Sorry I took so long to post. I had a writers block and lots of other stories. I hope you like.
CHERUB
I stirred in my sleep, and half rolled over. I yawned slightly and took in the smell. Weird, my duvet smelt new. I opened my eyes, and reached blindly for my glasses. They were on a table by the side of the bed. I put them on and looked up at an unfamiliar roof. I rolled over onto my left side, and realized I was in a double bed. I could see a fridge, a phone, a kettle, a microwave. I pulled the duvet off to get out, and noticed I was naked. I instinctively pulled the blanket around my waist, and got out of the bed. I saw some clothes, weird greeny-coloured cargo pants and an orange t-shirt with a baby sitting on a ball holding a bow and arrow. They were all the right size for me. I got dressed, and went over to the window. There was a bunch of kids playing soccer on Astroturf.
I struggled to remember how I got here; the last thing I remember was getting off the plane. I wondered where Jessie was, and pulled on the socks as I had another look around the room. There was no note or anything. Weird. I wondered what I should do.
I walked to the door and tried the handle. It was unlocked.
I opened it too a spacious corridor. It looked spotless then I noticed a set of muddy boot tracks heading towards a lift. I stopped, unsure, and then thought what the hell. If I did the wrong thing they could hardly blame me. They left me in the dark. Not literally, I thought, as I looked the other way along the well-lit corridor to see two staircases, one going up the other going down. Hmm, go down. Most business like places had the receptions on the first floor. And this looked business like.
I took the stairs two at a time and got down fairly quickly. Another set of stairs. I raced down them, and ran into a massive man wearing a white shirt with the same logo. I fell over and cracked my head on the stairs. Man that was dumb.
I stood up, and started apologizing to the man. All he said back was.
"Can't speak to orange."
I sighed and kept walking down the stairs. This time they came out on a big open-like reception looking area. Sure enough, a lady, smiling slightly walked up and said,
"Hello Matthew. Doctor MacAfferty is waiting for you."
A doctor? Am I in a mental hospital or something? I know I chucked a sad when I found out about Shae… But wouldn't anyone? I mean… seriously was I that bad. But the weird man on the stairs? Oh well, I would find out after I talk to this Doctor guy I guess.
I walked to the door she gestured me to, and stood awkwardly beside it. Then it hit me. Her and the man both had English accents…
She knocked on the door, and a soft Scottish accent called, "come in."
I opened the door, and walked in nervously. A man who looked to be in his late fifties smiled welcomingly at me, over a file that had my name on it. I recognized it from when the lady at the care home had had it out.
"Aaah, Matthew. Take a seat."
I walked stiffly towards one of the hard-backed seats around his table. His office had full height windows and a crackling fire. The walls were lined with leather bound books. A few comfy armchairs were scattered around the fire.
He laughed softly, a bell like laugh, and gestured towards the armchairs. "Over there."
Once I had sat down, he began.
"I am Doctor MacAfferty, the chairman of CHERUB campus. Everyone calls me Mac for short."
"How did I get here?" I asked him suddenly.
He frowned slightly at me then said, "You fell asleep on the plane because of a mild sedative Nellie gave you. You were carried off the plane and driven here. No ill effects I hope."
"Where exactly is here."
"Well, we're in England as you may have worked out."
That explained the accents and the cold.
"But that's about all I can tell you at this time."
"Okay, what can you tell me then."
"We have two hundred and eighty pupils. Four swimming pools, six indoor tennis courts, an all-weather football field, a gymnasium and a shooting range to name a few. We have a school onsite. The classes have ten or less people, and everyone has to learn two foreign languages. We have a higher proportion of students going to university then any of the leading public schools. How would you feel about living here?"
"Depends."
"On what?"
"Where my sisters are."
"Your sisters are safe. Both of them. We are sorry for tricking you, but we told you that to get you on the plane."
"Where are they?"
"Somewhere safe, if you agree to do the tests, and past I will tell you."
"What test?" I
asked warily.
"You're making me do this out of order. We have
two requirements for you to get a place here. The first is they pass
our entrance exam. The second is an unusual one. It is that you agree
to be an agent of the British Intelligence Service."
"What?"
"A spy Matthew."
"You use kids for spies? Like Alex Rider? Cos people don't suspect them."
Mac smiled faintly.
"Yes."
"So these tests? Are you proposing to take me in to be trained for a spy if I pass them? And my sisters too?"
"Yes."
"Is it dangerous?"
"Most missions are fairly safe. CHERUB has been running for fifty years, and there have been four deaths. The worst that has happened in the ten years I've been chairman is a bad case of malaria and someone being shot in the leg."
"The missions go to an ethic committee for approval. Everything is explained to you and you have a right to refuse or withdraw from a mission at any time."
"Okay. So when do these tests start?"
Mac smiled grimly. "Right now."