by Obert Skye
He got lucky; there wasn’t.
Tobias looked into the window and saw an empty room. Halfway down the first-floor window bars, he let go and jumped to the ground.
“So far, so good.”
Tobias dashed into the trees. He knew that Orrin had been going on and on about how all the animals were taken care of, but he also knew that Orrin was a liar. It was true that Protectors normally didn’t come out in the daylight. Still, in order for him to have the courage to move, Tobias told himself over and over …
“No Protectors will be out. No Protectors will be out.”
He ran as fast as he could through the trees and toward the back of the school. Passing the corner, he began to move diagonally in the direction of the bonfire barn.
Tobias spotted the roof of the barn. Unfortunately, that wasn’t all he could see. Darting through the trees, he saw the shadow of something unusual. His first impulse was to scream. His second impulse was to run faster.
The shadow kept up.
Tobias’s legs hurt, his arms ached, and his lungs felt like two cans of gasoline that had already been lit. But, like climbing down from the windows, he couldn’t stop. He had to keep going.
There was now a shadow to his right as well.
Tobias wanted one of the shadows to be Lars, but both of them were far too big to fit the small creature he and Charlotte had once befriended.
The foliage thinned and the trees opened up. Tobias saw the barn clearly. He recognized it now as one of the buildings they had passed on the night they had made their escape. It looked like an old-fashioned barn that someone might sing a children’s song about. The only difference was that it was weathered and in need of a coat of red paint. It had a green roof that was collapsing in the back, and the sides were made up of thin warped boards.
Turning his head to the right, Tobias tried to get a look at what he was running with. There was nothing to the right of him. Looking left, he was equally surprised to find himself alone—surprised and relieved.
Tobias reached the barn and started to run around the back of it, looking for an entrance. He skidded to a quick stop.
Two orderlies were standing near a small tractor next to the barn. A skinny, hairy-faced one was using a wrench and working on the engine of the tractor while the skinny, pocked-faced one was standing there watching. Tobias stayed behind the corner and pushed his back up against the side of the barn. He peeked his right eye around.
The two orderlies were talking.
“I’ve worked here for five years and I’m still not sure about everything that happens,” the pocked-faced one said.
The hairy-faced one had a response. “What’s to know? They reform these kids and all we have to worry about is keeping our mouths shut.”
“Right,” Mr. Pocked-face said sarcastically. “That doesn’t explain the Protectors. What are those animals, and why do they want to protect this place? And what about Mr. Bag Face? He…”
The hairy one stood up quickly, holding his wrench like a weapon and shaking it at the other one. “Watch what you say. We all signed agreements when we started here. No discussion about anything that happens. In return we’re all going to be very rich. I’m not losing out on a job because you can’t keep your mouth shut. Where were you before you worked here?”
“I was in prison,” Pock said defensively. “When I got out, I saw an ad in the paper.”
“We all did,” Hairy said. “Nobody without a colorful past would apply to the ad we did. We are the fortunate. We have jobs.”
Tobias listened carefully. He had wondered where the orderlies came from. They were all rough-looking and rarely spoke. It was the people like Ms. Gulp and Orrin who did all the commanding and yelling.
As interesting as the conversation he was eavesdropping on was, Tobias needed to get into the barn before someone noticed he was missing.
Looking inside the barn, Tobias could see another tractor and some plastic barrels. He could also see piles of wood. He was tempted to just light a match where he was and start the barn burning from the outside, but he knew it probably wouldn’t catch. Plus, there was no way he was about to start a fire until he knew for sure nobody was inside.
“This tractor’s not going to run anytime soon,” the hairy one said. “We should report to the office and let them know we need parts.”
“Fine by me,” Pock said.
Heading toward Witherwood, the two orderlies approached the corner where Tobias was hiding. Tobias pressed himself up against the wall and closed his eyes. They walked right past him without noticing. He opened his eyes and watched them disappear into the trees.
Quietly, he moved around the corner of the barn and toward the open door near the tractor. Tobias looked inside and couldn’t see anyone. Moving in, he passed the second tractor and a workbench that was covered with rusty tools and dirty rags.
Tobias looked up. Something didn’t smell right.
Above him was a loft littered with stringy hay and filled with old furniture and pieces of farm equipment. The entire back wall of the shed was stacked, floor to ceiling, with logs that were dusted in spiderwebs and dirt. There were metal cans with the words PETROL and GASOLINE written on them in black marker near a wooden ladder that led to the loft. Next to the ladder there was a pair of eyes staring directly at him.
“Ahhh,” Tobias said, jumping backward. “Fiddle?”
Fiddle stepped out from behind the ladder.
“I knew you’d come here. That’s pretty smart of me, isn’t it?”
Tobias was too busy recovering from the surprise to answer.
“I’ve been waiting.”
“I should have recognized that smell,” Tobias finally said.
“I’ve found that when people ask about specific things, they usually have a reason.” Fiddle smiled wide. “So what are you going to do to this barn?”
“Listen, Fiddle, we have to put a stop to this school. I’m just going to send a little smoke signal so someone can come and help us.”
