TWENTY-ONE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
TWENTY-ONE
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
I ’m not an artist by any stretch of the imagination, but I often find myself doodling in my notebook when I’m sitting in film studies, especially when Mr Hurley puts on a movie from the ‘golden age’ of film.
Today it’s Citizen Kane , which is apparently one of the greatest films ever made.
Well, we’re twenty minutes in, and I’m bored.
Even Jack, who is usually engrossed in any piece of cinema, is scrolling on his phone under the desk.
I’ve barely been paying attention to what I’m sketching, but now, studying it, I see it’s the well that Nathaniel took me to at Old Sarum.
Its emptiness is pulling me in. It’s becoming more obscure with every passing second.
The ink on the paper swirls. Bright yellow eyes ignite from its centre.
Those eyes. My name is echoing in the distance, a whisper.
Deformed limbs begin emerging from the sketch, first one clawed hand, then another.
My name again. Is whatever this thing is talking to me?
The hands grow bigger. They’re reaching for me.
‘Liam,’ a voice calls.
The hands are almost around my neck, but I can’t pull myself away.
Suddenly, my vision is filled with white light. I gasp.
‘Hey, you okay, bud?’
It’s Jack. He’s beside me. The lights are on and the classroom has almost cleared out. Mr Hurley is packing away.
‘Did you doze off or something?’ Jack says.
I stare down at my notebook; the sketch of the well is there, but that’s all. Nothing else.
‘I guess so,’ I say.
‘More like “Citizen Lame”, wasn’t it?’ He nudges me. ‘Come on, let’s get lunch, I am hangry!’
Jack and I make our way through the busy corridors, heading for the refectory. I still don’t know what happened back there in class, but I can ask Tariq about it later. As I’m staying late today to meet with Miss Williams, he said he’d meet me here at college before training at the Seven Angels.
‘You heard from Lily this morning?’ Jack says, moving aside to let a group of girls go by, all peering at one phone screen.
‘I dropped her a message this morning asking how the head was,’ I say. ‘All I got back was that emoji with the crooked eyes and mouth. I don’t think she’s coming in today.’
‘Wow, so much for not getting wasted.’
‘Well, that’ll be your fault. Mr “it’ll help calm Liam’s nerves”.’
Jack makes an uneasy noise. ‘Yeah, sorry about that. But hey, it helped, didn’t it? You and Tariq seemed comfortable. I’d say it was a successful first hang with the friends.’
‘I guess. Not so successful for you though.’
‘Right? I still can’t get over that Lily’s going with Sophia and Amy to Festive Fling. She didn’t even ask us!’
‘Yes, because we’re so into those sort of nights.’
‘What, I can… boogie.’
‘Okay, one, never say that word again. Two, you spent almost the entire night of prom helping me build a tower out of paper cups.’
I can tell Jack wants to argue his side, but no words leave his mouth.
‘Just go with them?’
Jack shrugs. ‘I dunno. Maybe…’
I knock into someone as Jack trails off.
‘Please look where you’re go… ah, Liam.’
Miss Williams is standing, looking rather dishevelled, in front of us. Her arms are wrapped around her bag.
‘Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention,’ I say.
‘No matter. I’m glad I caught you. Something’s come up. Would you be able to meet me a little later today than we planned?’
‘A little later than five?’
‘Can we make it six? In the library.’
Six o’clock? Urgh. That’s ages to be hanging around once classes have finished. I have to be at the Seven Angels for training by seven.
‘I don’t think…’
‘I’ll keep it brief, I promise,’ she says.
I guess I can still make training if Miss Williams goes over her findings quickly. It’ll keep me on her good side for this term.
I nod. ‘Sure, see you at six.’
She taps my shoulder before taking off down the corridor.
‘After hours with a teacher eh? Is that even allowed?’ Jack says as we continue on.
‘No idea, but I’m failing history; I have to keep her sweet.’
‘I’d keep her sweet.’
‘Don’t be that guy, Jack.’
I’m seated on a bench on the college veranda; the last of the day’s sunlight filters through the distant trees.
The day’s final class had been a struggle to get through, especially knowing I still had to endure an info dump from Miss Williams plus a whole evening of Keeper training.
These long days are starting to take it out of me.
I shoot Tariq a quick message to say I’m going to be later now.
We didn’t chat much after leaving Lily’s place last night.
The vodka had got to our heads and when we eventually got back to mine, we passed out in my room.
This morning when we woke up, Tariq mumbled something about drinking on the job, and how he should be more responsible, a reminder that he’s just around to make sure I don’t get dead.
Nathaniel had no news last night on the Dark Friar front. No sign of Draven. Although, according to the Guild, Dark Friar numbers are increasing. They’ve been spotted at night in various locations around Sarumbourne, but nothing that points to why they might be gathering.
‘Hey.’
A familiar voice from behind interrupts my thoughts.
I turn to find Lily approaching, tossing her bag aside before taking a seat beside me.
Her hair is pulled back in a ponytail, which means either she’s been on a run – doubtful after last night – or she hasn’t showered and is still a little hungover.
She’s wearing her extra-large ‘I’m a Swiftie’ jumper. I’m going with the latter.
‘Hey! I didn’t think you’d be in,’ I say.
‘Managed to drag myself in for English lit. Currently regretting my decision,’ she says, resting her head on my shoulder. ‘You wanna walk me home?’
‘I can’t, Lil, I’ve got a one-to-one with Miss Williams in a bit. Then I’m meeting Tariq.’
Lily nudges me playfully. ‘Look at you, engaging in extracurricular activities.’
