By Day 5, Snackland knew something was wrong.

The decorations still sparkled.

The snow still fell.

But the air smelled like… deadlines.

Professor Math arrived early, carrying a box.

Josh JollyRancher followed, holding lemon water and a suspicious smile.

Obesseus stared.

“WHY BOX EVIL.”

Professor Math opened it.

Day 5

Five golden clocks

They weren’t bells.

They were clocks.

Five of them — shiny, loud, and ticking in perfect sync.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

Josh beamed. “Festive, right?”

“NO,” Obesseus said. “CLOCK COUNT TIME.”

Professor Math mounted them on the wall.

“These will help everyone stay… aware.”

Obesseus backed away slowly.

“OBESEUS HATE AWARE.”

Each clock began counting down something different.

Break time.

Snack time.

Nap time.

All getting shorter.

Josh sipped his lemon water.

“Efficiency is magical.”

One clock chimed.

Obesseus screamed internally.

Day 6

Six problem-solving drills

Professor Math clapped his hands.

“Stations!”

Tables slid into place.

Worksheets appeared.

Chalk moved by itself.

Josh checked the clipboard. “No snacks during drills.”

Silence.

Then—

“THIS VIOLENCE,” Obesseus said.

Professor Math wrote rapidly.

Patterns.

Sequences.

Logic puzzles.

Obesseus stared at one worksheet for a full minute.

Then flipped it over and used it as a plate.

“OBESEUS SOLVE DIFFERENT WAY.”

Josh frowned. “That’s not how—”

The chalk snapped in half.

Professor Math paused.

“…Next drill.”

Six drills later, the clocks were ticking louder.

Snackland was tired.

Obesseus was sweating.

The bells jangled nervously.

Meanwhile… in the Hallway

Jeff Jelly peeked into the room.

Allen Apple stood beside him, clipboard hugged tight.

“…It’s getting out of hand,” Allen whispered.

Jeff nodded. “They’re resisting structure.”

Allen hesitated. “Should we… escalate?”

Jeff’s jelly rippled.

“…We could request it.”

Allen swallowed.

“Request what?”

Jeff took a deep breath.

“…Twelve days of overtime.”

They both stared at the door.

Inside, Obesseus glared at the clocks.

“OBESEUS FEEL PLOT.”

Allen quietly checked a box.

Jeff nodded.

“Let’s bring it to management.”

Inside the room, one clock chimed again.

Obesseus stood slowly.

“WHO TOUCH CHRISTMAS.”

Obesseus’s Holiday Note

“CLOCK NOT JINGLE.

CLOCK BAD.

OBESEUS WATCH YOU.”