36. Intermission: Sabrina Part 2

Hawkmoth grinned arrogantly in his dingily lit secret lair, as he scoped out his latest prey.

It mattered not that he'd akumatised this poor soul already. It had happened once before with Ivan/Stoneheart, and that repeat performance had almost handed him the ultimate prizes of the Ladybug and Cat Noir Miraculous, especially after multiple copies of the giant golem had sprung to life all over Paris.

Besides, France in general had been too cheerful by half lately, with the new election of a popular socialist government and the festival of Bastille Day still fresh in the populance's memory. So, no harm in a bit of recycling now and then, and that's what he intended to do with Sabrina/Vanisher.

The supervillain ignored the pitiful, pained whines of Nooroo and tapped his cane on the floor, deep in thought. "Maybe I'll give Vanisher a decent outfit this time..." He mused out loud. "Rather than just her usual clothes. A bit of an incentive, to get her to try harder..."

Oops, no more time to think. The black moth was approaching it's target, and ready to infect the unsuspecting Sabrina. Now the only decision to be made was to what precious possession of her's to enter. That hair decoration looked promising...

THWACK! "Ugh, disgusting creature! Get out of here!" Both Sabrina and Hawkmoth were suddenly taken by surprise as a certain chemistry teacher swung a gargantuan-size reference book over the redhead, to impale the wicked insect flat against the wall.

"I keep telling Caline to shut those windows, but she never listens..." Ms. Mendeleiev huffed, while shaking her head despondently. "I mean, we spent long enough begging the school board for a new air conditioner, but what was the point in that if we're never going to... huh?!"

The stern educator was taken aback momentarily by the fact that the point of impact on her esteemed tome had no trace of the weird bug she'd just mushed to smithereens. No blood, no guts, no nothing. It was like it had just disappeared into thin air.

"Ah well, at least I don't have to wipe my book down now..." Ms. Mendeleiev's curiosity was soon forgotten, as she remembered why she'd rushed over to accost Sabrina in the first place. "Anyway, Miss Raincomplix. A word in your ear, if I may. In my office, now. Chop chop."

The teacher then strolled brusquely towards her private quarters, leaving behind a mollified Sabrina to wonder just what the heck was going on...

And if you'd listened very closely, a far-off cry from a thwarted supervillain who's plans had been ruined yet again... not by heroes in costume this time , but a qualified lab rat who used rather too much purple hair dye.

He didn't even have time to think up a witty one-liner, as his circular window closed up quite earlier than he was expecting that week.

...

Sabrina struggled to keep up with Ms. Mendeleiev, wondering why the teacher had seen fit to summon her so unexpectedly. The older woman was always urging her class to do their very best ( sometimes a little too virulently) and obsessed with safety procedures when they used her delicate equipment. She wasn't usually one for small talk, however... so whatever she had to say must have been important.

"This'll only take a minute, then you can go back and see your friends..." Anyone trying to keep up with her swift pace right now would think she was the P.E teacher, rather than the master of chemistry she truly was. "As long as I get the right answers, of course..." she added, as a veiled threat.

Ms. Mendeleiev's tactless remark suddenly reminded Sabrina of her own personal troubles, and she stopped for a moment to stare mournfully down at the floor."I'm not even sure if I have friends anymore... "

She just couldn't help herself. The words popped out of the redhead's mouth, so angry and frustrated was she for her apparent dead-end, lonely existence.

The teacher's ears pricked up at both what was said by Sabrina, but also the aggravated tone which was used. This gets more intriguing by the minute, she pondered, trying not to let her interest show on her face.

"Well, in that case, you've no excuse. Follow me please, for a matter that I think you might be able to help me with..." Ms. Mendeleiev tried to sound congenial, but as everyone who knows her could tell you, etiquette wasn't really her style, so it still came out as sounding like an order.

"W-what exactly is this about...?" Sabrina enquired cagily, with a raised eyebrow. "I haven't done anything wrong in our lessons, have I? I can study after hours, if you like. I get the feeling I'll only have one person's homework to do from now on, so I can make up the difference... "

Sabrina's cryptic reply only served to heighten Ms. Mendeleiev's inquisitiveness, but she decided other matters were more important for the present. "No, no dear. Nothing like that. You're top of the class as usual. If only every other student aside from Max paid as much attention as you, instead of playing on their phones or drawing silly pictures, perhaps you might actually have more competition. No, I'm actually referring to your friend, Chloe..."

"Oh, her..." Sabrina let out a most uncharacteristic humph at the mere mention of the name, and pursed her lips in annoyance. "Actually, you might want to review that status, Miss. My educated guess is that she's found someone much better than me. In fact, she seems to winning over half the school today alone, all without even really trying. Has everyone forgotten what she's done in the past, already?. It helps, I suppose, if you're a good-looking wealthy blonde, and not a short ginger-haired nerd who barely has enough allowance saved up for university..."

This was an issue that cut quite close to the nerve for Ms. Mendeleiev, sounding as it did just like her depressing formative years while studying for her degree. On another day, the pair could have discussed the topic long into the afternoon, two kind-of social outcasts exchanging mutual experiences, such as their first wedgie, and not forgetting the infamous swirly.

But Ms. Mendeleiev wasn't there to wax lyrical with her ailing student, and was starting to get a little ticked off with Sabrina's complaints. "Yes dear, I agree with you. But this isn't about your life, it's regarding Chloe's. I happened to run into her during one of my random litter-collecting trips around the school, and I must say, her irrational behaviour, unfamiliar dress and slumped posture left me feeling a little... worried. Even if you're no longer her friend, you must have some kind of an insight as to what's going on in her head right now. I was wondering if you'd like to share. Naturally, everything you tell me would be in the strictest possible confidence..."

Sabrina's irritated mood abruptly turned into one of bemusement upon hearing Ms. Mendeleiev's hitherto unheard of concern for the welfare of her students. Usually, the only time she opened her mouth was when she lectured the class on the miracle of chromatography, or sent a poor soul to the principal's office for daring to cough too frequently.

This is clearly a trap, no way is she being this nice out of habit... Sabrina concluded in her head, glumly. Mind you, she could have some vital information on Chloe which might help me in winning her back... what the heck. It's worth a try, at least...

"Okay then, Ms. Mendeleiev..." Sabrina sharply agreed, suddenly roughly barging past the teacher quickly to march in the direction of her office. "I'll give it a go. After all, it's not like I have anything better to do..."

"O-oh, that's good, then... " Ms. Mendeleiev could only stare in amazement after Sabrina, as the usually meek and mild star pupil strode forward with real aggression.

A lot of people are certainly acting weird today, the teacher thought, a little unsubstantiated panic setting in. I wonder if it's something in the water. Hmm, I'll have to test it later on. Again. And they called me paranoid...

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Oops, it looks like this little intermission is gonna take one more part before we return to the main action. Hope you're liking the frequent updates, anyway. :)

I'm off now to play Life Is Strange, which coincidentally enough has another great character called Chloe... :)