When I opened the classroom door, the 'tangoed' face of Jessica Wademen greeted me.

Ah hell!

"Well, well, well. Look what the cat finally decided to drag in?" Jessica sneered unpleasantly, eyeing up my old skirt, where some of the seams had come undone and my blazer, which had collected an assortment of holes over time. All heads turned in my direction.

I blushed. Clearly, I hadn't been praying hard enough.

"I'm surprised she even has the gall to show her face today wearing that!" Jessica continued, pointing at my slowly crumbling school uniform with a horrified expression on her face. "I mean, surely if her father works as a top bank manager, he should be able to provide a decent income for the family, which could be spent on clothes?" She leered at me, laughing spitefully. "But then, silly me, I forgot that he hasn't provided for the family for ages since he was made redundant. These are such sad times."

At hearing this comment, all her girlfriends roared with laughter (who were also as equally orange and plastered in make-up) as well as a group of boys, who had gathered around Jessica and were practically salivating over her painfully low-cut top. I tripped over my shoes in embarrassment, anger rising within the pit of my stomach at Jessica's cutting remarks and her friends' amusement, which caused even more raucous laughter.

Boy did she fit the definition of a 'cow'.

Earlier on in the month, my father had received an unexpected letter from the bank he worked at saying that his: "input was no longer required". This news had naturally come as a shock to the whole family and, whilst we had all pulled together to support each other, particularly my father, in reality, our support did nothing to take away the impending knowledge that our income was due to suffer.

After finally accepting the matter, until my father was able to find another career, my mother had adopted other jobs on top of her previous profession, which had proved to just about ensure our survival. The money she made went on necessary resources and no extras (this list included new clothes). However, due to the fact that we lived in a small town, this news had travelled fast. Although most people did their best to offer support, individuals like Jessica Wademen relished in our unfortunate circumstances.

Just before she could say anything else unpleasant, my Science teacher hurried into the room, in a bustle of irritation and frustration. Instantly, the laughter stopped and people rushed to their correct places. There were some teachers, you learnt, that you should never cross and Mr Nash was one of them.

Clenching my fists, I took my place at the back of the classroom, away from everyone so I could hide my blistering face and allow my inward anger to deflate. I did my best to focus on him instead of the orange form that sat to my near left.

"Good morning class," Mr Nash rasped as he tried to catch his breath.

I noticed how his thin, grey hair was matted with sweat and his beady, black eyes began to dart around each face. A resounding monotonous: "Good morning Mr Nash." met his initial comment. Satisfied with this response and the fact that he had stopped wheezing, Mr Nash continued.

"Now...today's task involves the interesting dissection of an Apodemus Sylvaticus, or otherwise more commonly known as a wood mouse –"

Before Mr Nash could carry on, he was immediately cut off by an extremely loud groan delivered by Martin, one of the boys nearest to me.

A vain in Mr Nash's temple throbbed.

"Is there something the matter Mr Crane?" Mr Nash asked Martin, who had suddenly gone incredibly pale.

"N...no sir," Martin stammered, which was met with muffled sniggers from the rest of the class, as he swallowed rapidly, trying to focus.

As a result of this unsatisfying answer, Mr Nash narrowed his eyebrows.

"I should hope not!" he then snapped before he continued with his speech, now moving his glower onto the remainder of the class. "As I was saying, before I was rudely interrupted (he glared once again at Martin) we're going to dissect wood mice in today's lesson. Then," he continued, "after you've finished, I expect you to write down all the different parts of their anatomy and make sure that you do it neatly."

After delivering this emphasised comment, Mr Nash paused once again to glare this time at Thomas who was known, amongst all the teachers, for his appallingly, illegible handwriting. Thomas swallowed, blushing in embarrassment. Subsequently, contented that he had succeeded in intimidating as many students as possible, Mr Nash finalised his speech.

