Neverland Academy (17 page)

“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.