Malana

By: Lisa Harms

Entering her bedroom, Malana plopped her school bag down with a discouraged sigh.  She turned on some music and focused on a chair, wishing that Kayla was sitting in it.  She hated Kayla . . . hated her more than anything else in the entire world, even all the other girls in her school who constantly teased Malana.  

Suddenly, the chair burst into flames.

Malana never used her powers to actually hurt anyone.  Once in a great while, she would give someone a little scare . . . like maybe setting their pencil on fire, but that was it.  It wasn't until Kayla Englewood came to her school that Malana ever gave serious thought to actually doing anyone any real harm.  

After walking over to the chair to put out the flames, Malana laid on her bed, wondering if she could do what she was contemplating.  I have the power, she thought.  Why don't I use it?   It was then that realization set in.  Malana knew that she could never hurt anyone, even if that person was Kayla.  Feeling disgusted with herself, Malana decided to take a long, hot bath.  She heaved a great sigh and tried her best to brush the thought away.

A few minutes later, as she eased into the steaming water, thoughts of killing Kayla were still foremost in her mind.  Nothing Malana tried did any good.  All she could think about was burning Kayla Englewood to a crisp.  "No one would ever know," Malana said aloud.  "Everyone would assume it was simply spontaneous human combustion, or something.  Ha!  What else could anyone believe?  Those stupid people . . . they've never heard of anyone having the power I have!  They would all be so baffled!   Spontaneous human combustion would be the answer to a problem when they don't want to admit that they don't know the real cause of Kayla's death!  So why don't I do it?  Why don't I just do it!  What's stopping me?"

Malana closed her eyes and let the thoughts of murder flood her mind.

As she soaked in the hot water, something inside Malana changed.  Whatever little bit of good the girl had inside her slowly vanished, and her mind soon began thinking thoughts of pure evil.  It was then that she felt her powers growing even stronger.  A few minutes later, when Malana finally reopened her eyes, they seemed to glow with some inner fire . . . the water around her body boiled...

Malana arrived at school a little earlier than she normally did.  Not many kids were there yet.  She sat in the student lounge, burning a hole in the sofa to get warmed up for what she as about to do.  The student lounge was one place the teachers weren't allowed to go in.  If she did it here, she would never be caught.  All she had to do was walk out, she knew Kayla liked to come in early to check out all the guys when they walked in the room.  "That's her problem, she doesn't know her boundaries. Does she even know Greg belongs to me?  Probably.  She just wants to make my life hell!"

"Hey," came a soft voice. 

Malana turned and was startled to see Greg.  He never arrived at school this early, and would completely ruin her plans. "Oh!  Hi, Greg."  Malana turned away from him, hoping he would go away or something.  

Greg looked hurt, but continued with, "Are you okay?  You seem a little mad.  Did I do anything wrong?" 

Malana had to smile. Greg could never do anything to make her mad . . . except maybe flirt back with Kayla. "No, I'm just tired." 

Greg smiled back and nodded.  He understood.  He always does.

Soon kids started to flood in, Kayla being one of them.  Malana fumed inside as Kayla nodded and winked at Greg.  She heard Kayla invite Greg over to her house tonight because her parents would be gone for the evening.  Malana was so angry, she wanted to do it right then, but stopped herself just in the nick of time.  That would have been too messy, and someone might have saved her, Malana thought to herself.  I'll let her have her fun . . . for the time being anyway.  But now I have to make another plan, something that can't go wrong.  Something foolproof.  

A little while later, Malana was sitting at her desk, still thinking hard about how to kill Kayla.  She was looking around for something to trigger an idea when she noticed Kayla passing a folded note to Greg.  "I've got it!" Malana exclaimed loudly.

Every other girl in the class heard Malana's outburst and snickered.

"Hello?  Is Kayla there?"

"That's me. Who's this?"

"This is Malana.  Greg and I were talking, and he says that he wants to get to know you better.  So do I, but I wanna talk to you before we meet Greg at The Strike.  Can I meet you at your house tonight before we go?"

"Ummm, sure.  I guess."

"Great!  How about 7:00?" Malana asked.

"OK. See ya then."

"Bye."

Malana hung up the phone and leaned back in her chair . . . smirking.  "Perfect."

Malana arrived at Kayla's house a little early, just to make sure no one was around to suspect anything.  Finally, right at seven, she rang the doorbell.  Kayla answered the door and seemed anxious to go. 

"Are you ready?" asked Malana. 

Kayla nodded. 

"Cool, but first, can I use your bathroom? I really have to go." 

Kayla stalled for a minute and slowly nodded. 

"Can you show me were it is?" Malana pressed.

Kayla nodded again and led Malana down the hall.  "Right here." 

Malana nodded and stood there for a minute before she quietly asked, "Why do you want Greg so much?" 

"What do you mean?" Kayla replied even quieter. 

"You know what I mean. You're so stupid, you don't even know who your messing with!"  Then, without warning, Malana pushed Kayla into the bathroom and slammed the door shut.  Kayla screamed and tried to open it, but by then she was already on fire.  Malana held the door shut, waiting until the screams ceased.  She didn't bother to make sure Kayla was dead, she could tell the other girl was gone by the rancid smell coming out from under the door.  

Malana released a long sigh and walked calmly out of the house.  She showed absolutely no signs of remorse.  From that moment on, Malana knew her life would never be the same.  Also, she knew the lives of the other girls in school would never be the same either . . . for Malana had just learned to kill.  

Before Malana even made it to the sidewalk, she found herself already deciding on who her next victim would be...

The End?