Allie opened her mouth to protest, but Isabelle grabbed her arm. The strength of her grip caught Allie off guard; Isabelle’s nails dug in like blades.
‘Allie, listen to me. Do you think for one moment all those drivers,’ she spat the word out, ‘are who they say they are? They have all the right paperwork but… look at them. Those are highly trained security personnel. Those are Nathaniel’s guards and they are all over my school.’ For a brief angry second, she shook Allie so hard her body quivered. ‘I need you all in a safe place. Now. Any of you could be taken and I wouldn’t know until it was too late. I cannot protect any of you right now. The plan is off until this is over. Go now.’
Her ferocity had the intended effect. As soon as she was released, Allie ran. But it wasn’t herself she was thinking about and, despite Isabelle’s words, it wasn’t the cellar she headed for. Instead, she vaulted the stairs two at a time, one word ringing in her panicked mind like an alarm bell.
Rachel.
THIRTY-TWO
I left her completely alone. If anything happens to her…
As she hurtled up to the top floor, Allie’s breath came in short gasps. At first she thought it was from the exertion of moving so fast but then, to her horror, her vision began to darken. Her throat had narrowed until she felt as if she were choking.
No please. Not now.
She fought to stave off the panic attack – breathing in through her nose and letting the air whoosh out through her mouth as she’d learned to do. Even as the walls closed in on her, she forced herself to keep moving.
I will not give in to this, she thought. I will get to Rachel and then I will have a nice, quiet nervous breakdown in the cellar with my closest friends.
At the thought she tried to laugh but it came out as a sob. Still the action served to loosen the constriction on her lungs and she took a welcome gulp of air as she crested the top of the stairs to find… nothing.
The long, narrow corridor lined with plain white doors was empty. The crowds from earlier had dissipated. There were no crying girls, no angry men in terrifying uniforms. There was nobody at all.
‘Rachel?’ In the emptiness the word echoed back at her mockingly.
She looked around in bewilderment. All the doors were closed. Would she have to go through each one?
‘Rachel?’ She tried again louder.
Halfway down the hallway, one white door swung opened with a quiet click.
A rush of relief made Allie dizzy. It was her own bedroom door.
Of course! Rachel must have gone in there to hide with Emma.
She hurtled down the hallway to the open door.
‘Rach!’ she called as she skidded through the doorway. ‘I was freaking —’
But it wasn’t Rachel waiting for her. It was Emma. And she was covered in blood.
Whirling, her heart hammering inside her chest, Allie searched the room for an attacker but, other than the blood-covered girl, it was empty.
She crouched down in front of her, resting her hands gently on shoulders as delicate as a bird’s wings, and looked for wounds. The girl appeared to be frozen with fear.
‘Emma!’ She turned the girl round and back again but could find no cuts. ‘Who hurt you?’
‘A man came.’ Emma’s big, frightened eyes stared up at her. ‘He was looking for you.’
Allie swallowed hard. ‘What did he say?’ Her voice sounded as if it came from far away. ‘Emma, where did the blood come from?’
Tears streaming down her face, the girl held up a folded piece of plain white paper, stained with bloody fingerprints.
‘He said to give this to you.’ As Allie took the page from her hands gingerly, a tear rolled down Emma’s cheek, tracing a path in the gore.
With her heart pounding out no recognisable rhythm and her head beginning to swim, Allie knew she couldn’t stop to read the note. Clutching it in her hand she turned back to Emma.
‘Can you run?’
The girl nodded.
Standing, Allie grabbed her hand – it felt so small and fragile.
‘As fast as you can, Emma.’ She was surprised by the steadiness of her voice.
They ran down the hall to where a door hid the old servants’ staircase. As the door swung open revealing the winding stone staircase, Emma recoiled.
‘It’s dark.’
But Allie wasn’t about to stop now. ‘Don’t be afraid of the dark, Emma. Be afraid of that man.’
Then she pulled her on to the stairs.
