Thank you for the wonderful comments and encouragements. I truly can't believe how long some of you have been following this story. I do recognize your names and I appreciate the support more than I can ever express.
In typical fashion, this chapter is brought to you by a cocktail of insomnia and essay procrastination. I hope you enjoy it!
'How near one Species to the next is join'd,
The due Gradations please a thinking Mind;
And there are Creatures which no Eye can see,
That for a Moment live and breathe like me'
~'The Enquiry, by Mary Leapor (1748)*
Chapter Forty-Seven - 'Err by guess and with opinion stray'*
If fish really leapt in and out of the water like dolphins, Kathleen's idea of the picturesque would be complete. Unfortunately, Welton Academy was full of disappointments. The school's lack in biodiversity was felt most keenly by the headmaster's grandchildren. Kat's youngest brother had composed several informative letters about the varieties of trout native to the waters of Vermont, yet no fish with the ambition she sought seemed daring enough to brave the wild waters of Welton. She threw her pen down with a sigh, blowing a loose strand of hair out of her eyes. Her letter lay incomplete, a mocking symbol of her status as the worst older sister in the world. Day by day, the 'at home experiments' Meeks had offered to transcribe became increasingly appealing. Science was science in Meeks' eyes, but not in Kathleen's. She would much rather lie about some fish than send home instructions for explosives.
Her head dropped to the mossy pillow formed on the embankment. Nature may not appreciate her dilemma, but Kathleen could certainly appreciate Nature. Her eyes drank in the cornflower blue sky, swathed in peony as noon faded to dusk. Its delicate grandeur grew hazy behind the shading limbs framing her vision. Glistening droplets clung to the overhead branches like premature stars, their light falling like sparkles on the clear surface of the lake. A bell tolled four across the darkening demesne, its ripple ceasing the distant crew across the water.
Kathleen reached for her copy of 'Frankenstein,' chasing the words against the muting light. Her own sensibility flourished in the faraway mountains of Geneva. Every trial faced by the creature erased the day's blight, each fantastical suffering was an aching bolt to her own renewed heart. "These wonderful narrations inspired me with strange feelings. Was man, indeed, at once so powerful, so virtuous, and magnificent, yet so vicious and base? He appeared at one time a mere scion of the evil principle and at another as all that can be conceived of noble and godlike."
Teardrops startled her sympathies, descending from heaven in a deluge of divine commiseration...or perhaps from the wringing of a wet towel. In a flash, she tossed her book to the safety of the dead wildflowers laying beyond reach of the sudden peril. Her glare fixed on the three figures looming above her, looking far too pleased with themselves for her liking. Neil grinned, shaking his hair like wet dog as Nuwanda chucked the offending towel out of reach. Ignoring her absent greeting, Todd shoved the two taller teens out of his way, planting himself next to her on the freshly dampened grass.
It was his satisfied smile that finally compelled her to speak, "did you go swimming or just fall in?"
Charlie retrieved her book - unscathed - from the last vestige of the previous season. "We jumped in" he replied, his features brightening as Neil mouthed 'pushed' from the side lines.
"And you decided to involve me because?"
He shrugged, sitting opposite her and thumbing through her book with interest. Todd rolled his eyes, commandeering her attention with his breathless explanation of their early dismissal by Nolan, who was currently en route to meet with the college representatives after their hour of deliberation over the science club presentation. Samuel Pechman's fate, he concluded, would be entirely dependent on the outcome of his error.
"If you thought Pitts was a nervous wreck this morning, you see should them now" Neil added, gravely referencing the three members of the society who had been absent since morning break. "They skipped lunch for the presentation, and Nolan forced them to participate in sports this afternoon." He paused, eyes catching on the movement in the distance. "We should probably check on them."
At Kat's assent, they rose to trek through the trees towards the outline of the manor. Dusk held the darkness at bay, keeping their path observable and the sky a spectacle to admire. As the quartet approached the natural threshold between the autonomous woodland, and the managed landscape, Kat halted. Before her companions could speak, she ducked down behind the horizontal trunk of a fallen tree. Neil crouched down beside her, shooting the others a questioning look.
"I'm not supposed to be here, remember?"
His eyes widened comically; a look reflected in the understanding dawning upon the others sinking down to join her. Kathleen's hands scraped across the rough bark as she peeked over in search of the fencing coach. Rather than spotting the lean, bearded man, her eyes were drawn to a tempestuous figure with a familiar gait. All four watched the student argue, throwing off his mask in a fit of rage to reveal a pinched expression marred by frown lines. The second student freed themselves from their constraining headgear, revealing Knox whose sunny disposition rapidly withdrew under the weight of Cameron's anger.
"That's who he reminds me of!" Neil slapped the solid trunk without so much as a wince, "Eeyore!"
No sound could escape from Kathleen's open mouth. The concept was as hilarious as the laughter around her indicated, but it all made so much sense.
"I was about to say he looks like an angry wildebeest stomping around and breathing like that," Charlie clicked his fingers as he pointed towards the boy in question, "but that is so much better."
