Chapter 2: The Walking Disaster Has Returned—Repeat, He Is Back!
When Elias and Eve arrived at school, they went their separate ways. Elias headed to his first class of the day: English.
As he stepped into the room, he spotted the back of his teacher, Mrs. Alden, busy writing a list of vocabulary words on the whiteboard.
"Morning, Mrs. Alden," Elias said as he approached.
Startled, she jumped—clearly not expecting anyone yet. Her glasses comically flew off her face, though she managed to catch them mid-air before they hit the ground. She hurriedly slipped them back on and squinted at him.
"Elias! I'm so glad to see you've returned," she said with a gentle smile. She smoothed down her disheveled brown hair, slightly embarrassed at being caught off guard.
Elias politely pretended not to notice the minor spectacle. "Yeah, I'm back. I'll probably need a bit of help catching up on the stuff I missed."
Mrs. Alden hummed in agreement, then paused, her brow creasing in concern. After a brief hesitation, she asked, "Are you doing okay? I heard a bit from the principal... about your parents. Are they still missing? Are you sure you don't want to take a little more time off?"
Elias gave her a small, reluctant smile and ran a hand through his fringe. "I'm okay, thank you. For now, we're still not sure where they are, but… hopefully, they'll turn up soon."
"There's still 30 minutes before class starts. Let's go to my office and grab the materials you're missing," she said, gesturing toward the door.
Elias agreed, and the two headed for her office.
When they arrived, Mrs. Alden quickly grabbed a stack of documents clearly prepared ahead of time and handed them to Elias.
"Here's the work you missed. Let me know if you're having trouble with anything," she said, adjusting her glasses. Then, after a pause, she added, "Even if it's not school-related. You and your sister can always come to me. I know I'm just your teacher, but with your parents gone... if you guys ever want to mooch a meal off my husband and me, feel free."
Elias smiled in gratitude. "Thanks. But for now, I'm mostly trying to avoid spontaneous combustion or falling pianos."
Right then, a loud clatter echoed from around the corner.
Elias stiffened. "And there it is."
Mr. Carver's unmistakable bark followed. "Who the hell left a mop bucket in the middle of the hall?!"
Around the corner stormed Mr. Carver—gym coach and reigning king of overreactions. His perfectly polished shoes were now soaked, and his pants clung wetly to his legs.
He was already pointing a furious finger before he registered who was standing in front of Mrs. Alden.
"You!" he barked, then paused. His eyes landed on Elias.
Elias gave a casual wave. "Hi, Mr. Carver. Rough morning?"
Carver's fury short-circuited. He stared at Elias like someone who just realized they'd spilled salt while walking under a ladder during a solar eclipse.
"I— No. I was just saying…" He cleared his throat and took a large step back, as if even proximity might provoke another catastrophe. "I'll… handle this. Myself."
He spun on his heel with as much dignity as one could manage with squelching socks.
Elias turned back to Mrs. Alden. "He thinks I'm cursed, doesn't he?"
She didn't answer right away. Her lips pressed into a thin, guilty line.
"…No?" she offered, not very convincingly.
Elias chuckled. "It's okay. I've seen how the staff reacts when I sneeze. I'm pretty sure someone once crossed themselves."
Mrs. Alden shook her head with a tired but genuine smile. "You're not cursed, Elias."
"Tell that to Mr. Carver's dry-cleaning bill."
---
Mr. Carver cleaned up the scene and bolted down the hallway.
"Damn it!" he screamed internally. "That walking bad luck charm is back! I thought I'd get at least a few more peaceful days!"
You could hardly blame him. Nearly every day that Elias was around, something weird happened. Students landed in the nurse's office, and Carver himself had racked up more freak injuries than he cared to count.
There was even that one time a peacock—yes, a literal peacock—somehow wandered onto the outdoor field during Elias's P.E. class and scratched up half the students. It had been cornered and caught before it could touch Elias.
As he passed other teachers, he delivered a grim warning: "The walking disaster is back."
Several teachers paled.
It might've seemed cruel for a teacher to speak that way about a student, but in this school, Elias had a reputation. Only Mrs. Alden seemed immune to the superstition.
