“Daffy,” he barked so suddenly it caused Daphne to flinch. She didn’t know how to respond. Though she’d seen him like this once before, she’d intentionally stayed out of his way. Now she had no choice.
“What, I reveal my heart to you and you stop talking to me?” Finn’s head snapped around and a devilish smirk appeared at his lips, despite his hard exterior. “Who’s the player now?”
Daphne loosened her jaw and approached him softly. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t sure you wanted me around right now,” she said innocently, drawing her eyes down to her feet. Finn lifted her chin gently until she was gazing at him once again. The fire was still in his eyes, but it was no longer frightening. If anything, she felt safer now with him than she had ever felt since arriving at the academy.
“How could I not want you around?” He surprised her with a quick kiss.
Daphne couldn’t hold back the smile that dressed her cheeks as the warmth of Finn’s feelings for her struck her to her deepest nerves. She wanted to tell him how she felt about him. That she was falling madly for him. If it weren’t for the current circumstances she would in a heartbeat. But with Lily in trouble and Finn so geared toward trouncing the headmaster, Daphne knew there couldn’t be a worse time to declare her love. She resolved to tell him after the plans had been carried through. Perhaps at the victory party she was hoping to plan.
“After all,” Finn continued. “We can’t do this without you.” Finn winked and Daphne’s heart dropped a little. She knew she meant more to him than just a piece of his well laid out puzzle to defeat Trappe. But sometimes that was all he made her feel. As if she was being used like some candy-crusted Lego block that would end up being tossed back into a pile with the rest of them as soon as he was done with her. That wasn’t how he really felt. Deep down, she knew that it was just him. Just the way he expressed himself. She shook her head to rid herself of her self-deprecating thoughts. Finn bent down and kissed her again, as if he knew what she was thinking.
A minute later Hangman came treading back into the room, arms full of papers in disarray. He dumped them on the floor before Finn and he both dropped down and began to sift through them, organizing them into methodical piles.
“Now what?” Daphne asked.
Finn sat up, hands squarely placed on his knees, and stared down at the map of the academy grounds, surrounded by stacks of schedules, notes, and printed emails. “Now, we wait for the others.”
Chapter Nineteen
The Rescue
Her fingers meticulously folded the thin strands of rosy golden hair, one over the other, finishing with a silky violet ribbon, which complemented her eyes. Belle tugged lightly on the braid, ensuring its strength, before starting on the other. She turned her face side to side, watching her reflection in the mirror, to make sure the sides were symmetrical. When she finished she stood up and cinched a knot on the front of her pink blouse to show just enough skin.
She’d done this dozens of times. Always for Finn. Yet she was never noticed for the feminine beauty that she was. Not once. Now she had agreed to do it again. For Finn, but not for Finn. Belle shouldn’t have been surprised that the party didn’t go as she’d planned. Nothing ever did. When Daphne had left, Belle knew it was her chance to tell Finn the truth; that she was in love with him. But he blew her off, saying she was being ridiculous and melodramatic. She even kissed him, knowing in her heart that when she did, Finn would kiss her back. But he only shoved away violently. “I don’t love you, Belle. Get over it!” he’d said, storming off to find Lily.
Now he had the nerve to ask her a favor. And as weak and pathetic as it made her feel, she could not say no. Lily was in trouble and despite the problems they’d had in the past Lily was her friend. Her only friend, now that Finn rejected her. She hated what her uncle had done to Lily, locking her in that dreadful room in the basement of the church. Belle had been there once. Not as punishment, but as a warning. She wasn’t sure if Uncle Byron would actually lock her in there, but she didn’t want to take any chances. Until now, that is. Belle knew she had to do this. To help Lily might also score points with Finn. If she succeeded, perhaps he’d see how useful she really was and maybe, just maybe, he’d see her as girlfriend material.
Belle leaned into the mirror checking her eyes, thickly framed with jet-black mascara, for smudges. Then she took a deep breath and fanned her hands across her white pleated skirt, cut off at mid-thigh by her own scissors. Uncle Byron would never approve, which is precisely why she did it. She’d just have to stay out of sight and move quickly and unseen through the church. One glance by him or one of his cronies and she’d be locked in her room for the day. Of course that wouldn’t stop her from getting out, but it would ruin the plan and her day would be so much easier if she simply wouldn’t get caught.
After another deep breath to steady her nerves, Belle slid the table away from the removable panel in her room and slipped inside.
***
Finn waited, holding the rickety ladder steady as Daphne climbed into the narrow tunnel above. He followed silently. He insisted she go first, to make sure she’d remember how to get back on her own since he wouldn’t be with her to lead her back to the cellar this time. Giving her concise directions, he guided her through the narrow corridor and stopped when they’d finally reached Trappe’s office.
“You’ve been here before,” Finn whispered. “You remember where everything is?”
“I think so,” Daphne replied, creating a visual recount of the headmaster’s office from the tour that seemed ages ago. She had only been in the room for a minute, but she recalled the large L-shaped desk, computer resting on the shorter leg of it. That was all she needed to know. Everything else in the room was just background noise.