"I don't know" Todd wheezed through smothered laughter, watching Cameron snatch his water bottle from Knox's politely extended hand. "It looks like the wildebeest is approaching the watering hole."
Neil lowered his voice, adopting the cheery tone and clipped accent of a documentary presenter. As he spoke, he raised one hand to his eye to mime the motions of a cameraman, "and here we have the wild Cameron-beast. A creature rarely seen outside of his den. This lone-hunter is aggressive, yet highly intelligent-" he broke off as Cameron's head swung their way. Neil fought to keep up his narration over their howling laughter, "the beast appears to have spotted a pack of hyenas in the undergrowth. Their calls have alerted the predator-"
Cameron stalked towards them, his expression remaining murderous as he slashed at the undergrowth with his sword.
"and he is in pursuit" Neil's voice became a squeak, "run!"
Todd grabbed Kat's hand, yanking her up over the fallen tree. All four hurried across the terrain, twigs snapping underfoot until they hit the soft lawn. They weaved in and out of the various sporting activities faster than any wild animal Kat had ever seen. She risked a quick glance over her shoulder, only to tighten her grip on Todd's hand, and urge the others to speed up at the sight of Cameron gaining on them. Never had she expected him to chase them this far, nor had she ever seen such rage etched into his features.
Dirt turned to stone as she was pulled up the steep steps, and into to the likely sanctuary of the building whose rules Cameron respected. Nuwanda slammed the door behind them, but the group had barely started running again when it was thrown open with a bang as loud as a firework. Kathleen winced. Hager would be rushing in to dole out detentions at any minute. The thought was shoved to the back of her mind as they were pursued to a dead end. Looking around in panic, they spotted Cameron advancing with startling purpose. Neil dived to the right, wrenching open the nearest door. They piled in. It had barely closed before they heard a body hit it. Kathleen held her breath.
It did not open. Instead, a small click echoed through the space.
"Cameron?" Neil called.
No response.
Light flooded the room, revealing Neil with one hand on the switch and another on the door handle. "It's locked."
Curses spilled from Charlie's mouth as he tried the handle with enough force to shake the door. Kat stepped back, stopping as her back hit a solid object. A shelf. She let out a few choice words of her own. The room was lined with various sports paraphernalia, and battered, old crash mats were piled up haphazardly in the far corner. Evidently, they were in the games cupboard.
"Either Cameron lets us out" Neil sighed, "or we're stuck until afternoon games are over." He checked his watch, "in an hour."
Kathleen groaned, cracking open the book she had held onto for dear life during their flight. She flopped back onto one of the crash mats with a weary sigh. Possible detention or not, this would be a very long afternoon.
XXXX
An eternity later - in the minds of those held captive - the peeling red paint on the walls began to blur with the sickly, yellow light emitted from the dim bulb. In their fatigue, a game of 'I spy' had been half-heartedly started to stave off the restless energy that had some attacking the door, and others wracked with shivers of anxiety.
"I spy with my little eye," Charlie spoke with his eyes closed, "something beginning with 'B'."
"Badminton racket."
"Ball."
"Bat."
Three voices rang out, barely heard above the oppressive quiet. Kat yawned into her book, suspecting that the common rules had been dismissed a while ago.
"No, boredom."
Neil shot up from the mat he had been reclined across, "that-that's cheating! You can't pick something intangible." The instigator did not respond, his attention focused a small click from the door. Neil fell silent, pivoting towards the sealed entrance.
Light slithered through the expanding opening. A shadow appeared, framed by the glow emanating from the hallway. Several fencing masks became visible, lowering to reveal blond hair, and a familiar face.
Todd squeezed his eyes closed; his frown fixed as his last hope of being mistaken was erased by a chuckle.
"Having a cosy gathering?"
"Fraser," Kathleen closed her book for the third time this afternoon -wandering briefly if she would ever get a chance to finish it. She nodded subtly at Neil whose hand hovered near Charlie's shoulder. "I guess games are finally over."
"And I guess Cameron's rampage has a little something to do with your exile."
"I can't deny it" she replied airily, striding towards the doorway. "Thank you for enabling our escape." She looked at him expectantly. He moved aside.
"Not that we needed your help" Charlie muttered, meeting the other boy's glare with his own. Todd hovered in the centre, assured of Kat's freedom in the doorway, yet aware of the situation emerging at the back of the storage room. A muscle jumped in Charlie's jaw at Fraser's response. He saw the tension in his roommate's shoulders, and the falling smirk on Fraser's own lips at Charlie's retort.
Kat appeared at his side, looping her arm through his and guiding him out with her. "Dinner starts soon and we're hungry" she called over her shoulder, refusing to look back, even when hurried footsteps sounded behind them. She smiled at him. "I've learned to leave them to it" she whispered conspiratorially, "they soon lose interest."
And lose interest they had, Todd noticed, spotting the pair tripping over themselves to catch-up. Food or friendship, whatever the motivation, it worked.
XXXX
"Where did you disappear to?" Asked Knox, slamming his glass down. "I looked everywhere, and Cameron said you got what you deserved."
