Night School: Legacy

Although Allie was less intimidated by the girls’ prefect than she used to be, Jules still had a way of making her feel insecure – she was so perfect. So Cimmeria-insidery. And such an old friend of Carter’s.

If Allie’d been partnered with him it would have been so perfect. They could have helped each other. Now she’d be with some stranger, and knowing Zelazny it wouldn’t be a very pleasant stranger …

She was so lost in self-pity when Zelazny finally read out her name she didn’t hear the name of her partner.

Panicked, she tugged on the sleeve of the person next to her. ‘Did you hear what he just said?’ she asked a tall, blond boy. ‘Sheridan and who?’

He gazed at her blankly.

‘He said Glass.’

The chirpy voice came from behind her. Allie spun around to see the small, ponytailed assassin from the hallway.

‘As in Zoe Glass,’ the girl said, cocking her head sideways. ‘That’s my name. Don’t wear it out.’





EIGHT





‘No!’ Allie turned to the younger girl in horror. ‘It can’t be you.’

‘Great.’ Zoe rolled her eyes. ‘Trust between training partners is super important. So I’m glad we’re totally starting out on the right foot.’

‘There you are.’ Lucas and Carter walked up together. Allie gave them a helpless look.

‘I can’t believe it.’ Allie looked at Carter for help. ‘I can’t be her partner. I just … can’t.’

He held out his hands helplessly.

‘I don’t think she likes me.’ Zoe stood with a hand on one hip, obviously unbothered.

Ignoring her, Allie turned to Carter. ‘Could you believe what he said about us investigating each other? That’s just —’

‘Enough chit-chat, people.’ Zelazny’s chainsaw voice cut her off. ‘You have your partner assignments. Training starts now. I want to see a five-mile competitive run on the usual path. Then Raj will run us through a defensive training drill.’

Everyone rushed for the door at once. Allie turned to Carter, her expression blank. ‘What’s a competitive run?’

Grabbing her hand, he pulled her after the crowd heading down the corridor to a side door. ‘It’s a timed run – last one back is punished. Hurry!’

‘Punished how?’ But she ran after him.

‘Does it matter?’ Lucas asked, speeding past them.

Outside, a soft rain fell as the cadre of students took off into the darkness at speed. They all seemed to know to run down a footpath towards the edges of the school grounds.

‘Shouldn’t we warm up first?’ Allie asked as Carter set a fast pace. ‘We could all get cramp. And I can’t see where I’m going. Can you see where you’re going?’

Out of the darkness, Zoe appeared right beside them.

‘Does she ever shut up?’ she asked Carter before turning to Allie. ‘Do you ever shut up?’

‘Yes … I mean … What?’ Allie stuttered. She was so taken aback she tripped over a root and pinwheeled off the path. Grabbing her arm, Carter kept her on her feet.

‘Bloody hell.’ Zoe looked baffled. ‘What is wrong with you?’

‘Talk about,’ Allie panted, ‘me shutting up. Why don’t you … give it a try … Shorty.’

Increasing her speed, Allie focused on getting as far away from the girl as possible.

‘I wouldn’t use up all my energy so early,’ Zoe called after her.

‘No talking!’ Zelazny’s voice seemed to come from nowhere, as he ran up behind them. ‘Anyone found to be talking from this point on will be punished.’

‘Oh just sod off,’ Allie snapped, but she said it quietly enough so no one could hear.

Still, she knew Zoe was right. Five miles was a long run and she was already tired – she wouldn’t make it if she didn’t pace herself. But she certainly wasn’t going to let Zoe see that.

So after a half-mile or so she slowed her pace to a more reasonable rate, shaking her shoulders to loosen the muscles that anxiety had tightened into knots. Soon, even though her thoughts whirled, her footsteps entered the steady, hypnotic rhythm of a regular runner.

As always, the exercise calmed her and, even as her heart rate increased, she could feel herself relaxing into the pace. Now she could pay more attention to the world around her. Clouds blocked the moon but her eyes were starting to adjust to the dark – she could see the pine trees all around her, swaying in the breeze, and the path ahead.

Only now did it occur to her that she hadn’t just lost Zoe when she sped off, she’d lost Carter and Lucas as well. She was completely alone. But she didn’t mind – the endorphins had kicked in and she ran with confidence and grace. The only way she could be certain she was still on the right path was that occasionally she’d pass another runner, then they’d fade into the background behind her.