Hi guys! Hope you're all keeping well, thanks for all the reviews on this chapter, and I'm sorry that I left Val in a critical condition last time...
Anyway, replies
ParagonNight666: Thanks (: I love to put a ton of drama in my stories because it keeps the plot going (: I have no plans to end this story anytime soon.
PabsCharMew: LOL. Its fine, your 'criticism' helps me tie up plot holes and make sure everything makes sense. The reason China attends the school is because back then it was mandatory for every magical child over ten to go to a mage school. So yeah... I'm kinda making up this as I go along, is that a bit too much? I hate China; she is a sadistic little bitch. Um, yeah... I quoted Harry Potter and the Harry Potter series did have a lot of library scenes. (; thanks!
iShipthem1: Yes, indeed it was sexter. Thanks (: xxx
Bella Pleasant: Skulduggery found the cure (: Hopefully he'll be able to get it in time! Thanks so much (: xxx
MehScrewIt: The brew of the sun is the only speck of light on a horizon that has never looked darker. Thanks (; I love sexter too! Xxx
On with the story
Oh, by the way, I've grown tired of calling the group the dead men and girls so I thought I'd just call them the dead gang, but if you think you might have a better name, tell me in the reviews!
General POV
Everyone ran over and gathered around Skulduggery and peered at the page he was reading, at once everybody was cheering and hugging each other. Erskine flung his arms around and uncomfortable looking Anton and even Saracen and Dexter hugged, but broke apart immediately afterwards, blushing.
"But guys, there is one thing, we need to get this cure, some of these ingredients are really rare and Mrs Grouse definitely won't have them." Said Ghastly seriously, pointing at the various ingredients listed.
"Well, I'm not just going to let Valkyrie die because we can't obtain the cure, I would gladly leave here this minute here if it meant I could go searching, and if you guys couldn't then I would go alone!" Said Erika ferociously, looking around.
"I would." Said Skulduggery, his eyes gleaming.
"Me too!" Agreed Avril
The whole group nodded and choruses of 'yeah' and 'I would' could be heard throughout the library.
"Why don't we do it then! We can take the book with us, pack some stuff and run away! We could do it tonight!" Whisper-yelled Avril, looking around expectantly at the group. Erskine and Charlena looked a bit uneasy but soon agreed on the plan.
"Okay, we need to sort this out then," said Ghastly, "I think everyone can bring one small bag with them, but only essentials, food, clothing and money, okay? We can meet at the front gate at midnight, tonight."
Everyone nodded, "Okay," Skulduggery said, "everyone, go up to your dormitories and pack your bags, just make sure no one sees you."
Everyone nodded and ran out of the library, Skulduggery with the book stuffed up the front of his jacket.
Avril's POV
Avril ran into her dorm room and grabbed her small canvas bag from under her bed. It was a black satchel-like one and it was big enough to hold what she needed.
Avril tossed a corset, chemise and dress into the bag then stuffed her purse into the bag's side pocket, she had about 40 shillings left from Christmas and she was pretty sure she would need every penny of it on the journey.
Avril sat down on her bed and watched as the sun set against the pink mountains, letting golden beams of sunlight cascade into the dark room. Purple clouds swam through the wonderfully blue sky and a coppery sun skimmed the horizon. Winter sunsets, Avril decided, were the most beautiful.
She looked at the old, tarnished grandfather clock and saw that it was six already. Dinner would be starting in five minutes and she reckoned that it would be a good idea to nick some food from the kitchen for the journey.
Avril hid her bag under her bed, strode out the door and jogged down the stairs to the breakfast hall where she saw The dead gang waiting at their usual table.
"Hi," Avril said nervously, everyone smiled mirthlessly; they all looked nervous and drawn.
"Have you packed?" Asked Dexter quietly, Avril nodded and he grinned, "well, it is a bit exciting right?"
"I suppose..." Said Charlena, though she was looking slightly excited too, "we're doing this for Val, any way we have nothing to be scared about, we can all take care of ourselves."
"Yeah!" Said Anton, leaning in, "hey, Avril, Skulduggery and I were just going to go to the kitchens and take some things, do you want to come and help?" he asked.
"Okay, I'll come," she said. Anton whispered something in Skulduggery's ear and he nodded, then the three got up and walked over to the front of the hall were there was a small door leading to the kitchens.
The crept in and ducked under a table next to the towering fireplace, where tall flames danced and reared. Avril crawled over to a cupboard and opened it.
Inside there were a few bowls of fruit, some bread, cheese and four bottles of beer and ale. Avril stuffed some cheese, bread and fruit into a large cloth bag she had found on the table, Skulduggery took two bottles of beer and Anton took two of ale.
Quietly, they snuck out of the backdoor of the kitchen and into a passage that led up to the boy's dormitories. They ran up the steep, stone stairwell.
They reached Anton's room and they pushed the bags of food under the bed.
"Okay, Anton, you and Erskine can bring this down tonight and we'll all help carry it as soon as we get past the school gates." Said Avril commandingly, "Sir yes sir!" Grinned Anton. Avril scowled and they headed back downstairs to finish dinner.
Page break
Avril lay in bed, fully dressed, looking at the clock. It was now ten to twelve; she reckoned it was probably time to head down to the gate. She got up and grabbed her bag, she had added a couple of extra things into it, a few candles, some matches, a quill and notebook and her pocket knife. It was a fine one, with a bottle opener, three types of knives, a cork screw and a pair of scissors.
There was a small note lying on her pillow, Avril had written it earlier. It explained that they were going to find the brew of Icarus and that no one should come and look for them.
Avril slung the satchel over her shoulder and took one last look around the room that had been her home for about four years, and then walked out the door.
Ten minutes later, everyone is ready, at the gate
"Okay guys, I've been doing some research and apparently there's a potion maker in Scotland that can sell us the cure, if we combine all our money we should have enough, it's expensive, ten pounds," Said Ghastly. They were all standing in the shadows of a tall oak tree. The moon had risen and stars scattered the sky like rhinestones.
"Okay, we might just have enough, though we'll need to buy food on the way..." Said Erika thoughtfully.
"Look, I read the newspaper today and it said there was a ship sailing for Scotland in three days, if we could get to the port for then I think we might have a chance of stowing away on the ship." Anton stated. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Okay, sounds like a plan, we can get into Dublin central and pay for a ride to the port, we'd have to walk about twenty miles to get to the town centre." Said Skulduggery, they all nodded and then started to follow the dirt path that wagons often took towards Dublin city.
Oooh, exciting right, running away, this isn't going to be a one chapter adventure though, this is going to be a long journey, like in lord of the rings! Please follow, favourite and review, it's not hard, just click that little box (:
