by Andy Coltart
‘You’re turning invisible,’ said Casey. ‘That way you can sit at the side in gym and watch without the teacher hassling you.’
‘Okay,’ said Riley putting her bag down. She started to spin as fast as she could until the brain burn started. Casey saw it happen and threw her arms round Riley to stop her falling over. Once her head had cleared the two of them headed back to the changing rooms.
Casey had to be quick getting changed as most of the girls were already in the gym. The two of them walked into the gym and Riley sat on a bench at the side.
‘You’re late, Casey,’ said the sports teacher.
‘Sorry, miss,’ said Casey joining the line of girls waiting to walk the balance beam.
Riley sat and watched as the girls did various aerobics. Some of them were actually quite good. She figured a few were in clubs outside school, judging by the standard. Suddenly one of the girls screamed as something fell on the floor next to her.
‘What is it?’ said the teacher running over to her. Riley stood up to get a better look.
‘This fell from the roof, miss,’ said the girl, picking up what looked like a broken piece of metal. It was about as big as a brick and would have caused a serious injury if it had hit her.
‘Okay, okay,’ said the sports teacher. ‘The drama’s over, back to exercising please.’
But just as she finished speaking there was an enormous creak from the roof above them and more pieces of roofing started to break loose. Casey looked across at Riley as if to say do something! Riley must have read her mind because she ran to the end of the gym hall and turned to face the class. Raising her arm and facing her palm towards everyone in the hall she focused her mind. As she did a huge energy pulse burst from her hand pushing pupils, the teacher and all the equipment down the hall. Many of the girls screamed as they lost control of their footing and flew down the hall.
It was in the nick of time because just as they were cleared out of the way large sections of the roof collapsed into the centre of the hall sending dirt and debris flying everywhere.
‘Oh my God’ said the teacher out loud without realising it. Riley ran down the hall to see if Casey was okay. She was lying on the floor tangled in the arms and legs of other girls. Everyone was getting to their feet.
‘What the hell happened, miss?’ said one of the girls.
‘Mind your language,’ the teacher replied, ‘and I really don’t know.’
The teacher and some of the girls helped others to their feet.
‘Is everyone all right?’ said the teacher. A couple of the girls had cuts and bruises from being pushed down the hall. But these were only minor injuries compared with what would have happened if Riley hadn’t acted.
Having heard the loud crash, several members of staff burst through the doors, including the Head Teacher.
‘Miss, are you okay?’ he asked.
‘Yes,’ she replied.
‘And the pupils?’ he asked.
‘Yes, only minor injuries,’ she said, ‘but that shouldn’t have been the case.’
‘What do you mean?’ asked the Head.
‘We were all in the middle of the hall,’ said the sports teacher. ‘We should have been buried by all that.’ The Head looked at the twisted metal and broken pieces of wood, then at the gaping hole in the roof.
‘How on earth did you get clear?’ he said.
‘I’m not sure you’d believe me if I told you,’ replied the sports teacher.
‘Go on,’ said the Head.
‘We were pushed by some invisible force,’ said the sports teacher.
‘You were what?’ said the Head.
‘It’s true, sir,’ said one of the pupils. ‘All of us and the equipment got pushed out of the way just before the roof fell.’
The teachers led the girls out of the hall and back to the changing rooms.
‘Showers please everyone,’ said the sports teacher. ‘Then those with any kind of injury go to the school office.’ The girls were all covered in dust and dirt so were happy to get cleaned up. Afterwards several of them went to the office to get cuts and bruises looked at.
Casey met Riley in the girls’ bathroom. She was cleaning herself at the sink as she’d not escaped the dust completely.
‘That was incredible,’ said Casey running over and hugging her.
‘You okay?’ said Riley.
‘Yeah, I’m fine,’ said Casey.
‘Can you help me again,’ said Riley as she prepared to spin.
‘Of course,’ said Casey.
