A/N: sorry it's taken so long, I've been on my practice DOfE expedition, I'll write a lot over this week. Thanks for reading and reviewing, I love hearing what you guys have to say about the story so far.

Fight or flight

She struggled through the night, in the cold, damp conditions limping to her destination. Amanda wasn't far from St Trinian's now but the pain from her body made the distance seem so much longer. Her less injured hand was snaked round her other clamping the soaked bed cover that Piers had wrapped round to keep pressure on the wound. The clothe couldn't absorb anymore blood and now the red liquid started trickling down her arm and continued down her chest and belly, then it would drip onto the moist grass or cool road creating an occasional trail behind her along the path. The streets were bare from passersby, no one to help or assist Amanda in her slow approach to St Trinian's. Only the sound of the slightly breezy wind kept her company. She could feel her mobile vibrating every 2 minutes which she guessed was from Piers ringing her, testing herself from picking up she continued down the road till she arrived at St Trinian's main gate. The gates immediately opened when Amanda stumbled onto her knees right in front of the path. Two fairly small girls rushed out, both the same height. The girls clambered onto all fours, snuggled under Amanda's arms and slowly lifted her up so that she was standing but with help from the girls. Amanda looked to her sides and instantly recognised the girls; they must have been on the last few minutes of their night watch.

"Tania, Tara...I'm so glad to see you" Amanda moaned through gritted teeth as they made their way to Mrs Fritton's office. Amanda looked up as they closed in on the massive mansion ahead of them. She could see huge groups of girls' squishing against the glass windows to get a clear view of Amanda and the girls. Some realised what had happened and left the windows when others just stayed there for longer. It wasn't long till Annabelle, Lucy, Bianca, Chelsea, Roxy and Zoe came running out to give the twins a hand carrying Amanda to the office. When she was comfortable on the couch awaiting the arrival of their head mistress.

"Miss is going to bring Matron so she can check your injures" Roxy assured Amanda that everything was going to be ok.

"Who did this to you?" Lucy was already looking at Amanda's bloody arm, her fingers prodding the open wound, making sure it wasn't serious.

"No one...I mean it was my fault" Amanda grunted as Lucy was digging even deeper into the cut.

"So it wasn't Piers?" Chelsea was obviously confused, as she frowned and looked around at all the girls sighing in her face.

"Of cause not, I was the one who managed to break the glass; I was trying to leave when Piers grabbed my leg and I fell and landed on a piece of glass" Chelsea's face contorted when she looked on to the injury.

"I'll take your word for it" She placed her hand in front of her mouth to stop herself gagging. As Chelsea turned around to stop herself staring at the mess on Amanda's hand Camilla Fritton and Matron came stumbling through the door each holding a Tequila in one hand and a shot of vodka in the other. Miss Fritton froze as she too found the happening on earlier events hard to believe.

"Why that scruffy; no good; pompous; son of a B*tch. Piers really has it in for himself" Miss Fritton slammed her drinks down on the nearby coffee table, sat down next to Amanda on the sofa; reached for her phone and began to dial a number.

"It wasn't Piers it was me" Miss Fritton paused then hung up the phone.

"Then why are you here, surly Piers would patch you right up with the finest doctor's in Britain" Miss Fritton snorted as she leant back into her seat, examining Amanda's hand.

"I wanted to see if...Well If he could change. But he won't...Or as he says, He can't. I don't want to live that life but I have no choice." Amanda's uninjured hand fell to land on her tummy, she stared down; tears were building up in her eyes. The girls saw this and cuddled Amanda till she almost couldn't breathe.

"Matron, have a look at that hand and get it bandaged up. Then girls, escort Amanda back to her bed. She will need a long nights sleep to recover from that" Miss Fritton then picked up her drinks, gulped them in one and exited the room. Matron also finished her drinks and staggered over to Amanda.

"Let's have a look dear...Now there's nothing to worry, it hasn't gone too deep so to cause serious damage. I'll just get you cleaned up and bandaged then you'll just have to wait about 4 months till it fully repairs" Amanda's only reply was a nod, she knew that by cleaning the wound that it would sting more and she really wasn't looking forward to that. Most of the girls left for bed, as Matron was starting to slowly bandage the hand up. The pain was still there for Amanda, her eyes were watering but she felt no need to cry. After Matron was done, Amanda thanked her for her help and steadily walked up the stairs and into the bedroom area. All of the girls were changed into their pyjamas and Amanda felt like the odd one out as she still was wearing her casual clothes. As Amanda leaped on to her bed a white t-shirt fell on top of Amanda's chest.

"You might want to change your t-shirt" Amanda glanced to the side of her, to see Roxy smiling down at her.

"Thanks...This t-shirt doe's need a wash" Amanda's original shirt was covered in blood from the arm all the way to the bottom of the fabric. It had absorbed a hell of a lot of blood and was probably beyond wash repair. Amanda threw her old shirt on to the floor and tried on her new one. It was a perfect fit; not to tight but not too baggy. Amanda then lay back onto her bed, she wasn't under the covers; she was too tired to move. The only light in the room was the faint flicker of a nearby candle still lit. The slight mumble of first years snoring was the sound that all the girls could hear. Only a few girls were sound asleep; most of the sixth form girls were still awake.

"Do you think Piers is going to run after you Amanda?" Lucy grumbled as the snoring was getting on her nerves now. Amanda didn't reply, she was too busy checking her phone. No new messages and no missed calls.

"That's strange" Amanda thought she was speaking in her mind but actual the words slipped out and almost all the girls who were awake shot up to her side.

"What's strange?" Annabelle asked looking worried.

