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CHAPTER FOUR
Nigel’s plan was to follow the tour through the primary dorms and out the back door which would lead them to Cawvers quarters and office, however he felt his breath hitch in his chest as he neared the dorms where had once stayed as a boy. It was still light out but an edge of shadow impaired his vision and pushed away what little sun there was. He glanced upwards to the third floor and a small, sad boy looked out at him from the window above. His window. His face as a boy, frightened and pale with slightly chubby cheeks. Then, the reflection of the past lowered his eyes and caught Nigel’s gaze, the young and old Nigel’s eyes met and held. The boy’s eyes became frightened and in so doing, the grown Nigel felt fear claw up from his stomach and into his chest like a multi-limbed alien. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t look away from that vision of himself, that vision of a horrified boy and yet he couldn’t recall what had horrified him so. He could only remember the cries in the night and Miss Cawvers catching him looking at her as she crossed the grounds. That couldn’t be enough to put that stark fear in his eyes, there had to be something more. “Nigel?” Her voice pulled his gaze downward and her face seemed familiar. For a moment, Nigel wasn’t sure who she was, but then he remembered. “Yes, Sydney ?” Sydney had noticed that Nigel had fallen behind and when she turned and saw the inexplicable fear on his already pale face she had thought perhaps he’d seen Cawvers again, but there was no one around but the three of them, the tour group had headed inside. “Are you okay?” Nigel glanced up at the window again and found it empty. Just a ghost, a shadow of his past. His mind playing tricks on him. It was all perfectly logical and yet, he still couldn’t seem to move forward. Sydney gripped his arm, concerned. “Nigel?” She snapped her fingers in front of his face and watched him flinch. “What is wrong with you?” “Nothing.” Sydney didn’t believe him, but this wasn’t the time to get into whatever demons were after him. She released him and turned back to Preston who was waiting impatiently by the door to the dormitories. “Then come on.” Nigel nodded and put his right foot forward to start walking, or thought he did, but his leg didn’t move. He stared down at his feet. This was insane! He’d faced killers, assassins, booby trapped crypts, snakes, spiders and devil dolls. Why couldn’t he make himself move towards the dorms? Sydney was right he wasn’t that little boy anymore. There was nothing to be afraid of, and yet, something was pushing at the edge of his brain, a thought, a memory that he couldn’t quite grasp, but it was scaring him. “For Heaven’s Sake, Podge. Do come along?” Nigel glanced at Preston , wishing he could feel enough anger or annoyance that it would push away this other horribly cold, terrifying feeling of dread. He closed his eyes tight and curled his hands into fists at his side. He thought of the evil people that he and Sydney had managed to escape. Elizabeth Rukeyser, Kafka, Edward Patel… He focused his thoughts. DaViega. They had managed to escape that cold-blooded murder and thief several times now. If he could survive DaViega then he could certainly get through this. If he couldn’t get through this he would be useless to Sydney in the field or in anything else ever again. He’d be too ashamed to continue working with her. “Nigel!” Nigel opened his eyes and moved forward, past Sydney and Preston and into the dormitories. There could have gone around the building but it would have taken more time and there was a pond and unstable path they would have to navigate. Also it would be more obvious where they were headed. He didn’t look in any direction. He stayed focused on the path ahead, the path that would lead to the rear exit. He didn’t see the schoolboys that silently moved past in their crisp uniforms and blazers. He didn’t even notice if Sydney and Preston were behind him, he just knew he had to get through the building and out the other side and he couldn’t stop for anything. He felt the tugging hands of nausea gripping his insides as sweat broke out on his forehead and upper lip. The hair on the back of his neck was standing straight up. Even in his trials with Sydney he had never felt this horrid, this afraid, and there was no reason for it. It was all in his imagination. He burst through the back door with relief and suddenly had to stop and brace his hands on his knees and catch his breath. He still felt like he was going to toss. He felt a gentle hand on his back caressing him in long, soothing circles. “I’m…I’m sorry, Syd.” Sydney didn’t know what was going on with her friend, but in all their time together she had never seen