CHERUB: Brigands M.C. - Robert Muchamore Page 0,30
matching red T-shirts and combat trousers was heading out of a side entrance carrying a selection of archery equipment, including bows, arrows and target boards stacked on a big trolley.
As he stepped back from the curtains, Dante noticed clothes laid out on the floor. They were his size: white socks and boxers, pressed orange T-shirt, plus green military-style trousers and boots. Apart from the T-shirt colour it looked identical to what the kids outside were wearing. The boots seemed new, with a rubbery smell and shiny black soles. The T-shirt had a logo with a winged baby sitting on a globe and the word CHERUB cut through the middle.
So it was some kind of boarding school, and Dante was relieved because it definitely didn’t look like the Brigands had got their hands on him. He spun around when a door clicked beside him.
‘Hello,’ a girl said warily, as she leaned in from an adjoining room.
She matched Dante in size and build, but had long blond hair and would have been pretty but for two shockingly black eyes. The girl wore boots, orange T-shirt and combat trousers, and Dante was embarrassed because he was wearing the giant nappy.
‘Hey,’ Dante said. He thought about moving back to the bed and covering up with the duvet, but instead he froze on the spot. ‘Erm … Are you like, I mean … Did you just sort of wake up here?’
The girl’s eyebrows shot up in recognition. ‘Exactly,’ she nodded. ‘The corridor outside is empty, but I heard you yelling Ross.’
‘What’s the last thing you remember?’ Dante asked.
‘I was in a kids’ home called Nebraska House. I was supposed to have an evening appointment with my counsellor, but I waited in her office for ages. Then I got a call to say she’d had to go off to Devon for some emergency and she’d see me tomorrow instead.’
‘Devon,’ Dante said curiously. ‘Was she called Jennifer by any chance?’
The girl nodded. ‘Yes, Jennifer Mitchum.’
‘I know her,’ Dante said. ‘What, is she going around abducting kids or something?’
‘This place seems OK,’ the girl said. ‘I mean, there’s tennis courts and kids running around outside. I’m Lauren by the way. Lauren Onions.’
Dante dithered for a second before deciding to use his real name. ‘I’m Dante,’ he said. ‘So is your room like this?’
Lauren held the adjoining door open so that Dante could see inside. ‘Everything’s identical, except I didn’t have a big nappy on.’
Dante looked embarrassed. ‘I don’t know why they put this on me,’ he lied. ‘So what do you reckon we should do? Maybe try to find someone?’
‘Why don’t you get dressed and we’ll look around together? There’s got to be an adult somewhere.’
After putting on the uniform Dante met Lauren out in the hallway. They were at the end of a long carpeted corridor, with doors off either side. Some doors were open and as the pair walked they saw rooms in various states of disarray.
‘Looks like teenagers judging by the size of the clothes,’ Lauren said. She noticed a bedside clock. ‘Quarter to ten, so I guess they’re all in lessons.’
‘What happened to your eyes?’ Dante asked, as they started walking again.
‘My idiot dad,’ Lauren said reluctantly. ‘He came home in a mood. I said I needed some money for shopping and he went crazy and punched me in the face.’
‘Jesus,’ Dante said.
‘It’s nothing compared to how it looked at first,’ Lauren said. ‘I could barely see on the way to school the next day. My teacher reported it and that’s how I ended up in Nebraska House. My half brother James was supposed to be there, but nobody could find him …’
‘Maybe he’s here,’ Dante suggested.
Lauren felt dumb because she hadn’t thought of this herself. ‘Maybe he is,’ she smiled. ‘He’s an idiot, but we kind of look after each other.’
As they reached the lift and stairs in the centre of the building a teenager burst out of her bedroom. She held a giant art folio and a pile of books on Picasso. She wore the same uniform as Dante and Lauren, but looked about fifteen and her navy T-shirt was spattered with paint.
‘Hello,’ Lauren said politely. ‘Can you help us please, we’re a bit lost?’
The girl held out her palm. ‘Can’t talk to orange,’ she said firmly.
Lauren and Dante were baffled by the response. They followed the girl as she approached the lift. She was carrying too much stuff to press the button.