Night School: Resistance (Night School 4)

Before Rachel could line up with Zelazny’s group, though, Raj stopped her.

‘You’re not working with Zelazny.’ His daughter looked up at him in surprise; he pointed to the other side of the room. ‘We need you to help Dom.’

The American held up her hand, as if Rachel might not know who he was talking about. After a brief pause when Allie feared she might argue, Rachel walked to the tech’s side.

Already, Allie was beginning to feel better about things. If Rachel was with Dom she had to stay at the school. Nathaniel wouldn’t get his hands on her again.

When Raj stopped reading, the room fell silent.

Allie, Sylvain, Carter, Nicole and Zoe stood alone. All the other students were on the other side of the room with Zelazny.

‘The rest of you,’ Raj looked across at Allie’s group. ‘With me.’

He walked towards the door. Allie could feel the other students watching them as they crossed the room after him. Like they were celebrities.

‘This is weird,’ Carter whispered under his breath as they walked out the door and she almost smiled.

‘Weird is what we do best.’



They gathered with Isabelle and Raj in one of the small, top-floor classrooms where the chairs had been arranged in a half-circle. Allie sat between Sylvain and Zoe. Nicole and Carter filled out the group. Raj stood near Isabelle, letting her lead.

A row of windows lined one wall. Outside, grey clouds had built up and, as Isabelle stood to speak, a clipboard held in front of her chest like a shield, rain spattered against the windows like nails tapping.

‘The parley will happen Friday night on Hampstead Heath.’ She glanced at Allie. ‘I assume you’re familiar with it.’

Allie, who’d grown up on the other side of the city, had only vague memories of vast green fields, a lavish white mansion with columns, and an orchestra playing in the sun.

‘I went there once a long time ago,’ she said.

The headmistress acknowledged this with a nod. ‘Then let’s start with the basics. Hampstead Heath is a park in the north of London. We’ve agreed to that location because parts of it are quite remote and likely to be empty at night. So there’s less chance of an innocent person being hurt.’

The idea that she so openly anticipated violence was unnerving.

‘He wants to meet on Parliament Hill.’ Isabelle didn’t hide her irritation at this fact. ‘Nathaniel and his symbolism. However, this could work to our advantage. There are many places on that particular ridge where we can station guards. The terrain is not unlike the grounds here – hilly, forested – and we know how to operate in those conditions.’

As the students digested this, she turned. ‘Allie. We will go over the conditions we’ve agreed to in detail later. But for now, you should know Nathaniel insisted you come alone.’ Allie shook her head fiercely at this news but, before she could voice her protest, Isabelle held up her hand. ‘We have refused, of course. After some resistance, he’s agreed you can bring one person with you but it must be a student – he won’t allow Raj or any of his guards. Obviously, we will all be there, one way or another. But only one person can travel with you and be at your side during the meeting.’

Allie shivered. It was all happening exactly as Jerry had told her it would.

Outside, the rain was falling harder now. Running in rivulets down the glass.

The headmistress stepped towards her. ‘Raj and I both believe that, under the circumstances, this decision should be yours alone. Who would you like to be with you?’

Wordlessly, Allie stared back at her. She kept hearing Jerry’s words in her head. ‘Take someone you believe in.’

What did that even mean? She believed in every person in this room. She would throw herself in front of a bullet for each of them. How could she choose one of them above the others?

She forced herself to look around the circle. Zoe gazed at her with hopeful eyes. But that was impossible – she was far too young. The incident in the library had proven she wasn’t ready yet.

Her gaze moved to Nicole. She was both quick and skilled, and Allie knew she could stand her ground. But Gabe would find a way to use her lack of sheer physical strength against her.

That left Sylvain and Carter.

Sylvain watched her with a look of steady confidence but she knew him well enough to see worry darken his blue eyes when she didn’t immediately say his name.

Her eyes moved to the last desk in the circle.

Carter was the only one in the group who didn’t meet her gaze. She could see his tension in the set of his shoulders; the way a muscle worked in his jaw.

Take someone you believe in …



Indecision pinioned her.

The moment stretched on too long. She saw Isabelle frown at Raj when she didn’t speak. She had to choose. She had to do it now.

She took a deep breath. ‘I’ll take Sylvain.’