him react that way. He’d lost all colour in his face, was visibly trembling and sweating when he had started through the halls. Normally she would force him to shrug off his fear so they could do what they had to do. Usually encouragement or sometimes demands worked, but this was something different. This was something she could see he had no control over. She had to get to the bottom of this, for both their sakes. “What for?” she asked, kindly. “You got us here, didn’t you?” “What was the mad rush for, Nigel?” Preston asked, although he too was concerned with his brother’s sudden behaviour. “You almost lost us back there.” Sydney shot Preston a dirty look as Nigel straightened up. “We’re here, aren’t we?” she snapped at him, and then squeezed Nigel’s shoulder before she let her hand drop. “Let’s move. We don’t know how much time we have.” Nigel led the way to a smaller, almost circular one story building that was the headmistresses living quarters and office. He’d only ever been in her office on the one side twice, both times he’d been caned, but somehow the memory of that didn’t bother him as much as whatever happened in the dorms. He knocked once, received no answer and then tried the door. Locked. He stepped aside for Sydney to do her magic and kept watch until he heard the door click. “Do you really think we should be doing this?” Preston asked, warily. “I mean, she is the headmistress of the school and the board think very highly of her. I find it unlikely there is anything off with her just because Nigel was…” “You don’t have to come inside, Preston,” Nigel stated, cutting his brother off in mid sentence as Sydney slipped inside the office. “In fact it is probably better you stay out here and keep watch.” Preston nodded, eagerly. He didn’t really want to be party to this anyway. “Yes, certainly. I’ll stay here and…and man the way then.” Nigel rolled his eyes at his brother’s disguised cowardice and hurried after Sydney . There was still enough light coming through the windows to see around the tidy office without needing to turn on a lamp. They moved quickly through it but found nothing out of the ordinary. A large cherry wood desk and a high back leather chair. Several bookshelves filled with books, but no nick-knacks. No ceramics or pictures, no souvenirs or personal touches. Just the desk, chair, two other chairs opposite the desk that Sydney assumed were for visitors, long red drapes over the windows and a giant portrait of the Queen. Sydney started looking through the desk drawers and found nothing of interest in there either. She watched Nigel pause in his search of the office and she followed his gaze to the old hand carved cane standing in the corner. She watched him flinch for a second, and then he continued going through the shelves. “Doesn’t seem anything here out of the ordinary, Syd.” “No, probably will be in her quarters. If she has something to hide she wouldn’t leave it out where everyone could see it.” “I suppose you’re right.” Nigel tried the only other door in the room and was surprised to find it unlocked. Still, he paused about stepping over the threshold into the headmistress’s domain. The school boy in him was screaming that he should run away, that he shouldn’t be here, but the man in him had to learn the truth. He stepped inside. Here there were personal touches. A cosy sitting room with an antique chaise and lounge and an ancient phonograph complete with a neat stack of old gramophone records next to it. A corner shelving unit held several wooden and marble carvings, but Nigel couldn’t really tell what they were. Mythical creatures perhaps, half man half beast? Sydney had left Nigel to explore the living room as she moved into the bedroom. It was stark, pristine and devoid of feeling. A small, twin bed against white walls, with a matching white wardrobe, lamp and table. No pictures on the walls, no novels on the bedside table, no colourful comforter across the bed. She checked the wardrobe where she found a lot of black and grey dresses, including one black cloak with a hood. Four pairs of sensible black shoes and an extra overcoat. This woman lived like a nun. She shook her head and moved to the small closet on the opposite side of the room. A few more coats, some extra towels and sheets on the top shelf and… Sydney paused as she looked a little closer at the back of the closet. It seemed a darker white than the rest of the room, almost a cream. She stepped further inside the narrow closet, pushed the coats aside and ran her hands over the back. Nothing. She was about to step outside when her foot brushed against a bump on the floor. She heard a click and suddenly the back of the closet slid open. “Nigel!” she called just before moving through to the secret room. Inside was pitch dark, but Sydney