manda . r a i

[[EXTRAORDINARY]] PAGE TWELVE

Everything was fuzzy, she couldn't see straight. Sandra groped the air in front of her, trying to make sense of where she was. Her head felt heavy, and her stomach hurt. "Argh..." she groaned, "Kevin, where are you?" Sandra tried opening her eyes, but all she managed to do was squint. A bright light shined through her cracked eyelids, blinding her; she quickly closed them again. She felt someone come into the room where she was. "Kevin? Is that you?" Sandra whispered.
"Yeah Sandra, it's me. It's going to be ok Sandra, don't worry," Kevin placed a cold towel on her forehead and stroked her hair.

Sandra cracked her eyes open a bit more to see Kevin's eyes staring deep into hers. "Kevin.... what happened?" she asked groggily. Her hand waved around, searching for Kevin's. He grabbed her hand and held it tightly.

"Shhh... Sandra, it's ok," He murmured, squeezing her hand. "The drink you just drank will soon be cleaning out your mind, body, and soul to prepare for the Craft. After a few days you will be ready. You must rest, I'll be back."

No Kevin... don't go! Don't leave me here, all alone. I need you Kevin, I need you to be here with me, to hold my hand. Please don't go Kevin, please don't. Sandra reached out for Kevin's hand as he slipped away from her grasp. She heard a door close softly, and footsteps receding into the distance. What do I do? Where did Kevin go? Don't leave Kevin... come back! Come back Kevin, come back! Kevin will be back Sandra, he will. Trust him, he will be back. Now rest Sandra, rest. You need to rest for the days ahead. Rest.

"Is she better?" Zanderia's voice broke into Sandra's dreams. Skirts swished as Zanderia went toward Sandra. Sandra felt a large cool hand on her forehead. "Ah, she is recuperating, very well, that is good. It will happen soon. Keep watch over her Kevin."

"Of course," Kevin found Sandra's hand and squeezed it. The door softly clicked closed. Sandra forced her eyelids to open. Kevin's face loomed over hers, peering anxiously at her. "Ya feeling better Sandra?" Kevin flashed her his great smile.
Sandra couldn't help but smile back. A wave of pain surged to her head. "Argh!" Sandra moaned. Kevin gripped her hand tightly. Sandra broke out in a cold sweat, the veins stood out from her forehead. Her toes burned with an unseen heat. Sandra screamed. The burning feeling rose up to her ankles, her muscles were searing with an incredulous pain. It seemed as if the insides of her legs were being dissolved with a powerful acid. Her anguish grew as the heat moved upwards, toward her back, then her heart. Her heart was ablaze with an unseen pain. Her heart beat faster and faster and faster, threatening to jump out of Sandra's chest. Sandra tried to get rid of the agony, she twisted and turned, and found that she couldn't; for Kevin was holding her arm down. Sandra cried out in pain as the heat moved up toward her head. The pressure rose against her skull, her brain seemed to be pushing to get out. She was sure her head would explode any minute. Why? Why is this happening? What the hell is happening to me? Sandra was too tired to think. The tension inside her head grew greater and greater and greater. Sweat poured down her face in great rivers. Her mouth was pulled back in a silent scream, her eyes squeezed shut as she tried to block out the pain. Then as suddenly as the heat began, it stopped. Sandra could feel the heat leave her brain, she felt her scalp twitching as the heat went through it and into the air beyond. The pressure on her brain began to recede, her heartbeat went back to normal. Sandra laid back with a small gasp, she was tired, and yet she was not. Sandra felt a new kind of energy go through her. Timidly she opened her eyes.

"Kevin? What just happened?" Sandra put a hand to her head and sighed. Her body was exhausted, but her mind was not. She was alert, more alert than she ever had been in her whole life.

Kevin looked at her, his fierce eyes bore holes into hers, "Don't you understand Sandra, I already told you. The drink was cleaning out your body, mind, and soul. It got rid of all evil you experienced before. Now you can be one of us. One of the Craftmasters." He grinned evilly, his right eyebrow cocked upwards slyly. "You are one of us now Sandra, one of the Craftmasters, and you can never, never ever go back. Never." And with that, Kevin left the room.

Sandra's eyes followed Kevin out the door. That wasn't Kevin. What is Kevin turning into? Kevin was never like that! Sandra fought back against all the thoughts that were seeping into her brain. The power is coming into you, Sandra. You will learn the Craft soon, be prepared Sandra, be prepared. What you learn will help you, you can get revenge. Revenge is sweet, Sandra; it is.

Sandra woke up again to the rustle of Zanderia's skirts next to her bedside. "Are you feeling better my child?" Sandra opened her eyes and saw Zanderia standing above her. Zanderia's eyes glowed a deep purple, she was wearing a shear white shawl around her head, with large gold earrings dangling from her ears. Glittery silver eyeshadow adorned her eyelids, her lips were painted blood red. A pendant dangled from her neck, Sandra saw it was a symbol of a star. Zanderia was dressed in an exquisite purple dress reaching down to her ankles. Heavy gold chains hung around her neck, her breath smelled of peppermint.

Zanderia rested a hand on Sandra's forehead. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, "Ah, yes, you are. The Craft has worked it's power on you, you are ready my child. You are ready. Now get up, and follow me."

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