manda . r a i

[EXTRAORDINARY]] PAGE TWENTY-TWO

"So what would the significant underlying meaning of this poem state? Ms. Smith are you paying attention?" Mr. Mattenson loomed over her desk. Sandra snapped out of her boredom and tried to concentrate.

"Um, yes Mr. Mattenson. Sorry, didn't mean to," she mumbled as she arranged some papers on her desk.

"I would expect someone who needs as much help as you do to actually pay attention in class Ms. Smith. Please do try to stay awake, I can't stand having to explain to you our material again after school," Mr. Mattenson gave Sandra a look, "Shall I have you write an essay to enlighten the class? Perhaps one on how to make the most use of class time? Or one on how to receive a lecture from a teacher? Maybe one on how to capture the class' attention?"

"Ha ha! Looks like we've got a stupid Mouse!" Sandra heard Rachel giggle.
Sandra could feel everyone in the class snickering at her and laughing. Why can't I disappear? Why can't I leave this place? Just watch out all of you... you're all going to get it. When I develop all of my powers, you won't be laughing anymore. Hatred boiled up to her throat. Sandra, calm down. Calm down Sandra. Don't make anything happen here. Relax Sandra, just relax. I can't relax! They're all laughing at me, can't you see? They're all laughing at me. Again. I'm tired of being laughed at! I don't want to be laughed at anymore! They're not laughing at you Sandra. Please just calm down. Calm down Sandra. No, I will not calm down. They're laughing at me, and don't try to tell me they're not, because I know they are. They are. Stop laughing at me you bastards. Stop. Red flashes flickered in front of her eyes. I told you to stop. The snickering continued, followed by whispering. Mr. Mattenson continued to reprimand Sandra, listing even more possible essay ideas. Shut-up Mr. Mattenson... shut up. Sandra raised her head to look at Mr. Mattenson. He glared back down at her. Sandra felt pure fury seething through her eyes. Stop making fun of me Mr. Mattenson. Stop it. Heat fumed beneath her eyelids. Stop. Stop. Stop.

"Aaaaaaggggghhhhh!!" Mr. Mattenson cried. The book he was holding fell as he clutched his head with both hands. "Aaaaaggghh!" He collapsed onto the floor, writhing in pain. "Make it stop! Make it stop!" He shrieked. The class was staring wide-eyed at the screaming teacher. Sandra felt the eyes shift collectively onto her, however she still held her gaze on Mr. Mattenson. That will teach you to pick on me. That will teach you. Don't do that anymore. Stop it. "Please... make it stop..." Mr. Mattenson whimpered to no one in particular. He tried crawling toward his desk to use the phone, but was soon seized by another flash of pain. His hands gripped his head, pulling some hair out. He dropped to the floor, squirming from agony. The students watched, paralyzed, unable to move.

"Shouldn't we do something..." someone said from the back of the class. Murmurs of agreement followed. "I'll go get the nurse," someone left the room. Sandra sat, oblivious to all that was happening around her. Die Mr. Mattenson, I want you to die. For making them laugh at me. Another hot wave of anger flashed into her eyes.
"Sandra, Sandra!" Kevin burst into the room, accompanied by the nurse. "Sandra stop it!" Kevin shook Sandra by the shoulders. Sandra slowly turned around to face Kevin. Her gaze with Mr. Mattenson was broken. He lay on the ground, breathing shallowly.

"Kevin? What are you doing here? What happened?" Sandra asked, confused.
"Let's get out of here Sandra," Kevin took Sandra's hand and pulled her out of class. Sandra caught Rachel staring at her as she left.

Bewildered, Sandra rushed down the halls and out of the school with Kevin. "What's the matter Kevin?"

Angrily, Kevin roughly turned Sandra around to face him. She was frightened by his expression, one of pure fury. "What the hell did you think you were doing?" He bellowed, throwing his hands sharply into the air. "What the hell did you think you were doing back there?!" His finger stretched toward the school. "What made you think you could do that! You tell me what you were doing! That was pure stupidity!"

Nervously Sandra cast her eyes downward, studying her shoes. "I don't know Kevin..." she muttered.

"Look at me!!" Kevin pressed his finger against himself. His hazel eyes burned with madness. "Do you know what you did!! Do you know?!" Sandra shook her head, timidly looking up at Kevin. "Raise your head up when I'm talking to you! You nearly killed him that's what! You nearly did! Didn't Zanderia and I specifically tell you not to use your powers in this world? Didn't we? Not until you had full control over it? Didn't we?!" He shook with such anger that his hair fell out of place and over his eyes. His mouth pressed into a hard line so that his lips turned white. "Well?! Answer me!"

"Yes..." Sandra was on the verge of tears. Why did I do that? Why? Why?
"Then why did you do it!" Kevin demanded.

"He... he made people laugh at me... I... didn't like it..." Sandra struggled with her thoughts. She wasn't sure too much herself.

"Oh, so that was a reason to nearly kill someone!" Kevin fumed, the veins of his neck popped out. "Was it? Was it a reason to hurt someone that bad?"
"No...but... I didn't mean to! Please Kevin, I didn't mean to!" Sandra whimpered, pleading for mercy, forgiveness, anything.

Kevin relented a bit. "Do you know what you did?"

"No," Sandra was afraid to find out.

"You're lucky he's not dead, if you went on for any longer he might have been. The best he is in right now is a coma."

"But, what did I do?" Sandra bit her lip, not really wanting to hear the answer, yet she had to know.

"You fried his brain, put so much heat on it that it probably cooked some brain cells. My gosh Sandra, you don't really know your capability, do you?" Kevin gripped his head in frustration. "You think you're not all that powerful yet, but you are. The little training sessions we've been giving you is just to jiggle your powers. Just to like, let's say, get them started. But once you unleash all the power in you, you can make unstoppable destruction. That's why it's important that you don't do anything here until you know your full capabilities and what to do to control them. You understand Sandra?"

"Yes... I won't do it again Kevin, I'm sorry," Sandra said meekly.

Kevin stood, slumped, drained of his energy. His hair was messed up, some of his bangs drifted over his eyes, his jacket hung heavily on him. He turned around as if to leave.

"Kevin..." Sandra reached out as if to stop him. "Please don't leave me, I don't know what to do."

Kevin stopped and twisted his head back to look at Sandra. She did, indeed look lost. His heart went out for her, he knew the feeling of being lost. "Aw, come here Sandra," Kevin wrapped Sandra up in a bear hug. "It's okay Sandra, we'll get through this little so-called mistake. The only problem is what you're going to tell people at school."

Sandra felt secure in Kevin's strong arms. She pressed close against him, not wanting to let go. "I don't know what to do Kevin, I don't know what to do." Sandra buried her face into his jacket, letting the tears come.

"Come on Sandra, I'll take you to Zanderia," Kevin gently pushed Sandra away and took her hand. He led her to his car and sped off to Zanderia.

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