had her flashlight in her bag and she switched it on. She spotted several candles straight ahead of her as she felt Nigel join her from behind. “What the hell?” he asked as Sydney held her hand back. “Lighter.” He gave it to her and waited while she lit the candles. The room lit up with an eerie glow. The inside of the closet was painted in deep crimson red and tacked over the walls were articles and pictures that made the hair on both their necks stand up. Nigel recognized photos of himself as a child, and even some from his University days at Cambridge . There were newspaper articles of Nigel and Sydney from their travels. “S…Syd?” Nigel’s eyes widened as he spotted a picture of himself at fifteen, his graduation picture, settled against what looked like a small altar in his honour. Two white candles stood on either side of his photograph and there was a small ceremonial bowl just below it. Oh God, find him a window, quick! Preferably one that was thirty floors up. “W…what’s she done? What…what does this mean?” Sydney didn’t have an answer, but it certainly creeped her out that this woman had been spying on Nigel all these years. “I think we need to tell the authorities about this. She’s obviously obsessed with you, Nige.” “We…how do we tell the authorities? We...we aren’t even supposed to be here.” Nigel shook his head as he stared around the tiny shrine in horror. It was like walking into the demented den of a serial killer. “What…How would we explain it? What does she want with me, Sydney?” Sydney opened her mouth to speak and suddenly heard a noise, the door to the other room opening. She reached past Nigel, pulled the closet door shut, and blew out the candles. There was no way to shut the panel door from the inside, so they waited in silence. Nigel’s first thought was that Preston was an utter buffoon for not warning them. What if Cawvers found them in there? Would she kill them? Did she want him for some mad sacrifice? However, the next sound they heard was unexpected. A very feminine giggle followed by a man’s seductive chuckle. They looked at each other in the darkness. Nigel was horrified at the idea he would have to listen to Cawvers snogging with God only knew what kind of man. “Nicky! Are you sure we won’t get caught?” “Come on, luv. I’ve been dying to do this since we got here. The old crone’s bed is probably so pure it’s never even seen a man on it. Come on, it’s sinfully sweet.” “But what if she comes in?” “She won’t. She’s over with the Alumni in the chow hall. Come on, give Nicky a bit, then hey?” More giggling and then the squeak of the ancient bed springs. “I’m not staying here listening to this!” Nigel hissed in Sydney ’s ear, or what he assumed was her ear as he couldn’t see anything. “We don’t have a choice now just hush and be quiet.” She lit the candles again so they would at east have some light, but seeing all the pictures again didn’t help Nigel’s mood. She dropped down on the small stool before the altar and pulled a chocolate bar out of her bag as the sounds in the other room increased. “Hungry?” Nigel glared at her, folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the wall. It wasn’t that he was a prude, it was just embarrassing to be listening to…to that kind of activity with Sydney sitting in the room with him. Sydney unwrapped her chocolate bar, took a bite and then broke off a piece and tossed it to him. “I’m sure they’ll be finished soon,” she whispered and tried not to think about how the sounds of the couple’s frantic lovemaking were starting to arouse her. Why did she have to listen to that with Nigel here? If she’d been stuck with one of her exes at least she could get some enjoyment out of it as well. Nigel turned the piece of chocolate over and over in his fingers, and then grudgingly took a bite. He’d kill Preston for this. How could anyone be so bloody useless? He supposed it was better than getting caught by the headmistress, but still. Anyone that wanted to shag on her bed was just plain sick. Sydney felt a trickle of sweat slide down her back and readjusted her position on the stool. Damn, the girl was sounding like she was really enjoying herself. Sydney wiped at her brow with the back of her hand. Was it hot in here or just her? She glanced at Nigel who was doing everything not to look at her and she had a moment where she wanted to crawl over and sit beside him, maybe give him a kiss and see what happened next. Nigel’s gaze lifted from its spot on the floor and caught her watching him. He recognized the lustful look in her eyes, he had seen the look in many of the women who glanced his way, but he had seen it on Sydney but never when she was looking at him. Afraid to break the spell or open his mouth and say something stupid that might embarrass them both he just