We laugh, and settle into a comfortable silence, watching as the last of the students make their way out of the grounds.
‘Can I ask you something?’ Lily begins. ‘And I want you to be honest.’
Oh no. Did she notice something last night between me and Tariq? If anyone could spot I’m hiding something, it’s Lily. I nod and brace for impact.
‘Is Jack still into me?’
I breathe out slowly.
‘Why do you say that?’
‘I just got a feeling last night. He seemed genuinely disappointed after I said I already had plans for the Festive Fling. I just… is he?’
Last time I was caught in the middle, I chose not to tell Lily of Jack’s feelings. She ended up being taken by surprise, and Jack was let down pretty sharply. If I tell Lily this time, she may have time to prepare to let him down gently.
‘Yeah, he is,’ I say.
Lily turns away, pulling lightly on her ponytail.
‘Do you think you’ll talk to him?’
Lily lets out a sigh. ‘And say what? Look, Jack is a great guy, and he’ll always be one of my closest friends.
Could I date him? Maybe. But what if it becomes something?
Next year I’ll be applying to university.
I don’t want to be tied down. I don’t want to be stuck in this city forever doing nothing with my life. ’
There’s something I can’t quite define. Envy, maybe.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to do the uni thing; I made up my mind about that.
But I did think about travelling, maybe even moving away from Sarumbourne one day.
But that won’t happen, not while I’m a Keeper. I doubt Keepers can take holiday.
‘I’m sorry,’ Lily says, squeezing my arm. ‘That came out a little harsh.’
‘Forget about it,’ I say, tapping my phone for the time. I’ve still got a while before I have to meet Miss Williams. But this conversation could turn sour any moment. Besides, it’s getting chilly. I stand up and sling my bag over my shoulder.
‘I really am sorry,’ Lily says.
‘No, you’re right, who would want to be stuck here for the rest of their life?’
‘Liam, I—’
‘Chat to Jack, yeah? Just be honest with him.’
Lily nods.
I offer her a faint smile before turning away, my steps carrying me toward the college building. Maybe I can cram in some film studies coursework before heading to the library.
I close my laptop and lift myself out of the plush armchair. I rarely hang out in the StudyNest. During the day it’s packed with students, all taking up the comfier seats. Not tonight though. Tonight, the room lies empty, bathed in shadows and lit by the soft glow of the few remaining lights.
I pause my Spotify playlist. Most of my hour was spent flicking through tracks by RAYE and Troye Sivan, rather than doing actual coursework. Classic me.
I make my way toward the library. The sound of my footsteps echoes against the tiled floor, the only noise breaking the silence that envelops the building.
As I approach the library entrance, I catch a glimpse of movement out of the corner of my eye, causing me to stop in my tracks. Turning slowly, I peer into the gloom.
I breathe. It’s just one of the cleaners. She holds up a hand to me before leaving down another corridor. Her movement is almost ghostlike in the subdued light.
With a shake of my head, I dismiss the unease. Pushing open the heavy library doors, I step inside.
It’s like the beginning of every Scream film. It’s freakishly dark, and there’s not a soul in sight. The silence feels heavy, like it’s weighing me down. I’m half expecting my phone to ring and Ghostface to be like ‘what’s your favourite scary movie?’
I make my way over to the librarian’s counter. It looks ominous under the low lighting. The shiny surface is dull and eerie without the usual fluorescent lights buzzing above.
No sign of Miss Williams yet.
Okay, deep breath, Liam. She’s probably just running late or got held up somewhere.
There’s a noise. I shift on my feet.
Nothing.
It’s not that I’m scared – okay, maybe a little. Knowing what really lurks in the shadows is putting my nerves on edge.
Five past six. Miss Williams better show up soon. Who thought meeting in the deserted library after college hours was a good idea? I’m half expecting something to jump out from behind the bookshelves.
I’ll just wait a few more minutes – just in case she’s fashionably late or had some kind of teacher emergency. The joke is I probably know everything she is going to tell me. It’s a waste of time. But at least it’ll make me look keener.
Another noise, this time louder.
I whip around. ‘Miss Williams?’
I catch a glimpse of movement, a shadow shifting behind the stacks of books at the back of the room.
A tingle crawls up my spine, raising the fine hairs on the back of my neck. My eyes narrow as I take cautious steps forward. Now would be a good time for my enhanced eyesight to kick in. If someone’s back there, the darkness is doing a fine job of keeping them hidden.
It’s dawning on me now. I’m alone. No one else is here. Tariq’s not due to meet me for at least another half-hour. The realisation slams into me. His warning echoes in my mind like a siren: ‘They will try to create opportunities to get you alone after dark.’
If I were Draven, or one of his Dark Friar cronies, this would be the perfect opportunity to take me out. My fight-or-flight instincts are screaming at me to leave, to get out of here while I still can.
I bolt for the doors, my heart pounding in my chest. But my escape route is instantly blocked. Miss Williams stands there, an unsettling calmness about her, arms tucked innocently behind her back. Every nerve in my body is on high alert.
‘Ah, Liam, your punctuality is improving,’ she says with a smile that’s unlike any I’ve seen her wear before.
‘I…’
She turns the lock on the doors.
‘I was just gonna run to the loo.’
‘I’m afraid I can’t let you leave.’
Tariq’s words flash in my mind: ‘Don’t trust anyone outside your immediate friends and family.’
It’s as if a veil has been lifted from my eyes. Looking at her closely now, it’s there – the same vacant look in her eyes as Draven’s. The realisation hits me like a sledgehammer. My history teacher is a Dark Friar.