Beneath My Skin

Amelia was dozing off in the middle of the class. She was getting complacent because she realised she could understand what was going on despite skipping the previous week's lesson. She attributed it to her own intelligence and was grinning widely even as she fell asleep.

Although such poor attitudes towards learning should never be condoned, one could hardly blame her as the lecture was indeed very dry and boring. Even the lecturer himself realised this fact and was also trying his best to keep himself awake. He decided to take a sip from the cup of coffee he had earlier brought into the lecture.

Just as he was about to bring his mouth to the cup, he was pushed back by a mysterious force and a goblin jumped out of the coffee cup. Everyone in the class, except Amelia who was sleeping, was dumbstruck. A goblin jumping out of a coffee cup??? This sounded simply ridiculous. The goblin was furious as he could sense precisely these sentiments that were written on everyone's face. He was sure that everyone had heard of him before. He was foretold in the big red Book of Poems, that he would come one day to bring destruction.

The goblin immediately jumped at the lecturer and started pulling his hair out and eating them. The poor lecturer wailed in pain as the whole class went hysterical. Disturbed by the commotion, Amelia woke up. She saw the goblin. Being an avid reader of the big red Book of Poems, she recognised the goblin and knew that it was not a good sign.

Amelia felt her lungs constricting. Her vision started to blur as she felt her surroundings spinning around her. The next moment, she fainted. An Indian guy in the class saw Amelia faint and immediately rushed towards her. However, he did not see the elevated step before him and unluckily tripped over it the moment he moved. He fainted too.

The rest of the students evacuated the classroom in great fear upon seeing the goblin. The Indian guy's friend dragged him out of the classroom as he made his escape. Some of them wanted to carry Amelia out, but no one could lift her because she was too heavy. Amelia must have regretted drinking so much milk that made her bones so heavy. She should have taken more iron instead, at least, it might have helped her anaemia and she might not have fainted. On second thought, iron would perhaps have made it worse since it weighs more than milk.

The goblin saw Amelia. Amelia managed to regain consciousness but was too afraid to move. The goblin gave a long eerie laughter.

'Are you afraid of me?' asked the goblin.
'....no...' Amelia replied.
'HAhahhAHhahHah.. you are afraid aren't you?'
'no.. I am not!' Tears began to flow uncontrollably.
'Why not?'
'Superman is my helper. I will not be afraid.'
'I am Superman.'
'I will not be deceived by your lies.'
'I can see fear in your eyes. Beg for mercy and I will set you free.'
'I will fear no evil because Superman is with me.'
'You are afraid of me and I will make u suffer unless you beg for mercy.'
'It's all written in the big red Book of Poems that Superman will come down from the clouds and destroy you. I have nothing to fear.'

Amelia believed that the big red Book of Poems is true and in her heart, she told Superman to come as fast as he could. The goblin continued taunting her and did not realise when Superman arrived, standing right behind him. Amelia was relieved. Superman took out a lighter and set the goblin in flames. The goblin cried in vain as the tongues of flames engulfed him.

'Thank you Superman!' Amelia screamed as she went forward to hug him. She had been looking forward to see him for so long.

'Here's a gift for you.' Superman stuffed a box into her hand.



'Hey, wake up Amelia! Lecture just ended!' said the Indian guy. Amelia rubbed her eyes as she awoke from her slumber.

'Where's Superman?' she asked.

'Stop dreaming! Lecture is over. We are supposed to have our project discussion now. Silly of you to dream of Superman. He doesn't exist!' the Indian boy replied.

Amelia realised that she was dreaming. Then again, maybe not. She opened her palm and saw a box. It was the box Superman gave her. It was a box of iron pills.