The most thanks for this, the last book in the Night School series, go to you, the person holding this book right now. If you’ve been there from the start, falling in love with Allie, Carter, Sylvain, Jo, Rachel, Nicole and Zoe – thank you. I’ve met thousands of you over the last few years. I feel like I’ve hugged most of Warsaw, a good part of Berlin and, I’m pretty sure, everyone under thirty in Paris along the way. I have never had more fun, nor met nicer people than you. You are all beautiful and fabulous and I love you.
I truly believe the Night School series would not exist were it not for my brilliant agent and friend, Madeleine Milburn. She continually inspires me with her savvy, her skill and her boundless energy. Because of her, Night School is now all over the world. I don’t know what I would do without you.
Night School wouldn’t be Night School without its wonderful editors. Thanks to the amazing Samantha Smith, who first plucked the series from the pile in front of her and said ‘THIS ONE’. Thanks also to Karen Ball, who loved the series as much as I did, and to Sarah Castleton and Caroline Knight, who stepped in to edit Endgame. The books were made better by all of you, and I will be eternally grateful.
Many thanks go to Night School’s international publishers as well, especially Glenn Tavennec and everyone at Robert Laffont in France, the wonderful team at Oetinger in Germany, including the fantastic Doris, Maia and Christina, also to the fabulous Monika at Otwarte in Poland, and all the publishers around the world who have embraced Night School and brought it to so many readers. I’m honoured to be working with you all.
Hugs and thanks go also to Jess, Campbell, Louis, Jodie, Danny and Grace for bringing the Night School characters to life in the Night School Web Series, which you can watch on YouTube at www.Youtube.com/NightSchoolBook. I love you guys!
I have a few extra thanks to share this time. I’ve been hanging on to some of these for a while. Thanks to my friend Kim for wearing a pair of red, knee-high Dr Marten boots to my house five years ago and looking amazing in them. Thanks to my real-life friends Mark and Harry for being called Mark and Harry and for not minding when I borrowed their names. Thanks to Frensham Heights School, for looking gorgeous when I drove by one night, and inspiring me to write about a school a lot like that. Thanks to Ally Sheedy for having a great first name for a main character. Thanks to the Bullingdon Club, Skull and Bones, the Bilderberg Group, and all the other real-life secret societies that first made me think up Night School and the Orion Group. Whatever you guys are up to, it can’t be as much fun as we’re having imagining it.
Finally, to Jack, who basically lost me for four years to Cimmeria Academy. Thank you so much for going on this journey with me. Everything is much more fun when you’re here. In omnia paratus.
Coming Soon: The Secret Fire
A battle against fate. A race against time.
* * *
Taylor Montclair is a regular girl from the quiet backwater of Woodbury, England.
* * *
Sacha Winters is a darkly mysterious boy from the City of Lights - Paris, France.
* * *
While Taylor's focussed on her dream of attending Oxford University, school couldn't be further from Sacha's mind . . .
* * *
Sacha knows exactly when he's going to die. Because he's done it before.
* * *
On the appointed day, Sacha's time will run out. And his death will fulfil an ancient destiny that could unleash chaos and catastrophe.
Taylor is the only person who can save him.
Neither of them knows that yet.
Because they haven't even met.
Hundreds of miles and a body of water separate them.
Deadly forces will stop at nothing to keep them apart.
They have eight weeks to find each other and unravel an ancient web of mystery and danger.
* * *
The clock starts NOW.
The Secret Fire - 1
‘Jump!’
The voice was as cool as the night.
Sacha turned around – he looked more amused than afraid.
‘You really want me to do it?’ Clutching his chest, he pretended to quiver. ‘But… but… I might get hurt.’
‘Shut up.’ Antoine took a warning step towards him; the gun in his hand glinted in the moonlight. ‘Stop wasting my time, kid. You lost the bet. You chose this option. Now…’ He shrugged. ‘You have to jump. Just do it, Sacha. Let’s get this over with.’
Sacha held up his hands. ‘OK, OK. Don’t get excited.’
He was tall and slim, in a faded black T-shirt and jeans. His broad smile made him look even younger than he was as he stepped fearlessly to the edge of the warehouse roof. A breeze blew his straight brown hair into his eyes and he shoved it back to peer into the darkness.
Antoine knew the ground below would be lost in the midnight shadows. The roof they stood on was five storeys high.
Too far to fall and survive.
Crouching low, Sacha prepared to spring forward into the void.
Antoine’s breath caught. He admired the kid’s bravery and hated to see him die. But a bet’s a bet, and the kid had pushed him to the limit this time. Taking his money and not paying him back. Messing with him like he wasn’t for real. He couldn’t let that happen; couldn’t let the guys see someone treat him like that. He had to make an example of him. When his body was found tomorrow they’d know who was behind it.