“You can do this, Daffy.” Finn’s voice carried that boost of courage that came so easily to him. It helped Daphne build up her own. “It’ll be easy. Just get in there, hack the account, and drag everything to the drive.” Finn held a flash drive Hangman had stolen from a student and erased. He placed it in Daphne’s hand, letting his fingertips linger on her skin before grasping it tightly. He could feel the flutter of her pulse racing through her veins. She was either incredibly nervous or as pumped as he was.
When she looked up at him her eyes glimmered and for a moment, just a second or two, Finn almost changed his mind. He didn’t want to put Daphne in danger. He didn’t want her to be scared. Was it worth it? Could he risk her safety to settle a vendetta? There was another option. They could leave. He could take her away from this place. Find an abandoned cabin in the woods, live off the land, travel around like nomads, discover the world. She would be his and he would be hers and it would be Finn and Daffy against the world.
He shook away the quixotic vision that clouded his rational thoughts. Life wasn’t like that. They might be happy for a while, but she wouldn’t tolerate his carefree and risky behavior forever. She’d turn into a scornful housewife and he’d spend hours alone drinking himself into a black hole, resenting her. No, it wouldn’t work. Daffy would end up rejecting him just like his own parents did.
This plan had to be followed through. It had to be today. Maybe it would work out with Daffy in the end. He hoped so. But Finn wasn’t about to abandon this plot, five years planned, over a silly girl he had a crush on. She’d be okay, he convinced himself. After all, he was the one putting himself in danger. He, and the outcasts.
“When should I go in?” Daphne asked.
Finn flashed the light at his watch.
“Belle should be on her way down now. It should only take about seven minutes for me to get to Lily’s house if I move fast. From there I’ll make the call to Trappe’s secretary. When you hear the message for Trappe, wait two minutes. Then go ahead. Lock the door and keep your ears open. If you hear anyone coming, get out as fast as you can. Can you do that?”
He could see the fear in her eyes. He knew that feeling. He’d felt it many times before.
“Finn, I’m—”
Finn grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her squeezing her tightly. Her face nuzzled his neck, sending waves of comfort deep within him. This is wrong, he thought. It should have been the other way around.
“I know. You’ll be fine. I’ll make sure he doesn’t find you. Trust me. Daffy,” Finn said as he pulled back and raised her chin so that their faces almost touched. He gazed deeply into her brown eyes. “I don’t want to lose you.”
He could feel Daphne’s lips tremble as he took them in his. Then, like a gravel road hitting pavement, the turbulence calmed and she returned the kiss with as much vigor as he gave it. He didn’t want this moment to end. If he could stay here, locked in her embrace, he would die a happy man. But he had to fight the urge to remain. He had work to do. And he had to leave. Now.
“I have to go,” he said, breaking away in one swift move. “I’ll see you on the other side.”
Daphne smiled anxiously at him, before he turned and shuffled away.
***
Belle edged the west side of the church as if she were navigating a narrow rock shelf, jutted out from the side of a cliff. With the pointed spires, the church towered way above her, making her feel like a tiny shrew. A shrew in a house full of hungry felines. A handful of boys—students—were doing yard work in the garden, but Belle wasn’t too concerned about them. They were already being punished for something; causing a stir over the headmaster’s niece wouldn’t be in their best interest. She was more concerned about the two professors stalking the quad. Each time one of them turned away, the other turned toward her.
How was she going to get in unseen? How would the outcasts get in unseen? She stood for a moment pondering, but only a moment. She didn’t have any time to waste. The others would be here soon, if they weren’t already inside waiting for her. But if she was caught by one of the professors, her uncle would be alerted, and that would ruin everything. Or would it? Finn had wanted a confrontation with Uncle Byron. Her being spotted would secure that for him. But would she have enough time to get the key to rescue Lily before he’d arrive?
Time was up. Belle might get caught, but that was a risk she had to take. Just as the professor nearest her spun away, she darted around the corner to the front of the old church. The heavy wooden door squealed in protest and as she pushed it she heard an announcement over the loud speakers in the quad. To her relief, both professors turned toward the main building.
“Headmaster Trappe, your attention is needed in the vestry.”
That was her signal if she ever heard one. They wouldn’t have made the announcement so publicly if he’d been in his office. He could be anywhere. And he could be here at any time. Belle shut the door behind her before she could be seen. As she shuffled down the nave, she saw something move next to the pulpit. It was the academy’s priest, Father Warren. As he looked up at her, Belle slunk into a pew, crouching over in a prayer position to avoid attention. She watched him through one slitted eye, as he made his way up the aisle. Belle scrambled with one hand to untie her blouse and cover up as much skin as she could, kneeling lower to make her skirt appear longer.
“Belle,” he said in a gentle voice. “It’s so good to see you here. Are you doing well?”
Belle slumped her shoulders a little more as she looked up. “Yes, Father. I’m fine.” She wasn’t at all fooled by his chaste exterior. He knew what went on in the undercroft of this church. Possibly even took part in it.
“That’s good to hear. And how about your studies?” Belle wished he would just leave. She didn’t have time for chitchat.
Up ahead, she spotted a movement—something fluttered near an open window. It moved so swiftly and silently that Belle knew it could only be Finn.
