manda . r a i

[[EXTRAORDINARY]] PAGE THREE

Sandra felt a new energy go through her. She took her hands away from her face and meekly looked up. Rachel stood before her, tall and powerful. I can't do this. I can't do this, I won't be able to. Sandra thought. Yes you can Sandra, yes you can! You can stand up for yourself!

"So Mouse, you finally decided to look up to me?" Rachel snickered. Sandra quickly glanced down at the ground.

I can't do this. I can't. What was I thinking? I can never stand up to Rachel, you hear me? Never.

"Hey Mouse, I've got a present for you."

"Wha-," Sandra looked up, only to receive a mouthful of dirt. She gagged. She couldn't breathe. She bent over and tried to spit it out. The circle exploded with laughter. Her throat constricted as dirt went down to her stomach. She felt moistness and a few blades of fresh cut grass. Her throat and mouth burned. She tried scraping dirt off her tongue, only to attract more laughter. Her tears came down in great waterfalls. She couldn't breathe. The courage she felt only a few moments before wasn't there, instead it was replaced by shame, humility, and fear. What will they do next? Sandra tried crawling away, only to meet Rachel's feet as she kicked her in the face. Sandra felt her glasses crack. Tiny slivers of glass stung her eyes. She felt her nose gushing, blood coming down to her lips and she tasted the sour bitterness of it. She doubled over in pain, her hand covering her nose. Why? Why? Why??!! Sandra could only ask. Why me? Why not anyone else? Why me?! Why?! She repeated herself. It became a chant. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why... Stop it Sandra! Saying 'why' won't help it any! Stop it Sandra! Stop!

No I can't stop! I can't stop! I hate being me! I hate it! I hate... I hate myself, I hate me! Sandra felt the laughter echo inside her head, echoing, echoing. It boomed inside, never ending, never stopping, never relenting. It got louder and louder and louder and louder... until she was sure she would pass out from the noise. But she never did.

"Eh Mouse, get up won't cha?" Rachel kicked Sandra again on the side. Sandra groaned. She wanted to die, right then and there. "Mouse! Hello? Hello? Mouse! I'm talking to ya girl!" Rachel kicked Sandra on the side again. "Hey Mouse, I'm talking to you." Rachel bent down so she was almost level with Sandra's head, and slapped her.

"Go away Rachel... please..." Sandra murmured, "Please Rachel, just go away..." She moaned in pain.

Rachel stood up in mock astonishment. "Did ya'll just hear that? Mouse here wants me to go away!" The crowd gasped in pretend fear. "Eh Mouse, you really mean that?"

Sandra lay on the ground, not moving, not answering, defeated. She didn't care if Rachel kicked or beat her anymore. She closed her eyes, and prayed for everyone to go away. Go away Rachel, just go away please Rachel, go away, go away Rachel, go away... her words came out in meanless blurs. Just go away Rachel, go away. Please just go away.

"Hey! Don't you think that's enough?" A voice came through the crowd.

Rachel stood up and brushed herself off. "What?"

"I said, don't you think that's enough torturing the poor girl?" A guy came pushing through the crowd.

"And who do you think you are, stud?" Rachel sized him up.

"The name's Kevin," he stood taller than Rachel by about a foot, and Rachel had to look up to him. "Don't you think you should stop? I mean, look at her, she's got a bloody nose, a mouth full of dirt, and probably stomach aches."

Rachel looked around in disbelief. "And you're telling me to stop?" She laughed amusedly. "Can ya'll believe this guy?" She looked around the crowd for supporters. "He's telling me, Rachel, me, to stop?! This guy is way too funny!"

Kevin stood there unmoving. He looked down at Rachel with his strong chiseled features. For once in her life, Rachel was not in power. She was the underdog. She looked around the crowd once again, now silent. Every pair of eyes stared back at her, watching her every move, seeing what she'll do next.
Rachel threw her hands up in resignation, "Fine, whatever. I'll leave her alone for the rest of the day. Happy? Ok? Rest of the day. I'll see you tomorrow Mouse." Rachel spat on Sandra and left.

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