---
Despite the collective dread, the day continued, and lunch break rolled around. Elias headed to his usual spot by the courtyard fountain.
He sat at the edge, sipping juice through a crooked straw. His shoelaces were neatly tied. His bag stood upright. The sun shone brightly. Somewhere above, a bird cawed ominously.
A second later—SPLAT.
Elias turned to see a freshman shriek and dash off, flailing, bird poop streaked across their shoulder.
"Another one takes the fall," Elias muttered.
"Elias!" called a breathless voice. A delicate-looking boy with freckles and medium-length hair jogged over with his usual sheepish smile.
"Syler, hey buddy."
Syler glanced nervously at the scene of the incident. "Did that bird almost get you?"
"Almost?" Elias smirked. "Please. Nature respects the brand."
Syler blinked. "The… brand?"
"'Walking Disaster,' remember?" Elias sipped his juice like it was a vintage wine. "But only for everyone else."
Before Syler could reply, a girl with a sharp boyish haircut flopped onto the bench beside Elias. She held a sandwich in one hand and waved the other dramatically.
"Elias," she declared, "you deflected bird poop. I saw it curve mid-air. Your disaster field has physics."
"I'm a natural talent, Mina," Elias said, deadpan. "Newton would be proud."
Mina rolled her eyes. These two were Elias's only real friends. While the rest of the school kept their distance, they stuck around.
"It's like the universe wants you alive," Mina muttered, "but makes everyone else pay the insurance."
Syler chuckled. "Your life is Final Destination with a laugh track."
"Still no updates?" Mina asked, her voice quieter now.
Elias shook his head. "Sympathy casseroles and awkward questions. That's about it."
Mina elbowed him. "You know we've got your back, right? If the ceiling fan tries to murder me again, I'll die with honor."
"Hey," Elias said, "at least it missed and hit Kevin's lacrosse stick instead."
Syler nodded quickly. "Seriously, anything you need. Homework help, snacks, emotional support in the form of dry sarcasm…"
Elias stretched his arms. "You guys are too good to me. I don't deserve this level of moral support. It's like I'm the cursed anime protagonist and you're the supporting cast doomed to tragic ends."
Mina pointed a finger. "If I die in your flashback, I'm haunting your lunchbox."
---
At the end of the day, Elias walked to the front exit. Eve had stayed behind to meet with a teacher.
Near the door stood a hulking blonde figure with a buzz cut. Kevin. He spotted Elias and grinned.
"Well, if it isn't the chaos gremlin and his merry band of misfits," he sneered. "You sure the school's structurally sound enough for you, Elias?"
Elias didn't stop. "You're right. Maybe you should take cover, Kevin."
Mina snorted. "Bold talk from a guy who got hit by a rogue basketball during chess club."
"That was sabotage," Kevin snapped. "And none of you deny the curse thing."
Syler flinched, adjusting his backpack like it was armor. He said nothing.
Kevin leaned closer. "Heard your parents skipped town. Guess even they couldn't handle being around you."
Mina opened her mouth, but Elias gently touched her shoulder. "Not worth it. Besides, if karma's real, Kevin'll step on every LEGO ever made."
Kevin laughed coldly and turned away. "Watch the ceiling tiles."
"Absolute sphincter," Mina muttered.
"That's oddly specific," Elias said.
"I like to be accurate."
Syler looked uncomfortable. "Sorry I didn't say anything. I didn't want to make it worse."
Elias shrugged. "No big deal. Guy's built like a vending machine. Not everyone wants to get flattened."
Mina gave Syler a look, but let it go.
They didn't notice the figure down the street, dressed in unremarkable clothing, watching them carefully.
He was furious—he hadn't found the target item he was looking for in the house.
The man squinted. "Wait… that one… they're from there?"
He gritted his teeth. "Damn it. If that person's around, I can't make a move."
While he fretted, the one he referred to turned suddenly, eyes locking straight onto him.
They furrowed their brows. "That better not be what I think it is."
"What was that, Mina?" Elias asked.
She smiled lightly. "Nothing. Thought I saw a bug."