CHAPTER 10

Ally sat in the corner of the canteen on her own, watching Caine giving his speech and the entire population of Coates Academy (who weren't over 15) watching and listening far more intently than they had done in any lesson before. Ally still couldn't quite believe what was happening, it was a shock enough for it to have been her first day at a new school, without the whole adults disappearing and signal going thing. She turned her attention back to Caine and marvelled at the amount of confidence that was radiating off him; it was as if his whole life he'd been preparing for this moment. His little speech had come to an end now and he was ordering people about, giving them all jobs. What surprised Ally was that they all listened to him, although she could tell they all had some respect for him, as well as fear for some reason. As Ally watched, Caine caught her eye and when he finished a few minutes later and the crowd departed, he jumped down from the table and walked over to her.

"You alright?" He asked; his expression serious for once. Ally thought about it for a minute, was she ok? In truth it hadn't really hit her yet, everything had happened so quickly. She finally nodded unconvincingly and Caine opened his mouth to say something else, but before he could, a boy around 11 or 12 came running in looking scared.

"There's a wall a giant wall it's just come out of nowhere and it goes up way into the sky and you can't touch it cos it really hurts you if you do and sometimes you can hardly even see it but it's there and we tried following it but then it didn't stop!" The boy blurted out all in one breath and Caine and Ally exchanged a worried look before Caine turned back to the boy and nodded.

"Ok Bennett, go and get a team of other guys and follow this wall, see where it stops. Oh and try digging. I'll take a look later." The boy nodded and ran back out and Caine turned back to Ally.

"A giant wall that doesn't stop? So we're stuck?" She said slowly, her voice ice-cold.

"We don't know that yet." Caine replied calmly but Ally shook her head slowly, her expression dangerous.

"So you got me sent here, to some 18th century boarding school, where I'm now TRAPPED with ALL THE FUCKING ADULTS GONE?" She shouted, shaking with fury.

"Well to be fair I didn't know the last bit was gonna happen…" Caine shrugged as Ally threw her fist at his face. But, as with every time she tried to hurt him, she never made contact. "AND WHY CAN'T I HIT YOU?" She shouted, frustration and anger filling her. Caine smiled and raised his hand slightly and as he did, Ally felt her feet lifting off the ground. "W-what's happening? C-Caine? Caine PUT ME DOWN!" But Caine just twirled his finger round and watched as Ally, a few metres off the ground, began spinning as well. She felt sick, and not just from the spinning. This. Was. Not. Normal. Caine finally put her down and shrugged.

"It's called a power." He said simply and laughed at her shocked face. Then he rolled his eyes. "Oh come on, so the adults all disappear and you don't even blink and then when you found out I have some awesome power you go like that?" He laughed and shook his head. "You're so weird…" And then he made to leave the room.

"I still hate you for getting me in this mess!" She shouted after him and he stopped and turned back round to face her.

"Mess? And what makes you think this is a mess?"

"Um let me see, we're trapped with no adults, weird things are happening all around us, we have no idea how long we'll be here for and you don't think this is gonna turn out a mess?" Caine smiled and shook his head.

"No, I think it sounds like an opportunity. My…our…chance to prove to the world what we're all about!" Ally raised an eyebrow.

"And what's wrong with waiting till we're older and getting a good job or whatever and proving ourselves that way?" She asked, arms folded. "Y'know…the normal way!" But Caine ignored her.

"I'm gonna lead everyone through these hard times as a great leader and when the adults appear again they'll recognise the courage and skill I used and I'll be universally adored."

"Cue evil laugh." Ally said boredly. "Honestly Caine get a grip, we don't even know the adults are coming back, this isn't the time for playing Powerful Leader." He met her eyes.

"And what if you were to be my right-hand man?" He asked.

"Right-hand girl and thanks, but no thanks. I don't particularly want to join the make believe team. I'll just focus on getting myself through this hell."

"Ok cool so I'll see you in an hour in the head master's office for a meeting." He said and walked out the room. Ally watched him leave, confused at what had just happened. Had he really just mistaken her reply for a yes? But this was Caine, disillusioned Caine who always had to get what he wanted. She rolled her eyes and left the canteen too.