Riley span around fast and when the brain burn came Casey caught her in her arms. Fully visible again, they left the loos together. As they moved into the corridor they could see other girls from the class coming from the changing rooms and school office.
‘Where’s everyone going?’ asked Casey.
‘The canteen,’ said one of the girls. So Riley and Casey followed. They could hear sirens in the background.
‘Someone’s called the emergency services,’ said Riley.
The girls filed into the canteen and sat at various tables. The sports teacher took a register, which she’d not done before the lesson, much to Riley’s relief.
‘Everyone is here,’ said the sports teacher to the Head.
‘Good,’ he replied. ‘Okay, let’s have your attention everyone.’ The girls all stopped their talking and looked at him.
‘You can hear the emergency services are on their way. There are ambulances, police and fire and rescue coming,’ he said. ‘The ambulance crews will want to double check those with injuries. The fire and rescue are going to check the hall for us as it’s not safe in there. The police want to talk with you about how you all survived,’ he said.
Riley looked at Casey with an anxious expression on her face.
‘Don’t worry,’ said Casey, ‘you were invisible. No one knows it was you. Plus, the register for the lesson has only just been done so as far as the teacher is concerned everyone was there.’ Riley smiled nervously and waited to see what the Head would say next.
Chapter 25
The Police Enquiry
While they sat waiting the school administrator entered the hall followed by the police and paramedics.
‘I’ve sent the fire officers straight to the hall,’ she said, ‘Mr Willis is meeting them there.’
‘Very well,’ said the Head. The administrator left and the Head could be seen talking to the police.
‘I wonder what he’s telling them,’ said Riley quietly to Casey.
‘I think we are about to find out,’ said Casey.
‘Okay everyone, quieten down,’ said the Head. ‘I want all those who have been to the office with injuries to go to the end table with the paramedics. They’re going to check you’re okay. The rest of you stay at your tables and the police officers will come and speak to you.’
Riley and Casey watched as people moved to where they’d been told. Then a police woman sat herself down in front of them.
‘Hi, my name is Helen, would you mind if I asked you some questions?’ she said.
‘Err no, that’s fine,’ said Riley, sounding nervous.
‘There’s nothing to worry about,’ said Helen. ‘We know you’re all in shock after what happened. We just want to figure out some of the details, that’s all.’
‘We will try to be of help,’ said Casey.
Helen asked them where they were in the hall. Casey described where she’d been. Riley decided to say the same as Casey to avoid further questions.
‘So let me get this right,’ said Helen. ‘One of the girls screamed when a small piece of metal fell from the roof and you all went to see what had happened.’
‘That’s right,’ said Casey, ‘and it wasn’t that small.’ ‘Then what happened?’ asked Helen.
‘Then we all got kinda pushed to the end of the hall,’ said Riley.
‘Who pushed you?’ asked Helen.
‘No one,’ said both girls together.
‘How can no one push a group of thirty teenage girls, plus a teacher and equipment ten metres down a hall?’ asked Helen.
‘No idea,’ said Casey, ‘but it saved our lives!’
Other girls on other tables were sat telling officers the same thing. Even the sports teacher’s version of events was the same. This left the police mystified as to what had taken place. At the far end of the room the girls were having cuts and bruises looked at by the paramedics. One of them was Christine. She was thinking to herself about what had happened. She knew something had saved them and that whatever it was had also saved her from her dad. She was trying to decide what to say, when a police officer came over.
‘You finished with this one?’ the police officer asked the paramedic.
‘Yeah, she’s all yours,’ replied the paramedic.
‘Follow me, please,’ he said to Christine.
Christine got up and followed the officer to a table near Riley and Casey. They sat down and started to talk. Riley and Casey listened to what Christine was telling the police officer.
‘Well,’ said Christine, ‘this isn’t the first time this has happened to me.’
‘Go on,’ said the police officer.
‘Just last week my dad tried to hurt me but something pushed him out of the room and stopped him getting back in.’
