"But what's the point? I mean, he'll just end up back in there tomorrow"

"But we're planning on being recognised."


Protector of Silence

Chapter Seven – An announcement and a jailbreak

"Kellyn! Kel-lyn? Oi Kel! You awake in there?" Someone snapped their fingers in front of Kellyn's face. He jolted upright, blinking several times. Liam and Nick were sitting in front of him on the crates around the back of Kaplan and Claire's training lab. Ponte was also there, but he appeared to be distracted by Kaplan's voice reciting Shakespeare echoing through the window, whilst munching though a packet of marshmallows.

"The lights are on but nobody's home" Nick mumbled. Kellyn whacked his temples with his fingertips and focused on them. Liam was frowning disapprovingly and had his arms folded.

"Were you listening to any of my explanation?" Liam asked. Kellyn shook his head. He'd been, in a word, distracted. Even since leaving the Pledge Stone, he'd been thinking over and over about how he'd spoken. Not grunts, not squeals or frantic squeaks, actual words. Okay, maybe only one word but hey - you have to start somewhere, right! For four hours straight, he'd sat by himself on the base of Pledge Stone, desperately trying to speak again. But no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't do it.

Now he had to focus his mind on other things. Like playing a key role in Liam's plot to get Keith out of detention. The poor thing had been trapped in that dark dingy room with Mr Kincaid for hours, who knew if he was alright, if he was traumatised, if he was alive...these words came from Liam's mouth.

"So, Kellyn, you'll be the one to get Kincaid out of the classroom" Liam explained "Just throw some crates or something in front of the basement steps."

Kellyn nodded. He wondered how any of the boys, accept for Keith of course, would react if they knew he could turn invisible so he would definitely not be seen throwing stuff around Kincaid's prized hallways.

"Nick" Liam turned to his attention to the older brunet opposite him "You and I will find two Ponyta and distract Kincaid in the basement. This will give Kate time to sneak into the classroom. Then, once Kellyn gives the signal, we get the heck out of there. Also, Ponte," he elbowed the distracted black-haired boy to get his attention "You will set Kaplan's Bidoof loose. That'll force Kincaid outside and give Kate time to bust our buddy outta there!"

Are you sure this'll work?

"Of course it will Kel!" Nick gave Kellyn a pat on the back so hard he almost fell off his crate "Liam's plans always work! After all, this is a guy who can plot or plan his way out of anything! Even suspension!"

But what's the point? I mean, he'll just end up back in there tomorrow

He looked at Nick and Liam before adding.

You guys too

"But we're planning on being recognised" Liam explained "See, Kincaid can't stop us from passing notes to each other in detention, he's always too busy reading or styling his hair or yelling at students not to run in the hallways to notice. Plus, it's going to rain all day tomorrow, so let's play outside today whilst it's sunny and deal with detention on a wet day." Kellyn shrugged and nodded. So long as he, and probably Ponte too, stayed out of detention, he didn't really care what happened to the others.

So, when do we begin your 'escape plan' ?

"Right after the announcement" Liam explained. Everyone looked confused "Yeah, Miss April's got some announcement to make in approximately," He checked his watch "Two minutes for both classes. Keith won't be attending of course. After that, we give Swirly-hair ten minutes to go back to styling his hair or whatever before we swoop in for the catch." Kellyn just nodded. The school bell sounded and they all stood up.

"That'll be the announcement" Nick sighed "Come on. Let's see what Miss April wants."


Everyone was waiting for them when they arrived. The students were sitting in a sort of semi-circle shape in the main hallway with Miss April and Principle Lamont at the front of the group. Mr Kincaid was probably stuck inside his room with Keith.

Kellyn smiled and sat between Rhythmi and Kate, crossing his legs and listening to Miss April with full attention.

"Okay students, everyone is here" said Miss April after a head-count "Liam will you please stop fidgeting. Ponte, put the marshmallows away, thank you. Tamie, Verity, maybe you would be more interested to find out what I'm saying. Good."

She cleared her throat "Now everyone. I have some special news about. Christmas competition coming up."

'Christmas?' Kellyn thought 'You're already thinking about that? It's, like, another two months away.'

"We're telling you it now as we feel it may take some of you a while to conduct" the Principle went on "The competition is: to produce a report on one Pokémon."

Murmurs rippled across the crowd. Kellyn shrugged.

'Doesn't sound too bad' he thought.

"You will be working in pairs" Miss April added "If any of you cannot find a partner, the Principle and I will find one for you."

But that probably wasn't required. Kellyn could already see people shuffling to get to their partners and whispering to each other. It appeared Sami and that brunette girl Verity were together, Becs and Tamie were whispering about something, Nick and Liam were shuffling through the crowd to get to each other, Rhythmi and Isaac were sharing glances and Ponte kept on looking at the door to Mr Kincaid's classroom, he probably wanted to work with Keith. So left him, Kellyn, with...

"Hey Kellyn" Kate looked down at him (He inwardly groaned as he was yet again reminded he was the shortest and youngest person in Ranger School) smiling "Don't suppose you wanna work together, do you?"

Kellyn looked around, realising there were no more partners to work with, and nodded.

"Any idea what Pokémon you want us to report on?" Kate asked.

Kellyn just shrugged. Then he had an idea.

My favourite Pokémon are the Eevee evolutions

"Really?" Kate asked "So you wanna do a report on an Eevee evolution?" Kellyn nodded eagerly. Miss April cleared her throat to get everyone's attention.

"That ends the announcement" she said "Janice will be playing the movie Pokémon Ranger And The Temple Of The Sea for anyone who wants to watch it in the common room." Immediately nearly everyone ran for the common room. The three most immature of the boys stayed behind, discussing their 'Jailbreak' attempt and Isaac and Rhythmi headed for the library together. Kate and Kellyn remained sitting on the ground.

"That movie again?" Kate groaned "Seriously, I've only seen it like a thousand times!"

Kellyn nodded.

Me too

"Don't suppose you wanna work on our project tonight instead of watching it then?" Kate asked "I mean, I know it's not due in until Christmas but, me being me, will probably forget all about it until like the day before we have to hand it in. Plus we haven't exactly got a lot to do."

Kellyn agreed.

"But first" said Kate, putting on a contagious smile "I suggest we kick back, have some fun and break our buddy out of jail. What'd ya say?"

Kellyn nodded eagerly.

The two to them stood up and walked towards the other three. And it was only when Ponte gave them a confused look they realised they had been holding hands.