Page 83 of Knox Academy Omnibus
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Amelie
I rage. Before, I was shaken up, afraid, betrayed. Now I’m angry. Raging. I cannot believe they played me like that. I really thought there was...something...developing between us. Now I know it was all a lie. I just don’t knowwhy. Kalen’s betrayal, his inaction, hurts the most. Although what Slate did…the memories his actions brought back…
No. I’m going to stick to my rage and cling to it like a life raft. I need to get away from this godforsaken prison school once and for all. I’ve lost sight of my mission to get sent home, stupidly starting to think ofthisplace as home. I’ve been so foolish. I need out. Now.
I’d been warned before about trying to get sent home. Told it was futile, that there wasnothingI could do that would get me kicked out. I’m about to call their bluff on this bullshit.
I sneak across campus dressed all in black, it’s the early hours of the morning and I don’t plan on getting caught before I’m good and ready. There’s no one around. I don’t even see Baxter skulking in the shadows like so many times before.
As I slip into the main building through a window that Kalen had once told me is always unlocked, for once it doesn’t take me ages to find my way to Monty's office. I think I’m finally finding my way around. A frisson of pride shoots through me but I temper it down; I don’t want to be proud of anything to do with this school. Apart from getting kicked out of it.
Another excellent life skill my brother and Smalls taught me a long time ago, was picking locks. I’ve always been a whizz at it, but I genuinely expected Headmaster Knox’s office to have better security. I was still in single digits when I could pick a lock like that, blindfolded.
It takes seconds and I’m in. Why doesn’t he have better security? He’s too trusting. He treats everyone like they have a clean slate coming here, but that’s about to bite him on the ass. My eyes scan the escape routes even though I’ve been here before - old habits die hard and all that - and I do a sweep for cameras. None. The old man is far too trusting.
I cross to his desk and boot up his pc. whilst it loads I check his desk drawers - all unlocked and full of pointless crap and stationery. Who puts pens and highlighters in a drawer? I check under the desk carefully, tapping and checking for loose or hollow areas, but find nothing. His filing cabinet only contains financial records. That in itself is strange. Where are our files? I know for sure that this place is old school and has a paper trail, so where is it being held? A quick scan of his bookshelves reveals nothing. The only interesting thing in the whole room being the photo of him with his sons. No picture of Laura anywhere. Wouldn’t a guy want a picture of his fiancé in his place of work? Especially when he’s punching above his weight. As much as I despise my mother, I know she’s attractive and out of Monty’s league. Why isn’t he bragging about that?
The computer loads the password login screen and I drum my fingers on the desk. Hacking isnotmy thing. I idly wonder ifI should give it a go, or just call in backup. I finger the phone in my hoodie pocket, turning it over and over as I debate what to do...I’m going to try.
I type in everything I can think of: his name, birthday, Laura’s details, his son’s. Combinations of those. I guess dates. I try family, Knoxfamily, onebighappyfamily, familyoverblood and just random stabbed letters on the keyboard.
Think!I tell myself. I sit back in his chair, close my eyes and take a deep breath. Snippets of conversations since I arrived here flit through my head: being told I can’t do anything to leave; Elsie saying they have ways of making you comply; the mystery of why I’m in second year; Baxter talking about me being prey or hunted or something; him telling me to pay better attention; the twins saying their father brought me here for a reason.
It’s me. I’m the clue. I tentatively reach out and type in my birthday.Incorrect Passwordflashes on the screen in front of me. I sag with disappointment and wonder if I should just give up and trash his office so that he knows someone has been here. My finger hovers on the shutdown button but something makes me type in the date I came to Knox Academy instead.Password Acceptedflashes up on the screen and then the pc begins to load. I’m in! I can’t believe it worked!
I spend ages - it has to be hours - going through his computer meticulously. I can’t find what I’m looking for: our files. I know they exist, where else did the twins find my video? If he doesn’t have physical files, why can’t I find the digital ones? I’ve checked everything - even password protected folders - and they’re not on here. Fuck. Now what do I do?
I check the time and realise I’ve been here a lot longer than expected. I need to leave before the admin staff come in. I want to get caught, but it has to be by the right people. What to do…
I need to leave Monty a message, one that leaves him no doubt that it was me in here. But what?
Inspiration strikes and I grab a sharpie out of his top drawer. I cross to the mirror and scrawl my message across the glass:the bitch will rip your heart out when she leaves.
Satisfied that my message will be received loud and clear, I leave the office, not bothering to lock the door behind me. As I’m sauntering back across the campus grounds, acting like I don’t have a care in the world, a shadow passes over me.
“Oh. It’s you,” I say flatly, looking up at Baxter Branson’s serious face. I’m not sure how I feel about his presence, he always seems to appear at just the right time - or the wrong time, depending on how you look at things.
“I know what you’re doing.”
“So?” I throw my shoulders back and raise my chin in defiance.
“It won’t work,” he tells me.
“I’m sick of everyone telling me that,” I gripe.
“You were looking for dirt. You weren’t just trying to break in to get kicked out; you were in there too long.”
“I didn’t see you on my way in,” I point out.
“I’m around more than you think.”
“So what am I doing then?” I demand, hands on hips.
“You’re looking for files. I’d guess the student files. The question is why. I have my theories.”
I open my mouth to answer, not sure if I want to confirm or deny, when Baxter suddenly interrupts me.
