Approaching the sporting oval where on Fridays both girls and boys of Braden's Grammar High School gathered for joint assembly Katie and Jade were busily discussing plans for Liam and her birthday party tomorrow. They were running late for school as they'd been waiting for Jamie and Liam by the creek but they hadn't showed.
Jade was upset that Jamie and Liam hadn't met them at the creek as planned. She had only just met Jamie but already she'd felt as though she'd known him forever. She thought Jamie was kind of cute and had wanted to ask him to the school dance tomorrow night.
Jade lagged behind Katie as they hurried to the sound of the school assembly bell hoping that she would see Jamie among the boys already gathered there. She looked for him, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Disappointed, Jade caught up to Katie who was already lining up with their form in front of the grandstand where both principals of the girls and boys school were in deep discussion
It was Mr. Martins turn to address Friday assembly and everyone knew that unlike Ms Tollian, the girl's principal, he was a strict disciplinary so everyone was paying attention when he began to speak with the exception of Jade.
Katie nudged Jade wondering what was wrong with her; she'd been acting funny ever since Jamie and Liam had failed to show. And now she was looking around frantically like an idiot!
"Jade what on earth are you looking for, old Marty has you in his sights and you'd better pay attention!"
"I'm looking for Jamie, Katie, can you see him?"
"He's probably with Liam, stop fidgeting you're really annoying!"
"Shush you two, the principal is saying something about the school dance. You know I'm in the band competition, I need to hear!" Chloe muttered menacingly next to them,
Katie gave Chloe a dirty look; she couldn't stand 'The Bitch Queen' as she liked to call her. Not wanting to give Chloe the satisfaction of doing what she asked, Katie continued to talk to Jade until she poked her in the ribs.
"Ouch Jade that hurt!"
"Katie, listen, old Marty just said the school dance is cancelled. That means no one from our school gets a chance to compete in the Australian Band competition!"
Katie heard the collective gasp at the news and all eyes turned to the covered stage at the other end of the grandstand.
Abruptly the principal ordered the assembly to their designated classes without further explanation. However as disappointed as she was at the news, Katie couldn't help but turn and smirk at Chloe.
Chloe was shattered. She'd been practicing for months and in an instant her hopes for winning the competition were lost forever. She dragged herself to class hardly noticing Katie's smug expression.
By the time morning recess rolled round both the girls and boys schools were agog with rumors that Mr. Martin knew who'd destroyed the stage and band equipment and had hauled him to his office.
During recess the word spread that it had been Swasie. Eager to see if it were true kids were starting to hang around Mr. Martin's office.
They didn't have long to wait Swasie soon appeared slamming the office door defiantly behind him.
SWASIE
I'd seen kids gathering from the office window and decided I'd let them know that old Marty hadn't got the better of me. I was still in charge. I couldn't have cared less that old Marty had threatened to expel me, I'd gotten my revenge; the school band competition was now defunct. And now I would show these idiots following me that I was still one to fear.
Chuckling to myself I made my way to the toilet block listening to the jittery whispering behind me. I smirked with satisfaction; all was going according to plan. Now I had the audience I wanted.
Hands on hip, I swaggered into the toilet block and noted with satisfaction that Hunk had followed orders. Those kids Jamie Peters and Liam Powers my dad suspected of being two of the 'Power of Three' were gagged and tied to the urinals. Casually I strutted over to them and urinated on their shoes.
I laughed contemptuously as Jamie cursed me through the gag cutting his lips. Idiot, he didn't know who he was dealing with.
I turned flinging my dreadlocks bristling with the minute creatures that lived among them across his face. Their biting barbs stung deep and relishing his muffled moans of pain I ordered 'Nick the flick' to do his thing
I waited for Jamie to crack as Nick repeatedly flicked his knife menacingly in his face. However the idiot didn't flinch even when Nick callously drew blood.
Annoyed I saw his friend Liam free himself from the rope tying his hands and angrily kick the knife from Nick's hand.
I laughed derisively and nodding to Hunk, pointed at a cubicle.
Hunk dutifully obeyed and grabbed Liam by the scruff of the neck flung him like a piece of rubbish inside, locking the door behind him.
I gave Hunk the nod indicating to him to lay the gang's calling card 'The Black Box of Death' at Jamie's feet.
Within seconds the opened box hissed its deadly message and the toilet block emptied fast,
Spitting its forked tongue with devilment a red-bellied black snake untwined itself from its mate, and slithered around Jamie's feet.
This was the part I enjoyed... about now kids usually started begging for mercy.
"Okay Swasie, you bastard! You've had your fun, now untie me!" Jamie shouted defiantly as he managed to loosen the gag on his mouth and spit in my face.
Furious at his insolence, I wanted to show this Jamie kid who he was dealing with, but resisted. I knew that it was too soon to use my powers there was too much at stake. If he was one of the 'Power of Three' then he might wise up and never lead me to the others.
Hunk glared at me waiting for my next move.
I wiped the spit from my face and turned to that red haired kid Liam who'd burst through the cubicle door and was facing me defiantly.
Ignoring my prized snake coiled around his friend Jamie's feet he quickly untied him. In disbelief I watched my snake become subservient and slither back inside the box. Did this mean that my father's suspicions were right?
I searched for signs of their powers but sensed nothing. They read like any other human kid. Cursing I knew I had to test them further. I had to know why my prized snake had not attacked.
There was one sure method that never failed. In my search for the "Power of Three' I'd taken many kids to the old Braden mansion. There if these imbeciles were two of the'Power of Three', they'd be forced to show their powers to survive. If not they would be just two more missing kids.
'Okay...let them go!" I ordered.
Hunk couldn't believe his ears Swasie was backing down from these kids! Then he heard his evil snigger, and saw the look he gave Jamie. Hunk knew then that these kids weren't off the hook.