Goylegate - One Gargantuan Scandal! 7

CHAPTER 7
Blue glows from potential parents.

Ghost stared silently up at the sky. Every now and again he trembled.
‘What’s wrong with you? What did you see?’ asked Davina, kneeling beside him.
Ghost stared vacantly past her.
Davina hoisted him back to standing and dragged him towards the school. ‘Ghost talk to me!’
Ghost shook his head, he couldn’t.

Nearing the school Davina noticed there was a situation developing, it seemed that while they were away another incident had taken place. ‘What’s going on today?’ She muttered.
Ghost stared into space, silent.
A crowd had gathered outside the school. Ms Kirk stood with the other teachers studying a number of massive holes in the walls of the building. Some students, who were pretending to do their chores, glanced accusingly at Davina .
‘When did that happen?’ she whispered.
Ghost shook his head; he had no idea. No doubt it was going to be something to do with her.
Ms Kirk turned aggressively towards Davina and Ghost and scowled with her hands on her hips. ‘Did you do this? Is this your handy work?’
‘How could I? I was in the woods.’
‘Oh you were in the woods were you? Why Davina were you in the woods when the woods are out of bounds?’
‘I didn’t know they were out of bounds, I was never told...’
‘Or maybe you were told but you don’t remember?’ said Ms Kirk in a mocking tone.
Davina gritted her teeth and clenched her fist.
‘Come here and tell me what you think this is?’ said Ms Kirk slapping her hand against the wall.
Davina propped Ghost against a random boulder and took a closer look. All the miserable teachers stared, each anticipating an explanation.
Davina shook her head: five massive chunks had been gauged from the wall. Those chunks resembled bite marks.
‘I don’t know miss.’
Ms Kirk stared into Davina’s eyes; she was having none of it. ‘I don’t know miss?’ she mimicked. ‘Of course you don’t! Well how do you explain that these odd occurrences only began when you arrived?’
Davina shrugged, ‘I really have no idea.’
‘Davina I told you if there was any trouble you would be out! You are very close now to being ousted. Now tell me what you know about this!’
Davina crossed her arms, ‘Ms Kirk I have no idea. It looks like a large bite mark.’
‘What could make such a mark?’
‘A dinosaur?’
‘Don’t be ridiculous child! Now I want you to go and find me a solution this afternoon and don’t think you’ll be going anywhere.’
‘But what about the line-up?’
‘Oh no child... You won’t be in that line up, not until you explain what is going on here!’
‘But what if I don’t know?’
‘Then you’ll be here for the rest of your life! Plus you’ve now set yourself up for your first caning. At six o’clock this evening you will report to the head of corporal punishment. Twenty canes for this behaviour.’
‘But I didn’t do anything!’
‘They all say that! Now that is thirty canes. I advise you not to talk back.’
Davina’s eyes welled up; stinging tears trickled down her cheeks. She couldn’t explain the happenings and now she was going to be beaten. It was so unfair! She had to work out what was going on and the only way was by finding out what Ghost had seen. If she could find that out-then maybe she might be able to make it to the line-up. Davina glanced back, Ghost was gone.
‘Now go and rake the grounds, clear those piles of stones and keep away from the line-up- you hear? Don’t even consider trying to sneak in.’
Davina nodded sadly and picked up a rake. She had never been caned and felt sick at the thought of it.

Out on the grounds she sobbed while she raked; why was everything so wrong? She couldn’t stay at such an awful place... She couldn’t be beaten for something she hadn’t done. It wasn’t right! Davina sobbed some more, something inside her told her time was running out. She had to get away.

