsal were alarmed. There was a lot of murmuring going on in this auditorium. 

“She should know I’m allergic! Clearly she is in league with Satan! Off to the gallows with this witch!” Kelsey’s face was still red from the mishap earlier, but she was really putting her all into the role of Abigail Williams. Her queenly stature made the desk chair she was sitting in look almost throne-like. I could tell she was really having fun with appraising her peers as they came up to her one by one with Christmas presents. And especially having fun with ordering them executed on the basis of their shoddy offerings. 

“-really not appropriate. Did you even read the script? The script title?”

“Well, I did tell the class it could be based off any of the books we read this year, so I couldn’t-”

The skit wasn’t even over yet, but some teacher had already started complaining to Kelsey’s instructor, Mac, right there in the front row. Their conversation was getting increasingly louder. They either hadn’t noticed I was behind them or, more likely, hadn’t recognized me as someone who was here for Kelsey. I’d only come to Kelsey’s school events in place of Alyssa a couple times before now, after all.

“Did you forget there would be third graders here?” The other teacher’s harsh went up another pitch.  Guess I knew which grade she taught now.

“I didn’t think she’d go this dark with it-“

‘Clearly, you weren’t thinking at all!”

I made a hushing noise, but these guys were ignoring their surroundings completely now. I sighed and touched the phone at my hip. Alyssa would know how to shut these guys up if she was here, but she was going to miss the entire skit at this rate. And I hadn’t felt any buzz signaling a text...

“And the sexual content-“

“I think she just tripped, actually-?’

“It was clearly on purpose! She showed the entire audience her panties!”

“HEY, quiet!” I interjected with a sharp whisper of my own. The third- grade teacher turned, shooting me a glare that made my face burn. Mac at least looked a little apologetic, but it was too little, too late. Kelsey had clearly heard something of the teacher’s last comment, because her face got even redder and she started stammering pretty hard. “Pu-put stones on h-her-“

I clutched my face with my hands and cursed silently.

Of course Kelsey fucking tripped! Any imbecile could see that! What the hell were these clowns doing even talking about a twelve-year old’s panties? I wish I had a recording of them so I could alert the PTA or whatever the shit. 

Kelsey had been SO excited to show off the skit she’d been put in charge of too, and now it was totally gonna be pulled and replaced at the last minute. Even though her Mom had already cut her business trip short to fly all the way across the country and see the final version! I could imagine how hard Kelsey would cry when she had to explain to her that the skit she’d been put in charge of bombed so hard. All because her stupid fucking teacher hadn’t done his job and set her up for humiliation. 

So had I, maybe. I’d cheered her on when she told me about it; impressed the school was so laid back now. I’d figured her teacher had read the script…run it by the others…but I’d gone to elementary AND middle school here too, hadn’t I? I should have known things hadn’t changed. And now Kelsey was going to be blamed for the incompetence of the people who were supposed to be helping her.  

Alyssa wouldn’t take that lying down once I told her about it, at least. She’d go to bat for her niece. Take all the teachers on. I wish Alyssa was here right now, to scold them all, to shout what Kelsey needed to hear as she struggled painfully through her lines...but she wasn’t. And even if Alyssa took care of the aftermath, Kelsey was going to remember this as one of the worst nights of her life. 

Unless.

Maybe there was one way I could get Alyssa to come here right away.

It was risky, but I could see tears starting to form in Kelsey’s eyes now.

Fuck it. 

I squeezed the little ball of magic that rested in the pocket of my hoodie. Instantly, I felt the brush of fur against my ankles and heard the purr in my ear.

Yes? Maj’s voice echoed in my mind.

I need you to run through the audience, I thought at her. Cause a commotion.

I don’t do things for you without a good reason.

The reason is so I can terrorize this stupid Christmas play.

Could it be? You’re finally taking this seriously?

Yeah, let’s go with that.

Well, all right then. Do me proud.

She darted away as she said it and immediately the screams in the audience started. 

“Who let a cat in here?”

“Oh my god, it’s purple, is it one of the ones with powers?”

