Chapter One
Christabel and Marianne had been best friends almost since the day they arrived at Warley Grammar. For the most part, the mistresses saw this as a Good Thing – the pair complemented each other well. Christabel was conscientious and studious, while Marianne was lively and outgoing; so the one was more likely to complete her prep and the other more likely to see the light of day because of their association.
On this occasion, the light of day was the beautiful, dappled shade available in the Headmistress' Walk, a footpath leading from the gymnasium to the boarding house, which marched alongside the Head's garden for a short spell. Despite its proximity to the Centre of the Rule of Law at Warley, it was often a focus for illicit activities; but today's activities were no more illicit than the consumption of a packet of bubble gum. Their efforts to blow bubbles were proving largely unsuccessful, and Marianne was becoming frustrated.
"This is rubbish, Chris!" she exclaimed, taking the gum out of her mouth and wrapping it up in its paper, jettisoned it crossly into the shrubbery. Her friend caught her arm just too late, and the litter went flying.
"Oh, Merry, you mustn't!" she said worriedly. "The gardeners will find it, and then there'll be trouble and we won't be allowed here any more." She scrambled to her feet from their position lounging at the foot of a spreading oak, and picked her way carefully between the bushes, scanning the ground for the tell-tale sign of lurid pink paper. "Come and help me look."
Sulkily, Merry did as she was bid, and the pair peered into the green gloom of the lush bower. Pushing a little further in, Merry's eye was caught by a splash of colour.
"Chris, I think I see it!" She stepped further, skirting a robust hebe and pushing under the trailing boughs of a weeping willow. And stopped.
And screamed.
Chris rushed to her side, care for the plants forgotten. When she followed Merry's gaze, she too caught her breath. It was the history mistress, Miss Lambert; but the beautiful scarf she was wearing had been fastened far too tight. Her tongue protruded grotesquely, and her eyes were staring.
Turning her back, she caught Merry in a tight hug, to try to calm her, but the screaming went on, and on, and she realised she was doing it too.