"I've got no messages or even missed calls from Piers. It's weird of him to stop trying to contact me" All the girls leaned forward and each took turns staring at the phone.

"He's up to something" Chelsea placed her hands on her hips. "We all know Piers to not give up, defiantly against women" Most girls mumbled agreements.

"Look girls, it's probable nothing. He might have just gone to bed as its pretty late now"

"Amanda you're scared of the truth, your making excuses" Lucy folded her arms and raised an eyebrow. Amanda sighed and placed her phone back in her pocket.

"Can't I wish for it to be like that?"

"Amanda we're not telling you how to think...Piers is a powerful man, we just don't want you unprepared" Lucy shrugged her shoulders; released her arms from the crossed position and placed one hand on Amanda's shoulder.

"You might be right...Piers can be un-predictable" Amanda looked down to her phone once more, nothing was different. "We better get to sleep, it's getting late" All the girls spun round and returned to their beds, all whispering good nights to each other. One of the girls still standing blew out all the remaining candles, and then entered their beds. Amanda couldn't be bothered to get changed into something. She rolled onto her side so she could hug herself, to feel secure. Amanda found herself drifting into a short sleep, until a roaring noise was coming from outside. She rolled back onto her back and lifted one eye. The corridor was still pitch black but she could see the Silhouette of many girls out of their beds looking around.

"What's going on, it's not morning yet" Amanda moved her healthy hand and managed to turn on a nearby light.

"That noise...It's familial...It sounds like a helicopter" Roxy muttered as she stumbled around, trying to get a clear view out of the ceiling windows.

"You don't think it's him...You know the last time he broke in here, it was by helicopter" Lucy was already panicking; she was hiding behind her computer desk; with her favourite book onto of her head.

"I think that could be the answer" Annabelle butted in before any more worrying comments were made by other girls. As Roxy and Bianca continued to look outside through the windows, search lights began to glide across the school and around the bedroom area of the girls.

"Oh bugger it is him again, everyone get under cover" Roxy shouted as she flung herself behind her own bed. Many girls paused for a moment before running around the place looking for spare areas of comfort and safety. The loud, wind sound was becoming louder and louder till most of the girls had to cover their ears from the pain of the noise. Glass shattered everywhere, followed by men fully dressed in black and screams from the first years. As the men quickly removed themselves from there harnesses, they were soon looking around at the girls and pause when one of them pointed out Amanda. They grabbed her from her bed and threw her on the floor just under the yet again broken window. More screams were being produced as some of the men had restraint some of the girls from running to Amanda's side. Bianca was quick, she kicked the man in the privates and skidded over to Amanda; gripping her tightly in a hug, protecting her from the men covered in black.

"Get back into place, little miss" One of the men, slipped off his glove and slapped Bianca in the face. Amanda jumped up and punched him right on the nose. Two men grabbed Amanda's two arms and pinned her onto the floor. They pushed Amanda's head hard onto the ground so that she couldn't see the person entering the room by a rope ladder.

"Now, Now Daniel...I told you to go easy on my wife. You didn't believe the reputation of St Trinian's. Please remove your self's off my wife, she can't do much damage now" Amanda felt the pain from her back disappear and she was able to lift up her head. She blinked as one of the search lights from the helicopter caught her eye. She closed her eyes tightly and looked away for a second, then retried to see again. Piers was standing over her with his hand stretched out as to help her on to her feet. She accepted and Piers softly brought her up so that she was standing again. He smiled when the horror on her face went as she clearly saw who it was. "I know you gave me a note, but you did give me a horrible scare...As I said I'm not going to let you leave this time" Piers smoothly grabbed Amanda's arms so she had no choice but to hug him. Piers placed one hand over her head; massaging the area which had been slammed onto the floor. Piers then click his fingers and the next thing Amanda saw was all the men were producing small fuel bottles from their coats. Amanda pulled away from Piers but he had already tightened his arms around her waist.

"Let go of me!" Amanda screeched as she forced her hands free from touching Piers. "Why are you doing this?"

"To destroy this place once and for all" Piers grinned again and threw Amanda onto her knees as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a lighter. "Now you little girls, as you are aware my men are covering this place in petrol, which is highly flammable. Do as I say and you will all survive. If you don't obey me then you all burn alive" Piers began to laugh, followed by the rest of the men joining in.

"You're a monster" Annabelle yelled from across the room.

"I'm not a monster; this is merely pest-control. Now where is your beloved Headmistress?" No one answered. "Come on girls, cat got your tongue"

"How could you do this? How could you do this when you could have her? Why can't you realise if you stop all this she will be right at your side" Lucy blurted out. She paused then covered her mouth. Piers slowly turned round to face Lucy who was still hiding under the table.

"Well she's mine anyhow...She's confused on what she wants, she did return to me" Piers glanced down occasional to watch Amanda's reactions.

"Yeah, for a short period of time"

"Watch your mouth little lady, or you will jeopardize all the girls' lives in this room. It would only be a matter of time till SHE comes back to me"

"Shut up all of you! Stop saying she, I know you're talking about me...Piers if this is all because you want me then just have me, don't risk the lives of my friends just to get to me" Amanda shoved herself back onto her feet and her hands were on her hips.

"If only it was that simple Darling. I'm fed up of this stupid school, it seems everywhere I turn it's there in my face. And you still fall back to this place; take this place out of the matter and you have no place to go but to stay with me" Piers growled as he spoke. Amanda looked down on the floor, seeming fascinated at the glass pieces scattered on the floor. "So what's it going to be? Burn or be the natural cattle you were meant to be?"