"The cupboard" Neil said shortly. He laid his hand on the shaking table, eyeing the wavering liquid in his glass. "He locked us in."
Knox almost choked on his food, "he what!?" He surveyed the irked expressions worn by his silent dinner companions. "How did you get out?"
"Fraser," Todd murmured, "an hour later. He was the first person to use the games cupboard."
Meeks frowned at his tone and threw a cautious glance at Nuwanda. If he saw anything concerning, he did not say. Instead, he turned quickly back to his plate before his friend looked up.
Kathleen put her spoon down. "No one has to like him" she said firmly, "but he didn't have to let us out."
"She's right" Neil agreed, fixing his stare on Charlie. "Arguing might have prompted him to lock us back in. Imagine the consequences if a teacher found us."
He folded his arms, "but they didn't."
"This time" Kat said, softening her words with a mock glare.
"I can't believe Cameron did that" Pitts repeated for what Kathleen thought was at least the fifth time. "He could have gotten himself a detention."
Charlie scoffed, "How? He knows we wouldn't have ratted him out."
"I think we might've taken it too far." Kat bit her lip as she recalled the stress her friend had been under. The erroneous date had been a disaster for the science club, and the pressure had certainly built. "We finally broke him."
"We did nothing to justify imprisonment" Charlie muttered darkly, retelling the event in great dramatic detail once more for the table. "It's not our fault he's a psycho with a sword."
Pitts snorted at the tale. "It sounds like your finest hour."
"More like our final hour" Todd countered, falling silent as the star of their afternoon adventure came into view. They tracked his proximity over the heads of various pupils seated in the front of the main walkway, searching for a frown or a wrinkle in his brow that could betray his temperament of the moment. He approached the table, his expression giving nothing away.
Meeks greeted him as he sat. His niceties quickly faded to confusion as his friend remained stone-faced beside him. Neil shot them all a look which prompted a sharp scrape to emit from Cameron's fork as it dragged across the china plate.
A few seconds passed before Knox moved to take up the gambit. "You fenced well today, Cameron. You're a challenging match. Is it alright if we partner up again next week?"
Each of the seven bodies waited with bated breath. Their eyes may have been tactfully averted, but their attention remained locked on a single, uniting subject. Kat saw Neil tense in her periphery as the silence stretched on. All seemed frustratingly hopeless until he cleared his throat. All heads snapped up.
"The weather has been mild today, and it if it continues next week I will able to act as a fencing partner to whomever is in need of assistance."
Kat felt her face contort with the confusion mirrored around the table. Cameron continued to chatter politely, yet with detachment in this odd and general manner even as he addressed the matter of the pending science club result - all without directly addressing Meeks and Pitts themselves. Annoyance flickered like refracting light, jumping between those gathered around the stoic boy.
He drew a breath, but before he could begin another torturous oration on a mundane subject, Kat broke in. "Cameron," she put her fork down, "about earlier-"
"There is nothing to talk about." His tone was not resentful, bitter, or even remorseful. It was matter of fact.
She closed her mouth, lips flattening into a line of restraint as the futility became clear. Her planned apology died on her tongue, along with the forgiving reiteration that he had no right to react so spitefully.
Neil frowned, his eyes screaming disapproval, but Cameron refused to acknowledge the look. Charlie had remained silent throughout the meal, but Kat felt his tension increasing with every syllable his roommate uttered. From the sudden jerk of his arm towards his drink, Kat realised this was his breaking point. His mouth opened, but she directed a light tap at his leg with her foot under the table, shaking her head. Deep, brown eyes held her gaze for a few seconds - her breathing stuttered - but he turned away, glaring quickly at Cameron before looking down at his food.
Suddenly, Cameron rose. His smile saccharine as vague sentences about homework excused his escape. Seven pairs of eyes watched him walk away without looking back. The sight of the door falling closed seemed to flip a switch back to normality; no longer were they floating helplessly as if they were held underwater with their senses dulled. Colours seemed heightened, the low light more golden, and the splatters from Pitts' poor eating habits became noticeable once again.
Knox slid a hastily scrawled betting slip across the table, marking his perceived odds on Pitts choking.
Crisis or not, Kat suspected that his impatient appetite was a result of his unfortunate denial of lunch. Perhaps it had been for the best that time constraints prevented the college scouts from witnessing such a spectacle. Pitts enjoyed his food, although others rarely enjoyed watching him consume it.'
The growing boy - who truly was surpassing six feet - slowly realised that all attention had fallen upon him.
"What?" He glanced around, peas falling from his mouth. "It's not my fault Cameron is all metal and no feelings."
"Even the strongest metals can only endure pressure for so long" Kathleen sighed. "Cameron's feelings are not locked in the impenetrable steel vault we often think they are." She spooned a generous portion of potato into her mouth, not realising the significance her reminder would soon come to hold.
Is it time for another personal anecdote? I think so. The documentary game is one that I used to play as a child. In Britain, David Attenborough isn't referred to as the 'Grandad of the nation' for nothing.