Night School: Fracture by C. J. Daugherty

Author:C. J. Daugherty [Daugherty, C. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Juvenile Fiction, General, Young Adult
ISBN: 9781405529211
Google: _zN3KD0pLZIC
Amazon: B00CBFPQEM
Publisher: Atom
Published: 2013-08-14T13:00:00+00:00

TWENTY

The two guards made no effort to be quiet. As they emerged from the cottage, Allie could hear their voices clearly across the distance. One of them barked a laugh and it echoed in the quiet like a gunshot.

Next to her, Carter stood watching them with fierce concentration, as if he were willing them to leave. In their hiding place nearby, Nicole had a hand on Rachel’s arm. Allie was relieved to see that Rachel’s dark eyes were alert and interested – she didn’t look afraid.

It seemed to take a lifetime for them to make their way down the footpath. When the guards disappeared into the trees, Allie inhaled deeply and felt the muscles in her shoulders relax.

Somewhere in the distance an owl hooted.

Emerging from her hiding place, Zoe sped silently to Sylvain’s side. After whispering something to him she took off into the forest.

When she’d gone, Allie caught Sylvain’s eye and arched her brow questioningly.

‘She’s going to follow them,’ he whispered. ‘To make sure they don’t double back.’

‘You don’t think they saw us?’ she asked, alarmed.

He shook his head. ‘We just need to be sure.’

Sylvain turned to ask Carter a question and Allie crouched down next to Rachel.

‘You OK?’ she said.

Her eyes sparkling in the moonlight, Rachel nodded. ‘That was more exciting than I expected. I can see why you like this stuff. It’s exhilarating.’

‘Yeah,’ Allie said grimly. ‘It’s ace.’

With a curious frown, Rachel opened her mouth to say something else, but at that moment Zoe appeared hurtling from the woods. They hurried to gather around her.

‘They took the main footpath,’ she whispered breathlessly. ‘They’re gone.’

‘OK.’ Sylvain looked at his watch. ‘We should have half an hour before the next patrol.’

‘Everyone ready?’ Nicole whispered, her eyes sweeping the group.

They had planned it all down to the finest detail, so there was no need to go over it again – everyone knew what to do.

Nicole went first, running low and fast across the clearing until she reached the safety of the cottage, disappearing into the shadows around it.

The others waited, squinting into the darkness until they saw the pale blue light of her torch flash twice. After that they followed her one at a time. First Rachel, then Sylvain, then Allie.

For Allie, the run across the clearing seemed to take for ever – she felt so exposed. Gritting her teeth, she ignored the pain in her knee, forcing herself to run faster than she’d thought she could. Trying not to limp.

It only took seconds.

When she was safely beside the others, leaning against the cold stone of the house, she bent down with her head hanging between her shoulders and struggled to catch her breath. Glancing up, she saw Rachel watching with concern.

‘You OK?’ she mouthed. Allie nodded, aware of the irony of Rachel worrying about her.

When the others had made it across, Zoe led them around the building to the far side where she’d heard Eloise’s voice before. A boarded-up window was just above their heads.

Nicole stood on her toes to whisper.

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