‘Where was this?’ asked the police officer.
‘At home,’ said Christine. ‘My mom has reported it.’
‘I’ll need to verify that, so let me have your name and address in a bit. So why do you think it’s the same thing?’ said the police officer.
‘Just a feeling,’ she said. ‘Someone out there is trying to protect us. To be honest whatever it is, it’s my hero.’ Riley looked at Casey and smiled.
‘She’s not able to tell him anything more than just a feeling,’ said Riley.
‘That’s because we’ve been careful to keep your identity hidden,’ said Casey, quietly.
After all the girls had been interviewed the police left.
‘There’s no medical concerns,’ said the senior paramedic to the Head Teacher. ‘They’re all incredibly lucky.’
‘That they are,’ replied the Head. He thanked the emergency services as they left.
‘Okay you lot, I’m giving you a long lunch break. No need to go to your next class. You can start again when afternoon lessons begin,’ said the Head.
There was a collective cheer from the girls as some stayed put and others got up to go on the yard.
‘What shall we do now?’ said Riley. ‘We’ve got like an hour and a half until lessons.’
‘Let’s go see if Christine will talk to us,’ said Casey.
‘What for?’ asked Riley.
‘I’d like to know what she thinks you are?’ said Casey.
‘Just make sure you don’t let her know it’s me,’ said Riley.
‘Of course not,’ said Casey. They both got up from their table and went over to Christine’s. She was still sat on her own after the police had left,
‘What do you want?’ she said looking annoyed.
‘To talk,’ said Casey sitting down. Riley took a moment longer then sat down as well.
‘Oh, you’re from my art group,’ said Christine. ‘Riley, isn’t it?’
‘Yeah, or as everyone seems to call me, Crazy Curls,’ said Riley. Christine looked embarrassed,
‘Yeah, sorry about that. I’m gonna try and get that stopped.’
‘Thanks,’ said Riley.
‘What can I do for you?’ said Christine.
‘We overheard your conversation with the police officer and wondered what it was you thought had happened,’ said Casey.
Christine looked at them both, trying to decide if they were genuinely interested or just there to take the mickey.
‘Well,’ she said, ‘it’s happened to me a few times.’
‘What, being pushed across a room?’ said Riley.
‘Kind of,’ said Christine. She went on to tell them about being held back from hurting a kid in the girls’ bathroom and then to what had happened at home.
‘First of all, I thought whatever this was, was out to get me,’ she said, ‘but then it literally saved me the same day!’
‘Wow,’ said Casey.
‘Is that why you’ve stopped being nasty to me?’ said Riley.
‘Yeah,’ said Christine, apologising again. ‘I figured if this thing can stop my dad, even though I’ve been a horrible kid, then I didn’t want it to leave and stop helping others who might need it.’
‘Well, whatever it is seems to still be around,’ said Riley.
‘Just as well or we’d have all been killed today,’ said Christine.
Riley and Casey thanked Christine for sharing and promised to keep it to themselves. They got up to leave when suddenly Casey’s phone started buzzing in her pocket. Taking it out, she looked at the screen.
‘It’s Alex,’ she said, answering it.
‘Hello, what are you doing calling in the middle of the day?’
‘Oh, rumours are flying round the college that the roof has collapsed on the high school killing loads of students. I was worried,’ he said.
‘Well,’ said Casey, ‘you’re half right. The roof has collapsed, but thanks to Riley’s energy pulse no one was seriously hurt.’
‘Really? Wow, you’ll have to tell me what happened,’ said Alex.
‘Can we do that tomorrow when we meet for coffee?’ said Casey.
‘Yeah, sure, I just wanted to check you were both okay,’ said Alex.
‘Yeah we are, thanks, Alex,’ said Casey. She ended the called and told Riley what Alex had said.
Down at Police H.Q. several officers were going through the statements from the girls. The sergeant came into the room and asked ‘Any idea what happened yet?’
