School of Alyxa Secrets and Shadows by R.L. Ferguson

Author:R.L. Ferguson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Willow Tree Books

CHAPTER

FIFTEEN

“H elp me,” said the girl.

Finn couldn’t see her. His body was floating. Or falling? The girl called again.

“Help me, please.”

Finn opened his eyes. Cold water squeezed into his nose and ear s. When he moved his lips, it squirmed into his mouth. Drowning.

He reached out, and right away his hand hit something hard. A wall of … of glass. Starting to panic, he looked up and around. Glass walls on every side. He was trapped inside a coffin of glass, and the coffin was filled with water.

Finn slammed his hands against the glass wall.

But the glass held.

Finn’s lungs were on fire. He clamped his lips together but the water pushed relentlessly against them.

“Help me,” said the girl, and still he couldn’t see her.

The water tightened around him like a vice.

Finn couldn’t hold his breath any longer. Eyes bulging, heart exploding inside his chest, he opened his mouth. The water flooded in, a devastating tsunami, liquid death …

***

At assembly next morning, Finn took his place with Lucy on the Nurture Group bench. He looked around for Zoe – she’d retired to her room by the time he’d got back after chasing Xander and he hadn’t seen her since. She arrived a few moments later. Finn gave her a weak smile as she sat down beside him. After the events of the previous evening, and a night spent tossing and turning, he felt exhausted.

Even though Zoe’s goggles masked her eyes, Finn could see the dark circles lurking beneath them.

He wondered if she was having nightmares too.

“You two look like death warmed up,” said Lucy.

“Just tired after the Hunt,” said Finn.

He looked for John in the Touch Clann seats. To his annoyance, the first face he spotted belonged to Xander. When he realised Finn was watching him, Xander whispered something to his friends, prompting a bout of snickering. Finn wondered how he’d managed to get past his door security.

As usual, Professor Panjaran led the assembly. He began by recapping the result of the Hunt, and congratulating everyone on a safe and successful event. Finn was only half-listening, but the next thing Panjaran said made him sit bolt upright.

“It is my pleasurable duty to invite one of our newest students, John Williams, on to the stage,” said the professor.

Finn watched in astonishment as John – who had been sitting several rows behind Xander – made his way up to the platform. He looked a little tentative, and also somewhat confused. Murmured conversation followed him. Pogo was back on his shoulder, preening his hair with nimble fingers.

“As you all know, John was a member of the winning team in yesterday’s Hunt,” Panjaran went on. “A vital member, some would say.” The murmuring continued. “In light of his remarkable performance as Quarry, and in recognition of his equally remarkable progress in baseline power control, it gives me great pleasure to recognise his achievements publicly. I therefore award John with Touch Clann Level Three status.”

There were gasps from the audience as the Sight Warden presented John with a new silver badge with three lines beneath the monkey symbol.

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