Dream Catcher

Chapter 2

After breakfast, Jack told Ethan he was going for a walk before class started. He ambled slowly along the path, past the East wing of the main building towards the front gates. Instead of walking through them, Jack turned left and climbed the small, but steep hill that led towards a patch of trees. He pulled the branches aside and a tiny secret path revealed itself. Jack squeezed himself through, thankful they weren't rose bushes and quickly emerged in a clearing at the top of the hill. He paused to catch his breath then immediately chided himself for being out of breath from such a short climb. Jack could see most of the layout of the school from the hill. The main building of St Xavier's was impressive. Built in the mid-1900s it more closely resembled a cathedral than a boarding school. Leading up from the long driveway, the main building was split into the East and West wings, connected by a smaller building where the main entrance was found, that contained the dining room and assembly hall. The whole thing resembled a horseshoe with a courtyard in the centre.

Most classes took place in the East and West wing buildings, which both towered above the rest of the school. Further back were several smaller buildings including the dormitories. There was even a tiny chapel on the outskirts of the grounds, not far from the sports field although it was rarely used now. Several newer buildings had been added since St Xavier's was first built, including a gym and separate cafeteria. It was an all-boys school and one of two private boarding schools in the area. The other being St. Margaret's, an all-girls school, about fifteen minutes away. Even though the two schools had been built around the same time, they had remained almost completely separate from one another. There had been calls to combine both schools over the years, but neither could agree on any concrete plans. It was rumoured that the headmistress of St Margaret's had once been engaged to Headmaster Doyle, but it had ended bitterly and ignited a feud between the two schools, each competing to be the best. The only compromise they could come up with was to merge the curriculum for the schools. Pupils from both schools shared classes with each other, ate lunch at either school, attended school trips together and played in the same sports teams. The only rule regarding the mixing of the schools was that boys and girls had to return to their respective campuses before curfew. Of course, that didn't stop plenty of students sneaking each other into the grounds after dark. 

From his vantage point Jack could also see the San Fernando Valley laid out before him and in the distance, the San Gabriel mountains. This was one of his favourite places to sit; sometimes he'd bring a book or listen to music. Jack's favourite time to come was sunset. When it was a particularly beautiful one, he often wished he had inherited his mother's artistic tendencies. Sadly, it seemed the only thing he had gotten from his mother were her combination of honeycomb hair and deep brown eyes. Jack wished he had more traits to tie himself to her. Sometimes it took his mind longer to conjure up her image. He was afraid that one day he wouldn't be able to instantly picture her face. The thought that he could so easily forget was more terrifying than anything Jack had experienced. Tears stung at the back of his eyes; he squeezed them shut and shook all thoughts of his mother away. In the distance he heard the bell for first period. Jack scrambled to his feet and set off at a run down the hill. 

***

"Alright boys settle down!" Headmaster Doyle raised his hands. The noise in the classroom faded to a muted silence. Mr Doyle was not a man you wanted to anger; unless you wanted two weeks detention, expulsion from all clubs and activities and a warning letter sent home to your parents. This happened to Ben, a boy in Jack's class, a few weeks ago. His crime was to interrupt Doyle during a lesson. Jack was surprised to see the headmaster at his 9am English class.

"Thank you. Now I have some potentially upsetting news. Grayson Lancaster has not been seen since Friday evening. He has not attended class, returned to his room or contacted friends or family. We're sure Grayson is fine. But if anyone has any information please speak to a member of staff immediately. That will be all."