Night School: Legacy

As the others caught Allie up on all she’d missed that day – the elaborate snow pirate, complete with tricorn hat and real sword, the chaos of the mass exodus of students – she found herself sneaking sideways glances at Sylvain from underneath her eyelashes. Once he caught her doing it, and his instant half-smile told her he was thinking the same thing.

They were through eating when Allie remembered something she wanted to ask Rachel. ‘Hey, did your dad make it back yet?’

The summit was over. He should have been back by now, but Rachel shook her head. ‘A lot of roads are closed; he’s having trouble getting back from London. He should be here tonight.’


Advanced Night School students were in and out of meetings all day, so Allie never had a chance to talk with Sylvain. Instead she spent most of the day with Rachel and Jo, reading and napping.

By nine that night she was wide awake. All the conflicting emotions of the last twenty-four hours had left her charged with pent-up adrenaline. So as she pulled on her patrolling gear, she was actually looking forward to the work ahead. All the Night School students who hadn’t yet left for Christmas were splitting up into shifts. She and Zoe had the first one.

It was even colder out than last night, so they’d been issued snow boots which laced up nearly to their knees, as well as thicker leggings, a bulky jacket and thermal gloves.

Zoe, who already had her gear on, including a black ski mask, was air punching in the corner.

‘I’m like an Eskimo Ninja,’ she announced.

‘That’s exactly what you’re like.’ Allie stood up. ‘Blimey, I’m so bundled up I can hardly move. I’m not a Ninja. I’m a Marshmallow Man.’

‘Yeah, you have to move a bit to kind of loosen the layers.’ Zoe tried to kick high and couldn’t raise her leg. ‘This isn’t going to be easy. I hope nobody breaks in tonight. We’d have to just run at them and try to knock them down with our layers.’

‘In this weather,’ Allie said as they walked out into the corridor, ‘nobody’s even going to be able to get anywhere near here, much less break in.’

When they reached the top of the stairs, Sylvain was waiting by the door. He affected nonchalance but Allie knew he was waiting for her. As their eyes met, she melted inside.

‘I’ll catch you up, Zoe,’ she said, her gaze locked on Sylvain’s.

Still struggling with her thick layers, Zoe didn’t notice anything. ‘Cool.’ She dashed outside trying to kick things.

Amusement flickered in Sylvain’s eyes as he studied Allie’s clothes. ‘Well, at least I know you won’t freeze to death.’

‘Don’t joke. You’ll have to wear this stuff later.’ Allie smiled. ‘Basically, as long as no actual physical movement is required, we’re great.’

He pulled her to him until their foreheads touched. His breath was warm on her face. He smelled of coffee and sandalwood.

‘You’re going to be careful, yes?’ he whispered.

She quivered at his touch. ‘Very.’

This is wrong, Allie told herself. I shouldn’t want this.

Standing on her toes, she kissed him quickly and passionately. When she pulled away his eyes had darkened and he breathed heavily.

‘See you in three hours,’ she said.

*

‘Look at it.’ Zoe was trudging through snow that nearly reached her knees. ‘It’s beautiful.’

Snow blanketed every branch of every tree, carpeting the ground, softening every corner. The clouds had cleared away and the moon was out, turning the white world blue.

Allie’s breath blew out in tiny clouds as her boots crunched with each step. With so many layers, and in such deep snow, walking was hard work. She was already sweating, and her ski mask hung from her fingers. It made her face itch whenever she put it on.

Zoe still wore hers, but rolled up on her head, like a cat burglar.

‘It’s weird how quiet it is,’ Allie said.

‘No birds,’ Zoe observed. ‘No foxes. But maybe we just can’t hear them; snow absorbs sound.’

It was nearly eleven. They’d already made the rounds once, and had begun their second sweep, down along the fence line, following their own prints from earlier. Zoe was in the lead. She’d adapted to her layers at last and was moving with something like her usual grace and speed.

‘Almost done,’ she was saying. ‘I think when we go back in I’m going to have a hot chocolate.’

Allie wasn’t really paying attention. She was thinking about Sylvain. His shift didn’t start until three. With the school mostly empty, surely they could find some time alone somewhere before he had to go. The thought of kissing him again made her heart race.

But all she said was ‘Hot chocolate would be good.’

‘Something’s wrong.’

Zoe’s words seemed so out of context that for a second Allie thought she was still talking about chocolate. Then she saw where the younger girl was pointing.

Ahead of them the school’s drive crossed their path before going through the big iron gate. But something about it didn’t look right. Puzzled, Allie squinted at the road, trying to figure out what it was.

‘Something’s missing,’ she said. ‘What is it?’

‘The gate.’ Zoe’s eyes were wide with fear. ‘Someone’s opened the gate.’





THIRTY-ONE