Night School

‘It’s just,’ Allie said, ‘it looked really bad.’


Isabelle stood up. ‘I think it looked worse than it was. I’m told nobody was seriously injured, and sometimes games just get a little too rough. It’s nothing for you to worry about. I will speak with those involved.’

Isabelle dropped her hand to Allie’s shoulder and squeezed it lightly as she walked by her to the door, which she held open for her.

‘Thank you, Allie. I’m glad you’re OK. You don’t need to worry about Phil – he’s already being seen by medical staff. And it is clear to me that Gabe and Carter’s wounds are superficial.’

Though Allie felt as if she should have demanded more answers, Isabelle’s explanation did make sense. Boys did always get into trouble – she’d seen Mark and Harry hurt themselves plenty of times. They’d both ended up in A&E on more than one occasion after a night of tagging had gone wrong.

But what could have happened to them all out in the woods? And why won’t anyone tell me?

Back in her room she changed into a dry skirt and jumper, dumping her wet clothes on the floor. She wanted to get back downstairs before curfew and find out how everyone was doing.

As she dabbed on pale pink lip gloss in front of the mirror, though, her hand stopped. Should I go and meet Carter?

It wasn’t that she really wanted to meet him – he’d been a complete arse. She was just curious. Why did he want to meet her alone? And why in the great hall? She hadn’t been in there since Isabelle showed it to her the day she arrived.

She checked the clock. It was only ten. There was still plenty of time until curfew.

She dashed down the stairs then tiptoed down the corridor towards the great hall.

‘Allie.’ Sylvain’s silky accent caressed her name and she spun around to find him right behind her. ‘I was hoping to run into you. I was concerned – are you OK?’

He pulled her into a hug and, after hesitating, Allie hugged him back. His fingers delicately traced a line down her back to her waist.

Goosebumps.

He stood back to look at her. ‘You’re still wet. I’m so glad you’re not hurt.’

‘I’m fine.’

She tried to think of an excuse for what she was up to. There’s no way he would be happy to know she was on her way to meet Carter. But what he didn’t know, she reasoned, wouldn’t hurt her.

‘I was just looking for Jo …’ she said.

‘I believe she is with Gabe.’ His fingers were under her chin now, tilting her face up so that she looked at him. She could feel his breath on her cheek. He smelled of cool juniper.

‘What were you and Jo doing in the summerhouse anyway?’ His tone was casual, but something about his manner sent off warning signals. ‘Zelazny was very cross to see you there.’

Is he investigating me?

‘It was before curfew,’ Allie argued. ‘I don’t see why everybody cares that we were outside. We just wanted to go out. So we did.’

‘In the pouring rain.’

Allie was tired of being questioned. ‘We thought it would be fun,’ she said. ‘And, you know what? I could ask you the same question. What were you doing outside in the pouring rain?’

He studied her curiously, as if he saw something new in her he hadn’t noticed before.

‘Fair enough, ma belle.’ For the first time she heard cool distance in his voice. She’d touched a nerve.

‘How’s Phil?’ she asked, trying to move to safer ground.

‘He is going to be OK – but he lost some blood so it will be a couple of days. It was a bad fall.’

As she opened her mouth to ask what had happened out there, he spoke again.

‘You should have something warm to drink,’ he said. ‘Come with me. There’s hot chocolate in the kitchen.’

‘No.’ Allie’s response was more panicked than the situation called for and Sylvain raised one eyebrow in surprise as she fumbled for a reason. ‘I … There’s something I need to do. Let’s talk tomorrow? I have to …’

Her explanations fading, she dashed past him to the library. It was deserted – even the librarian’s desk was empty. Running across the soft rugs down to the stacks, Allie disappeared into the shadows between two tall bookcases.

Behind her she heard the door open and close again. He called her name twice, softly. After a minute, the door opened and closed again. To be safe, Allie stayed where she was a few minutes longer. When she’d heard nothing while counting slowly to two hundred, she stepped out of the stacks, opening the library door to peek out into the hall. Sylvain was nowhere in sight. She sighed with relief.

The great hall door swung open without a sound when she pushed it. The lights were off but she could see a faint glow at the far end of the vast, empty ballroom. She walked in that direction hesitantly.

‘Carter?’ she whispered.

A voice made a ghostly ‘woooo’ sound that echoed around her.

‘Cut it out, West.’