"THIS is a bad idea," Nathan muttered for the fifth time this evening. It was either by pure luck or Harvey's questionable manoeuvres that they hadn't encountered a single person in the corridors yet. Isaac hated every bit of this plan, but he had to go through with it. As they crossed the stretch of grass between their quarters to the main school building, he kept wondering how long it would be before their luck gave way. The consequences of being caught sneaking out would be unimaginable. However sure Harvey was of his plan, Isaac found his pulse quickening every time he heard the slightest sound in the dark corridors before him. Columbus needed its reputation to be spotless. Sacrificing four students to keep it that way wouldn't be such a painful decision for Principal Byrne.
"Of course this is a bad idea," Erik raised an eyebrow, as if wondering how that changed anything. Isaac wasn't the only one questioning the outcome of events. Nathan was visibly shaking. He wiped the cold sweat from the back of his neck with his shivering fingers.
"It's probably too late, maybe the party's over," he said, sounding a little too hopeful.
"I can see why you don't get invited to a lot of parties," Harvey muttered, out of Nate's earshot. He walked a few paces ahead of them, the collar of his coat turned up against the wind. He paused right outside the school building, staring the gates opposite them.
"How exactly do you plan on getting us out?" Isaac walked up to him. Erik was right behind him, trying to coax Nathan into lighting a cigarette.
"I have no idea," Harvey shrugged. His lips had turned a deeper shade of crimson in the cold and he squinted against the wind.
"I should have known," Isaac frowned. Harvey wasn't listening. He gestured for Isaac to wait there and then ducked into another corridor. Nathan had finally yielded, out of sheer frustration, and jammed a cigarette between his lips. Harvey came back in a minute; the sound of his footsteps echoing on the floors making Isaac wince.
"The guards should be alternately patrolling each of the three gates," he said.
"How long at each gate?" Isaac shot him a pointed look.
"Don't make this harder than it already is," Harvey said. Isaac noticed Nathan took an unnaturally long drag of his cigarette.
"How do we get out?" Erik asked.
"Climb the gates," Harvey said, as if it wasn't obvious already.
Nathan broke into a racking cough, and Isaac was too tired to even sigh.
"You want us to climb the gates?" Nathan said, panic creeping into his voice.
"Somebody could see us!" Isaac whispered angrily.
"Come up with a better plan if you want to, Ernst Blofeld," Harvey scoffed.
"I shouldn't have suggested this in the first place," Nathan muttered to himself.
"Yeah, too late," Harvey stepped closer to the boys. "Make it to the gates. Make sure nobody sees you. Climb out as fast as you can."
"What? Where will you be?" Isaac turned to face him.
"I'll meet you outside," he said. Isaac opened his mouth to say something, but Harvey was already pacing down the corridors.
"That foul, insolent -" Isaac stuttered.
"Git? Scumbag? Lowlife?" Erik suggested.
"Oh, shut up," Isaac muttered and stormed into the grounds and towards the gate. Erik followed, laughing. Nathan scanned the grounds nervously and then tailed after them.
