Not As it Seems

Chapter 14: Inside Help

When Laura sat down at breakfast the next morning, she immediately noticed that Anna was dressed differently. Instead of her usual black and white clothes, she was now wearing bright pink with white. Anna also looked more confident. Although Laura thought it was strange, Anna looked happy, so she didn't pay it any mind. Besides, there were more important things to focus on.
"I don't think it'll be much use looking for more evidence... We've already combed every part of the school we're allowed to enter, and everywhere else is under strict supervision," Glen sighed.
"We have to," Felix argued, "if we want to stop Richard and Mary's plans, we have to find physical evidence."
"We also have to find out where the kidnapped students and teachers are being kept..." Astrid added.
"If only we could get a confession out of one of their accomplices, that would also be evidence enough..." Laura suggested.
"I have an idea of where we can get one!" Anna suddenly shouted.
"Really? Where?" Felix asked.
"There are two Theros nobles who never sit with the others," Anna pointed to the table where the two of them were sitting, "their names are Margaret and Bayard. Maybe they can help us."
"That's right!" Levi said, "professor Abigail said there were nobles in Theros who privately don't support Richard. Those nobles could be their parents."
"It might be our best bet at this point..." Glen agreed.
"What a clever idea, Anna!" Astrid exclaimed.
"Let's follow them after breakfast. If they split up, so will we," Laura suggested.
Felix nodded, "if they're willing to help, let's bring them both to the geography classroom and fetch professor Abigail. It'll be more believable if we have an adult who has close ties to the Divinian royal family as a witness to the confession." And so, it was decided. Margaret and Bayard took their time eating, and were seemingly constantly distracted by a conversation. Laura and the others had been long finished by the time the duo finally stood up and left the cafeteria. The other Theros nobles were already gone. Anna took the lead and went after them first, quickly followed by the others. Laura just hoped they would cooperate...

"Hello!" Anna greeted the duo, "I'm Anna, and these are my friends. We think you can help us."
"Help you with what?" Bayard questioned.
"There have been quite a few disappearances at our school," Felix answered, "and we believe you might know more, and you seem more willing to share it than the others from Theros."
"Please, if you know anything, tell us. It could help us find the missing people," Astrid pleaded.
"You're right, we do have information that could be helpful," Margaret revealed.
"Meg, no. This could put us in danger!"
"I know, Bayard, but I want to do the right thing. Mother would want it, and I know your father would, too."
"Fine..." Bayard relented, "but we can't talk here, it's too dangerous."
"Follow us," Levi said, and they went in the direction of the geography classroom. Glen went to fetch their teacher. Once everyone was settled behind closed doors, the nobles were confident enough to share their story.
"We were only informed a few days ago," Bayard started, "every noble in Theros sent their child here at Royale High a letter."
"The letter stated that tonight, something would be happening at Royale High. We don't know what, but we were told to leave our rooms before eight in the evening and gather in the west tower to stay safe," Margaret continued.
"Tonight?! What could happen that quickly?" Laura wondered.
"It hardly matters. We need to leave Divinia. Now," Felix stated.
"Margaret, Bayard, do you still have the letters?" professor Abigail inquired. Both of them nodded. "Please, bring them to me after this conversation. They are crucial pieces of evidence. I suggest we leave after dinner to avoid suspicion. We will meet here and leave from the side door. After that, we will go to Earth and take two carriages to Aurion. We will travel through Falmar. Until dinner, I suggest you pack anything essential that cannot remain here at Royale High, like letter seals. They could be used to forge letters."
"Can we come along too?" Bayard asked, "our parents do not support this and would rather have us at home than with the others."
"Yes, you may come along as well. You can stay with us until we reach the capital of Aurion, and from there you can head home." Everyone left the classroom and went to their dorms to pack their belongings. Laura took her family seal, all the unused paper, and the earrings Anna had given her. All of her other luggage wasn't important enough to bring along. Everyone else had an equally easy job, except for Levi and Anna. Levi was trying to fit his violin case in his trunk, and Anna was figuring out how to bring four full shopping bags along with her trunk. Both of them had to make the tough decision of leaving those things behind. Bayard and Margaret both brought the letters to their teacher, who stored them in her bag alongside the prayer book and the other letters she'd received. It was essential that these remained in her possession. She wished she could help everyone escape, but it wasn't possible. Mary had gained too much power. Before dinner started, Abigail prayed in the chapel for Saint Divinia's protection.

After what was probably the fastest dinner of their lives, Laura and the others gathered in the classroom to prepare for their departure. None of them noticed that they were being followed.
"Are you all ready to leave? The other teachers are still eating and won't notice we're gone until it's too late," professor Abigail explained.
"Thank you for telling us about the letters," Laura thanked the Theros duo, "we wouldn't have the evidence we needed without you."
"And thank you for letting us come with you," Margaret answered.
"What is the meaning of this?!" someone suddenly shouted, entering the classroom. Elizabeth. "I didn't know my own nobles were capable of falling so low that they would conspire with these... savages!"
"Look who's talking!" Glen replied.
"Lizzie, what your father is doing is wrong! We couldn't just stay silent," Bayard said.
"Nonsense! He is merely getting justice for our people!"
"You talk of justice, but your whole country is built on lies and defiance," Felix argued.
"And when are we going to have justice for your attempted murder?" Laura added.
"Not to mention my leg..." Astrid continued.
"You all deserved it! What you've done to my people is so much worse!"
"Can you hear yourself?!" Levi shouted, "I never thought you would stoop so low as to take petty vengeance on people who have never hurt you. Your mother would be ashamed if she knew that this is who you've become."
"And you abandoned and hurt the people who cared about you, and for what? So your father could finally notice you? He never had time for you! Don't you think it's suspicious that he suddenly has all the time in the world for you?" Anna added. She was radiating such confidence, she seemed like a whole new person. Elizabeth was overwhelmed by it, and didn't have a reply prepared for the personal arguments of her fiancé and ex-friend.
"Everyone, I think it's better if we-" professor Abigail was cut off by the sound of a spell on the other side of the door. Felix immediately shot up and tried to open the door.
"It won't budge!"
"That sound..." Laura said, "it sounded like a spell!"
"You're right, this must have been done by a barrier staff," Astrid explained.
"So that was the package!" Levi exclaimed.
"And now we're trapped..." Anna sighed.