Night School

  ‘Get up, Allie,’ Carter’s face was grim. ‘Nathaniel’s coming.’

  TWENTY-NINE

  Allie worked to stay calm. Still groggy from sleep, she tried several times to put on her slippers but couldn’t seem to make her feet slide into them.

  ‘Leave them. There’s no time.’ Carter reached for her hand and pulled her into the corridor where Sylvain stood alert, waiting for them.

  ‘This way,’ Sylvain said, leading them away from the staircase.

  ‘Where are we going?’ Allie whispered.

  ‘Out of here,’ Carter said.

  They ran to the end of the hallway, where Jules waited for them by a un-numbered door Allie had always assumed was a broom closet. Without a word she pushed it open to reveal a narrow, winding stone staircase, dimly lit by exposed bare bulbs.

  They ran down at breakneck speed, Sylvain in the lead, Allie and Carter in the middle and Jules bringing up the rear. Nobody spoke. When they reached the bottom, Sylvain opened a door leading into a room Allie had never seen before – a crypt-like space that seemed to be hewn from rock, with thick limestone pillars covered in elaborate carvings, lighted by flickering gaslight. The stone floor felt dusty and cold beneath Allie’s feet.

  I don’t believe it. There is a dungeon.

  ‘Where are we?’ she whispered.

  ‘Cellar,’ Jules said.

  She, Sylvain and Carter had formed a ring of sorts with Allie at the centre. They each had their backs to her, peering into the shadows.

  ‘Should we get her out of here?’ Jules asked.

  ‘Isabelle said get her out if it’s safe,’ Carter said. ‘But how do we know if it’s safe?’

  ‘Stay here.’ Sylvain’s voice came from behind Allie.

  Soundlessly, he disappeared into the shadows.

  The other three stayed where they were in silence. After about five minutes, Sylvain reappeared and gestured for them to follow.

  In the same formation they’d adopted on the stairs, they ran to a door hidden in the shadows. He motioned for them to wait as he slipped through the door, then he returned again and nodded at Carter.

  They followed him up a flight of stairs and through a door so small they had to duck to get through it. Once outside, they stood in a line with their backs against the school wall. Carter’s arm stretched out across Allie protectively, holding her still.

  The night was cool and damp – clouds covered the moon. Allie could see nothing at first, but gradually her eyes adjusted.

  It reminded her of the night that she and Carter had followed Isabelle to her meeting with Nathaniel. Uneasy, she looked off to the treeline, black on the horizon.

  Is somebody there now, watching us the way we watched them?

  Carter tugged her hand: they were on the move. They ran around the west wing to the back of the school building, past the terrace lawn and towards the walled garden. Stones cut into Allie’s feet but she ignored the pain. Just before they would have reached the garden gate, Sylvain turned off the path and disappeared. One at a time they followed him.

  The grotto he led them to was so well hidden behind trees and thick foliage that Allie had never noticed it before.

  She couldn’t fully make out its features in the heavy darkness, but she could feel that it was made of stone and wood, and she could just make out a statue of a nude, graceful woman dancing in the middle.

  Communicating only through hand gestures, Carter, Sylvain and Jules again formed a protective shield in front of Allie, looking back towards the school. Allie tried to be as still as the statue behind her.

  For a long time nothing happened. Allie had counted one hundred and thirty-seven breaths when she saw Jules gesture at a tiny point of light in the distance. Allie narrowed her eyes to try and focus on it.

  Within seconds there was another. And another.

  Then there were half a dozen of them moving so smoothly that they seemed to float. And they were getting closer.

  Allie stood between Jules and Carter trying to get a better look.

  ‘What are they?’ she breathed.

  It was Sylvain who replied. ‘Nathaniel.’

  Allie’s breath caught in her throat. ‘What are we going to do?’

  ‘Wait,’ Jules said.

  It took five minutes for the points of light to become lighted torches. And they were close enough that Allie could see the shadowy shapes holding them when she heard Isabelle’s voice ring out.

  ‘Nathaniel! Stop this. It’s not too late.’

  ‘I know it’s not too late.’ That familiar disdainful voice chilled Allie’s blood. ‘That is why we’re here.’