A bell sounded when numerous cars entered the locked gates of the Nadim compound. Davina watched all the other children run excitedly inside to get ready for the line-up. They would all be up in the dormitories dressing in their best clothes intending to look ‘nice.’ As much as none of them wanted to admit it, they all wanted out too.
Half an hour later Davina sneaked around the back of the building and peered through an open window. All the children were lined up inside according to height; each wore their name in big colourful letters on their chests. Davina watched intently; she noticed all the nasty little pieces of work were all well groomed and appeared smiley. ‘They say they don’t want a nice home... Liars!’ she muttered.
As each new potential couple walked the line, each child put on their most sympathy demanding face. Davina shuddered; it was like when people chose themselves a puppy. How could this go on? What was this the trial they were all talking about?
At that moment Davina was glad she was having nothing to do with it. She leant against a window frame watching one particular couple of potential parents; they paused next to a child and pointed. Ms Kirk put on her best fake smile and said ‘good choice,’ then the parents made their way to the end of the line looking satisfied.
Davina watched one set of potential parents wearing small dark glasses walk the length of the line and shake their heads. Ms Kirk could tell they were disappointed with the lack of decent children.
Davina watched curiously; something about the parents gave her a feeling as though something was gnawing at her stomach. It seemed that none of the remaining kids fitted their specific criteria. Why wasn’t she surprised? Davina crept to a side window and found a better angle to listen.
‘Ideally we want a boy and a girl. Is this all you’ve got?’ asked the woman in dark glasses.
Ms Kirk wrung her hands and appeared to be sucking something very sour, ‘there is one other boy. He is a little strange. I could get him for you if you like. Although he’s very quiet, I personally wouldn’t touch him with a barge pole.’
‘We would still like to see the boy,’ said the woman dressed in black.
A few moments later Ghost was lead in like a prize cow. Davina noticed he was still trembling and kept his head down. When the parents weren’t looking, Davina watched Ghost scan the pair. The woman looked all wiry with a pigeon chest and a false smile spanning her greasy face. The man on the other hand had long, floppy, hair and seemed to be in a bit of a daze. From the way Ghost reacted Davina sensed he’d also noticed something ‘wrong’ about them.
Davina watched Ghost stare at the odd looking couple. His pale eye appeared to pick out the blue glow coming from the couple’s hearts. Davina chewed her lip. What would make that happen? What were they?
The potential parents appeared to be creative sorts. They looked Ghost over like he was an object; they lifted his arms and checked his teeth. ‘Okay he fits the criteria, we’ll take him.’
Ghost looked horrified and went to struggle.
Ms Kirk caught him by the arm, ‘Ghost, you will have a nice home to go to. Now be so kind as to behave well and move!’
‘But…’
‘No butts. You have no choice!’ said Ms Kirk sharply.
Davina gasped in horror, her only ally was being removed. She desperately wanted to burst through the window and pull him away. If he was taken away how would she find out what he had seen in the forest? Davina calmed herself and continued to watch glowing parents.
‘And we need a girl,’ said the blue glowing man studying a piece of paper. ‘We have been given specifics on this one. She is small with...’
Ms Kirk glanced at the paper, ‘I don’t think I’m going to be able to help you this time. That is quite a set of criteria. I would advise you to look over what we do have and choose something that runs close.’
The potential parents shook their heads, ‘Ms Kirk we have been told to get these exact specifications.’
Ms Kirk shook her head, ‘sorry then I can’t help you. Anyway who has set such specific credentials?’ The female parent shook her head. ‘I can’t disclose that,’ she said with a look Ms Kirk seemed to comprehend.
‘But these children are for you aren’t they?’ asked Ms Kirk, her eyes narrowing.
The couple nodded and glanced at each other awkwardly.
‘Ms Kirk you know who we are, we have looked after children from here before. You know we live just a stones throw away. Now if a child like this comes in, we wish to be informed immediately.’
Ms Kirk put on her fakest smile and nodded, ‘of course I will,’ she said through gritted teeth.
Ms Kirk turned and clapped her hands, signalling for the line-up to disperse. ‘Right all those children who have been selected please come to my office; we have forms to fill in and agreements to make. Do you understand? Quick- quick!’
The group of parents and children bunched towards the door of the great hall leaving the unwanted children behind consoling each other. Ghost reluctantly hung back; he could see Davina by the window and gave a nervous wave. Ghost looked to his potential parents and appeared to ponder, ‘excuse me, but could I see that piece of paper?’
The potential parents smiled, made eye contact with each other then handed it over.
Ghost read for a few seconds and glanced back towards Davina. She remained by the window.
‘I know someone like that, but you’ll have to tell me why you want her.’
The parents knelt down and gazed into Ghost’s eyes. ‘I am afraid we can’t tell you, but we have been asked search for a very special young lady who was lost. If you know anything- we’d be incredibly grateful.’
Ghost instinctively didn’t trust them, but he wasn’t going alone. Ghost sighed and nodded towards Davina. Had he done the right thing?
The two potential parents followed Ghost’s gaze and looked relieved. The pair recognised her instantly. The small girl staring through the window was exactly who they had been asked to find. They had succeeded in their mission.