Stay Alive-Chapters 6 and 7
Chapter Six: Natalie
I stared up at the large stone walls that seemed to stretch up into the sky. Behind the black gates was a plaza; cobblestone bricks, statues of famous dead people-most likely the school’s founders-, and a sparkling fountain in the center. On opposite sides of the plaza were two large three-story buildings with ivy crawling up the sides. In the background the orange sunset shone through purple snow-capped mountains.
In short; Saphamore was officially the most beautiful place on Earth. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who actually has the necessary level 4 clearance.
A formal looking lady stalked up to greet us, her red high-heels clipping against the pavement. Her auburn colored hair with wisps of grey was up in a tight bun and she had a worn face; beautiful still but worn out and tired.
“Jennet! So glad you could make it. I only wish it weren’t under such horrible circumstances…” She trailed off, giving my mother a sad look.
“Charlotte, thank-you so much. As usual you’re a life saver.” My mother grinned like there was some joke between the two, and then quickly returned to her solemn facet.
The headmistress waved her off. “Oh please, as if you haven’t saved my neck a thousand times before.” She then turned to Austin and me showing that she was actually aware of our presence.
“Ah, this must be Natalie and Austin…” Mrs. Aspen studied us both, the hint of a sad smile spreading across her face.
“Ah yes you both look just like your parents…” Just a reminder: Austin is my ADOPTED brother. So, either this lady is just saying one of those classic lines that your parent’s old friends always say or…
I glanced over at Austin. Could his parent’s have been involved in all this? He hadn’t ever known them, mom and dad had adopted him while he was still a baby. We’d never really asked much about it-it was weird enough learning that my brother came from another family; I didn’t really want to go into details of his past.
“I’d love to show you around,” Mrs. Aspen’s steady voice had a hint of sympathy in it as she continued to walk us towards the main building. “But I’m afraid your mother and I have some grown up things to take care of.” By ‘grown up’ I’m pretty sure she meant ‘spy stuff’ but I could be wrong.
“So, Abby and Jake will show you both around.” She gestured towards an athletic girl with red hair pulled back into a ponytail with a splash of freckles and soft green eyes and a tall boy with sandy brown hair and muscular arms. They were about 17-18; a few years older than us but less so than you’d think at a first glance.
Abby scanned over us both, analyzing us with her piercing green eyes. Jake however, just slouched with his hands in his pockets and his eyes on the ground.
Mrs. Aspen let out a slight cough as if to awaken our guides from whatever daydreams they’d fallen into.
“Hey, I’m Abby and this is Jake. I’m the mentor for the 2nd year girls and Jake’s the 2nd year boy’s councilor. We’ll show you guys around school and to your dorms and whatnot.” Abby smiled, sounding somewhat bored with this routine but still willing to put up an effort to at least appear somewhat enthusiastic. Jake on the other hand looked like he was on the verge of collapsing from boredom. Abby elbowed him in the stomach, widening her smile as she did so.
“Wha-oh…sorry…I’m Jake. I uh-…I’m the councilor or whatever for the uh….2nd years? Yeah, right ‘cause last year I was-“Abby elbowed him again, harder. “Ow! -Anyways, it’s nice to meet ‘ya, welcome to Saphamore, blah-blah-blah.” Abby cut Jake a killer glare, and Jake prepared himself for another elbowing.
“Thank you, Abby and Jake!” Mrs. Aspen said, giving us all an apologetic look. “Why don’t you show these two around and get back to your preparations?”
“Yes ma’am. Sorry ma’am.” Abby and Jake mumbled sheepishly.
“Come on guys, this way.” Abby said, turning on her heel and heading off towards the main entrance. I glanced over at my brother with an excited/nervous grin and headed after her.
…………………………
“So…what ‘preparations’ were Mrs. Aspen talking about?” Austin asked, breaking a semi-awkward silence that had fallen over our little tour-group.
