Nightmare Academy (7 page)

“I think I'll take these headphones off.”

Sarah and Nate exchanged a glance. Elisha was letting them know she wouldn't be able to hear them for a while.

They sat at one of the dining tables with bowls of hot soup and slices of fresh bread, and Margaret sat down across from them.

Elisha muttered, “Who wants to say grace?”

Margaret smiled. “You go ahead.”

Elisha bowed her head and prayed, “Dear Lord, thank you for this food and for a place to spend the night. In Jesus' name, Amen.”

The kids got right down to the business of eating, trying to observe their surroundings and ask—or answer—questions between bites and slurps.

“It's nice to see kids who still say grace before they eat,” Margaret commented.

“It's a God thing,” said Elisha.

“So how long have you been on the road?” Margaret asked.

Elisha admitted, “A while.”

“Yeah,” Elijah muttered. “A while.”

“So how's it been going?”

Elijah admitted, “Not great. We're both low on money, guess that's obvious, and stealing's wrong, so—”

“Really?”

He looked up from his soup. “Really what?”

“You believe stealing is wrong?”

He gave her a look. “Yeah. Is that news?”

She laughed. “Oh, no, not at all. But it's refreshing to see, especially under these circumstances. Say, I want to show you something.” She slid two brochures across the table, one for each of them. “I don't show this to everybody, but you two are kind of special. Now, as always, there's no obligation . . . “

Well,
thought Elijah,
now here's a new twist: a youth shelter
with a sales presentation. We should have known there was a catch.

What's it going to be?
Elisha thought.
A vacation package? A
time-share? Maybe they're recruiting people to sell candy door-to-door.

Their thoughts came to a dead halt the moment their eyes fell upon the brochure's large, bold title.

Elijah picked up the brochure and opened it. It was a simple brochure, printed on glossy paper and folded into thirds, with color photographs. He read some of the copy inside:
A very
special opportunity to be all you can be, and we pay the bill. Classes,
activities, new friends . . .

He was reading for information, of course, but also stalling for time, trying to make sure his voice would not quiver when he finally read the title out loud: “The Knight-Moore Academy.”

As one, Nate and Sarah leaned forward, eyes wide open, pressing the headsets against their ears.

“Uhh . . . what is it?” Elisha asked, careful to control her voice.

“It's like a cross between a summer school and a summer camp,” Margaret replied. “It's a place where kids just like yourselves can get away from the city, get away from distractions and hassles and just have the chance to, you know, get a grip on things. It's located in the woods, close to nature. We offer classes for high school credits, if you're interested—and if you want, counseling, guidance, discussion groups. And there are plenty of activities to blow off steam: sports, tennis, volleyball, a video arcade with all the latest games.”

“And where is it?” Elijah asked.

“Up in the mountains, not far from here.”

Elijah and Elisha looked at each other. Pay dirt.

Nate and Sarah looked at each other. Bingo.

Margaret came on like a saleslady. “It's free. Free room and board for as long as you need to stay—and you can maintain all the privacy you want. No one will ask you for your real name, or where you're from, or any other private information. The academy is there for you, just to give you time to sort things out, to find yourself.”

“So who's paying for all this?” Elijah asked.

“It's a government pilot program, in its fifth year, the only one of its kind. It's kind of an experiment, actually. So, if you choose to participate, your feedback is going to be very important to us.”

And how do we get high school credit if we don't divulge our names or where we're from, or any other private information?” Elisha asked.

Margaret had to think a moment. “Um . . . well, if you want the credit, of course, you have the option to provide the information. But that's strictly up to you!”

Elijah read from the brochure for the benefit of those listening, “A. peaceful, thirty-acre campus deep in the heart of the national forest where guests can relax, restore, and then return to successful lives.' So can we leave whenever we want?”

“Of course.”

Elijah yawned despite himself. After a hot meal so late at night, he was having trouble keeping his eyes open. “So how do we get there?”

“A bus leaves here every Sunday morning. If you decide you want to go, your timing couldn't be more perfect. You can spend the night and get on the bus in the morning.”

Elisha was feeling way past ready for bed. “How early?”

Margaret smiled. “I think we can get the bus to hang around until you're awake. You both look pretty sleepy.”

“You got that right.”

“So, do you think you'd be interested?”

That was an easy question.

“Count me in,” said Elisha.

“Sure,” said Elijah. “I'll give it a try.”

Sarah was already tapping the information into her computer. “I can't find any information on this place, either. Elisha, if you have your headphones on, let me know.”

Elisha didn't respond. The three-way conversation just continued. They were leaving the table, heading for the elevator, talking about bed, sleep, soap, and towels.

Nate and Sarah heard the elevator door open, then close. It began lifting, the cables creaking. Then they heard Margaret's voice: “Jerry you can take room 305. It's to the left and down near the end of the hall. Uh . . . “

“How about Sally?” Elisha said.

“Sally, I can show you your room.”

Nate said, “They're going to get separated.”

Sarah called, “Elisha, do you have your headphones on?”

Elisha's voice came back, pretending to talk to Margaret, “Pardon me for putting these on. I'm halfway through the final cut.”

“No problem,” said Margaret.

Nate and Sarah heard the elevator door open.

Sarah said, “We're going to check out the academy. Go ahead and get some sleep, and be sure to call us the moment you wake up in the morning.”

Margaret was holding the elevator door open. Elisha stood in the elevator, eyes closed, apparently jiving with the music.

“This is your floor,” Margaret prompted.

Elisha awoke from her groove. “Oh!” She looked sleepily at her brother and said, “Nighty-night, Jerry. Give us a call in the morning, won't you?”

He drew a sleepy sigh and acknowledged the message. “Will do.”

Elisha stepped into the hall with Margaret, waved a lazy good-bye, and then the elevator door closed. Elijah rode the elevator up one more floor, then got out, turned left, and found 305. There was a bed ready and waiting, and soap and towels next to the sink. Nice room. Just like a college dorm.

He found a toothbrush in a plastic wrapper and managed to brush his teeth, but beyond that, he was just too sleepy. Without undressing, he flopped onto the bed, and that was the last thing he remembered.