Emma’s broken sobs and the scuffing of their footsteps were the only noises that accompanied them down for what felt like eternity. Around and around the staircase twisted and turned until Allie was certain they must be halfway to Hell.
But she held back the rising tide of panic until she saw Zoe waiting for her near the foot of the stairs.
‘She’s here!’ Zoe called over her shoulder. Then she looked back at Allie and her eyes widened. ‘Who’s that with you? What happened?’
Carter and Sylvain appeared behind her as Allie stumbled into the room, still clinging to Emma’s hand. She could see their shock as they saw the blood-covered girl.
‘Rachel.’ Allie gasped, trying to breathe. But she couldn’t get any more words out. There seemed to be no oxygen down here.
Moving quickly, Carter grabbed Emma and examined her for wounds.
Realising she was about to fall, Allie put one hand on a stone column. It felt cold as ice under her fingertips.
‘Is she here?’ she wheezed. The walls moved rapidly towards her, as if they were about to attack her. ‘Rachel… is she here?’
‘Rachel?’ Sylvain’s voice seemed to come from far away. ‘She was with you. Allie…?’
He caught her as she fell, his arms warm and strong around her.
‘Sylvain…’ She struggled for air.
‘I’ve got you,’ he said, lifting her from the earth.
‘We must find Raj Patel.’ Nicole sounded frightened. It was the first time Allie could ever remember her sounding scared.
Sylvain said something to her in French before switching back to English. ‘It’s not safe yet.’
They were all sitting together in a tight circle on the gritty stone floor. It seemed like they were talking in circles, too.
They needed to do something but there was nothing to be done.
Allie’s head felt as if it had been stuffed with feathers that were occasionally kicking her in the face.
After she’d nearly passed out, they’d forced water on her and made her sit still, her head resting on her knees. Her breathing was steady now. In fact, her lungs were working so perfectly it was kind of enraging.
They told her what they knew – the students they’d seen going and those who’d made it to the safe places.
She still clutched Nathaniel’s blood-splattered letter in her hand like a weapon. Although the light in the cellar was dim she could make out the words he’d written. It was obvious he’d been rushed – his handwriting was usually so precise and neat; this was a hurried scrawl.
Dear Allie
I looked for you but could not find you. Unfortunately, no one was willing to tell me where you were. Your friend Rachel was singularly uncooperative. I was forced to punish her for her rudeness. I’m keeping her with me.
Allie, I’ve grown impatient with our little game. So here is what you will do. You will come to me tonight and offer yourself in exchange for Rachel. Come alone. Do not bring Raj Patel or Isabelle or any of the other instructors or guards.
When you have done this, Rachel will be released, alive and well. If you fail in any regard, if you break any of the rules I’ve set out here, she will die precisely as Jo died. And you will know, for all your life, you could have saved her.
I will be at the castle ruins at midnight. Do not be late.
Nathaniel
The thought of Rachel alone with that monster made Allie’s stomach twist; doubling over she dug her fists into her abdomen, pressing bac
k against the pain.
We underestimated Nathaniel again, she thought, despairing. Oh, Rachel, I’m so sorry…
Reaching across her body to free one of her fists, Carter squeezed her hand. ‘She’s still alive, Allie,’ he said, his tone gentle.
She shook her head so fiercely her hair stung her cheeks as it swung. She couldn’t afford to hope now; hope was nothing but delayed heartbreak. He should know that anyway – Jules was gone. He hadn’t got to her in time.
‘You don’t know that, Carter. He lies. He killed Jo…’
‘I know.’ His tone was measured. ‘But we have no reason to believe he killed Rachel.’
‘The blood.’ Allie pointed at Emma who now sat with Nicole, who’d cleaned her face with bottled water and draped her own jumper around her. Staring at them all mutely, the girl appeared to be in shock. ‘Where did it come from?’
‘It’s Rachel’s,’ Nicole said. ‘But the wound Emma describes sounds superficial.’
‘That much blood was from a superficial wound?’ Allie’s voice was sceptical.
