A World Apart (35 page)

“Your father free?” spoke Mr Deeds abruptly to Jarvis.

“Certainly Sir” replied Jarvis, pretending to be interested whilst his mind was somewhere else.

“Have you sent for the patrols?” added Mr Deeds on his way to Philippe’s office. Jarvis was almost out of sight, heading for the main entrance and dormitories below.

“Y-Y-Yes, just a minute ago” replied Jarvis, no intention of structuring his sentence.

Mr Deeds centred his striped maroon suit jacket and lined up neatly in front of the head master’s office. Philippe and Mr Deeds have known each other since they were young children, going to nearby schools. This was also due to the fact that three other families populated their village as well as theirs, leaving little room to be selective about their friends out of school hour. This was exceptionally true considering that the next village was around twenty-five miles away. Mr Deeds mentions how much space and freedom there was back then but the modern day leaves no room for this, which Philippe has to endure him saying nearly every time they meet. Their friendship slowly disintegrated as they grew older and headed for secondary education. Mr Deeds would bully Philippe for money, homework and generally to act as his slave. One particular day changed Philippe’s attitude towards Mr Deeds after Philippe was severely embarrassed in class. Around three years of them hating each other and fighting it was all changed one day. A fight broke out in the grounds of the strict boarding school in the heart of Oxfordshire. Another bully, like Mr Deeds, but only worse started teasing him and pushing him around. Philippe was being pushed and pulled from all angles, until he snapped unknowingly, revealing his hatred for bullies. Bully Bryant he was called and his so-called loyal gang. Philippe lashed out at Bryant, dropping him to the ground. The crowds of children stood in amazement as they watched the youngster take on the bully of the school. At first the crowd didn’t know how to react, but after Bryant and his gang scurried off in fright the crowd cheered for him. Unfortunately for Philippe, he was punished with twenty lashings of the cane to his wrists and calf muscles. Philippe can still remember the agonising pain caused by his punishment, although to this day he never wishes to change anything. Despite the weeks of hobbling around, Philippe was popular with most of the children and the bullies were taught a lesson. This lead to him being friends with Mr Deeds again, showing him that he is to be pushed around no more. Mr Deeds often feels deep regret for his actions, but Philippe doesn’t hold any grudge and remains a good friend to this day.

Mr Deeds looked Jarvis up and down as he watched him walk down the stairs to the main floor. Mr Deeds held his instinct thoughts within himself as he felt as if something was happening behind his back. He retained them deep in his stomach, as Philippe would not be impressed with an accusation against his child. Nevertheless, Mr Deeds gave an inquisitive groan as he looked up at the stairs where Jarvis had been, shaking his head as he saw nothing at the top.

“The modern age baffles” said Mr Deeds aloud to himself. The door to Philippe’s office rustled and opened as Mr Deeds started to walk back down the stairs to the main floor like Jarvis.

“The modern day remains complex Mr Deeds. There is little room and little time anymore. The death of all people it shall be” exclaimed Philippe, deep in thought at what he had overheard. Mr Deeds carried on down the stairs as if he hadn’t heard Philippe, heading down a corridor that housed eight common rooms for each age range, stretching around a mile width in each room. The dome housed around thirty-thousand children from all countries, making it the largest school in England at present. Students filled the rooms like cattle as they were undergoing questioning by the patrols. Alice Green was comforting a small girl student called Penelope who was terrified by something. Mr Philip Bird however, took a more relaxed posture to the events and decided to gaze out of the window. Teaching head master Johnston was stood facing the crowds of students, his arms folded as he waited for their attention. Mr Woi-Chi was struggling with a tray of drinks further down the corridor where Mr Deeds was standing, noticing him bumble in the distance and spill droplets of coffee onto the tray. One by one the students were questioned about knowing the escapee’s. Mrs Green was ushering a few students out of the way and heading towards the dormitories that are to the rear of the common rooms. She lifted the latch on the doors and insisted on the students heading outside. The students were Majtak-Homratk, Angelica and Pennie all looking gloomy at the thought of their friends on the run from the patrols. Mrs Green gave Majtak a key-fob and told them to hurry.

“Miss, what is this for? I’ve never seen a key like it” questioned Majtak, twiddling the key in between his finger and thumb.

“It’s a special room. I want you to stay there for now, whilst the others are being questioned” replied Mrs Green, allowing no time for a reply of any of them. She hurried back inside the common room and quickly attended to a tall boy over by the buffet.

“What does all this mean?” asked Pennie, aiming the question at Majtak, assuming that he would know for he is always responsible for mischief.

“If I knew that I would try and find Ed!” replied Majtak consolingly.

“Well, lets not stand here all day. Miss Green’s obviously told us to go to the room for a reason” perked up Angelica, usually being the quiet one on decision making within the group. The three walked over to another building that has symmetrical windows along its face. Majtak spotted a main entrance further down the building. As they approached the doors they swung open immediately, Majtak placed the key back into his loose corduroy jeans as they all entered.

“How are we going to find where the room is?” asked Angelica, looking left and then looking right down the corridors.

“No idea!” replied Majtak, holding the key up to the light and examining.

“Wait! What’s that?” shouted Pennie, pointing to a tiny button on the key edge. Angelica and Majtak watched in amazement as she pressed the button. A red light appeared out of the front of the key which shined above their heads.

“Maybe it’s telling us where to go!” added Pennie, making the others laugh which annoyed her. The light beamed up the stairs, turning the corner as if it was a trail.

“See, its directing us!” continued Pennie, silencing their laughter. They followed the beam up the stairs, the beam changing the direction as they walked. They reached the top and the red light shined through a hallway door. Pennie opened the door and they all followed, where they saw hundreds of bedrooms for the students. The rooms looked identical to each other, which filled Angelica with doom of ever finding where to go. The red beam shined a perfect line down the left corridor. It would be quite easy for the children to get lost in the dormitories, often some of them did from time to time. Pennie’s friend once took four hours to find their room after going to a meeting in the common room. The children walked briskly towards the beams end but then it vanished.