“For the begging of school,” Abby explained, trampling over Jake’s attempts to. “Starting in 7th or 8th year students can volunteer to help mentor and train the younger kids. So, towards the end of summer we have to come in and help show the 1st years around-they start earlier than the rest-and help teachers prepare for the other students.”
We continued walking along the pale green hallway covered with pictures of past headmaster’s and headmistresses. Every so often Abby would point out one that she found important while Jake through in sarcastic comment or two (or three…or four…).
“And this is the atrium. Up those stairs is the library, to the left are our Science labs and History of Espionage class. To the right we have the Grand Hall-where we eat all of our meals-and down those stairs are the P.E. and training gyms.” My eyes followed each place as Abby listed them off. Trying to remember this whole huge building was going to be impossible; not to mention surviving the classes.
“Down this hall, we have all of the other classrooms and the tech-lab. Any questions?” We shook our heads, because all of the questions we had Abby wouldn’t have the answer to.
“Alrighty then. Jake, you take Austin back to his dorm and I’ll take Natalie back to hers.” Jake mumbled something in response and Abby rolled her eyes.
My brother glanced back at me nervously before he and his mentor headed off to their dorms. I caught my breath and glanced around. How is any of this real? I asked myself for the billionth time.
Abby and I walked in silence. I could feel her watching me, and after a while it got just a teensy bit annoying.
“What are you staring at me for!” I snapped, my frustration of my whole predicament boiling over to an indifferent Abby.
“Natalie…I don’t think you realize it but, you’re kinda famous here…I mean, your parents are. Don’t think that’ll get you any special credit-believe me it won’t. But…you are a McEntire. People are going to expect a lot of you, and I guess I was wondering how you’d handle that.”
I raised my eyebrows. “And how am I going to handle that?”
Abby shrugged. “Hard to say, but I bet you’ll do something. You’re smart, catch onto things pretty quick, and I haven’t seen you in combat yet but if you’re anything like your brother,” From the way she said ‘brother, I’d bet Abby’s been acquainted to Luke. A sharp pain filled my chest. Luke…I hope he and dad are ok…I shook my head, of course they were ok.
“-then you’ll be a natural.”
I let that sink in. So, now was I not only the child of spies; I was the daughter of two highly famous spies (at least, around here they were famous). Part of a legacy, with great expectations and high hopes. That’s a lot to take in, in just two days.
Abby lead me back through the courtyard to the building on the right; the girl’s house. Basically, all the girls in years 1-8 stayed in different dorms and all shared one common room for socializing or group studying or whatever. It had a nice homey feel to it, and instantly nearly all traces of homesickness were washed away. …Nearly all.
I slowly crept up the stairs into my dorm-Room 21. 5 neat bunk beds; four for the student’s one for a mentor.
“I’ve been assigned to this room…” Abby murmured, a smile spreading on her pale face. “Guess we’ll be seeing a lot of each other then. Well Natalie, I’ll leave you to get settled in. Dinners at 6 PM sharp, don’t be late! The other kids will be arriving in about a week or so.” Abby lingered for a moment, and then popped out the door.
I let out a relaxed sigh and fell onto a bed. Finally for the first time in days sleep found me.
Chapter 7-Austin
Over breakfast the next morning Mom announced she was going to leave. She didn’t say why, but it wasn’t too hard to figure out; she was going to find Dad and Luke. I wanted to go with her, but I knew it was best for me to stay back at Saphamore and train. I wasn’t any use to them if I got myself killed or hurt. For now all I could do was wait.
“I love you kids!” My mom told us for probably the billionth time in the last five minutes. “Please be careful! You probably won’t be able to contact me for a while, but as soon as I’ve sorted out this whole mess with your father and Luke I promise-“
“Mom, relax ok? We’ll be fine.” Natalie said, giving our Mom a reassuring smile
Mom sighed and pulled Natty and me closer to her. “Be safe. I love you. Don’t do anything stupid.” She said, giving me a pointed look.
