Victoria had been plagued with the flashing notifications at the edge of her vision throughout the day. She was looking forward to delving into the “Now remember first-timers often find themselves deluged with information.” Lacie had cautioned her before she went off to appropriate deserts from the lunch tables. The teenager had tried to find a nice quiet spot to review the information. However just as she got seated for a few minutes perusal Caroline found her.

“Oh my god, that was the craziest thing that has ever happened to me.” The blond girl said excitedly. We win dodge ball against the amazon cheerleaders then boom.” She yanked her potato chip bag apart causing the contents to spread out like there had been a real explosion. “What do you think Karen was thinking? I bet any boy in the hall was surprised.”

“Caroline? What do you recall?” Victoria asked puzzled by her friend's narration.

At her question, Caroline stopped and thought carefully and her eyes opened wide. Glancing around she whispered. “I… I recall two different things. It’s like the first thing I remember was Karen going nuts in the locker room then stripping and running off. But that wasn’t what happened.” She shook her head then closed her eyes and took a big breath her brows creased as she thought. We saw Ryoka and Cora get dragged into the locker room and you went to check on them.” She said calmly then continued.

“They heard me and then attacked me. And I saw that..that thing that was Karen. God what was that thing?”

Victoria nodded then spoke. “I don’t know. But continue.”

“You were there and you attacked it. You were throwing… or something was coming out of your hands.”

“Right.”

“It turned into a general melee. And then Cora crushed that creature's head.” She shuddered then. “Wait it was spitting something out bugs or something.”

“Yes, it was. I think it was using the bigs to control the girls.” Victoria said. “I am afraid I’m going to have to check up on every girl on the cheerleading squad.”

“Why?” her friend asked with trepidation in her voice.

“What if the things on them can take over their bodies and become a new queen or whatever that was?” She mused.

“Oh Ick.”

Victoria became aware of a new flashing message that she opened. “Well, I have my first quest.” She said sourly.

Excitedly Caroline asked. “What is it?”

The teenage sorceress grunted as she reread the message aloud. “Save the cheerleaders.”

X X X

The two men surveyed the locker room carefully. They were both dressed in work coveralls with equipment piled into the hall. The older of the two men was peering under the benches between a set of small lockers, while the younger searched one of the lockers before turning. “What do you think happened here?” The dark-haired young man asked his companion.

“I would have said a fight. Look here.” He said pointing at a pair of crumpled panties laying under the bench. “But that's just weird.”

“Weird how?” The younger said as he turned and examined the find. “What? Panties of charisma? Are you kidding me?” He said shaking his head in disbelief.

“Well, I didn’t think the head cheerleader stripped then ran through the school naked. Here Let me take a look.” The youth bent over and a glow emanated from his hand. After a few moments, he grunted. “I don’t know there are traces of ichor but it can’t have been a bug we went through the schools back in the fall.” With a sigh of resignation, he continued “I hate insects.”

“Quit your whining, just be glad it’s not snakes again.” The older man smiled lecherously. “Well, there is good news Gideon.”

“What's that?”

“If it is a bug we have interview all of the cheerleaders that were here.” He leered “to you know check them out to see if they are infested.” The younger man shuddered.

Then a thought brought a smile to the man's face. “The old man will never allow that.”

“Yeah, he was more fun when he was a kid.” Their Musings were interrupted.

“What are you two men think you’re doing in my locker room?” A short female teacher demanded from the doorway.

“Exterminator Ma’am. Checking for an infestation that was reported.” The woman snorted.

“Ma’am.” The older man said deferentially then made a motion with his hand. “We just finished spraying but we need the class roster. The girls that came in here today may have larvae on them.”

She pondered this for a moment then nodded. “Is this sort of like lice or something?” The younger man started scratching his scalp.

“Sorry that particular word makes my scalp itch.”

“Come on to my office then.” She shuddered. “Once I get you your list you are out of here.”

X X X

“How many girls do we have to worry about?” Gideon asked his partner as they loaded up the gear.

“There are thirty girls on the list but seven were cheerleaders.” He said musingly. “Think it could be a Dschinns?”

“No, not an insect and that is usually associated with love.” He grunted as he got the last canister and started for the door. “You know Since the old man probably won’t let us interview the girls…” His partner grunted. “Maybe we can get on that case over at the fairgrounds.”

“I am not going anywhere near a nightmare.” This time Gideon grunted. “We really need better jobs.” They both sighed however in their speed to leave the school they failed to see a small pair of eyes that watched them, then it flew off into the darkness.