Sylvain crouched down in front of her; his blue eyes dark in the shadows. ‘He cut Rachel’s arm with a knife. And smeared the blood on Emma. He said it would –’ He stopped, his jaw tense, and Allie saw that he was fighting to control his temper. ‘He said it would get your attention.’
‘I hate him,’ Zoe muttered to herself, stabbing at the ground with a piece of wood she’d picked up somewhere.
Still holding on to Emma, Nicole leaned forward to catch Allie’s gaze. ‘Emma says he made a bandage for Rachel’s wounds and the cuts were not deep. Allie, he wouldn’t be so careful if he intended to kill her.’
‘The thing I can’t figure out is how Nathaniel got into the building in the first place,’ Carter said. ‘How did no one see him? Is our security that weak?’
Allie rubbed her face tiredly. ‘The drivers. Isabelle said the drivers were all Nathaniel’s guards. That’s how they got in. They walked in together, in a crowd. It caused such chaos they couldn’t keep track.’
‘And one of them was Nathaniel.’ Sylvain said bitterly. ‘It’s so brazen – it’s just his style.’
‘They didn’t get a chance to count them in and out, then.’ Carter’s jaw tightened. ‘Some of them could still be in the building.’
‘That’s why Isabelle said we had to stay down here,’ Allie said.
‘I don’t care. We have to get out of here.’ Jumping up, Zoe threw the stick across the cellar. It bounced off something in the shadows and hit the floor with a thud. ‘We have to tell Raj about Rachel. He’ll know what to do.’
Pressing her fingertips against her forehead, Allie tried to make herself think. ‘Should we tell him, though?’
The others stared.
‘Of course we have to tell him, Allie,’ Nicole said. ‘She’s his daughter.’
Do not bring Raj Patel or Isabelle or any of the instructors or guards…
Thinking of Nathaniel’s words, Allie felt cold inside, as if ice water ran through her veins instead of blood. But she had to stay focused. For Rachel.
‘He’ll want to run out there to fight Nathaniel,’ she said. ‘And if he does that, Rachel will die.’
Sylvain and Carter exchanged a look.
‘What do you think?’ Sylvain asked.
‘I don’t know…’ Carter sounded worried.
‘He’s tactical.’ Sylvain reminded him. ‘Always tactics.’
‘Yeah, but this is his daughter,’ Carter said.
Allie looked back and forth between them as they worked it out. They knew Raj better than she did. Better than any of the students. They’d been working with him nearly every day for months.
‘Even then’ – Sylvain’s voice was firm – ‘he believes in strategy. He’ll be able to handle it.’
After a second, Carter nodded and turned to Allie.
‘Sylvain’s right. We should trust Raj. He’s too smart to just rush out without thinking it through, even if it’s Rachel. He’ll help us plan.’
Allie held Sylvain’s gaze. ‘You’re certain?’
He didn’t hesitate. ‘I’m positive.’
She trusted him. ‘Then let’s get Raj.’
First, though, someone had to get out of the cellar.
‘Isabelle says the cellar is safe because Raj’s guards are all around it – they know we’re down here,’ Allie explained. ‘If they’re around us there must be some way to find them.’
Zoe looked around the circle. ‘Let me do it.’
Everyone objected at once, their voices making an echoed cacophony, but Zoe held up her hands. Her determination made her face look more grown up.
‘Look, I’m small and fast. I won’t go into the main buildings. I’ll search the stairwells and corridors – all the places they could be guarding. I’ll find them.’
‘No!’ They all said it together.
Her face reddening, Zoe glared at them. ‘I could do this better than you. Do not forbid me just because I’m young and a girl.’
A heavy silence followed.
Carter gave in first. ‘I think we should let her.’
Allie’s chest tightened. ‘Carter, no…’
‘She’s faster than any of us.’ Nicole took his side.
‘Sylvain…’ Allie appealed to him, but, although his expression was sympathetic, he shook his head.
‘I agree with the others.’
