Night School

Every word dripped malice.

If Isabelle was surprised by any of this she didn’t betray it. Instead, she sounded amused. ‘Oh Nathaniel, don’t be ridiculous. You know these terms are absurd. I reject them all.’

He took a step back. ‘Then you will suffer the consequences.’

As he turned to leave, the dog right by his side, Isabelle shouted after him, ‘Lucinda will know it was you, Nathaniel. She will deal with you.’

He disappeared into the trees without looking back. After a moment, Zelazny and Eloise walked out of the trees to Isabelle. They conferred briefly, and then walked back into the forest. When they reached the trees, two other shadowy figures joined them.

Her back pressed against the tree trunk behind her, Allie sat frozen, her thoughts in turmoil. When Carter looked down at her she could see from his expression that he was as confused about all of this as she was.

‘Let’s get out of here,’ he said.

After climbing down from the tree they made their way through the gate; Carter latched it behind them then held out his hand.

‘Ready?’

She nodded.

They began to run.





TWENTY-FIVE


The teachers had a few minutes’ head start, but Carter took Allie on a different route back to the school. This path passed by a small stone cottage sitting quietly in a garden filled with flowers. The scent of jasmine and roses wafted to them on the breeze.

‘Whose house is that?’ Allie whispered.

‘Bob Ellison’s,’ he said.

It was far behind them when he added, ‘I grew up there.’

Allie stopped. ‘That was your house?’

‘Don’t stop,’ Carter said without looking back. ‘We can talk about this later.’

The trees around them made ghostly shapes in the moonlight, but as they took up the same running pattern they’d used earlier – with Carter running ten feet ahead – Allie felt safe. Things that had frightened her in the past – a rustling in the undergrowth, the sound of a twig snapping in the distance – didn’t bother her at all.

But when she heard Carter’s voice, she skidded to a stop. He wasn’t talking to her.

He’d got well ahead and around a bend in the footpath, so she couldn’t see him or who he was speaking to, but something wasn’t right. Acting on instinct, she ducked off the track and hid behind a tree surrounded by tall ferns. Once there she sank down on one knee and held her breath.

‘… nothing at all,’ Carter was saying.

Then the other voice – Gabe’s voice: ‘So you’re just out patrolling on your own, even though it’s not your shift?’

She could tell that he didn’t believe Carter.

‘Why, what’s wrong with that?’ Carter asked. ‘I do this all the time.’

‘Not tonight,’ Gabe said. ‘Didn’t you hear Zelazny? We’re only to go out on our own shifts after curfew. You better go and talk to him. He’s not going to be happy.’

‘Fine,’ Carter said. ‘See you later.’

Allie heard the sound of his footsteps disappearing in the distance. Then she could hear footsteps and voices heading her way – several people, she thought. She leaned over to peer around the tree. In the moonlight she saw Gabe talking to somebody, but his body hid whoever it was from her view.

‘… such a screw-up sometimes, you know?’ Gabe was complaining. ‘He really needs to get it together. I don’t know why Zelazny puts up with it.’

‘Did you believe him?’ the other person asked – Allie couldn’t see who it was, and she didn’t recognise the voice.

‘I don’t really care,’ Gabe said. ‘If he keeps screwing up it won’t matter whether or not he’s telling the truth.’ He walked down the path. ‘I never understood why Isabelle pushed us to let him in Night School in the first place.’

At that moment a crashing sound in the woods behind Allie made her jump. She ducked down low again, below the fronds of the bracken around her.

‘Who’s there?’ Gabe asked. His voice sounded closer and Allie stayed very still, her heart pounding in her ears. In the moonlight she could see that he was standing on the edge of the path looking directly at her. She could hear him breathing.

She knew Gabe. They’d always been kind of friends. But something was really wrong here. He sounded different. Angry. Even threatening.

All of her instincts told her to stay hidden.

Lucas’ voice came from the woods nearby. ‘It’s me, dude.’

‘Jesus.’ Gabe sounded disgusted. ‘Subtle, man.’

‘Sorry! I tripped over a freakin’ log. It’s dark in the trees.’

‘Whatever.’ Gabe had returned to the path. ‘We’re moving on.’

After waiting until quiet returned and she was certain they were far down the path, Allie made her way cautiously back to the path and then ran at full speed towards the school.