Night School: Resistance (Night School 4)

Dom stood and turned to face them. Her clothes were androgynous – skinny trousers, a loose, white shirt and what looked like a man’s blazer, worn unbuttoned with the sleeves rolled up. She seemed out of place in this setting.

‘It was a short-range device, so it would have originated from just outside the gates – either the woods or the road.’ She had an American accent. ‘The individual could have been on foot or in a vehicle but they didn’t stick around long enough for us to find out. We sent the guards out immediately and they were already gone when they arrived.’

Allie studied Dom with curious eyes. This was the new tech everyone was talking about. For some reason, she’d expected her to be a guy. She’d also expected her to be older. And much less cool.

She seemed to know what she was talking about, but Allie was nonetheless surprised Isabelle had allowed her into the inner circle so quickly.

She glanced around the group – everyone sat still, watching Dom with respectful expressions. Whoever she was, and wherever she’d come from, she’d won them all over.

‘Are you certain they were trying to get into the grounds?’ Sylvain asked.

Dom turned to him.

‘Not necessarily,’ she conceded. ‘We can’t be sure of their plan. They could have been testing our defences. Or merely trying to unnerve us. Either way, they left frustrated. Our security system held.’

‘This is the first attempted incursion in three months.’ Raj nodded to Dom, who sat down quickly as if relieved to be finished talking. ‘Given what you’ve heard from Lucinda, we believe this is no coincidence. It’s more likely this is the beginning of the next phase.’

‘You mentioned a parley,’ Allie said. ‘Why isn’t Lucinda meeting him? Isn’t that the only way to resolve this?’

Isabelle and Raj exchanged a look she couldn’t read.

‘She cannot accept his conditions,’ the headmistress said after a brief hesitation. ‘It would be too dangerous. They’re still negotiating.’

Before Isabelle could elaborate, Carter spoke. ‘You’re increasing patrols?’

Raj inclined his head. ‘We’ve cancelled all non-emergency leave.’

Allie thought of what it had been like here a few months ago. Nathaniel’s guards dragging students out of the school. Hiding in the cellar for hours. Emerging to find the school empty; Rachel kidnapped, Jules gone.

‘It’s starting again,’ she said. ‘Isn’t it?’

The others turned to look at her.

When Isabelle responded she chose her words carefully. ‘Nathaniel indicated to Lucinda that he intends to take the school. He will not give up.’

It had grown darker inside the church. Outside heavy clouds blackened the sky. As Allie looked through the window, the first rain drops hit the roof like fists knocking.

The storm had arrived.



When the meeting ended, Allie gathered with the others by the door. They needed to leave in small groups again and they were waiting for Raj’s signal. The rain still fell and the air smelled damp and musty.

‘Who is this Dom person anyway?’ She kept her voice low. Dom was with Isabelle and Raj by the altar.

Zoe blinked at her owlishly. ‘She’s a genius.’

Allie made an impatient gesture. ‘Yeah, but where did she even come from? Why does everyone trust her so much? What kind of name is “Dom”?’

‘She’s from the American organisation,’ Nicole explained quietly.

‘Oh,’ Allie said. ‘She’s from Pegasus?’

Zoe rolled her eyes. ‘Prometheus.’

‘Allie.’ Across the chapel, Isabelle was waving her over to where she stood with Raj and Dom. ‘Could we speak with you?’

Leaving the others at the door, Allie walked down the aisle. Her footsteps seemed loud in the hushed room.

‘What’s up?’

Raj waited for Isabelle to speak. No one introduced her to Dom, who studied Allie with eyes that seemed to miss nothing. Up close she looked even hipper. Suddenly Allie’s school uniform seemed juvenile.

‘We’ve just been discussing how much to tell you,’ Isabelle said quietly. ‘I’m generally opposed to alarming you unduly but Raj and Dom disagree, so …’

Whenever people don’t want to tell you something, the thing they don’t want to tell you is always bad.

Allie’s stomach tightened.

Seeing the concern on her face, the headmistress held up a cautioning hand. ‘Please don’t worry. It’s all under control. We just … need to talk to you.’ Isabelle’s eyes swept the church as if ensuring no one could overhear her. ‘We think you should know what’s been happening behind the scenes. The reason Lucinda refused to accept Nathaniel’s invitation to meet. It was because of the conditions he demanded.’

Even though she’d said not to worry, Allie knew her well enough to recognise the anxiety in Isabelle’s eyes, and the way her hands moved restlessly at her sides.

‘What conditions?’ she asked.

‘You.’