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 [code]Somewhere Else --> Grand Ridge Academy[/code]
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“...You can’t.”

“Fuck,” cried Penny. So that was it then? There was nothing they could do against the Glutton? She buried her face into her hands. She was torn between crying out in anguish or exploding like a volcano, so instead her body did a weird amalgamation of the two and left her shaking between short, staccato gasps of breath. She was pissed. She was so pissed that when Lynette clarified the question and the Child gave a different answer she erupted with mean laughter, more at herself than at the Child. When Penny spoke next, her relief could be heard battling with her anger.

“You-stupid-literal-fucker-I-hate-you,” she said, shaking her head as she wiped her eyes after the Child asked if they’d stop the Glutton for the whole entire universe. She quietly added on, “How is that even a question.”

Penny was resolute, but it was clear from the Child’s answer to her question that she couldn’t be the only one jumping at the call. She looked at her brother; he didn’t meet her gaze. Nate tried to keep things light; his levity only gave the Child another excuse to drop more hurtful information on them. Penny walked over to Lynette and put her hand on her shoulder as her friend mentioned Aliana. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the mousy girl choke up and turn her face from the others. The Child was prompted once again to unintentionally fill them all with self-doubt, and as Penny mulled over its questions everything vanished and they were in the lobby of their Academy. Penny bit her nail as the others talked.

"... and also changing out of these old, dirty, clothes is a good idea, too," Jordan said. "Maybe a shower."

"Oh?" Britney looked down and saw that she was filthy. "That too."

“That’s!” The heat was still in her voice, and for a moment it appeared as if she was going to rip the girls a new one. Then Penny stopped, looked around at the dejected group of misfits, and lowered her voice in acceptance of their situation, “That...that actually sounds kind of nice. I doubt the Child would put us anywhere dangerous, but we should probably check around and make sure we’re safe here, too. See if there’s anyone even here.” 

“I vote raiding the cafeteria,” pipped in Billy, “I don’t know about you nerds, but all that doom and gloom talk really made me crave a shitty slice of ‘za right about now.” 

"It is the end of the universe," said Penny, mildly cheered up but her brother's inability to take things seriously. "What's the harm of a few extra calories?"

Rita had already walked away from the group. She didn’t say it out loud, but she needed to be alone.