You know, I heard there was a brawl in the upper level, last night.

[Hey, guess who's not even being vaguely subtle about his snitching, today!]

I'm not sure, where are we supposed to report things like that to the staff? Do I write a note about it?

There's --

[The voice on the intercom breaks off, and, when it returns, its tone is a strange muddle...trying for cold, haughty, and sharp, but being interrupted over and over by a childish quaver.]There's glass all over my cell. Like someone broke something, while I was -- asleep. I can't tell what its from or anything like that, but ( Read more... )

[Someone is trying awfully hard to keep a shiver out of his voice. It isn't working so well.]

I-it feels colder, today, than the last t-time they took our clothes. It must be getting deeper into winter.

[And, then, the voice is talking right into the intercom:]After dinner, when they let us back out of our cells ( Read more... )

[For a few seconds, if one listens especially close, one can make out some vague murmuring in French, not loud or clear enough to get a sense of. Then, suddenly, there's English:]Mm - when do we get the post, here ( Read more... )

-- Hey.

[Gilbert's voice, this morning, is breathy and less musical than usual, not to mention distant from the intercom.]

I need someone to help me to the showers.

Don't make any jokes. I'm dirty, and my legs feel - I don't know if I could walk there by myself, anyway. Just send someone to take me down there, and there won't be a problem.

[A ( Read more... )

[Well, look who's on the intercom - talking English, even.]

Mmm, when do we get out of these cramped cells for the day?

Do you expect us to not bathe or exercise or see the sun at all? Or do you just want us to suffocate, stuck in these stuffed up, tiny cells? It's boring, and the company's awful - if you're going to kidnap me, you could at ( Read more... )

...mm?

This isn't --

[The hushed voice over the intercom cuts off abruptly, leaving silence for a few, good minutes. Then, just as suddenly, it's hissing right into the speaker in sibilant French:]

Where is this? Whoever took me from my room, I'll -

When the headmaster finds out I'm missing ---

[A deep, slow breath]

Why are the doors locked?