  ‘Leave this school alone,’ Isabelle said. ‘No matter what you do, you will never have Cimmeria.’

  ‘You sound so certain,’ he said. ‘But then you were always arrogant.’

  ‘Lucinda doesn’t want this, Nathaniel.’ Her voice held a warning. ‘You go against her wishes at your peril.’

  ‘If that’s true then where is she?’ he scoffed. ‘I don’t see her rushing here to protect you.’

  As they argued, something in the air caught Allie’s attention. A change in temperature? Or was it … smell?

  What is that?

  Her hand shot out and she grabbed Carter’s arm urgently. ‘Smoke. I smell smoke.’

  Sniffing the air, Sylvain turned to Carter and for the first time she saw alarm on his face.

  ‘There!’ Jules pointed to the boys’ dormitory wing. Smoke poured from a second-floor window and flames danced behind the glass.

  ‘Oh my God,’ Allie whispered.

  ‘Jules, stay with Allie,’ Sylvain said. ‘Carter, come with me.’

  Before following him, Carter grabbed Allie by the shoulders.

  ‘Stay here.’ It was dark, but she could see fear in his eyes.

  Wordlessly she nodded, reaching up to grip his hand in hers so tightly it hurt.

  And then he was gone.

  Now alone, Allie and Jules stood side-by-side watching the school.

  Isabelle’s voice had lost none of its confidence. ‘Is that your plan, Nathaniel? To destroy what you cannot take by lying? By cheating? By demanding? I always knew you were petulant, but this act will destroy you. Not Cimmeria.’

  He laughed. ‘Your arrogance shouldn’t surprise me, Isabelle. But, please do not insult me. I’m smarter than that.’

  A light on the top floor of the west wing caught Allie’s eye. Touching Jules’ shoulder she pointed. It flickered in a window.

  ‘The girls’ dorm,’ Jules whispered, staring at it.

  ‘What should we do?’ Allie asked.

  ‘Sylvain and Carter will take care of it,’ Jules whispered.

  But time stretched on and nothing happened. The flames in the girls’ wing seemed to take confidence and grew quickly. The smell of smoke was strong now.

  ‘Jules, we have to do something,’ Allie said urgently.

  ‘I promised Sylvain …’ Jules said, but Allie could hear the worry in her voice.

  Allie made up her mind. ‘We’ll stick together. Let’s go.’

  She didn’t wait for Jules to make up her mind – she shot out of the grotto towards the treeline, but Jules caught up with her quickly and grabbed the sleeve of her pyjamas, directing her around the side of the school to an entrance away from Isabelle and Nathaniel.

  They ran through the door together into a light haze of smoke. They were in a room with shelf after shelf of books.

  We’re in the back of the library.

  They were near where she’d met Carter several weeks ago – Ancient Latin. She’d never known there was a door there.

  ‘This way,’ Jules whispered.

  And then she disappeared.

  Bewildered, Allie spun in a circle looking for her, but she was alone.

  ‘Jules?’ She hissed into the darkness. ‘Where are you?’

  There was no answer.

  ‘Jules?’ Allie could hear the panic in her voice. Taking a shaky breat
h, she tried to decide what to do.

  Something was wrong. She was sure Jules wouldn’t have left her … or would she?

  Her heart beat frantically. Did she lead me into a trap?

  She coughed. The smoke was getting thicker.

  Suddenly she knew what to do.

  She dashed out into the main library, past the study carrels and the tables where she’d sat with Rachel and Jo so many times, then out the library door. There was a fire alarm switch right next to it and she yanked it down.

  Nothing happened.

  She stared at it, baffled. Then a memory came back to her – something Gabe had said before the summer splash: ‘None of the alarms in this building are real. There are no alarms.’

  Without stopping to think she ran up the main stairs towards the girls’ dorm. As she reached the landing and turned towards the next staircase, she saw a figure at the end of the hall. He held a flaming torch in his hand.

  She froze. He hadn’t seen her yet. If she stayed very still he would never notice her and then she could get upstairs to the girls’ dorm.

