Night School: Resistance (Night School 4)

She was the first to arrive – the entrance hall was empty. The front door stood open, letting in the muggy, summer evening air. Bouncing on her heels, she waited impatiently. Nervousness gnawed at her insides as if it was trying to get out of her. She hoped the makeup hid her fear.

When Nicole and Zoe arrived a few minutes later she stared at them in amazement. She’d never seen either of them in street clothes. Nicole looked elegant with her long hair pulled back in glossy braids. She wore a snug-fitting, strappy top with black trousers and tough-looking ankle boots. She could have been any cool teenage girl on a night out with friends.

Zoe wore jeans and a striped top with trainers. The simple outfit made her look even younger than she really was.

‘You look weird,’ she announced, studying Allie with a disapproving wrinkle of her nose.

‘So do you,’ Allie fired back.

‘It’s a disguise,’ Zoe explained.

‘Are the cars here?’ Carter’s voice came from the corridor seconds before he and Lucas emerged into the entrance hall together, looking slightly panicked.

‘Yeah but… They’re just sitting there,’ Allie said.

Lucas, who was staying behind, was the only one of them still in a school uniform.

‘I came to see you off,’ he said, answering the question no one had asked.

Zoe rolled her eyes but Allie was genuinely touched.

‘Thanks,’ she said. ‘I wish you were coming with us.’

He gave an amiable shrug. ‘Someone’s got to stay and defend the homeland.’

Allie glanced over to where Carter stood in the doorway, looking out at the silent row of cars. In dark jeans and a black pullover, he looked so much like a normal person it was disturbing.

‘Nice disguise,’ Zoe commented. Carter gave her a puzzled look.

Lucas punched Zoe lightly in the arm. ‘Whatever, Shortie.’

Zoe kicked his fist away with an effortless swing of her foot and Lucas promptly adopted a mock-fighting posture. Before it could go any further, though, Carter held up his hands.

‘Let’s not.’ He said it with such unconscious authority that they both obeyed.

‘Sorry.’ Lucas said sheepishly. ‘Nerves.’

‘I hear you.’ There was no rancour in Carter’s voice. He looked at his watch. ‘Where the hell is everyone? It’s time.’

‘Here.’ Raj’s voice echoed off the stone walls and they all spun round.

He walked towards them from the grand hallway, backlit by a crystal chandelier and followed by phalanx of guards. Isabelle, Zelazny and Eloise were among them.

Dom and Rachel appeared at the back, weighed down with equipment.

Allie’s heart sank.

She ran to Rachel’s side. ‘What are you doing here? You’re not coming … I mean …’ Realising how that sounded she stumbled over her words. ‘Are you?’

But it was Dom who replied. ‘Don’t worry. We won’t be in the park. We’ll be blocks away monitoring you in the best-protected car you’ve ever seen. Rachel will be safe. Now.’ Dropping her bags on a marble-topped table she motioned for Allie to come to her. ‘Let’s get you all wired up.’

As Dom and Rachel began opening bags and arranging supplies, Allie’s heart beat out a rapid cadence and she took gulps of air. She needed to calm down.

Rachel will be fine, she told herself. Dom knows what she’s doing.

She forced herself to let it go. To trust Dom.

Seemingly unaware of her inner turmoil, the tech pulled a long, slim black box out of one of the bags and opened it carefully. Inside, Allie saw neat rows of what looked like dark pins.

‘What are those?’

‘This’ – Dom held one up between her thumb and forefinger; it was no bigger than a freckle – ‘is a tracker. Put your foot here.’ She patted her bent knee. After a brief hesitation, Allie did as she was told.

‘Nice Docs.’ Dom tapped Allie’s heavy red boot. Carefully, she inserted the end of the device into one of the laceholes in Allie’s right boot. Amid the tangle of black laces it was invisible.

‘Done.’ Dom released her foot. ‘Now, if you take a wrong turn or fall into a pond, we’ll be able to find you. But … you know. Don’t do that.’ She turned to Carter, who stood just behind Allie’s shoulder, watching. ‘Your turn.’

‘No comms system this time?’ Allie said as Dom placed the tracker in Carter’s boot.

Dom didn’t look up. ‘Too hackable. I’m not giving Nathaniel a toy to play with.’

When they were all kitted out, the guards began climbing into the Land Rovers. The air filled with the low growl of powerful engines.

The students huddled together by the door. They wouldn’t see each other again until this thing was over, one way or another.

Allie was so nervous she couldn’t stand still; she shifted from one foot to another. What if this went badly? What if they never came back? What if this was the last day?

She looked around, at the grand stone building, with its glorious stained-glass window, the grounds sprawling green as far as she could see into the darkness of the woods. This was her home. These people were her family.

There had to be another day. They had to come back.