Chapter 2: Dream a Dream of Life Gone By [21: Joyless Joyce]
“So, what is it that Joyce wants more than absolutely anything in the world? Why, it’s simple! She just wants to be happy!”
“...so do the rest of us?”
“That is enough, Monotwoma.”
“But I haven’t even gotten to the best part! Like how dancing is the only thing that’s even made you happy! Or how you feel so miserable all the time that even mustering up a smile can be a chore! Or that you plan to give up nearly every dollar of the wealth you’ll one day inherit because it just means so little to you, just like everything else in your life!”
“No, please, stop!”
“Joyce..?”
Joyce was now beginning to cry, her body shuddering.
“Dancing is her therapy and it’s the only thing that matters to her in the entire world! Otherwise, she’s just a useless sack of depression that struggles to get up and face the day.”
“STOP IT! STOP TELLING THEM!”
“Joyce?!”
“What the hell is your problem, Monotwoma?! The secret motive ended last week!”
“Hey, I promise this all has a happy ending! Because I can give Joyce exactly what she wants! See, we have this new drug guaranteed to help Joyce feel a million times better! Great stuff curtesy of the Hope’s Peak Academy students that worked hard to produce it!”
Monotwoma produces a bottle and shakes it, letting us hear the rattling of pills inside.
“All she has to do is kill someone and I can make all her problems disappear. This is all Joyce Heartswell wants in life.”
“NOOO!” Joyce shoves past everyone in her way as she runs out of the computer room.
“Joyce, wait!”
“Guess that’s the end for today! See you all tomorrow!”
Monotwoma leaves as well.
“I need to go after Joyce...”
I speed out of the room, not waiting for anyone to do or say anything. My friend needed me right now and that’s all that mattered.