“Hey!” I suppressed a laugh and hugged my mom.
She looked back at us once more and then made her way out of the courtyard. I made a silent prayer that she’d be alright and fine Luke and Dad before-….what would they do to my family? I thought about Ash and shuttered. I don’t think I want to know…
Once our Mom was out of sight my sister turned to me with a sly grin on her face.
“You thinking what I’m thinking?” Well unless you’re dreading our family’s fate, then no.
Natalie made her way back towards the main building. “I’m going to explore, care to join me?”
I sighed. With Natalie, hearing that sentence only meant we were going to get in a load of trouble soon.
So naturally, I chased after her.
………………
“…You have no idea where we are, do you?” Natalie frowned and studied our surroundings. “Natalie?” My sister sighed, finally giving in.
“No, I don’t actually…” I rolled my eyes. “But, to be fair we’ve only been here for a day and-and…I could have sworn we took a left…”
"Do we have like a map or something?” Natalie looked at me like I was the dumbest person on Earth.
“Yeah Austin. I just decided to get us lost for fun.”
“No need to get sassy…” I mumbled, shoving my hands into my pockets. Girls…think they know everything.
Footsteps began to echo through the hall and the quite murmur of hushed voices found our ears. Natalie grabbed my arm and dragged me into the shadows, behind a musty old tapestry.
“What do you think of it? Their children here?” A quite woman asked her companion, the faintest hint of worry in her voice.
“Jennet and Peter’s kids? I think it means we’ll be seeing a lot of them in detention, that’s what…You know those McEntires…always getting themselves into trouble…” You could hear the smirk in the gruff voice.
“Yes but…do you think it’s dangerous? To the other children? They could easily-“
“Yes, but they’d have to get passed our security-which has already been doubled since they arrived. As long as they don’t figure out about…” His voice trailed off, leaving a frustrating sense of suspense. What? What can’t we figure out?
“Grace!” I know that voice…that’s uh…what was her name? The oldish lady who was friends with my mom…uh…Mrs. Aspen!
“I’m sorry Samuel; I’ll have to borrow Ms. Thompson for a moment. We need her help with the first years.”
“Yes, of course.” The gruff male voice seemed to put on a formal act around the headmistress. A little too stiff, but she didn’t seem to notice or care.\
The clipping of high-heels trailed off, leaving an eerie silence to fill the hall.
“I’m not stupid you know.” He snarled, before pulling back the tapestry. Natalie and I froze with terror as his sharp blue eyes bore into us.
“Typical, already snooping around on your first day.” He had thinning grey hair and a worn out face. But despite the anger in his voice there was an edge of…respect? No…that wasn’t it…But it sounded like he wasn’t all that disappointed in our ‘snooping around’.
“Well? Get out! Move! Go back to your dormitories and don’t come out until dinner tonight!” He barked, anger flushing his face once more. I nodded, too petrified to speak. At our old schools we had some strict teachers but no one like him. And just think, he’s like an ex-spy! He’s killed people; imagine what he’d do to miss-behaving students!
“S-s-sorry Mr.…”
“Greening. Now get out of my sight!”
We ran as fast as our legs would carry us to the courtyard, where we both flopped down in the perfectly green grass.
“Who was that guy?” I gasped through breaths, running my fingers through my hair.
Natalie shrugged. “’Mr. Greening’ I guess...and from the looks of things, he already hates our guts.” She said, laughing slightly.
I started at her bewilderedly. “How on Earth is that guy hating us funny?”
“Well…I dunno it’s just funny. School hasn’t even started yet and we’ve managed to make an enemy…”
“And whose fault is that?” I said, trying to keep a serious tone but filtering.
Natalie threw her hands up in surrender. “How was I supposed to know we’d get caught?” She asked the laughter still in her voice. I sighed. She’s hopeless…
Natalie met my eyes and gave me one of her looks. Eventually, I caved and burst into laughter with my sister.