"And so, with that final word of warning, all of you hop to it. You know where the equipment is and, when everyone's ready and I'm happy for you to begin, I'll start handing out the dead mice."

After he had finished, everyone burst into life. All the pupils in my Science class dashed over to the equipment trolley, to select the best utensils as quickly as possible. Soon, the area was filled with people pushing and shoving. Naturally, as a result of this frantic battle, like always, I was the last person to be at the front. When I eventually got to the trolley, I was met with a dismal sight. Every single piece of equipment I needed, of those that were left, was ruined in some way or another.

Slowly, blushing red, I raised my hand.

"What is it Miss Raven?" Mr Nash sighed, his moustache bristling.

"I...I can't use any of the equipment sir," I stuttered, ignoring the heated glances thrown at me. "What's left is damaged or broken."

At hearing this news, Mr Nash tensed.

"Who's responsible for this?" he barked, making everyone jump.

No one spoke.

After a lengthy silence, he continued.

"Well, in that case, all of you will be held accountable and will have a detention after school. What's more," he added angrily. "I've got you again for Science tomorrow. Consequently, when you arrive, I want each of you to give me five pounds to go towards buying new resources and, as there are thirty of you, I think a hundred and fifty pounds will do nicely. For now though Miss Raven," he finished, fixing his furious gaze on me. "I suggest you go to the store cupboard and collect what you need."

Gradually, I nodded, before I slipped out of class. Then, I made my way back to the classroom, hands full. When I arrived, everyone was working in silence. Quietly, I made my way to my work area, desperately avoiding the livid glares I was thrown, particularly from Jessica Wademen. Once I had sorted out my section of the table, I began making a start on dissecting the wood mouse before me. My stomach heaved as I saw its small form and, after I rolled the mouse over, its tiny, glassy eye stared lifelessly back at me, making me shiver in unease. As I cleaned my scalpel, ready for use, my hands began to shake. I brushed them against its soft fur. I couldn't do this. I just couldn't do this. Thankfully, I was saved by Martin. Jane, the girl working next to him, called out to Mr Nash.

"Sir," she shouted across the room, her small eyes wide and filled with concern. "Sir, Martin's fainted."

Mr Nash had already sprung up from his chair, after hearing such a colossal thud and was making his way towards Martin's motionless frame before she had finished speaking.

"Thank you, Miss May, but I can see that for myself." He snapped before, when he reached Martin, he tested his pulse. Realising that he would survive, he put one arm around Martin and heaved him to his feet. "Now, when I come back, I want this class to be as silent as it was before Mr Crane graced us with his dramatic display. If not, then there'll be a double detention." Then, practically dragging Martin's limp frame through the classroom and over to the door, Mr Nash headed for the school's medical room.

As soon as he had left, the class erupted.

"Did you see Martin's face when he cut into that mouse and the blood spurted out?" A boy with a freckled face laughed to his friend, imitating Martin's horrified reaction. "What an idiot."

"Yeah," his mate with a dopey expression answered. "Yeah. It was well funny."

I was the only one, out of the whole class, who continued to contemplate cutting the mouse. Jessica saw this and decided to draw attention to my actions.

"Look," Jessica rapidly screeched, pointing at me with her perfect, pink talon. "The teacher's pet's afraid of getting into trouble!"

Once more, I blushed red as the whole class burst into laughter.

"What's more," Jessica continued, her lip curling. "She's responsible for getting us all into trouble and having to fork out money that'll be wasted on more boring equipment, as well as having a detention tonight, meaning that I'll miss my appointment with the tanning salon." Her eyes narrowed. "So," she added maliciously, smirking. "With that being said, who's with me for teaching her a lesson that she'll never forget?"

Jessica's eyes glinted wickedly, as a resounded "yes" from the rest of the class filled the room. As a result of this cold treatment, I shook with anger at the fact that everyone in my class was willing to pin all the blame on me, even though I had done nothing wrong.

It was so unfair.

