Harriet Jinjur vs. the Academy

Chapter 4: Harriet's First Escape

The sun had almost set by time Harriet confronted Aloysius near that excuse of a market, but it still gave her what she needed.

A wand of her very own to use sparingly.

How it would help her survive the elements, she had to find out as soon as she leaves the Meadow of Leisure and into the Forest of Outskirts.

Immediately, she went back into her room and climbed into bed without even changing. She did take her tie off as it usually makes her uncomfortable whenever she's lying down for too long.

Harriet needed as much sleep as she can get before the witching hour strikes.

Her dreams weren't that disturbing or nonsensical this time around, but they were now tinged in a bright grey spark which Harriet quickly got used to it. It made Gretna give off this Kansas vibe in her head.

Occasionally, she took a quick peek at the clock before falling back asleep. Harriet didn't bother setting the alarm in an effort to not let anybody know she's running out on them.

She finally got out of bed around 11:55PM, put her sneakers on, and adjusted her tie before climbing out of the window.

It wasn't a particularly deep drop. One of the advantages of living on the ground floor was that Harriet can easily sneak out with only a few inches to worry about. She did have to lean on the wall since the ledge beside the moat was too narrow. Plus, there's the fear of attracting that sea serpent again and forcing her to listen to his sales pitch that's loud enough to wake the whole school.

Luckily, Gloucester didn't bother with Harriet and eventually, she went it to the enclosed courtyard, gazing out at the portcullis blocking her only way out.

As she waited for Bert, Harriet saw the Meadow of Leisure on the other side of the small drawbridge. Even in the dark, it was the midst of a country of marvelous beauty.

There were patches of lovely, green grass all about with stately trees bearing rich and luscious fruits. Banks of gorgeous flowers were in every inch, and owls with rare and brilliant plumage fluttered in the trees and bushes. A little way off was a small brook, sparkling along between green banks, and murmuring in a voice very grateful to a girl who had lived so long in a desolate town.

It dawned on her that this was the first time she'd got a proper look at her new surroundings outside, even if it didn't appear as glamorous as many others make it out to be. Slowly, Harriet got over her homesickness little by little, but she still felt alone.

"Evenin', Miss Jinjur."

Harriet turned around and gave a little cry of fright, "Damn it, Bert! Don't scare me like that!"

"Shh!" Bert tempestuously put a finger to his lips, sinking his voice to a whisper. "Do yew wish ta wake de e'tire school?"

"Right, sorry," Harriet said calmly. "You really got to work on not sneaking up on people...on top of everything else you're forced to do," she added quickly.

Bert let out only a "Hmm..." as if she believes that he's about to call it quits here.

"I just wanna go home," Harriet admitted with hesitation. "Go back to civilization."

Bert seemed to think for a time, with his head bowed and his eyes upon the ground. Then, he looked to Harriet and said,

"Yew man'ge ta get dat wan'?"

"I did," Harriet slowly took her wand out of her skirt and threw it to Bert. "So, how's this gonna work?"

"Be patien'. It's quite con-vee-luted," Bert says as he inspects the gray oak wand in his hands. "Now...first an' foremost, I need ta aim dis dere wan' on yew."