“Good. I just needed to spend some time alone. With, uh, God.” She curled her head under, exaggerating her prayer stance, hoping that would be enough to get the priest out of her face. She needed to move.
Father Warren nodded with a grunt and proceeded to the front of the church, stepping outside for some fresh air.
Belle jumped from the pew and ran as fast as she could to the chancel. Just behind the wall was the staircase that led down to the basement.
***
“Where is he?” Shag complained. “Belle will be here any minute.”
The boys crowded around the peephole in the space between the church floor and the basement’s ceiling, taking turns spying down the tall brute in the dark and brooding hallway, stationed in front of the door to the discipline room. He was the huskiest boy in the school—a senior—and a real kiss-ass to Trappe as his scholarship to Ivy League was depending on a dazzling letter of recommendation. None of the boys wanted to have a head-on encounter with him. Only Finn had the balls to confront him.
“He’ll be here any minute,” Hangman whispered. This hideout, with its two-inch wide wooden beams to balance on, wasn’t nearly as comfortable as the hollow walls in the main building, but it was their only option. The lightweight panels from a quick 1980’s renovation made for a quick escape, though a tight and uncomfortable wait.
“He just wanted some alone time to get it on with Daffy,” Trick said, making an obscene gesture with his tongue. Shag shoved him aside.
“Hey, that’s my sister!” Josh warned. The bags under his eyes were no justifiable evidence of how hung over he really felt from the previous night. Max, on the other hand, had no sign of sickness, and was eager to join in the fun.
“Shut up, man,” Shag added, grateful that the darkness shadowed his flushed cheeks.
“You’re just jealous ‘cause she blew you off,” Toot teased. Shag turned and raised a fist, and Toot cowered behind Kevin.
“Let it go, guys,” Kevin said and turned back to the peephole.
“Is she here yet?” Trick asked.
“Not yet. I really hope he has a thing for tiny blond girls. She’s our only chance of getting the key.”
“I just hope she didn’t take her crazy pill today,” Shag retorted. “Remember what she did to Lily that one time? I thought she was going to gouge Lily’s eye out with that spoon.”
“Nah, she’s alright now,” Hangman said. “She and Lily get along alright. Anyway, she won’t screw this up. She knows Finn will be watching. She’ll do anything for him.”
“Wish she would do anything for me,” Toot mumbled.
“Dude, you’re like three inches tall,” cracked Trick. “Maybe she’ll add you to her doll collection and you can hump a Barbie.”
“Shut up, asswipe!”
“Guys! What’s all the racket?”
Finn slithered in from out of the darkness. Kevin shifted to the side to give Finn some room.
“What took you so long, man?” Trick whined.
“Had to send a telegram to Trappe.” Finn winked. He looked out the peephole. “She’s here. Get ready.”
***
I can’t believe I’m doing this, Belle thought to herself. She looked down at her hands, which were trembling like she was jacked up on three liters of Red Bull. Right now she wished she had some vodka. That would quiet her nerves. She looked down at herself, checking her clothing one last time. She looked like a two-dollar tramp. Now she had to act like one.
She peeked around the corner at the stocky student standing guard by the door. Stuart Cross. Belle knew it would be easy to seduce him—he’d made a pass at her before. It was about a year ago. Belle had been sent by her uncle to the east field where PE was in session. The students were playing flag football that day, though the field was used for every sport imaginable. Belle brought a clean stack of folded towels to the locker room. She hated going in there. It carried the beefy odor of sweat and smelly jock straps. All she had to do was go in, drop the towels on the shelf and leave. Quick and easy. But as she was leaving, the boys started filing in. Something groped her backside and when she turned to catch the culprit, Stuart winked at her, grinning licentiously. He couldn’t make it any more obvious.
No, it would be easy to get his attent
ion. The hard part would be getting away from him without stirring suspicion. And since she would have the key, she had to get away. But Finn was watching. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her. Not even for Lily’s sake. She hoped this was true.
Belle could waste no more time. She tossed her head back and strolled leisurely around the corner, swaying her hips from side to side. It only took a second for Stuart to notice her. Then he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
“Hey Belle.” Stuart smirked as he combed his fingers through his thick auburn hair. His blue eyes sparkled with hunger. Belle stared straight at him. Her lips curved up seductively. She had him in the palm of her hand.
“Hey Stu,” Belle purred. “What are you doing down here all by yourself?”
“On duty,” he snapped. Suddenly his demeanor shifted. He straightened in posture. The smirk on his face disappeared into a puddle of stoicism. He was a soldier. Responsible and tenacious. Belle could see straight through the veneer. She traced her finger down the burgundy tie over his crisp white shirt, lightly at first, then firmly as it went down.
“Oh. I was hoping we could, you know, talk. Maybe even get to know each other a little better. Since we’re all alone down here. We are all alone, right?”
“Uh, yeah,” Stuart uttered, his façade beginning to falter. “But I can’t right now. If Trappe catches me off guard, I’ll lose his letter of recommendation.”
“My uncle is busy in admin right now. He won’t come down here.” Belle was grateful the intercom system did not have installations in the church. Distractions during services were frowned upon.
Neverland Academy Page 17