“I think it’s floating!”

Everyone was looking at their feet now. Kelsey’s teacher ran up to stage, gesturing at the kids to stop. All the kids’ eyes were fixed on him. 

I smiled and sidled out the side door, texting Alyssa as I went. 

Omg 1 of Tivalas familiar animal things jst showed up at the school? Im gonna try to get to Kelsey don’t cme in its dangrus!

Aaaand send.

I want a witch motif this time, by the way, I thought at Maj.

While I’m doing all this? Demanding much? But I like the theme, so fine. 

I took the pouch from my shorts pocket and dumped the purple hairball in my palm. While  still holding the ball of magic in my hoodie, I swallowed it. My hoodie changed to purple and the cloth became softer and more supple. Triangle ears popped out of the hood, fangs grew in my mouth, my nails grew strong and sharp, my eyes turned yellow and catlike. A supernaturally dark shadow cloaked my face.

You gotta witch me up, I reminded Maj.

Don’t rush me!

But she sent some power my way, and I felt it resonate with the magic in my hand. I squeezed hard and channeled it best I could. My hoodie grew longer until it became more of a dress, covering my shorts. A long point grew on my hood, and then the top spread out ‘til it looked like my cat ears were now resting on a brim. I kicked off my sneakers and tucked them behind a nearby tree. Glad my socks were black today at least. It was KIND of coordinated.

Maj was still doing a good job keeping the audience occupied as I slipped in. In a nice bit of luck, I spotted the third grade teacher among those trying to catch her, and she was moving towards the stage. 

I rushed towards her, weaving lithely through the crowd. Some people screamed as I darted by them, but before the teacher could turn around, I launched myself onto her. For a split second, she gaped up at person whose feet were now balanced on her shoulders.  Kind of wished I’d ditched my shorts now, provided some more ‘sexual content’ to ruin her day. I leaned forward so my face was upside down in front of hers and gave my best fang-filled leer. 

Then, just as she began to stumble, I launched myself off her, did a somersault midair, and landed lightly on the stage where all the kids were now being corralled by Kelsey’s teacher.

I could see Kelsey gaping at me out of the corner of my eye. I turned and faced the audience, doing a deep bow.

“I heard someone was putting on a show of hunting witches around here, but Tivala will not be upstaged!” I crowed. 

The entire crowd had gone still. All eyes on me. I heard Maj snicker as she ran to a dark corner of the auditorium. 

“Um, I need you to-“ Kelsey’s teacher made a move towards me, but I casually shoved him off the stage. I couldn’t help but cackle at the sound of his scream as he fell, and Maj cackled in my head along with me.

Nice.

Oh shit. Her approval always equals me going a little too far. But…eh, he was already getting up, albeit shakily, so looks like he landed okay. And the kids didn’t look too scared either- Kelsey especially.

“It’s really her-!” she squealed.

“That means she’ll-“  Another girl whispered, but a booming, heroic voice interrupted her.

“What do you think you’re doing, Tivala?”

Speak of the devil, and she will appear.  Though Alyssa’s more of an angel. She’d floated in unnoticed, but now she was levitating high above the crowd, commanding attention. All hail the mighty Whirlwind. She looked super dashing as always in her green coat and aviator goggles, her black cape-like scarf whipping in the wind…her hair was so shiny today too! Maybe I’ll try to knock it loose from its buns during our fight so it could flow all luxuriously when she does her wind thing…no, focus, focus, this is for Kelsey, remember?

“What does it look like I’m doing, Whirlwind?” I shouted. Wait, what was I doing? “…I’m going to take one of these brats hostage!”

Maj meowed excitedly in my ear.  Alyssa cocked an eyebrow. “Really, now?”

No, not REALLY, obviously I’m going let you to stop me before it came to that, because I couldn’t possibly ever put Kelsey though-

“Oooh, pick me, pick me!” Kelsey ran up to me, jumping up and down, eyes shining. “I want to be a hostage! Please!!!”

…Um. 

Or maybe I could, I guess?