“A little signal?” he asked, scratching at his eyebrows with the tips of his fingers.
“Yeah, you probably should leave.”
“No, thank you,” Fiddle said politely. “Everyone always wants me to leave. I wonder why. I don’t really take up much space, and I hardly stop anyone from doing what they are doing. I usually just like being near something that’s going on. It gets so … so … boring having to always stay put in my room. I’m not sure exactly how old I am, but I know I’ve spent too much time doing nothing. So, what I’m trying to say is that I would like to help do something.”
“I’m going to light this whole barn on fire,” Tobias blurted out. “It’s our only chance.”
“Good,” Fiddle said calmly. “I wanna help.”
“Last time you helped, you got in trouble, and you were moved to a closet.”
“Sometimes boredom is worse than punishment.”
“That’s a menacing motto.”
“I don’t really know what a motto is,” Fiddle admitted. “Is it one of those tiny fish?”
“No, and it’s not important. Are you ready?”
“Ever since I was a little child and they told me that this place was filled with things that could easily catch fire, I think I’ve wondered what it would look like if it did. I think I’m ready to see this barn finally live up to its name.”
Fiddle scratched at his eyebrows again while Tobias crumpled up a piece of the old newspaper and set it on the ground near the gas cans.
It’s important to remember a few things here. Tobias wasn’t bored. He wasn’t doing what he was doing because he was the clever mischievous child he used to be. Nope, Tobias was doing what he was doing because a wrong needed to be righted. This was about more than just Tobias and Charlotte being cruelly dropped off by their dad in a terrible place: This was about saving the hopes and lives of every current and future student who might be unlucky enough to call Witherwood Reform School home. Lighting a fire is a
frightening thing, but sometimes it takes great effort to make changes.
Tobias nervously took out the matches Meghan had given him. He struck a match and a flame was born.
CHAPTER 23
BURN, BABY, BURN
You should never play with fire. Of course, why would you? It makes a lousy toy and your hands and eyebrows will never forgive you. Fire is an important element, but a dangerous plaything. Fire might be beautiful when you are cold and sitting around a campfire roasting marshmallows. But it is a problem, a plight, and a fear when you are facing it in a dangerous situation. It destroys things, consumes stuff, and will lick just about anything in its way. You would be wise to respect fire.
Please, don’t fry this at home.
Tobias lifted the burning match and stared at the flame.
“I hope this works.”
“What works?” Fiddle asked.
“The fire, remember? As soon as I light this paper, run for the trees.”
Tobias lowered the match to the paper just as a large dark shadow blew through the open door and knocked into him from behind. Tobias fell to the ground, his body smothering the match he was holding. Before he could roll over to see what had hit him, he was grabbed by the ankles and pulled toward the door. Kicking and screaming, he saw that the assailant wasn’t a person—it was an animal. It had him by the ankles with its leathery beak and was dragging him out of the barn. Fiddle just stood there scratching his wrist and watching as if it was all entertainment.
“Fiddle, help!”
“Right,” he said. “I should help.”
“Now!”
Fiddle glanced around. He looked more like he was playing a game of I Spy than trying to rescue someone.
“Oh!” he exclaimed. “A shovel.”
Fiddle jogged to the shovel as Tobias clawed at the dirt to prevent himself from being pulled out of the barn.
Grabbing the shovel, Fiddle spun around and, with one solid clank, smacked the animal in the head. The creature screamed and rolled onto the ground with a thud. Tobias scrambled away from it and back onto his own two feet. His pants were torn where the thing had been biting down, but there was no sign of blood. He looked at Fiddle.
“This is a really nice shovel,” Fiddle said, staring at the tool. “Usually shovels are old and dirty, but this one doesn’t look like it’s been used.”
Tobias huffed and puffed. “That’s great. Thanks.”
“I told you I like to help.”
“Do you think it’s dead?” Tobias questioned as he moved a few inches closer to the creature. “I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”
“It’s definitely a Protector. They guard Witherwood.”
“What is it, though? It’s got a beak and talons and a wolf’s body with a turtle shell.”
“My uncle says they’re bits of many things. But most of all they are failed experiments.”
“This place should not be experimenting with anything but shutting down.”
“The Protectors aren’t really supposed to come out in the daytime. I heard that rat lady with the tight hair say that the shaky ground is making them act differently. They have a strong connection with the mesa. I think they are guarding something. Don’t ask me what.”
“Do you know what?” Tobias asked.
“What?”
“No, do you know what they’re guarding?”
“Nope.”
“You’re always really clear about what you’re saying,” Tobias said sarcastically.
“Thanks.”
Tobias looked down at the Protector. “So, what should we do with it?”
The animal was breathing, but it showed no other sign of life.
“I’ll drag it out to the trees,” Fiddle said. “You light things up.”
“What if it wakes up, or what if there are others?”
“They won’t harm me.”
“Why not?”
“Something about my blood,” Fiddle answered. “My uncle Marvin always says our blood keeps them away.”
Fiddle began to drag the animal from the barn and toward the trees.
“You better run fast, Tobias. If the other Protectors see you burning parts of the school, they might not be happy.”