continued to stare at her. The firelight danced in her eyes, little sparks of amber reflected off pools of dark chocolate. He knew it was just the sounds in the other room that was affecting her, that was affecting them both and yet he couldn’t look away. What would she do if he moved in to kiss her? The answer had him looking away again. She’d break his body in three separate places, no doubt all of them painful. Sydney tried to hide her disappointment when Nigel broke eye contract with her. She was rather enjoying their little interlude and had been about to move in when he looked away. She’s seen curiosity in his eyes and passion, and something else. Wonder? Permission maybe? Then it was gone and he looked away. She sighed took another bite of chocolate and let her gaze roam over the little altar. Needing something to do, she picked up Nigel’s graduation picture. He was so young then. Very serious, studious, much like he had been when he first came to her, but a sparkle of shy excitement shinning in his eyes. His beauty was almost painful to look at. She had known beautiful men before, but there was something about Nigel’s youthful appearance, his innocence and outward modesty that made him even more stunning. She could understand, as sick as it was, why Cawvers chose this picture as the feature of her collection. It showed Nigel’s purity, his innocence at the world yet. She glanced over at the Englishman lounged against the wall in his new leather coat and almost smiled. He was an older Nigel, more weathered in his experience, but the beauty was still there, the youthful innocence and especially that appealing sparkle of wonder in his eyes. She didn’t know what Cawvers wanted with her TA, but she was going to make damn sure the old bat didn’t get anywhere Nigel. She set the picture back and accidentally knocked over one of he unlit candles. She caught it before it rolled off the altar and set it upright, but her fingertips brushed something on the underside of the top. She lifted the lace covering and ran her fingers across the lip of the altar, curious. Nigel noticed her sudden investigation and moved closer, temporarily forgetting about the couple in the other room. “Find something?” he asked his lips only a millimetre from her ear. “Not sure.” She ran her fingers over the edge again, she was sure she had felt…yes! A small knot just on the underside. She pressed against it and a small drawer popped out of the altar, hitting her in the knee. “ Eureka .” “Well done, Syd.” She lifted her face to smile at him and found him close enough for kissing, which she considered for all of thirty seconds, before she put her attention back to the task at hand. She slid her hand in and pulled out a small diary. “Dirty secrets of a dirty girl?” Nigel shivered, he didn’t want to think of the headmistress in any kind of ‘dirty’ terms. “What does it say?” Sydney pulled open the book and glanced through it. “I can’t really read it in here, we need more light.” She slid it into her satchel. “Well take it with us.” “Now hold on, she’ll notice it’s gone, surely?” Sydney nodded and heard what had to be the ending of the couple’s fun outside. “Surely.” His eyes widened when he realized what she intended. “Syd! We don’t know if she’s mad or…or what she is, but you can’t…” She put her fingers to her lips as they heard the outer door open and close. She blew out the candles and reached for the closet door. As an after thought, she switched on her flashlight and turned back to take Nigel’s graduation picture. It was too good a picture to leave for Cawvers to drool over. Nigel hadn’t seen her lift the picture and slid it into her coat pocket, he was still concerned about her plan to draw out the headmistress. “Syd, I really think…” He began as they cautiously stepped out into the room and checked that they were alone. “We want to get to the bottom of this don’t we?” “She’ll know we took it!” Sydney nodded firmly as they returned to the office. “Yes, she will.” She wanted Cawvers to know. She needed the woman to come after them so Sydney could confront her and get this thing with Nigel dealt with. Nigel opened the outer door and glanced outside, Preston was no where to be found. “Idiot,” he muttered as he stepped outside. “Come on, let’s get out of here before someone sees us.” Sydney started to follow, and then turned back. “Wait,” she said. “I forgot something.” She quickly returned inside and found the cane that was leaning in the corner. She thought of a young Nigel being hit with the foul thing, and God only knew how many other young boys. She kicked at it and the wood splintered as it broke in half. She nodded, satisfied. No other boys would meet with that punishment. She hurried out to join Nigel.
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