“Where has it gone?” said Majtak, tapping the key at the thought of it losing power.

“Its here!” replied Angelica, facing the opposite way to the others. The beam was now a red square on the wall next to room number 220-DPL1.4.                      

“What on earth is going on! How are we supposed to go there, it’s not even a room!” cried Pennie.

“Do you think it means the room next to it? It could just not be working properly” said Majtak, thinking of a reasonable explanation for the utterly confusing events, which no-one bought. The room started to shake. The children started to panic.

“We should leave; I think we’re in danger!” cried Pennie urgently.

“No, hold on. Mrs Green wouldn’t have sent us here if she knew we would be in danger” bolted Majtak. The conversation ceased as they watched the wall open where the red beam was pointing to. Angelica gasped and struggled to put words together to describe what was going on. The small opening swung and clattered against the door frame of the next door bedroom. The other side of the opening was like nothing they had ever seen before. Inside the opening was a pristine meadow, full of life and sounds. The sun relaxing the grass as it swayed up and down casting layers of light and shades of shadows from the clouds. It looked like paradise to the children.

“Someone coming!” said Angelica, looking down the corridor towards the main hallway doors. Five patrols burst through the doors along with Mr Deeds and Mr Philip Bird clearly looking for them.

“Quick, we best get in here before they see us!” said Majtak, hiding in the minute space of the door frame, as were the other too. Majtak peered around and noticed the patrols gaining on them. Feeling brave he ran and jump through the opening and urged for the others to come through too. Pennie swung around and leapt through, leaving Angelica there on her own.

“Come on Angelica!” cried Majtak, desperately concerned for her as she was so anxious by his instructions. Majtak saw the look on her face, guessing that the patrols were close-by.

“Im sorry Angelica!” shouted Majtak, pressing the small button on the key as the opening slammed shut which threw him and Pennie flying onto the grass through the perfectly cut hole.

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“Over there!” hailed Alexandra, frantically waving her arms like a small child.

“It’s over by that tree, my tree!” added Alexandra, Francesca raised an eyebrow at her last words.

“I knew we were on the right tracks” concluded Alexandra, grinning emphatically at Francesca and Edward who found it has to reciprocate. The three walked eagerly towards a gigantic tree, certainly the biggest one in London anyway. Its branches shriveled from what Alexandra used to recall, but the sight of it she always thought was her imagination, which confirmed her hatred for the regeneration dome and the lies that they had all been told.

“We had better get a fire going then!” said Edward, rubbing his hands against his forearms and shivering thoroughly. They approached the house, which was half standing. The side of the house had collapsed and it barely looked safe at all.

“I don’t think you’ll need that key!” said Edward jokingly at the state of the house.

“Well, I’m not rummaging over all of that rubbish” replied Alexandra and strolled off towards the front door. Edward and Francesca stayed a few steps behind, taking in the scenery and looking for any items of use on the lawn. Edward found a damp blanket which he thought would keep them warm once cleaned and dried. Francesca found a cuddly toy rabbit poking its head out of all the undergrowth.

“That’s my sister’s!” said Alexandra, Francesca didn’t even know she had a sister. Edward and Francesca walked up the path and up towards Alexandra who seemed to be having trouble with opening the door.

“Are you sure it’s the right key?” said Edward, agitating Alexandra who kept on trying the key and applying more and more pressure.

“Let me have a go!” said Francesca, taking the key off Alexandra and placing the key in the keyhole. Still, the door would not open.

“Are you sure about this key? Take a look!” said Francesca, holding the key in what little light that remained.

“Oh my god!!” cried Alexandra, holding her hands to her mouth and staggering backwards.

“What’s wrong?” asked Edward concerned.

“It isn’t the right key. I know what this key is for” replied Alexandra, completely distraught.

“Where is this key for then?” chirped Francesca impatiently.

“A sweet shop mystery door that my sister used to visit when we were young” revealed Alexandra, embarrassed that she had sent them on a wild goose chase all of this time. Edward shook his head is despair.

“What are we supposed to do now! It’s cold, it’s nearly dark and we don’t know where we are and who is out there!” said Francesca, angry at Alexandra, although she felt bad as soon as the words left her mouth.

“It’s not my fault. If I wasn’t here where would you have gone anyway?” argued Alexandra.

“Stop it!” ended Edward.

“We will just have to find the sweet shop and stay there the night then won’t we!” added Edward.

“No, we can stop here as long as we are careful. We can head out in the morning. I think it has been enough for one day hasn’t it!” said Alexandra, looking up and the darkening clouds above. The three walked up to a half broken window. Edward took a nearby piece of wood and threw it gently at the window. The glass shattered into tiny pieces. A musty air escaped from the house that had been trapped for years. Edward, being a gentleman climbed into the house and opened the front door. The three of them sat down in the living area which was quite clean and orderly, apart from the odd cobweb and insect trails. Edward fetched what he could find from the wreckage and boarded up the window, leaving a tiny gap for light and also so they could look out. With the rest of the snapped wood, Edward started to build a fire using an old bucket for the base as he chucked the wood in and searched the kitchen for a lighting device. He soon came across some matches, which he struggled to use. He finally figured out how to use the matches after a few moments of Alexandra chuckling to herself. Alexandra and Francesca were huddling for warmth on the gracious green sofa, watching Edward as they started to fall asleep shortly after the warmth hit them. Edward sat lonesome in a chair, picking out the newspaper that he had in his back pocket. He began flicking through to find out information about what happened but found nothing at all. He too started to drift off after ten minutes.