Chapter 37: Fears Unleashed Part 1: Stormy Nights

Kadic Academy-Cafeteria

Monday-7:00 AM

The next day was Monday, which meant that the 2nd semester at Kadic would begin and that classes would resume once again, much to the dismay of the students. Even though none of them wanted to return to their classes, they knew they had to if they wanted to succeed in life. Over in the cafeteria, all of the students were enjoying their first breakfast of the New Year and were talking about what they did during their Christmas Vacation. Well...almost all of them did.

Natalie: Hey Matt, you ok?

Matthew: Yeah I'm fine. Why do you ask?

Natalie: Well...it just looks like you weren't focusing on anything. It's like you were deep in thought.

Matthew: Well...I kinda was.

Gary: What's going on mate? Something on your mind?

Matthew: I just can't get over the uneasy feeling of XANA creating more and more new monsters. I mean come on guys, this is the third time that it's happened and each time, they're getting stronger. If this keeps up, they'll just annihilate us before we could even get a chance to fight back. And if we can't fight back, XANA will take over everything.

The gang sat there in silence. They didn't think about it much after it happened, but they knew that Matthew had a good point.

Mariah: Is there anything that we can do to try and stop this?

Matthew: I think the only thing we can do is to keep doing what we've been doing ever since we got into this mess. Fight against XANA's attacks and keep training.

The gang nodded in agreement and went back to eating their breakfast. However, that wasn't the only thing on Matthew's mind and it wasn't long before Jonah noticed the "deep in thought" look on his face.

Jonah: Umm...I don't think that XANA is the only thing that you've got on your mind Matt. Is there something else plaguing you?

Matthew: *groan* Alright ya caught me. I'm also worried about that new girl Stephanie. The one that Mr. Belpois asked me to show around the school yesterday.

Alexis: The one with the huge crush on you?

Matthew: Exactly.

No one seemed to notice the deepening look of distaste on Natalie's face as Matthew continued to explain.

Matthew: You all know that I'm very happy with being with Natalie, but if what Mr. Belpois said yesterday about Stephanie going to try and make me hers and getting in our business was true, then you guys and I are going to have a rough 2nd semester.

The gang all nodded in agreement.

Natalie: I guess all we can do is see how everything plays out.

Matthew: I guess you're right.

Suddenly, out of the corner of Gary's eye, stood Stephanie at the exit of the breakfast line holding her tray of food and scanning around the cafeteria, obviously looking for someone. And we all know who. At that moment, Stephanie saw the gang's table and briskly walked her way over to them.

Gary: Guys, don't look now but Little Miss Flirty is making her way over here right now.

And she was. The gang acted like they were in conversation as Stephanie sauntered up to them.

Stephanie: Good morning everyone.

Natalie: Morning Stephanie...

She gave Stephanie a death glare and Stephanie gave the same glare back, but quickly turning her attention to Matthew who looking at his phone hoping she wouldn't notice him. Sadly...she did.

Stephanie: Matthew, if I may ask, what's your class schedule?

Matthew: Uhh...Computer Science, Math, PE, Science, Foreign Language, and History. Why?

Stephanie: Oh no reason, just curious is all. See ya around.

She walked away over towards an empty table. The gang looked at Matthew who looked upset.

Matthew: I have a feeling I know who's going to be in some of my classes this semester.

*RIIIIIIIIIIIIIING*

A few minutes later, the school bell rang meaning the beginning of the new semester. All of the students gathered up their bags and supplies and made their way to their first class. Matthew would soon be proven right about Stephanie. His first class went well with Jeremy and his Computer Science Class, but then the trouble began when Matthew entered his 2nd class with Jonah and Natalie. As they took their seats, with Matthew and Natalie sitting together at one desk table and Jonah sitting by himself at another, they looked up and saw Stephanie walk in.

Matthew: (to himself) Oh great, just what I needed.

Natalie: (to herself) She better not cause any trouble between me and Matt, or she'll have me to deal with.

Math Teacher: Ah you must be Stephanie Delmas our new student.

