Wasps

Huw stood panting and sobbing in Miss Warmblanket’s office. The Learning Mentor stood behind her desk having dragged him in. She looked at him with eyebrows raised and hands on hips.

“Miss, you’ve got to believe me, I’ve seen Mrs Todd…or what’s left of her…it’s horrible…there’s blood everywhere and…”

“It’s interesting that you can see…” cut in Miss Warmblanket.

“Interesting…what?” Huw frowned at her words. She sounded so calm.

“None of the other children are unaffected, why you I wonder? Are you seeded?”

“Seeded?” Huw backed nearer the door. Miss Warmblanket looked strange. She was grinning but her cheeks seemed puffed out. Her face was stretching, expanding like a hideous balloon. Huw took another step back. He could feel the cold of the door handle. Miss Warmblanket opened her mouth. Something brown and twig- like flickered around her lips. More appeared as the top of her head seemed to fold back. Huw stood rigid, gripping the door handle tightly, fighting for breath. The twig-like things seemed jointed and a little hairy, like the legs of some kind of fly. Huw watched, gasping, his head pounding as small hooks snaked out of the distended mouth and gripped her jumper and arms as the brown thing tried to drag itself out of her body. Miss Warmblanket’s head was stretched beyond recognition now. A bulbous insect eye appeared at the hole of her neck. Huw let out a horrified scream and ripped the door open.

The corridor was almost silent now, most kids yelling and shouting outside. Huw slammed the door shut behind him. Whatever had just appeared on the other side buzzed angrily and battered against the door. Slipping and stumbling over the shiny floor, Huw clattered up the corridor and out of school.