Strike force - Assemble

Chapter 9

Chapter 9 — Surprise Surprise

Amanda left the place in tears, a mirror image of what the inside of the house looked like. They had to find out, by why did she have to be the one to tell them? Damian's death was starting to feel more and more like a curse, but even worse, she would have to face Shane on Monday. She was in the right mind to skip school, but then she thought of Damian. What would he think if he saw her like this? He would be disappointed, and upset. With this new thought in her mind, she walked home, making no attempt to wipe away her tears. Damian was worth crying for. She walked into her house with a steely look in her eyes. She was going to make Damian proud.

A few weeks passed before Amanda saw Shane. She saw him in the hallway upon arriving at school, and he beckoned her over.

"How are you?" He asked.

"I'm ok. A little bit emotionally sore, but still in good physical shape." Amanda replied.

"Emotionally sore?" Shane questioned.

"Yeah. Damian..." Amanda trailed off.

"Is he ok?" Shane asked and Amanda started crying. Shane instantly knew and he pulled Amanda close, but he couldn't believe it himself. "No," he whispered. "No, he – he can't." Shane started crying too. A couple of their friends came and comforted them, but the crowd grew and grew until it ended up being all of grade 11, and a couple of other people from different grades, including Stacey and her friends. Then the principal walked past.

"What's wrong?" The principal asked Shane.

"Damian. He, he died on the weekend." Amanda replied for Shane. The principal's eyes widened in shock, and a huge cry of despair rippled throughout the large, assembled crowd.

"How?" The principal asked.

"I have no idea what happened. I was visiting his new school, and I got told he had just died. I saw his dead body." Amanda lied. Nobody else could know about Damian's superpowers.

"This must be so hard for you." The principal said sincerely. Amanda studied his face after seeing something strange.

"Why do I know you?" Amanda asked through narrowed eyes.

"Because I'm your principal?" He answered nervously. The crowd laughed, not detecting the uneasiness in his voice.

"No, other than that." Amanda answered in a tone that suggested she was talking to a baby. The crowd hushed.

"I don't know." He replied. Amanda's eyes widened as his identity dawned on her.

"You have superpowers! And you used them to try kill Damian. He described your face to me!" Amanda cried. "What is your name?" Amanda struggled to remember the exact name. Then she suddenly remembered. "You are Dr. Porter. You tried to kill me when you couldn't kill Damian!" She screamed. Almost on cue, an energy beam tendril shaped like a rope shot out of the principal's hand and wrapped around Amanda's neck. A few girls in the crowd screamed.

"You, will, pay." The principal growled. He intensified the energy's grip and Amanda's face started to turn blue from lack of oxygen. Immediately, Shane walked up behind the 'principal' and punched him to break his hold on Amanda. Unfortunately, the valiant effort proved futile. Without taking his eyes or concentration off Amanda, Dr.Porter backhanded Shane, knocking him out cold. Shane slumped to the floor, motionless. Everyone ran, not bothering to try help Amanda, but nobody was quick enough. The principal trapped them in the hallway with a forcefield. They were all on the interior of the forcefield, locked in with Porter. "My true name is EnergyBeam, and you are all now my prisoners. The order of Chaos will rule the world!" His voice boomed within the forcefield, making everyone cower in fear. Amanda saw a form enter the forcefield behind EnergyBeam, and despite everything, she had a rising feeling. Then her eyes rolled back into her head and she slumped limply, still in EnergyBeam's grasp.