Stephanie: That's me.

Math Teacher: Very good. Why don't you sit in that empty seat next to Jonah.

Jonah perked up as the teacher pointed to where he was sitting. He couldn't do anything about it now as Stephanie sat in the empty seat right next to him. Although, she didn't acknowledge him whatsoever.

Jonah: (to himself) Well this day just keep getting better and better.

But Math wasn't the only class that Matthew and the gang would have Stephanie in. As the day went on, Stephanie was in Matthew's PE Class with Gary, his Foreign Language Class with Alexis, and his History Class with Jonah and Mariah. Each time she was in one of his classes, she would stare at him every now and then and it made him feel very uncomfortable. When the bell rang and History Class ended, Matthew was the first to sprint out the door and out into the hallways. The teacher and most of the students were confused, but not Jonah and Mariah.

Mariah: This is gonna be a long semester.

Jonah: You can say that again.

And they walked away.

A Few Days Later

Over the next few days, the weather changed. Skies darkened and thunder rumbled through the city of Boulogne-Billancourt. Rain poured down like paintballs and showed no signs of slowing down. A lot of the students and even some of the staff didn't enjoy this kind of weather, but there was one student who didn't like it at all. One evening, the gang were hanging out in Matthew's room since they had nowhere else to go because of the rain. Gary was on his phone while Jonah was playing on his Nintendo DS. The girls were either on their phones or reading some type of magazine while Matthew was on his laptop. They could hear the wind and rain pounding outside Matthew's window.

Mariah: Man, can this weather get any worse?

Suddenly, a loud clap of thunder roared outside the campus. The thunder was so loud, that it knocked out all power to the building. At that moment, the gang heard someone shout to the top of their lungs followed by the slam of a door.

Mariah: I guess that answers my question...

Matthew: Hang on everyone, I think I have a flashlight here somewhere.

With his room now pitch black, it took Matthew a while to find the drawer with his flashlight. He felt around the left side of his desk and eventually found the top drawer. After feeling around inside it, he pulled out a small flashlight and turned it on. It's bright white LED lights nearly blinded his friends for a moment. Once everyone's eyes had adjusted to the new found light, Matthew spoke up.

Matthew: Everyone good?

Alexis: Yeah, we're fine.

But then, Gary noticed something out of place?

Gary: Hey guys...where did Jonah get off to?

Everyone looked to the now empty space beside Gary where Jonah once was.

Matthew: Huh? When did he leave?

Gary: I have no idea. HEY JONAH! WHERE YOU AT MATE?!

Suddenly, they heard a muffled voice.

Jonah: I'm in here.

The gang heard the voice and Matthew shined his light over to where he thought it was coming from. It was his closet. He walked over to his closet and opened the door to find Jonah squeezed inside along with Matthew's fancy dress clothes.

Matthew: What are you doing in there? And when did you get in there?

Jonah slowly crawled his way out and looked at his friends.

Jonah: Sorry guys...I got scared when I heard the thunder.

Gary: You got scared?...Wait...was that you who we heard scream?

Natalie: And you who slammed the door?

Jonah: ...Yes...it was me. Go ahead and laugh all you want.

But to his surprise, they didn't.

Jonah: What...no laughter?

Matthew: No, we were just concerned about you. If I may ask, why are you scared of storms.

Jonah gathered up his courage at he sat on the edge of Matthew's bed.

Jonah: It all happened when I was about 6 years old. My family and I were actually on vacation. We were visiting some of our relatives in America.

Matthew: Wait...you've been to America before?!

Jonah: Yep, surprise.

Matthew: What part of America?

Jonah: We were in Oklahoma. Now, as I was saying, my family and I were visiting our relatives in America. We were staying there for 2 weeks. I loved visiting the States and I loved the chance of visiting some old relatives. But the best family vacation we've ever had would soon turn out to be the worst in a matter of minutes. It was 2 days before we would have to leave. The day didn't start out very well as rain fell all day. Although, it wasn't very heavy at the time. But when it was time for dinner, the weather got worse. The skies turned darker and the rain got heavier. I soon got nervous and I told my mom about it. She told me not to worry and that the rain will stop soon. Well, I didn't stop worrying and the rain didn't stop...it got worse. At the dinner table, the radio suddenly started sounding an alarm. We heard the weather service say that there was a tornado warning in our area. That's when I got even more scared. Then suddenly, the radio signal got cut off and then we heard sirens blaring outside. My mom quickly went to the window and saw it.

