Professor Roth could have sworn he let out a scream, but later realized his voice had gotten lost somewhere in time, and nothing came out but exasperated air.
Stunned, he saw that Vegas stood there in the front of the classroom wordless, with blood sliding down the back of his neck.
Some students in the class shrieked as they leaped out of their seats and ran for the classroom exits. Others sat in their chairs, too petrified to move.
Vegas' eyes shifted from side to side as he tried to figure out why everyone was screaming and running away. Then his mouth slid open, slack involuntarily, and drool fell from his lips.
He began blinking rapidly as blood streamed down his neck and began to bloody his shirt collar and loose strands of blond hair. In shock, he quivered and looked up at Diaz.
Diaz gave him that dark grin. "Hopefully, this will remind you to pay attention in my class…" Vegas gasped as his body began to shake. The blood streaming down from the blow to the back of his head had the front of his shirt soaked within seconds. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could utter a word, he dropped cold on the dark wood floor and started convulsing as the blood leaked from his head, creating a dark halo around his skull.
Professor Roth overrode his initial desire, which was to run from the classroom screaming and flew into action to protect the remaining students. He picked up a chair that sat alone in the row before him, and started to charge the stage with it.
Diaz, however, was the picture of calm. He watched Professor Roth approach for a moment, and then in one quick motion, he flipped his hand around and made a tight fist. The chair Professor Roth had been holding slammed to the floor, spun around, and crashed into the back of his knees, tumbling the young teacher backwards into it.
"Hey!" Roth yelled as he struggled to get up. He felt bound there, but when he looked down there were no chains, ropes, or anything holding him. He looked up at Diaz, who took the bat, flipped it, letting the bloody barrel slash through the air, and then caught the handle with one hand as he approached.
Roth's breath was caught in his throat as he braced himself, seeing the look of dark determination in Diaz's gray eyes. The professor instead let the bat head fall to the floor, and he leaned on it like a cane as he re-buttoned the button on his silk suit and turned back to his class.
"Now," Professor Diaz began. "Who here thinks they can help our friend Vegas out?"
The seats in the class were nearly all hollow. The shock and anxiety electrified the air, making it seem disturbingly cold in the classroom.
The daredevils, those students who hadn't run out of the class altogether, stood at the back by the double doors, just waiting for Diaz to do one more effed-up thing before they made a break for it. They no longer looked spooky or ominous as they trembled in their black robes. Only Seth Bynum and Dorothy Smiles were still in their seats. Dorothy seemed terribly amused by all this. She chuckled, looking directly at Vegas' dead body.
Seth watched Vegas die on stage, shocked. What?! Was this happening, or was his mind freaking out because of the poison?
He looked up at the Rangwark tapestry again, hoping that would somehow provide an answer. If Rangwark had been laughing before now, his face was twisted in abject delirium. Then Seth heard Rangwark whisper into his soul, "I don't know, bub! You figure it out!"
His eyes clenched, and he tried to calm his breathing. "Rich!" He had to do something, he couldn't let this happen. He owed it to the Beltrans, he owed it to Kaye to keep Richard safe, even though Rich was a complete and utter nob.
His stomach felt like it was being twisted into bows. When he opened his eyes, his vision was blurry. His body was shutting down.
He rested his forehead on the wood of his desk again, sweat soaking his blue hair, making it a darker blue. He nearly lost all feeling in his arm, but hell, he couldn't let himself die now! He had to fight!
He forced himself to sit up, clutching his stomach with one hand. Some saliva collected at the side of his mouth and began to slide out. He was alone in that row now. Tough guys, Skylar and Greg, had broken the eff out and were standing by the door, quivering like two scared bunnies. Whatever. Seth had to do something, and he had to do it quickly. He didn't have much time left on earth. And besides him dying, the bell would ring soon.
He thought up a spell. Not only would it work, but it would impress Professor Diaz immensely! Maybe the tall, intimidating immortal would finally love Seth as much as Kaye did!
Seth got ready to cast, but before it was completed, Diaz raised his hands. "…A spell using time manipulation, of course." And with that, Diaz heard Seth yell "SHIT!" somewhere near the center of the room.
His head snapped to where Seth Bynum was stumbling out of his seat trying to make his way out of the classroom.
"Where are you going, Mr. Bynum?"
Seth exhaled hard and coughed out, struggling to breathe. He collapsed onto the dark blue floor runner that went up the stairs. When he turned to look over his shoulder to address Diaz, blood dripped from his lips.
"I'm…going….to DIE!"
Diaz raised his eyebrows. "That's no reason to ditch my class."
Seth's face broke. What?! The Eff?! He collapsed flat on the royal blue rug, his arm reaching out, trying to drag his body further. The door in front of him faded in and out of his vision. He was almost there, but realized even if he made it, he wouldn't get to his room in time.
We screwed up! It was a massive revelation and a horrible one to have right before your life ended, but it was Seth Bynum's last thought, as his body stopped moving completely and he remained there still.
Diaz licked his lips. "Alright, so now there are two students dead. That means double the credit!"
He surveyed his class. They gawked at him from the exit in utter disbelief.
Oh well, if nothing else, they were finally attentive.