Suddenly, I realised that Jessica was holding the scalpel that she had used to dissect her mouse. Its blood dripped all over the floor.

My anger abruptly turned into fear.

Surely she wasn't going to use that on me? My brain screamed. Surely someone is going to come to my rescue when they realised her twisted intentions?

I shot a frightened glance at random faces in the room but they were too focused on me, in their own anger, to notice the scalpel looming ever closer.

Jessica noted my mounting terror.

"Scared are we?" she muttered, so only I could hear, playing with the scalpel that she had now slipped under her sleeve, although not completely out of my sight. "Well...you should be."

Jeese, I thought, fear choking me. I was being targeted by a 'tangoed' psychopath!

As Jessica walked ever closer, I left my work area and started to back up, until I felt the wall of the classroom behind me. It was then that I knew I couldn't escape. Immediately, the world started swimming before my eyes. My breathing increased and I started to hyperventilate. I couldn't breathe.

I just...couldn't...breathe.

As I almost lost consciousness, it happened. My whole body began shaking uncontrollably, as an indescribable feeling of complete power raced through me. It was at this moment that the fire sprinklers in the room burst into life and screams of people being soaked to the skin filled my ears in a cacophony of noise. Everyone began frantically clawing at their ruined hair and make-up. To my relief, I saw Jessica drop the scalpel in her surprise.

As the water poured down around me, I was the only one who stood there unmoving, after the shaking had stopped, eyes glowing with an abnormal light. The water from the sprinklers mixed with the blood on the tables and floor. Then, I was consumed with the overwhelming sensation that I could do anything I wanted and no one, not even Jessica Wademen, could stop me.

I rounded on Jessica.

"That's it," I snarled and she cowered when she saw my unnatural features, along with everyone else who had stopped screaming and were now focusing their terrified attention on me. "I've had enough of your torments. For far too long, you've bullied me and made my school life a misery. Now," I smiled coldly and all shivered. "I shall have justice."

After I had finished, I raised both my hands up before me in an involuntary response. Then, the water around us slowly began to bend and move until it had formed a huge, liquid vortex. As soon as people saw this, they began to scream in terror and tried to escape. Some even dove under the tables. There was nowhere to run. The doors were locked.

Somehow, I had made sure of that.

Once the vortex had been created, I commanded it to swallow Jessica. As soon as the thought had entered my brain, Jessica didn't even have time to scream before she was entombed in the swirling, liquid whirlpool, coughing and spluttering. It was as this event occurred and I saw Jessica's petrified expression that the whole world seemed to freeze. Time stood still.

Slowly, I grinned. Finally, I had the power to destroy everyone who had done me wrong over the years. Finally, I had the power to wreak revenge on all those who had laughed at me and did nothing to stop Jessica's cruel taunts. Finally, I was the victor and not the victim. Just as I was going to deliver the last blow, my morals returned.

Stop, they screamed at me. Stop, this is wrong.

But it feels so good, I argued back. Now, I have the ability to crush my enemies, like they've crushed me.

But you're not a murderer, they disagreed. Yes, those before and all around you have done you severe wrong in the past. However, if you go through with your intensions, you won't be able to survive with the guilt. That, my friend, is a fact.

Gradually, my heart was filled with understanding and fear. I heeded these words of wisdom. Jessica fell to the ground in a sobbing, spluttering and sodden mess. Immediately, all crowded around her, to see if she was alright. It was only after she had confirmed that she was fine, or as fine as she could be after nearly drowning, that the entire class, including Jessica, looked frantically in the direction I had previously been standing.

Much to their shock and relief, I was gone.     

***********
AN:

OMG! So much drama happens in this chapter. I loved writing this scene, especially the relationship between Jessica Wademen and Alex. See what I did with the name - WadeMEN ;) What a cow though? Unfortunately, we all know people like that in our lives. Thank goodness Alex was able to teach her a lesson, although she paid the price at the end. I wonder what will happen next???