Super

8 - pt 2 - The Levitating Buddah

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."

― Frank Herbert

For a long time, the world was frozen. Only the snapping and crackling of a bonfire could be heard in the still hallway, as everyone stood frozen in fear. Only, this was no bonfire. There were no marshmallows, no laughter, no giggles at the Rice-Krispy-like snap, crackle, and pop of the fiery tendrils tumbling over one another like water in a stream.

Flames licked at the body of Liam Williams, disguised by his orange and red super suit with a full head mask; better known to the public as Arson, the hero-gone-rogue who was infamous for saving children from burning buildings. Not anymore. The only thing visible was his feral grin as he marched down the hallway straight toward us.

Now the next part gets a little cliché. Arson seemed to be snatching his moves right out of a comic book as he shot fireballs this way and that. Trailing a finger along the lockers, he left a singed, snail-trail line behind him as he dragged it along like one might scratch a car with a key, straight down the side before hurtling another fireball at an unsuspecting freshman. Lockers screeched in protest as Arson's flames burnt right through the metal and finally, he turned on us, smirking a devilish grin that I half figured would be the last thing I would ever see.

Shocked, someone dropped a water bottle they had been holding, which exploded all over the floor and seemed to snap students and teachers alike out of their daze, sending them running and screaming like a school gone wild. Chaos erupted in the halls and I glued my hands to my ears, closing my eyes to block it out as I prayed Lila would find me.

Meanwhile, Brady had changed out of his school clothes and stood next to Arson, grinning like a mad man as the two super villains advanced on innocent bystanders.

"Annabelle! Annie!" Someone was tugging my arm, trying to pry it from my ear, but I clamped down, keeping my eyes squinted shut. "Annabelle, we have to get out of here!" The familiar voice insisted. Finally, I dared a glance. Peaking one eye open, I was met with a fierce gaze from Ardie before his eyes darted around, checking for danger every two seconds. I let him tug me down the hallway, stumbling as I tried to keep up.

People tripped. Those people were trampled. I gagged at the sight of Sonya, curled up in the foetus position with half her face burned off; her cheek and neck resembled burnt lasagne more than it did skin. My stomach flipped as her eyes flickered open and shut. Someone stomped on her arm and she let out a blood-curling scream, which was drowned out by all the other screams as she curled in tighter and hugged her injuries to her chest, sobbing and wailing.

Still, Ardie ran on. And I, being the idiot I am, ran after him. We met up with Dresden and Lila further down the hallway, the four of us panting hard as our heels slapped against the laminate. Anyone within a mile radius could probably hear us coming, but we didn't care. We reached a supply closet, and Ardie shoved me in, along with Lila and Dresden.

"Stay. Here." He hissed, slamming the door tightly shut. Though translucent, I could see his shadow outside the window for a few seconds, as he looked left and right before jogging off. Meanwhile, Dresden and Lila paced.

I knew Lila was desperate to suit up and do some butt kicking, but Dresden's impatience shocked me. "We can't stay cooped up like this," he muttered, "we'll be burnt alive."

"I need to change!" Moaned Lila, ignoring the weird look and eye roll she earned from Dresden.

"Girls," he mumbled. I jiggled the doorknob.