A Rift Between Us

Chapter 51 - Lights Out

Mr Dodge edged closer to the workmen, his footsteps creating a staccato rhythm that filled the silence.

"Hey!" his voice boomed through the library like a cannon blast. "What's going on there?"

A collective gaze fell upon him, piercing through the dim light. One of the workers broke the silence.

"The wiring in this thing is faulty, I had no idea this would happen, though."

Mr Dodge pressed his palm against his forehead, fidgeting in place.

"Guys, I've got a massive group of year elevens here. They need to revise for their final exams tomorrow. Fix the bloody thing!"

One of the men stepped forward, dragging his feet.

"What do you want us to do, mate?" he asked, tilting his head as he shrugged. "We're already tryna fix it."

The man's voice was firm, laced with a touch of challenge. Mr Dodge clenched his hand into a fist and brought it to his mouth, biting down on his knuckle. The imprint left a burning dent on his skin. Whispers flew through the air, bouncing from one student to another as they started to murmur.

"Then try again!" Mr Dodge snapped, unable to contain his festering fury. "I've got less than a day to make sure these kids get their revision done, and now nobody can do anything on these computers because of you idiots!"

A storm of anger erupted between Mr Dodge and the maintenance crew, drawing everyone's attention. Alfie shifted to a different seat, hoping for a better view. Other students did the same, captivated by the intensity of the dispute. Mr Dodge's voice merged with the workers, shouting back and forth, clashing like thunder. Their howls struck each other like bullets.

"Alright, why don't you shut your mouth now, mate, yeah?" The worker's finger stood erect in front of Mr Dodge's face.

Giggles circled Alfie as he squinted, struggling to discern in the gloom. His lips parted.

"Come on sir, this isn't the time for this. We have to revise..." he muttered.

A hand slipped around his throat, yanking him back.

"That's right, nerd. We have to revise."

Alfie gulped nervously, caught in Keiko's grip. Alara reappeared, clutching Mr Dodge's keys. Her eyes darted to the maintenance worker, a flicker of concern in her gaze. The men's voices clashed, a raging river of anger and frustration. Mr Dodge snatched the keys from Alara, his grip tight. The worker scoffed, rolling his eyes, dismissing Mr Dodge with a wave of his hand.

Peace returned, the worker disappearing into the darkness. Mr Dodge stormed back to the desk, irritation etched on his face. He shook the mouse violently, cursing under his breath. A sharp pain shot through his foot as he kicked forward.

"Damn it! Stupid chair!"

Alara slowly hobbled towards the rest of the students, her arms outstretched to avoid any collision.

"Alara, why didn't you grab my laptop?"

She stopped, turning her head towards the sound of his voice.

"I apologise, sir. I was unsure of the proper course of action following the outage. Therefore I elected to return."

A muffled rattle came from Mr Dodge's pocket. A clang filled the immediate vicinity as the keys crashed onto the front desk.

"I need it, Alara," his voice deepened, harbouring a sense of chagrin. "Take the keys and go back."

Her legs shook as she grabbed the bundle from the desk, eager not to waste his time. The thuds of her platform boots echoed as she walked away, only to grow louder again as another figure approached. Mr Dodge peered out from the library, his curiosity piqued by why she seemed to be returning. A brilliant spotlight swept across the windows, prompting a rustling tide as everyone shielded their eyes from the glare.

"I think that's Ms Camdyn!" warned a student.

The light continued to scan the library before illuminating Mr Dodge's face. He took a few steps back, covering his eyes. The footsteps stopped right in front of him.

"Mr Dodge. I need to speak to you."