After a quick discussion about where she should go, Zoe leaped to her feet to head towards the stairs but, as she did so, Sylvain caught her arm. Pulling her closer, he whispered something to her.
Her small face serious, she nodded. Then as Allie watched, helpless to stop her, she ran into the shadows.
After she left, the atmosphere developed a kind of claustrophobic emptiness. Time seemed to stretch – the hands of Allie’s watch slowed.
To keep herself calm, Allie walked the borders of the ancient cellar. It was never used for any purpose any more, and held only a few old trunks and some long-forgotten stacks of bricks. Dim light came from a few old wall sconces, so yellowed and dirty the few bulbs that did work emitted only a weak, flickering glow.
She glanced around to see what the others were doing. Nicole was talking to Emma in a low voice. Carter stood at the foot of the stairs like a sentinel, his hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable. Sylvain stood with his back against the wall, lost in thought.
By now it must be getting dark outside. She thought of Rachel, alone with Nathaniel and Gabe. Helpless. Terrified.
A sob welled in her throat and she forced it back – she needed to stay focused.
She shoved her hands into the pockets of her skirt, and her fingers encountered the sheet of blood-spattered paper Nathaniel had left for her.
Pulling it out she unfolded it carefully and read it again, frowning at each word.
Suddenly she straightened. As if she’d made a sound, Sylvain turned and cast an enquiring look at her.
She held out the note. ‘I think I know what we have to do.’
THIRTY-THREE
They were all sitting in a cluster, sketching out Allie’s idea in the dust on the floor when the sudden clatter of heavy boots on the stairs jarred them into instant action. Leaping to their feet they ran together to the foot of the stairs.
Carter looked pale but determined; his jaw set. Beside him, Nicole seemed less tense. She held a thick board in one hand like a police truncheon and Allie got the feeling she’d relish the chance to use it. Allie and Sylvain stood on opposite sides of the cellar entrance; Allie held a brick in her hand.
The men who burst out of the stairwell wore the black uniforms of Raj’s guards but nobody cared. They all knew clothes meant nothing any more.
‘Does anyone know them?’ Carter called out, his voice urgent.
The others’ response was immediate. ‘No.’
It was all the invitation Nicole needed. She swung the board with all her strength, hitting the first man in the gu
t. He grunted in surprise and pain. Allie lunged forward with a brick in her hand.
‘Stand easy!’ Raj’s disembodied voice caught her in mid-stride – the brick tumbled from her fingers. She spun round in confusion as he stepped out of the narrow corridor, Zoe bounding at his side. ‘They’re the good guys.’
His clothes were muddy and new lines had appeared on his face, but he did not look defeated.
As Nicole offered an apologetic hand to the wounded man, Allie walked slowly over to Rachel’s father. How could she tell him what happened? What words were there in the world to explain how she felt?
But he didn’t wait for her to speak. He pulled her into a hug. ‘I know what happened.’ His voice was rough. ‘We’ll get her back.’
‘I’m so sorry, Mr Patel.’ Tears burned the backs of Allie’s eyes as she stood stiffly in his arms. ‘It’s my fault.’
‘No, it isn’t.’ He held her at arm’s length so she could see the determination in his face. ‘This is Nathaniel’s fault. And when we find him I’m going to make sure he knows exactly how I feel about that.’ As he spoke, his eyes changed. Suddenly he looked predatory; dangerous.
As quickly as the look appeared, though, it faded, and he glanced around the room, in complete control. ‘Everyone OK?’
They all nodded.
‘Can I see the note, Allie?’ Raj held out his hand.
For a second she hesitated. A few weeks ago, she wouldn’t have let anyone see this note. She would have run out there to try and get Rachel all on her own. And Rachel probably would have died.
But she’d learned. She’d watched the others sacrifice themselves for her, for Jo. She’d seen them take chances that could have cost them everything they cared about.
She trusted them. She believed in them.
So she turned to where they stood watching her. Catching her eye, Sylvain nodded once.
Only then did she pull the crumpled, blood-stained page from her pocket and hold it out to Raj.
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