He paused for a moment. The gang grew anxious.

Natalie: ...Saw what?

Jonah: An EF4 tornado and it was heading our way.

The gang gasped in horror as Jonah continued his story.

Jonah: My mom shouted that there was a tornado on the ground and it was coming towards us. All of us quickly ran to the tornado shelter outside. I was able to get a glimpse of the giant storm and I'll tell you this, it was the scariest thing I've ever saw. We all got in the shelter just in time, because a few minutes later, we heard the splintering crack of wood and glass shattering. We felt a blast of wind. At first, I didn't know what was happening...until the wind died down and the rain stopped. We stayed in the shelter for about another 30 minutes give or take until we thought it was safe to come out. When we did...we saw the devastation and destruction of what used to be a small neighborhood. There was debris everywhere, cars were either upside down or crushed by fallen trees. The house where we were staying at was completely gone. At that point, we decided that it was time to leave, but we didn't want to leave our relatives stranded, so we invited them back to our place for them to stay until the town was able to be rebuilt. About a year and a half later, it was rebuilt and they were able to move back and continue on living their lives. But I sometimes still have nightmares about that day. And that's why I get scared whenever there's a storm, because I don't want to have to go through that ever again.

The gang sat there stunned and silent until Matthew spoke up again.

Matthew: I feel really bad about what you had to go through. But you were very brave to make it through it. You also have to remember that you can't stop these things from happening. They will happen from time to time, and if it does happen again, you'll know from previous experience what to do in that kind of situation.

Jonah smiled at Matthew.

Jonah: Thanks man, that helps a lot.

Matthew: We all have fears inside of us. One of my biggest fears is actually going blind.

This got the gang confused.

Jonah: Why are you afraid of going blind?

Matthew: Because I wanna race in Formula 1 when I grow up. And if I go blind, then I won't that chance.

Jonah: Oooh, that make sense.

Gary: I'm actually afraid of bees and wasps, because one time when I was about 10 years old, I was about to sit on our front porch swing. I didn't know that there was wasps nest behind it and when I sat down, I disturbed their home and they attacked me. I got stung from head to toe and my body swelled up like a balloon. My mom took me to the hospital to get me cured. I've been afraid of them ever since.

Natalie: My biggest fear is actually losing my voice. I wanna be a famous singer and songwriter when I grow up and if I lose my voice, I'm finished.

Mariah: I'm actually afraid of bats. And it's not because of the vampire movies I've seen, but actually because when I was in my attic one time, a bat flew out from the rafters and flew past my face. I ran out of there as quick as I could and told my parents. They told me that they were harmless, but I still fear them today.

Alexis: You guys know how I sometimes talk about my older sister right? Well, my sister was the top student in her class. Always getting straight A's. She would help me with my studies if I was ever stuck. Now, she can't because she's in college right now. But I always looked up to her. My biggest fear is not being able to measure up to the standards like her. I'm afraid to fail. Failing in my education and failing in life.

Mariah: Wow...that's pretty deep.

Matthew: See Jonah, we all have fears inside of us. And the only way to get over them is to face our fears head on.

Jonah: You're right Matt, thanks. And thank you guys.

All: You're welcome.

Suddenly, the lights came back on and all power was restored. The gang went back to what they were doing, while Jonah felt like a weight was just lifted off his shoulders...or so he thought.

Lyoko-Unknown Location

?: Very interesting...maybe this could be the information I can use to rid these young warriors for good.

Happy 4th of July everyone! Hope you all are having an awesome day! Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Leave a review, follow and favorite, and spread the word about this story.

Thanks a lot! And as always, FakeACU83 OUT!