Partners In Crime

25 Escape To Redemption

Headmaster Bryce ferociously swung open his office door.
He precipitously looked left. He looked right. Nobody. The hallways were exceptionally empty. It was currently 12:33. Bryce wasn't the one for punctuality but even he knew something fishy was going on since Derick and Chelsea hadn't shown up three minutes ago to present their case. It was so unlike them to put two weeks into finding out the mystery, only to disappear without a trace. The man was showing stress. Great. Just great. Not that there aren't issues I'm dealing with already!  He was completely on edge. Then he saw Noah, Joesph and Erin walking by.

"Where is Fledmen and Oxford?" he asked abruptly.
"We came to ask you the same question," Joesph said.
"Yeah," Erin chimed in. "Why would we come all the way here and ask you that if we knew? Unless of course, you're physic." she gasped. "You are, aren't you?"
"Is this supposed to be a joke?"
"That's something a physic person would say!" the girl barked, placing her hands on her head.
Brief silence.
"Don't suppose you know where they're gone?" Noah asked.
"How should I know!? But what I do know is that if they don't show up at the end of Lunch, Johnty's guilty."
"That's unfair!" Joe protested.

This was true. They could be running late or something terrible must of happened. But to have the defendant punished without a fair trial, after fourteen days of making him innocent, only to simply plead him guilty is nothing sort of fatuous.

"I don't have a choice I'm afraid. And, frankly, I don't care!" Bryan snapped. "Either the two show up or you go and break the news to Johnty that his time here at St Leory's is his last.  You could even pack his things!"
"That won't be a problem," Johnty said, revealing himself from the shadows for dramatic effect. It seems like it worked, too. Because the headmaster,  melodramatic,  was stunned.
"Barber! You should be in isolation!"
"But sir, a stranger came into the school!"
"What!?" Suddenly the head's initial emotions were dashed.
"Why didn't the office do anything??"
"Because they have no way of knowing. Just like when the power went out during the storm and tampered with security."
"And?" Bryce didn't buy it. "It's fixed now. Plus, that doesn't explain how they got in. Speaking of, how did you get out of the isolation room-?"
"It explains it because of Rodney. His escape routes are how they got in and out." Erin blurted.
"Why I'll be." Joesph was impressed.
"But there's one thing I don't understand. What did the stranger come here for?"
A series of stares were on Erin.
"What?"
"So, what now?"
"What now is that you're finished!" the head said. He lifted his claws, reaching for Johnty.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, sir," Noah quickly countered.
"Not unless word gets out that students yet again are in danger under your watch."
"What do you want?"

_______________________________

"We got to get out of here!" Derick's exclaim echoed throughout the basement. Subconsciously he knew that even if they did escape, they still had to worry about the lock, and then the bigger picture. And with the current police system, the boy reckons the entirety of Billfork is doomed, if not already. Once again, it's up to the two to save the day...somehow.  Out of frustration and repugnance, Derick threw his head towards the ground, where his grey baseball cap landed promptly on the floor.
The cap recoiled as it positioned itself upside down, facing the other way. Not even his cap recognized him anymore. It's extremely disheartening.

Chelsea felt the need to lighten the mood.

"Look on the bright side," the girl said optimistically.
"At least the culprit isn't the butler."
"Would you give it a rest already, Chelsea? We're going to die, ok?" the boy said with pure malevolence. He wasn't sugarcoating it and, frankly, he didn't care if it made him look pessimistic. Then again, he didn't care about anything. Not anymore. Then his malevolence transformed into misery. It's the type of sorrow that didn't warrant a pep talk.
"It's for the best, anyway." he sighed.
"Maybe they're written on my grave: Derick. A big joke. That is, of course, if Derick's even my real name. Not that it matters. But what does is why, Chelsea? Why did you do it?"