The Itus Institute

Chapter 4

The third time I woke up was in a different room.

This one had less of a hospital feel to it, the bed was comfortable and there were maroon drapes covering the window, the floor was a thick grey carpet which I just wanted to sink my bare feet into. Of course the pleasure of my new accommodations was ruined slightly by the sight of a bruised James in the corner of the room.

His arms were crossed in front of him and for the first time I noticed the muscles that he had, I was lucky to have gotten off as battered as I was. the second thing I noticed was the murderous scowl he was directing towards me.

Always the cheerful fellow.

I slid off the bed and made my way across to the dark wooden door next to James. I had just put my hand on the knob when I felt an arm wrapped around my waist and I was pulled brutally back to the bed.

"Well," I said, "someone's eager."

He simply ignored me and returned to his seat, crossing his arms over his chest again. evidently I wasn't going anywhere soon. I looked around the room again, there was a bed, a desk and a chair (currently occupied by an angry teenage boy) and a small square window through which an orange glow of light shone. The room was more like a dormitory than anything else. It was at this realisation that my eyes flickered up to meet James' who was eying me warily.

"Is this a dormitory?" I asked, noting the crease that appeared between his eyebrows. He said nothing in response. I let out a loud sigh and stood up. James seemed to brace himself, as if expecting a fight, but I simply ignored him and moved over to the window to look out at my surroundings.

The view was incredible, I seemed to be looking out onto some kind of vast garden filled with trees and flowers. I could just about see the edge of a sparkling lake and a cobbled path that led off into a collection of trees. Just the sight of this open space seemed to calm me down. it was beautiful.

But it was not home.

I would have recognised a place like this if it was anywhere near my home, it would be impossible to miss, and it was that thought that brought a realisation crashing down upon me. My parents had no idea where the hell I was.

"My parents" I muttered, turning back to the teen "Where am I and where do my parents think I am?" I was starting to shout now, getting panicked. "Where do my parents think I am?" I screamed, lurching towards James who had clambered out of his chair, arms outstretched and his blank expression back on his face. He wasn't going to give me any answers I could clearly see that so without a seconds hesitation I kicked out, knocking his feet out from under him and as he fell, slammed his head against the wall with my palm.

The collision wasn't as hard as I had hoped, he was still conscious but dazed so I took the opportunity flung the door open, slamming it again behind me. I'm pretty sure it hit James as I heard a muffled cry but I was already tearing down the corridor past other, similar doors. One or two opened to reveal confused looking teens, all looking to be around my age. A girl seemed to realise what was happening and came skidding out of her room to try and stop me, arm outstretched. I simply grabbed the arm with both hands, one at the wrist and one just before the elbow and slammed her against the wall, slamming my shoulder against her back so that she fell to the floor.

The others seemed to get the message and didn't approach. after casting a panicked look at them I continued running, I looked back as I turned the corner and noticed James down the other end of the corridor, eyes wide at the sight of the slumped girl.

I couldn't even comprehend all of this new information, I was just running, trying to get as far away from the situation as was possible. I ran down staircases and through rooms full of wooden tables and expensive looking chairs. I almost ran past a large archway that led to the vast garden outside but quickly skidded to a halt, panting, and pushed myself through it, sprinting towards the high stone wall that seemed so far away. I couldn't see any sign of a gate so I'd have to climb, but that was ok, I would deal with that when it happened.

I had just made it past the pond, noticing a crowd of people stood just before the dense collection of trees I had spotted through the window when I heard a familiar voice cry "You have got to be kidding me." I recognised it as the infamous Redbridge and sped up my pace, even more desperate to escape now. I could faintly hear him barking orders at the crowd of people he was with as I neared the wall and soon enough I felt my feet being taken out from beneath me. I hit the ground and rolled to face my assailant in a crouch. It was a boy, looking to be in his early twenties and who held the familiar blank expression that had taken over James' face.

I thrust my palm forwards, hoping to push up his chin sharply and knock him out but he caught it and went to twist it behind my back. I simply spun with it and placed a well aimed kick at his gut, kneeing him in the face as he dropped my arm and bent over, I grabbed his head as he stumbled and rammed it into my leg another two times before he fell to the floor but by this point it was too late.

The boy had evidently been one of the faster people in the group and the rest had just caught up, a couple of people dropped to the floor to inspect my assailant but the rest followed me in fast pursuit as I sprinted for the wall again, my lungs burning for a proper breath of air and my muscles aching horrendously.

It was no use. I'd never make it over the wall with this lot chasing me. I looked over my shoulder and swore, taking a sharp turn to the right, now running alongside the wall, literally a meter away, I'd have to lose the crowd or find the gate.

Of course, that was an overly ambitious plan. I had only made it a couple of paces when I felt arms wrap around my mid-section, more quickly joining them to hold my arms and legs down as they flailed in an attempt to hit somebody, anybody.

I heard Redbridge muttering and swearing behind me before he said "You're going to be the death of me, I can tell." and I felt a metal nozzle being shoved into my mouth. I panicked for a second, remembering the metal oval but I was stopped as I choked on a thick gas that was making its way into my lungs, I tried to fight against it and spit the nozzle out of my mouth but I could literally feel the energy slipping away from me. I couldn't fight gas.