Joel wanted nothing more than to run in abject terror as Lilly raced after him.
The karma spirit sitting on his head cursed, "You should've run ages ago! What's the point of trying now?!"
A lump of mud was thrown right at his head the moment he finished.
"Stop!"
Lilly, in her childish fury, gathered another ball of mud. Even she knew tossing a stone could kill someone, there wasn't much mud in the wasteland to begin with.
It was all weeds and gravel.
It didn't take long for her to run out of mud to sling and for her to be unable to catch up on her stubby legs.
A shadow sped past her in a flurry. Lilly, without a second thought, lifted the scurrying tabby cat and threw it.
"Meow???"
Surely the cat had never dreamt that it would be slung like a weapon!
It made a 360-turn in midair and landed feet side on Joel's head, sharp claws digging into his scalp.
It used the momentum to propel itself away before disappearing from sight.
"Oww!" Joel exclaimed.
The karma spirit that hung out on top of his head also protested. "O*!"
None of the mud balls hit him but the cat's claws hooked him in place.
Even the karma spirit had a small bit of skin torn off. Was it even still a spirit anymore?
Lilly picked up a brick and shouted, "Stop right there or I'll throw the brick!"
Joel didn't dare to run any further and turned around with his hands covering his head. "Mercy, Miss! I surrender!"
She raced up to them with arms akimbo. "How dare you speak ill of Uncle Gilbert? I'll break your front teeth!"
Joel wanted to cry. "Yes, I wasn't thinking!"
Lilly demanded seriously, “Criss-cross ear-holding and get down on your knees. Now!"
He took one look at the brick in her hand and resigned himself to his fate.
Gilbert, meanwhile, was in disbelief.
He didn't know what to say at the sight of the adorable child acting like an adult. Where… had his cute niece gone?!
Was this truly his adorable little niece who could melt hearts just by acting cute?!
"Lilly…" He approached her with worry. "Let your Uncle Gilbert help you…"
The girl waved him off. "It's fine, Uncle Gilbert. You can find somewhere comfortable to sit. I'll be done here in a minute."
Gilbert seemed at a loss for words. "..."
"Please! Stay, Dr. Gilbert!" The kneeling Joel begged.
He's my only lifeline!
"..." Gilbert murmured absentmindedly, "I'll stay right here, Lilly…"
He was worried for Lilly at first and yet, he suddenly felt concern for Joel.
Sure enough, it was Pablo offering strategic guidance when made a mad dash forward screaming to make it quick…
"Tear down that karma spirit and subdue him!"
Lilly grabbed onto the karma spirit and began to pull him back just as one would harvest carrots.
The karma spirit struggled. He refused to leave. He knew that it would all be over if he let go.
”Help…"
The karma spirit was frightened out of his wits but why was he so afraid in the first place? He was a malignant spirit!
Why should I be afraid of a kid?!
The karma spirit finally remembered that it had powers that he sent billowing at Lilly. He bared his teeth to swallow her whole!
Gilbert tried to stop Lilly from tugging on Joel's hair but was stopped in his tracks.
A closer look made him see that she wasn't ripping out his hair. She seemed to be grabbing at…air?!
No, a brick? She seemed to be fussing and forgot to drop the brick.
Gilbert didn't quite know how to react.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Anyone Dares Bully you, Call Uncles!