manda . r a i

[EXTRAORDINARY]] PAGE EIGHTEEN

The sky grew dark just above her street. Black angry clouds blocked the sunlight from coming through. An impending storm loomed above her. Sandra wrapped her arms around herself and hurried down the block toward her house. A dark figure standing on the stoop of her house forced her to gasp. "Who... who's there?" Sandra whispered, taking a step back, preparing herself to run if needed. The shadow stepped confidently into the light. The light played on his shoes and rose up to his face. Kevin moved toward Sandra. "Hey Sandra," he chuckled. "Ready for more?" He held Sandra's gaze with his strong eyes, and then extended his right hand, expecting Sandra to take it. His left hand shot upwards, palm up, while his face tilted back toward the black sky. Immediately the clouds cried, pouring bucket-fulls of rain down. "C'mon Sandra, let's go," Kevin looked back at Sandra as she twirled around in wonder of the sudden rain. Suddenly she stopped, feeling Kevin's eyes bore into hers.

"Go where?" Sandra asked, afraid to break away from Kevin's gaze.
"Where else?" Kevin lurched forward and grabbed Sandra around the waist and threw her over his shoulder. Sandra had no time to scream or make any noise before Kevin thrust his arm out and a portal appeared and Kevin, carrying Sandra, jumped through it.

A great feeling of pressure pounded against Sandra's ears. But as sudden as it began, it ended. Sandra dared to open her eyes and saw hazy blue mist swirl around her. She was slung over Kevin's back, his strong arm around her legs now. Kevin must have sense Sandra moving. He set her down; however she didn't feel anything solid beneath her feet. She seemed to be floating in midair. Kevin was doing the same. He stood with his hands behind his back, looking straight forward. Kevin? What are we doing? Where are you taking me? Sandra's questions floated around her mind yet she knew she shouldn't ask. The blue mist soon gave way to a bright white light. Sandra shielded her eyes with her hands as they approached it. Kevin stared unblinkingly at the light. It grew even brighter as they slowly moved toward it. "Kevin? What is it?" Sandra asked. Kevin didn't say anything. He slid his arm around Sandra's shoulders and held her close as they approached it. Heat spread outwards from the light, tickling the edges of Sandra's hair. Sandra felt herself sweating profusely. Where is he taking me? What is this place? Sandra snuggled closer to Kevin, knowing that he would protect her. Kevin's arm tightened around her as they came within a foot of the light. The heat was now so intense that Sandra thought she would burn up. She could swear she felt blisters pop up on her hands.

Sandra screamed as she felt a searing pain pass through her body. Her organs seemed to have been liquefied, her hair turned to ashes. But as the pain subsided, Sandra realized she was still there, and at the other end of the light. Kevin seemed totally unaffected by it.

"Kevin! What was that?" Sandra demanded.

"Look around you Sandra. What do you see?" Kevin answered mysteriously.
Sandra searched Kevin's face for an answer to his strange behavior, however she found none. He stared straight ahead, his face blank. Curious, Sandra examined her surroundings.

She seemed to be inside a large room, with square grids painted on each wall. The great number of squares made her eyes hurt, and she felt dizzy. Reaching behind her she tried searching for a chair, however felt only thin air. She turned around and saw even more squares, all outlined by red lines. "Kevin where are we?"
"What colors do you see Sandra?" Kevin asked.

"Red lines and white squares," Sandra answered, confused.

"Good, now what does red mean?"

"How am I supposed to know?"

"You don't ask the questions, I do," Kevin glared at Sandra. "Understand?"

Sandra swallowed. What happened to him? "Yes, sir."

"Red- the color of energy, courage, and strength. White- the color of purity," Kevin paced around the room as he explained. "You need all those to become a Craftmaster. Now I want you to turn the lines blue." Kevin commanded.

"But.. how?"

"Just do it!" Kevin ordered, his voice rising.

Sandra concentrated on the red lines. Turn blue... turn blue.. turn blue... she chanted in her head. Beads of perspiration popped out on her forehead. Her brain hurt and her eyes ached. Turn blue... turn blue... nothing happened.

"Visualize it happening Sandra! Visualize it!"

Sandra imagined the red lines fading away and the blue color taking their place. She closed her eyes and pictured it in her head.

"Good! Good Sandra! Excellent!" Kevin's voice broke her concentration.

Sandra snapped her eyes open. Surprisingly there were now blue lines outlining the squares on the wall and ceiling. Her eyes widened in shock. "I did it! I did it!" She smiled at Kevin happily.

Kevin eyed Sandra proudly, to show his approval. "Wonderful Sandra, wonderful."
"But what was that for? What's the point?" Sandra wiped the sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand.

"That was one of the learning experiences to become a Craftmaster Sandra. You saw what I could do, and here is one of the testing rooms. You passed the first part, now let's see if you can do it again. Turn the lines purple Sandra. Now."
Sandra closed her eyes again and tried to imagine the blue lines fading away and being replaced by purple lines. It was easier this time, now that she knew how to do it. Not much later she heard Kevin exclaim, "Good! Good! Good! That was quick! Getting better Sandra! Now turn the lines back to red."

Sandra and Kevin went through the procedure over and over, until Sandra could do it instantly. See Sandra? You can control them now. You can control the colors of the lines, and this is just the beginning. After this you'll move on, until you can be a Craftmaster, and control anything you want. But use your powers wisely Sandra, or else...

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