  But then he would set more fires. The school would burn down. Nathaniel would win. She felt torn. What was more important? Warning the girls or stopping him?

  It was an impossible situation. There was nobody there to tell her what to do.

  This always happens to me. An unexpected surge of rage shook her and she took several steps towards him.

  ‘Hey! You!’ She shouted at the top of her lungs, and she saw him stop and turn.

  For a moment that was as short as for ever neither of them moved as they stared at each other. The flame was close enough to his face that she could make out his features.

  ‘Christopher?’ she whispered.

  She saw recognition in his eyes, and something else. And then he ran.

  ‘Christopher!’ She was screaming now. ‘Christopher! Don’t leave me!’

  Through the tears that ran down her face, she saw that he was gone.

  The world spun, and she leaned against the wall for support while she took a steadying breath. But the smoke was too thick now and she coughed so fiercely she thought she might faint.

  OK, she thought, gasping for air. Calm down, Allie.

  She could hear Carter’s words in her head, telling her to focus on her breathing. She took slow steady breaths, filtering the air through the fabric of her sleeve. When the world stopped spinning, she looked around. The smoke was getting thicker.

  She didn’t have much time.

  Pulling her pyjama top up over her mouth she bent down low and raced up the remaining stairs (seventeen steps) to the girls’ dorm. She threw open the first door she saw. Smoke hadn’t made it in here yet and she could breathe. The girl lying in bed sat up.

  It was Katie.

  ‘Fire!’ Allie shouted taking a welcome breath of clean air. ‘Katie, get up and help me. We have to get everyone out.’

  ‘What?’ Katie’s voice was groggy and confused, but she soon focused on Allie. ‘What the …?’

  ‘The school’s on fire, Katie. Please!’

  Smelling the smoke, Katie jumped out of bed.

  As Allie ran out the door she shouted over her shoulder, ‘Every door! Knock on every door! Tell them to follow me.’

  Katie took one side of the hallway and Allie the other and they raced down the hall, throwing open doors and, if necessary, shaking girls in their beds to wake them.

  Allie dashed to Rachel’s room, but she was already up, disturbed by the voices.

  ‘Help me,’ Allie said, breathlessly.

  ‘Right behind you,’ Rachel said.

  By the time Allie reached Jo’s door, most of the girls were up. Jo’s room was full of smoke, and Allie could see her blonde head still on the pillow. She dropped to the floor and crawled across the room.

  ‘Jo,’ she gasped, her voice a hoarse croak. ‘Wake up.’

  But she didn’t move. Even when Allie shook her violently she didn’t react.

  Reaching back, Allie slapped her face hard.

  Her eyes fluttered.

  ‘Ow,’ she whispered faintly and Allie felt a hysterical urge to laugh.

  ‘Get up, Jo. You have to get up.’

  With her arm under Jo’s shoulder, Allie shoved her upright, but she was too heavy for her to lift alone. When Rachel walked in a few seconds later she quickly assessed the situation and put her arm around Jo’s other shoulder. Together they got her on her feet.

  ‘Lisa,’ Jo whispered.

  Allie shot a panicked look at Rachel.

  ‘I’ve seen her,’ Rachel said. ‘She’s in the hall.’

  As they half-carried Jo from the room, Allie looked around worriedly.

  ‘Is this everyone?’

  ‘I did a count.’ The voice was Katie’s. ‘The only person missing is Jules.’

  Allie felt like she’d been punched.

  ‘She was with me downstairs,’ she said, breathlessly. ‘I lost her.’

  ‘Let’s get out of here first,’ Rachel said gently. ‘Then we can look for her.’

  Allie could see the sense in her words. ‘This way.’

  Jo’s feet were moving now, and Rachel could support her alone, so Allie led them out along the route Sylvain had taken earlier that night. That stairwell was still free of smoke.

  As they emerged into the cellar, Allie turned to Katie. ‘Do another headcount.’

  Without hesitating Katie quickly tallied their numbers. ‘We’re all here.’

  Allie gestured for everyone to follow her and led them up the short staircase to the door, praying it would open.

  It did.

  They poured out into the darkness, coughing and inhaling the fresh air deep into their lungs. Allie walked far enough away from them all that nobody could see. Then she vomited onto the grass.

