PENSIONNAT - VERSION ENGLISH - BOOK FINISH

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Thomas moved cautiously through the corridors. The beast had disappeared and everything was... quiet again.

He would have been naive to think that Quentin had vanished from the manor. Only his fear made him believe it... He continued to advance and finally thought that it was indeed the case.

There was no one there.

He put away his bow and began to walk with a lighter spirit.

He reached the end of the hallway, looked around and still nothing. He decided to go back and warn his comrades. Together, they could barricade the access to the corridor and continue until he came across Quentin.

But it was obvious that a teacher was going to take care of it. Maybe he already had!

His hopes were dashed when a small bloodstain appeared along the wall. Another on the floor caught his eye. They seemed to lead him to a door. It was a closet.
He took a breath, grabbed the handle and turned it gently. Then he pushed.

A second-grader lay on the floor, belly open and gutted, with one arm missing. Thomas recoiled in horror.

- AAAAAAAAAAAAAH !!!!

A scream from the next hallway rang out to him. He ran quickly to his destination and saw a girl on the floor, the beast right above her face. He wanted to go and help her but... He was afraid... He hesitated for a moment, started to back away, but spotted a small corner behind a piece of furniture and decided to stay. He brought out his bow, where he aimed at the beast. His arm, slightly trembling, lowered when he saw his cousin.

- Wha... What's he doing here? Thomas sighed, his fist clenched.

Derne, with a wooden stick in his hand, jumped on the beast and barely saved the girl. He helped her up and ordered her to go lock herself in her room. He gripped his weapon tightly and jumped back on the beast.

To Thomas's surprise, "Quentin" was able to walk on the walls with ease and cling to the ceiling as if no gravity rules existed!

He was rather pleased that he gave his cousin a hard time. But Derne was a good fighter. He always had been!

He gained momentum and ran at full speed up the right wall. He leaped and soared through the air like a bird. He reached the beast and struck it to knock it to the ground. His blow worked and it fell on its back against the cold stones.

Derne quickly struck again, dropping on top of it. He thrust the stick into its lungs. The thing screamed in terror to break the windows. Then a breath filled with pain came to replace its cry.

It did not move any more. It was content to capitulate during these last moments.

Thomas could not believe it.

All by himself, his cousin had just finished with a demonic creature in less than five minutes.

He was jealous. That's what pissed him off the most. Why should he be jealous of his cousin?! He was a dark spectre! There was really nothing to be jealous of!

Derne turned and looked at Thomas. They hated each other. But to Derne, Thomas' life was more important than any hatred. He was his cousin, his family, and he would always help his family.

- So, nothing broken? Derne asked.

- Don't pretend, Derne. You just wanted to show off in front of that girl! Thomas shouted angrily.

- ... And I see you had the same idea. He looked at the bow Thomas still held in his right hand.

- I don't risk my life for just anyone. Thomas replied with a cold look.

- Didn't you come to save your friends? Derne asked.

It had slipped his mind. After seeing the bug fighting Derne, he had only prayed that the thing would kill his cousin.

- Kids!!! Children!!! Perus shouted as he came towards them with his arms spread wide. He looked at the beast on the ground and guessed that it was a student... Oh, dear God... It must have been hard for you, my boy... He looked at Derne. Without your intervention, other people would have surely died and killing one of his comrades is not the easiest thing to do... Thank you my boy... thank you. Go and change, both of you. In fifteen minutes, bring all the students to the main hall.

*****

- We need to move. Grayce, how far are we from the manor? With this whole thing, I didn't know where we left off.

- We can't move until they're gone! shouted Max. If they see us, we're dead!!!

- I'm afraid Max is right. Otherwise we're 30 minutes from the mansion... We'd need a vehicle. But for now we should get away from this road!

We left behind until we reached a small forest. The trees hid us a little, but we made all the same attention. A small path joined the road which we had just left.

- At least we'll be safe here. Grayce said.

- What kind of vehicle are we going to call that can get us across this road? Max asked. A carriage would be too flashy.

-We could make ourselves invisible. I suggested. We've never done it, but we can always ask our ghost...right?