Page 27 of The Cute Psycho

"Not all." She shakes her head, her lips pursed with worry.

"But... how could this have happened?" Lina stammers, looking concerned.

"Indeed," I feign surprise. "How could this have happened? And all at once?" I shake my head, trying to emulate their expressions of consternation.

"We don't know. The few that didn't make it to the bathroom were mortified. Poor souls," she says before glancing around suspiciously, "they used the bushes in the grove," she whispers conspiratorially.

Both Lina and I gasp at this piece of news.

"How terrible," Lina adds sincerely. Of course she'd feel bad for those nuns, even though they are the same ones who'd terrorized her before.

It's not a surprise, however, when Mother Superior, once she'dgotten her bowels under control, asks everyone for an emergency meeting.

I'm still chuckling on the inside, especially when I see all thevictimsin one corner, looking rather worse for wear.

My upper lip is constantly twitching as Mother Superior proceeds to talk about theincidentas if it had been a sacrilege.

"Whoever did thiswillbe punished." Her voice booms in the room. Everyone is quiet as she stares us down. But then, in the silence of the room, the growly sounds of a stomach reverberate in the air.

One of the senior nuns looks up guiltily, before dashing out of the room and presumably in search of a toilet.

I can't hold my laughter anymore, and a tiny giggle escapes me. Lina's elbow makes contact with my side as she gives me a look.

Luckily, it's promptly masked by Mother Superior's voice as she continues her speech.

"We've investigated the infirmary, theonlyplace someone could have gotten the laxatives from," Mother Superior continues, removing the bottle of laxatives from her habit and holding it up. "It's missing half its contents. We know someone among you did this. If no one admits to it, then we will have to make Sister Magdalene bear the punishment, since the pills were underhercare," Mother Superior says smugly and Sister Magdalene pales.

"But," Sister Magdalene starts, but Mother Superior is not having it.

Placing a hand up to stop her, she addresses the room once more.

"You have five minutes to reveal yourself. If not," she nods at Sister Magdalene, who is immediately resigned to her fate.

Damn! I didn't think it would get this far. Certainly, I didn't think Mother Superior would put the blame on Sister Magdalene.

Sister Magdalene's eyes meet mine from across the room, and I know I can't let her take the blame for something that's entirely my doing. Besides, I can add a little something extra to my revenge.

Taking a step forward, I exit the formation and address Mother Superior directly.

"I did it," I admit. "I put the laxatives in the wine."

Mother Superior's eyes sharpen on me.

"I should have known it could have only beenyou." She spits the words, but I'm not deterred.

"But," I start, dragging my gaze around the room, "why is everyone else fine, then? Everyone partook in the communion wine. How come only a select few developed issues?"

At my words, she looks like she's been struck.

People start whispering, asking the same question I did. Why were they fine when the senior nuns were not?

"If you look on the box, you'll find the instructions as to how to consume the pills for them to be effective. Yes, they were in the wine. Butonlyif you drank a certain amount of wine would the laxatives have worked," I point out, almost proud of myself for not faltering.

"How much wine did you drink, Mother Superior?" I ask, a little cheekily.

"How... What... You," she sputters, her eyes bulging in her head.

"What, it's true. You must have imbibed quite a lot... I wonder, isn't that a sin too? Succumbing to vice... tsk, tsk."

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