  When she returned to the group, Jo was standing on her own, although she still looked woozy.

  Allie straightened and tried to look like she had it all together.

  ‘Jo, can you get everybody into the walled garden?’ she asked huskily. ‘I think you’ll be safe there.’

  Jo nodded, and walked weakly down the path. All the others followed her except Rachel and Katie.

  ‘Where are you going?’ Rachel sounded suspicious.

  ‘I have to find Jules,’ Allie said. ‘She could be hurt.’

  ‘Then I’m coming with you,’ Rachel said.

  ‘Rach, no.’ Allie could hear the worry in her own voice. ‘You could get hurt.’

  ‘So could you,’ Katie pointed out. ‘And I’m coming with you, too. Jules is my best friend. We’re not going to let you do this alone.’

  ‘Oh God,’ Allie groaned. ‘You guys, this is bad.’

  ‘Lead the way, Allie.’ Rachel’s voice was firm. ‘Where did you see her last?’

  Allie stared at them doubtfully, but time was passing. She knew she’d never talk them out of it anyway.

  ‘In the library. There’s a secret door.’

  ‘I know where it is,’ Rachel said.

  ‘You do?’

  ‘Of course I do,’ she said. ‘I know everything about that library.’

  Sticking to the shadows they ran to the door and shoved it open. Smoke poured out in a thick grey wave.

  Allie felt her heart sink. This was impossible.

  ‘Stay low,’ Rachel hissed, and they dropped to their hands and knees, covering their faces with clothing.

  ‘Where were you when you saw her last?’ Katie asked Allie.

  Allie didn’t want to tell her that in the thick smoke it all looked unfamiliar. That she wasn’t sure at all. Holding her breath, she climbed to her feet and looked around, then dropped down again.

  Ancient Latin dead ahead.

  ‘Fifteen feet ahead. I think.’

  They crawled forward. But when they reached the spot Jules was nowhere to be seen.

  Rachel coughed. ‘I don’t see her.’

  ‘Let’s split up.’ Katie’s voice was muffle
d by her shirt. ‘Go no more than ten feet in three different directions then meet back here.’

  ‘Carefully …’ Allie added.

  Staying as low as she could, Allie crawled away from the others, counting her progress in her head. But she went more than ten feet in the end – when she didn’t find Jules she went twenty. Then twenty-five.

  But Jules wasn’t there.

  The smoke was thicker here and it was difficult to see much of anything. Her eyes burned and the tears blurred her vision even further.

  Too far. I’ve gone too far.

  She turned to return to the others but was instantly disoriented – which way had she come? In the dark and smoke it all looked the same. Had she passed that tall bookshelf before? The one with book titles in Cyrillic? Had she ever seen it before at all?

  She coughed viciously. When she tried to catch her breath, even through her shirt the smoke was so thick it was like being under water. There was no air. There was no oxygen. Her breath came in short, futile gasps.

  When she tried to move faster, the edges of her vision began turning black.

  She wasn’t going to make it.

  Far away she heard a voice cry, ‘I’ve got her! She’s here.’

  Another voice called her name. She tried to crawl towards the sound but she couldn’t move.

  ‘Here,’ she croaked, but she knew the sound was too weak to travel.

  She’d never felt more tired. If I could just rest for a second I’d gather my strength. A short nap and I’ll be able to help more. I’m just so tired.

  Her head felt so heavy. She let it drop to the floor.

  As unconsciousness wrapped around her like a warm blanket, she sighed with relief.

  Suddenly she was flying, supported by something strong and loving. She leaned into it. Safe. Protected. Floating.

  Warm air filled her lungs, and went away. Filled her lungs, and went away. Over and over.

  And then a beautiful voice. ‘Please don’t leave us. Don’t go.’

  Warm lips on hers. Warm air in her body.

  Pain racked her and she coughed so violently her body shook convulsively. When the convulsion stopped though, fresh air caressed her and she breathed in gratefully.

  Her eyes fluttered open. She was lying in Sylvain’s lap, his arms tight around her. She reached up and touched his face wonderingly.