Tobias struck another match and lit the crumpled piece of newspaper. He dropped it near the gas cans and the pile of old rags. Almost instantly, the flames began to lick and chew the dirty rags. Tobias spun around and dashed out the door. He saw Fiddle at the tree line, dragging the beast behind him.
Tobias picked up his pace and in seconds he was helping Fiddle pull the creature into the trees and out of the open. They both knelt down and looked out toward the bonfire barn.
Nothing was happening.
“Maybe you lit it wrong,” Fiddle suggested.
“I know how to light paper. I saw it catch on the rags right next to the gas cans.”
“Sometimes my eyes play tricks on me,” Fiddle said.
“My eyes weren’t playing any tricks. I saw it burning.”
“I once saw a small girl hovering in my room picking pens from my drawer.”
“That was Charlotte. I was there.”
“Oh, I thought she looked familiar.”
“Do you see any smoke?” Tobias asked, ignoring Fiddle’s drifting mind. “Because I can smell fire.”
“I don’t see any smoke, but I obviously can’t trust my eyes. I’m going to have to—”
A small explosion rocked the air, followed by another bigger one. Tobias watched as smoke raced out of the barn door like long puffy ghosts.
“I think—”
Another explosion tore through the air, interrupting Tobias. He plugged his ears as flames shot out of the barn door and climbed the walls.
“I think you lit it right,” Fiddle observed. “Sorry I doubted you.”
Another explosion and now the flames were reaching the top of the barn. They heard an alarm coming from Witherwood.
“Someone’s noticed,” Tobias said.
“Now what do we do?” Fiddle said with excitement.
“I haven’t thought that far ahead. We need to get back inside without anyone seeing us.”
“I know a good way.”
“Really?” Tobias questioned.
“Let’s leave this Protector here, though.”
“Why would we bring it?”
“Good point.”
Tobias took a last look at the bonfire barn. It was truly living up to its name. Fire was consuming it like a great beast swallowing a fat piece of meat. Black smoke rose up into the air. It was a magnificent smoke signal.
“Let’s hope someone sees this.”
“Sees what?”
“Just get us inside,” Tobias said.
Fiddle led the way.
CHAPTER 24
YELLING FOR YOUR LIFE
Charlotte was doing her best to not appear nervous. The distraction she had caused with Keith had worked perfectly. After everything was picked up and put back in its place, nobody seemed to notice that Tobias was missing. Professor Himzakity went on and on about nothing while Charlotte anxiously sat in her chair hoping that Tobias would be successful and that the plan would work. Fire was a dangerous thing, and there was a massive possibility of something going horribly wrong.
“Who knows why children are paid less than adults?” the professor asked.
Everyone raised their hands.
“Wendy,” he said, picking a skinny, short girl in the back corner of the room.
“Because we’re lucky to get paid at all.”
“Exactly.”
The suspense was almost more than Charlotte could bear. She looked over at Meghan, who was holding her knees in place to stop her legs from shaking. Keith wasn’t much better. He had sweat on the side of his face and his hands were twitching.
Just as Charlotte was beginning to think that Tobias had failed, a loud alarm began to screech and wail. Everyone glanced around in confusion.
“Stay calm
,” Professor Himzakity said nervously. “There’s nothing to worry about.”
Orderlies began running past the windows toward the rear of Witherwood.
The alarm continued to whine.
Most of the students plugged their ears and began to fidget at their desks.
Professor Himzakity held up his hands, showing the class his palms. “Please, there’s nothing to worry about. Nothing at all!”
Orrin’s voice came on over the loudspeaker: “All students to their dorms immediately! All students to their dorms immediately.”
Every eye in the classroom looked at Professor Himzakity.
“To your dorms!” he ordered.
Charlotte’s hands were shaking. She could barely stand up without falling over, and her neck was turning red from her collarbone up to her chin.
“To your dorms,” the professor barked. “No dawdling!”
The students pushed out the classroom door into the hall, where other classrooms were emptying their students into the ocean of kids. Everyone’s brains were glossy, but they seemed to understand fear and confusion. Somewhere someone who sounded a lot like Keith yelled, “FIRE!”
Everyone collectively decided that now would be the perfect time to yell a few things too. In the mess and confusion of students, Meghan found Charlotte and grabbed her hand.
“He did it!”
“I knew he would!” Charlotte said. “He’s really good at destroying things.”
“Come on,” Meghan said. “We’ve got to do our part.”
The two girls ran down the hall screaming and hollering with everyone else. Meghan knocked over a tall trash can and Charlotte hit one of the light switches, making the hall darker. The frightened masses were growing unstable. A girl tripped and her books flew forward, smashing the window on one of the classroom doors. The sound of breaking glass made everything even more chaotic.
“FIRE!” Meghan yelled.
It was the wrong time to yell. Meghan had failed to look behind her. Ms. Ratter, who had been running there, heard Meghan scream and grabbed her by the collar.
Everyone continued to run around Ms. Ratter and Meghan. Charlotte held back, hiding in the crowd.
“How do you know there’s a fire?” Ms. Ratter demanded of Meghan.
