I missed last weeks update and I apologise profusely for it. The end of term has been hectic but I'm getting myself back on track, don't worry! I know this chapter is short and a bit of filler, but it has to be here for the story to progress unfortunately. The good news is that you will finally get to meet Nancy in the next chapter! Also, we're getting closer to the scene that i have been waiting to write for ages, Knox's party scene!

Chapter eleven - Excelsior

Kathleen shivered. She could feel the harsh bite of the midnight wind through her thin pyjamas. The simple pink and white striped set may have been a modest and sensible looking choice of attire for tonight's hike through the woods, but they certainly were not warm. Her standard Welton coat kept her body well protected from the icy chill, but her legs were suffering.

The group drew nearer to the old cave, torch beams illuminating the way. Whispers were drowned out by the leaves which crinkled and crunched with each step closer to freedom. Soon they reached the cave. One by one they clambered blindly through the inky darkness. Each crack and bump in the stone walls had grown familiar to their touch. These cold, damp nights had become a comfort.

It only took a few seconds for Meeks and Pitts to light the fire. The group settled down and warmed their hands as Neil prepared the opening poem.

He cleared his throat and a hush fell over the young poets, "tonight we shall begin with a reading of Mutability by Percy Bysshe Shelley,*

"We are as clouds that veil the midnight moon;

How restlessly they speed and gleam and quiver,

Streaking the darkness radiantly! yet soon

Night closes round, and they are lost for ever:"

He passed the book over Todd, into Pitt's hands,

"Or like forgotten lyres whose dissonant strings

Give various response to each varying blast,

To whose frail frame no second motion brings

One mood or modulation like the last."

Pitts handed the volume to Knox,

"We rest—a dream has power to poison sleep;

We rise—one wandering thought pollutes the day;

We feel, conceive or reason, laugh or weep,

Embrace fond woe, or cast our cares away: —"

And Cameron closed the poem,

"It is the same! —For, be it joy or sorrow,

The path of its departure still is free;

Man's yesterday may ne'er be like his morrow;

Nought may endure but Mutability."

"On to business," Cameron said, passing the book back to Neil. "How on earth are you planning to smuggle a girl in."

"What do you mean by 'you'? You're in the club as well," Charlie sneered.

"This isn't a cult, Dalton," he snapped, "I need a clean record for college."

"Relax, we won't get caught!"

"As much as I want to help, we have less than twenty-four hours," Pitts sighed, "he has a point."

"It's really quite simple," Neil interrupted. He ignored the puzzled looks, except for Charlie's provoking smirk. Neil shot him a disapproving look in an attempt to prevent any further arguments from erupting.

Catching onto his desperation, Kathleen leaned forwards until the watchful eyes slid towards herself. "Simple?" She interjected, leaning towards the central fire under the guise of warming her hands, "what's the plan."

Neil grinned, it's bright edges soft with gratitude."I'm glad you asked." He passed the sacred book to Todd and grabbed the stick leaning against his log. "The operation will commence at one o'clock," he began, "exactly halfway through lunchtime. We eat in three groups so that we won't all be missing at once and arouse suspicion. We will all begin in the food hall. After fifteen minutes, at exactly quarter to one, group one will slip away and meet Nancy at the gate."

Using the earth as his sketchpad, Neil illustrated the the route with rudimentary drawings of their locations, and swiping a thick line between each shape as he talked through the group's movements.

"Meanwhile group two will leave five minutes later and head to the roof. Group three will stay seated and ready with excuses should anyone ask where the others are."

"Why are people on the roof?" Meeks questioned.

"I'm getting to that," Neil said, tapping at the wonky sketch of Welton's rooftop. "Group one will lead Nancy through the treeline and stop at the edge, just opposite the side entrance. Group two will be keeping watch from the roof and will wave wildly if they spot trouble. But once group one is hiding at the end of the treeline, one member of group two will stay, and the other member will go back to lunch. Once they get to the table, group three can leave and clear the way for Nancy to be brought in."

Neil dragged the the pointed stick from image to image in the mud. "The rooftop watchman will return to lunch, while groups one and two aim to transport Nancy to Kathleen's dorm." He used the stick to tap the square marked with a 'K' and another marked 'N.' "Considering how close Kathleen's room is to Nolan's, we can use one of our dorms if need be. Once Nancy is safely hidden, we'll leave Kat to her friend and the rest of us will return to lunch. Any questions?"

"What if it goes wrong?"

"How will we keep the timings?"

"Can't we disguise her?"

"It sounds good."

"No, it sounds complicated!"

"Okay!" Neil shouted over the barrage of questions, "If it goes wrong, we improvise. I promise it isn't complicated, and to solve the issue of timing we will all synch our watches. We will all wear one."

"There's eight of us," Kathleen observed, "so which group is a duo?"

"I was thinking that you, Charlie and I would be group one," Neil answered, "group two would be Pitts and Meeks, then group three would be Todd, Knox and Cameron. But Cameron," he turned to the freckled boy, "how would you feel about being our co-ordinator? You would have to stay at the table for the entire duration to time keep. You'd be responsible for sending everybody off at the correct time."

"And I could deny involvement when you get caught?"

"If we get caught, yes."

He nodded, mollified.

"When did you come up with that?" Meeks inquired.

"I've been thinking about it for a few days," Neil admitted.

"It's good!" Kat smiled, "I really think that we're going to pull this off."

"Of course," Charlie smirked, " the real question is how to get her out again."

"We give her a Welton coat and pull up the hood. A few of you can guide her through the woodland and anyone in the grounds will assume that it's me," she shrugged.

"It's sorted then." Knox slapped his knees as he stood, "I don't know about you guys, but I'm exhausted."

Pitts yawned, "me too. We need to be well-rested for tomorrow."

Kathleen helped Meeks put out the fire as the group filed out of the cave. The trek back to Welton seemed shorter than usual. They made their way through the woods, darted across the school lawn, and silenced Nolan's dog with biscuits as they slipped through the entrance hall.

Whether it was due to excitement or exhaustion, the weary bunch fell asleep just moments after collapsing onto their beds. That night, they dreamed of futures which did not include courtrooms, banks or medical schools, futures that were beginning to seem possible at last.

* Mutability, Percy Bysshe Shelley (1816)