‘Not yet, sir,’ said one of the officers. The sergeant asked if the fire and rescue had passed on their assessment.
‘Not yet, sir,’ came the reply.
‘So, basically, you’re telling me at present we know nothing!’ said the sergeant.
‘At present yes, sir,’ replied one of the officers.
‘Well, do something about that and soon,’ shouted the sergeant as he stormed off out of the room.
The afternoon seemed fairly uneventful compared to the morning at school. Riley and Casey had separate lessons after lunch so didn’t see each other until the final bell. Riley was collecting some books for homework from her locker when Casey rolled up.
‘Hey you! Ready to go?’ said Casey.
‘Hi, yeah just a minute while I get these books in my bag,’ replied Riley.
‘You look like you’ve got some homework,’ said Casey.
‘Just a bit,’ said Riley.
‘Need a hand?’ asked Casey.
‘Only if you have the time,’ said Riley.
‘Yeah, no worries,’ said Casey.
The two girls headed for the local library to work and called their mums on the way.
‘Okay, I’ll pick you both up at 6.00 p.m.,’ said Riley’s mum. ‘Casey can have tea at ours.’
‘Thanks, Mom. Did you call Alex’s dad?’ asked Riley.
‘Yes, and that’s fine, you can both go to his straight from school,’ replied her mum.
‘By the way, we had another accident at school today but no one was hurt. I’ll tell you all about it later,’ said Riley.
‘Oh, okay dear,’ said her mum.
At the library the girls worked through Riley’s homework in no time.
‘What are we going to do for the next hour?’ said Riley. ‘My mum’s not getting us until 6.00 p.m.’
‘Come with me,’ said Casey. Riley picked up her stuff and followed Casey.
‘Where are we going?’ she asked. They’d left the library and walked a little way down the street.
‘Here,’ said Casey, pulling Riley into a narrow side street and throwing her arms around her. Casey started to kiss her before she could say another w
ord. Riley put her arms around Casey and they continued to kiss for a minute. Stopping for breath gave Riley a chance to speak.
‘I can’t do that for an hour!’ she said. ‘Let’s go to the cafe.’
‘Okay,’ said Casey, smiling and following Riley back onto the main street.
‘I’ve been wanting to do that all day,’ said Casey.
‘I guessed that,’ said Riley.
‘You okay?’ asked Casey.
‘Yeah, I’m just still trying to figure out if this is for me, so let’s just take it slow,’ said Riley.
‘Oh, okay,’ said Casey.
While they sat in the cafe next to the library waiting for Riley’s mum the police at H.Q. were finally getting somewhere. The sergeant had come back in to hear the fire service report. They had concluded that damage was caused by the freak storm the previous week which had resulted in a weak roof. The bit no one could work out was how the girls all survived.
‘Looks like the closest we’ve got is this hero-type character that a kid called Christine describes,’ said the sergeant. ‘However, without any firm evidence there’s nothing further we can do. There’s no crime here so let’s close this up. Thanks, everyone,’ he added.
Chapter 26
Final Preparations
Riley was watching out of the cafe window for her mum’s car.
‘There she is,’ she said, as her mum pulled up outside. ‘Come on Casey, let’s go,’ said Riley getting up from the table and taking one last slurp on the dregs of her strawberry milkshake. Casey got up and followed her out of the cafe.
‘Hi Mom, thanks for picking us up,’ said Riley as they got into the car.
‘So,’ said her mum, ‘tell me what happened in school today?’ Riley and Casey took it in turns to share different parts of the story. They told Riley’s mum the same version they told the police officer, the one where Riley was with the other girls rather than the one with the special powers.
‘That is incredible,’ said Riley’s mum, ‘and no one got hurt?’
‘Not seriously,’ said Riley.
‘People would have died if we’d not been pushed out of the way,’ said Casey.
‘And no one knows how this happened?’ asked Riley’s mum.
‘No one,’ replied Riley.
