Warning: Mention of a bad word, injuries and slight torturing

Enjoy!

Bilbo saw grey at the edge of his vision. He blearily opened his eyes, and found himself on the carpeted floor of a classroom. Indistinct figures stood over him, murmuring.

"Bilbo?" someone whispered. He made it out to be Kyle. One of his eyes was swelling, and there was a nasty scratch on his forehead.

"Welcome back to the land of the living," Oscar said, his eyes glinting dully in what little light there was in the classroom. "That was quite a blow you took to the head."

"Why is it so dark?" Bilbo struggled to pull himself into a sitting position. He recognised Flynn, Bailey and Theo in the classroom with him.

"Because it's night," The blonde dwarf indicated to the window beside him, where a shaft of moonlight was streaming in. "You've been out for a pretty long time, Bill." He winced slightly as he lowered his arm.

"What happened?"

"The Trolls happened," Bailey said tiredly. "After they knocked you out, they took you hostage and threatened to harm you if we had kept on fighting."

"Naturally, we agreed to stop," Theo was pacing agitatedly. "They shoved us into here without any of the teachers noticing, and herded the others away. We've been here for hours. And they took our stuff. My phone, Bailey's glasses-"

And my iPad," Kyle interrupted, his eyes smouldering with rage at the thought of the trolls playing on his iPad. "However, we found another one some careless student left behind. Flynn and I managed to guess the password, and we've been taking turns in playing on it. It's my turn now." He swiped his finger across the iPad screen and made a face. "Bleugh, 'Toca Hair Salon'. Where's the fun in that?"

"Is there a reason why no one has bothered to look for us?" Bilbo asked.

Oscar shrugged. "The teachers don't meddle with student business; they're just here to teach us stuff."

"So…we're stuck here."

Bailey thought about this for a moment before giving an answer. "Yep."

"Wonderful, just wonderful," He rubbed his forehead in stress, before looking back up. "Is there a whiteboard in here?" he inquired.

"Yeah…" Theo answered confusedly. "Why?"

"Well…we could play some games or something, since we've got nothing else better to do. Unless," he turned to look at the others. "Anyone else has a better suggestion?"

When no one replied, he launched into an explanation of his game. "Well…there's this game I really like playing…"

"Go Oscar!"

"C'mon! Get a move on Theo!"

The game Bilbo had decided to play was 'Pictionary'. To those who don't know, 'Pictionary' is when you divide into two teams, and one student from each team (they take turns) must draw an action, situation or an object. The team that guesses their teammate's drawing first receives a point. Bailey and Theo were in a team, versing Oscar and Flynn. Kyle had decided not to play, too engrossed in playing 'Toca Hair Salon', which made the teams uneven, so Bilbo had decided to step out and be the word master, that is, give the words for them to draw. At the moment, their teams were on a tie of four points. Bilbo had decided it was a 'first to five' game.

"What on earth are you drawing, Theo?" Bailey was squinting at what looked like a bed with love hearts around it.

"I know!" Flynn snapped his fingers in recognition. "Making babies!"

"Yes!" Oscar punched the air in triumph.

"Oh goody," Kyle murmured from the corner. "Now I just need to cut some hair off…"

Theo grumpily put down his whiteboard marker. "Technically, the word was 'sex'. I didn't know how to draw it! What did he draw!?"

Bilbo had a sneak peek at the brunette's drawing. It was two ladybugs sitting on top of one another, with little hearts around it.

Flynn smirked. "A sweet picture, isn't it?"

"Oh, shut up." Oscar joked, playfully swatting the blonde.

"Touching," Bilbo turned to see Bert standing at the door, leering at them. He hadn't noticed him open it.

"It's time to take you to meet the others," he continued. "So we can begin the interrogation."

"And what will make us come with you?" Bailey looked the troll up and down with a disgusted look.

"This," He pulled out his iPhone and unlocked it. He pressed something on the screen.

"Yes?" came the low grunt of William, coming through the speaker. "I'm guessing they don't believe you?"

"Why do you think I'm calling you then?" he snapped back. He turned to the others and gave a fake grin. "Come closer to the phone screen, and say hello."

Cautiously, Bilbo inched towards Bert, and looked. There, in another abandoned classroom, were the other dwarves. Just a metre away from them was Bruno, his hands pinned down by Tom. The ginger dwarf had multiple bruises on his arms and legs. Tear tracks were shining on his pudgy face, as he pleadingly looked at the camera.

Bilbo took a step back in horror, as Tom sneered at him. "Are you sure you want to refuse our demands?"

"Bill!" Flynn tightly grabbed his shoulder. "What did you see?"

He gathered himself before speaking, "They're torturing Bruno in another classroom. If we don't come, they'll probably break his arm or something."

"Too right you are," Bert said, locking his phone. "Now come on. If any of you try to escape, this phone will be out before you can say 'run'."

Exchanging dubious glances, the boys filed out of the classroom. The last one to leave was Kyle, who still was trying to play whilst avoiding obstacles.

