Miranda – A New Beginning

Chapter 51

Spurred into action; the whole party start looking in every corner for a way out.

After ten minutes of frantic searching, Gary wonders if the exit, instead of being a door in the wall, could actually be above their heads. He points the light from his mobile phone to the ceiling and by luck he shines it in the right place and perceives a trap door.

Gary – "Quick; over here!"

Miranda – "Brilliant Gary! But how are we going to get up there?"

Gary turns to the students.

Gary – "If one of you can get on my shoulders you can try to open the door; but we have to hurry, those men could be back any time."

The smallest student, a boy of fourteen, is hoisted onto Gary's shoulders. Gary shines the light from the mobile to the latch. It opens easily and the boy is able to push open the trap door. He scrambles through and suddenly they can hear shocked voices above them.

Voice above – "Matthew! It's Matthew!"

People peer down into the room.

Gary – "Can you send down a rope? Or better still, a ladder; but quickly!"

A policeman is lowered down on a rope.

Policeman – "They've gone to fetch a ladder; won't be long."

Miranda – "Thank goodness!"

Within fifteen minutes everyone has climbed to safety.

Nun – "This is the room where we were attacked!"

The children are reunited with their parents and all is happy confusion. Miranda and Gary explain their part in the adventure and several policemen are sent back down into the room to await the return of the gang.

The nun introduces Gary and Miranda to a priest who is another teacher at the school.

Nun – "If it wasn't for Gary and Miranda, we'd still be down there! They saved our lives!"

Priest – "Thank you both; I've prayed and prayed for a miracle and I can't thank you enough."

Gary – "Oh that's ok; we're really glad to be out of there too! Um, actually, can I ask your advice?"

Priest – "Of course; anything!"

Gary – "We wanted to get married in Paris; do you know where we can do that?"

Priest – "Right here; at the Louvre. I could marry you any time you like!"

Gary – "Really? That's fantastic! Miranda; is that okwith you?"

Miranda – "Absolutely!"

Gary – "Let's do it!"

Priest – "Give me ten minutes."

A short while later; Miranda and Gary are taken through the Louvre and out of the beautiful glass Pyramid to the front of the museum. It is almost midnight, but the museum director has bathed the whole place in lights and set the fountains playing. It is breathtaking. A light breeze gives a slight chill to the air, but Miranda is so happy that she doesn't notice. They are lead to where the priest is now waiting for them.

The priest performs the ceremony and all the nuns and students and their parents are present. Afterwards, a car pulls up to take Gary and Miranda back to their hotel.

IN THE CAR

They both are suddenly overcome with tiredness and yawn sleepily.

Gary – "Quite a day then!"

Miranda – "Not exactly what we planned."

Gary – "I can't believe what we managed to get ourselves into; and I'm so sorry I ran after that thief. I didn't catch him; then when I turned back I got completely lost. When I finally got back to where I left you; you'd gone."

Miranda – "I was desperate for the loo; we must have just missed each other."

The street lights shine into the car and Miranda sees the dried blood on Gary's shirt.

Miranda – "Oh my god; you should see a doctor!"

Gary – "I'm fine; really. I just want to get back to the hotel and spend our first night together as husband and wife."

Miranda – "You do mean just sleeping though, don't you?"

Gary – "Yeah, I'm shattered!"

Miranda – "Me too!"

They snuggle up are almost dropping off to sleep as the car approaches the hotel. Glad to be safely back, they take the lift to their floor, unlock the door, and collapse onto the bed.

Not even bothering to get changed, they pull the covers up.

Miranda – "Good night Gary."

Gary – "Good night Mrs. Preston."

Two minutes later they are asleep; dreaming of what tomorrow, and the rest of their lives, will bring.