Fern Creek Academy Book 1

Chapter 18: Missing

Hilary heard a dull click and the door opened. Peering in, she saw that there was a small tunnel, about 4 meters long, leading up to a bright square of light. Without more ado, she squeezed herself in and crawled down the passage-way. The floor and roof were made of hard packed dirt. Hilary assumed that by now she'd be going under the wall of the stables and come up outside. By now, her PJ's were completely soiled. She smiled ruefully, she'd have to by another pair.

Peering through the open rectangle, Hilary saw that she had been right. The passage did lead outside, round the shadowy side of the building. The sound of crickets grew louder as she stood up.

It wasn't the serene night that she'd left behind in the storage room. This one was a night of flashing lights and loud voices, people were milling around, some still in their pyjamas. Two police cars stood in the drive, police officers talking urgently into walkie-talkies.

Hilary realised one thing, that she'd caused this pandemonium.

From where she was standing, nobody could see her, as she was hidden in shadow.

Stepping out into the blaring lights and loud noises, she was blinded for a moment. Suddenly she heard her name being called "HILARY!!! Hilary's here." She was at once swarmed by a group of people, some hugging, some asking if she was alright, others saying how stupid Amanda was.

Throughout the whole ordeal, Hilary was in a state of half consciousness, the noises too much to bear. She felt someone gently walking her into a warmly lighted room that Hilary dimly recognised as the reception. Someone lay her on the couch and gave her something warm to drink, it felt like heaven compared to the dim and musty storage room. She was so bemused that she could only catch snatches of conversation ".......poor girl....so sweet...." and "....it's a wonder we even saw her..."

Then she detected a voice that made all other voices seem insignificant, her mother's, calm and soothing, it lulled her to sleep.

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Hilary awoke in her bed at FCA, it was as though nothing had changed, but Hilary knew something had changed, for one, she was sore all over and had an aching lump on her head and for another, someone was sitting on her bed. Hilary looked up, Emma grinned back. Hilary attempted a feeble grin, her face was still sore from when she had fallen.

"I thought you'd never wake up," Emma said jovially, bouncing on the bed, full of her usual energy and exuberance.

Her grin changed to a look of concern " Are you feeling alright?"

Hilary nodded " As good as it can get when you've spent a night in the stables. What even happened while i was locked up?"

Emma explained that she had woken up and Hilary hadn't been in her bed. She'd gone and looked outside and saw one lone light bobbing towards the stables, assuming Hilary was checking on the horses, she'd gone down there to see. By now Amanda had been caught heading for her dormitory by a member of staff and had been questioned, Amanda had been stubborn and had refused to say anything. Emma had found the stables empty and had told the staff, by now many parents had turned up and the police were looking for Hilary. Then suddenly Hilary had come out of nowhere and had been found sick and slightly delirious.

Hilary nodded, now it all made sense, unless for Emma, Amanda wouldn't have been found.

"Where's Amanda now? Is she in the reception?"

Emma was about to answer when a knock sounded on the door and three people came in.

"Mum, Dad!!" Hilary jumped up to hug her parents, wincing in pain as she felt her hip twinge.

"Hello darling," Kate hugged her hard and Sam fondled her hair "We missed you so much, do you feel alright, are you ill, are you hurt?"

Hilary smiled "Not really." She shrugged and sat down on her bed. The third person had been standing in the door- way, now she came forward.

"Hi Jo," Hilary said. Jo smiled back,"When you've got dressed go down to the reception, there's someone wanting to talk to you."

Hilary nodded, confused, who would want to talk to her?