"I'll take that." On the way out, Bert grabbed the iPad from him. Glaring, Kyle stomped down the corridor to the others.

They made so many twists and turns, Bilbo's head was spinning. The cunning Tom had decided to use the school staircases instead of the lifts, to make sure the others didn't know which floor they were on. After a few minutes, they came across a classroom with a small window cut through it. T17 was engraved on a dull silver plaque on the door. Before Bilbo could look through, Bert shoved him out of the way and rapped sharply on the wood.

"Bert?" Someone grunted, presumably William.

"I have the others," Bert growled. "Now open the door before I smash it down."

"That's definitely him," Tom's voice sounded muffled, as if a piece of cloth was over his mouth. "Open the door."

The door swung open. Bert's beady eyes glittered at them as they walked into the classroom. Bombur was still being held by Tom, as the others watched; too tired to acknowledge them Bilbo felt a surge of anger. How dare they?

They were roughly thrust into the other dwarves, as William began to speak. As they were jostled around, Bilbo felt a lump in his pockets. As he inconspicuously shoved his hand into the pocket, he felt the unmistakeable edge of his rubber phone covering. He quickly took it out.

They forgot to take my phone, he thought in surprise.

"Now," William rubbed his hands together gleefully. "I presume you know why you're here."

The Company stayed silent, glaring at the trolls. Bilbo seized the opportunity, and bumped his hand into Theo's thigh. He broke his glare and looked down (since he was taller). Bilbo flashed the phone screen at him. His eyes widened in surprise.

"A distraction-"Theo murmured.

"Would be great," Bilbo finished for him.

"How long?" Theo was already leaning to whisper in Darcy's ear.

"As long as you can give me." Bilbo unlocked the phone, wincing as it made that familiar snapping sound. He looked up to see if any of the trolls had noticed, but they were all fixated on the others.

"So, why are we here again?" Oliver asked innocently.

Bert slammed his fist down onto a nearby table, making him flinch slightly. "Isn't it clear!? We're here for your newest asset!"

Crap, Bilbo thought as he watched William push through the dwarves towards him, rooted on the spot in panic. Quickly, he passed the phone into Theo's hands, before the troll reached out an arm and dragged him to the front of the classroom.

"Now, why did you join them?" Bert snarled, shoving a whiteboard marker under his chin. Bilbo would've laughed if the situation wasn't so dire.

"Cause I felt like it," he shrugged. "What's it got to do with you?"

Bert pressed the marker into his chin harder. "This is all a bit fishy, isn't it?"

"So is your breath," He heard Theo sigh in exasperation, and saw Oliver facepalm.

"Answer the question!" Behind the troll's back, Theo waved the phone frantically in the air, mouthing: I sent it! Next to him, Blake held up his hands, his fingers outstretched and an encouraging smile on his face.

Five minutes, he mused. I have to keep them talking for five minutes. He was going to have to improvise.

"You are all clueless, aren't you?" he sneered, trying to look as mean as possible. "You have no idea of what's going on."

"What?" The look on Tom's face was priceless.

"Don't you find it a little bit strange that I, a well-respected student, would join the likes of these people," He thrust a hand at the Company. "A collective of geeks and losers!?"

"Well, that's what makes it so strange, innit?" Bert said. "Even Alan Davies is interested in you."

Bilbo pressed his face to Bert's, trying to ignore his fishy breath. "Did it…occur…to you numbskulls that I am spying for him?"

"Bill, what are you saying?" Kyle shouted, confusion in his tone.

"Alan told me to spy on them, you know," Bilbo hated this, but it was the best way to delay them-with an interesting story. "He approached me, and told me he had taken a liking to me. He then told me to invite the Company over to my dorm. That was three nights ago. As soon I can slip away from these losers, I'll have four days' worth of information to report back."

William seemed taken aback, as he tried to find an answer to Bilbo's sudden proclamation. "Well then, why don't you tell us, and then we can tell Alan?"

Crap. "…Because, this is information for his ears only."

"But we are all part of the same group aren't we?" Bert said, a dangerous glint in his eye as the truth finally began to dawn on him. Bilbo gulped.

"You take us for fools?" he snarled.

"Yes, I do. Because you forgot to take my phone."

BANG

At that moment, the classroom door swung open. In the door frame, stood Mr Grey, a steely glint in his eyes as he observed the scene in front of him. Tom slowly let go of Bruno's arms, his eyes not leaving the principal. The dwarf took the chance, and raced into the outstretched arms of Blake.

"You know," the wizard contemplated. "I hate giving out detentions."

Bert paled.

Comments? Criticism? Both are welcome!

To those who have read His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman, are you interested in the concept of daemons living alongside us? Then check out The Daemon Page! It tells you how to acquire your own daemon (though it will take mental work) but it's pretty cool. They're in a bit of a newbie drought in the forums at the moment, so I'd thought I'd advertise them here, so they can get a few new members looking for their daemons :)