Resistance Read Online Free PDF Page B

hair.
    ‘Wait,’ she said, leaning forward to get a better look. ‘Is that … Katie Gilmore ?’
    Nicole nodded. ‘Yes – she’s been helping us. Her parents are friendly with Nathaniel so her knowledge of how he works has been very useful.’
    Allie was stunned. Katie had never been included in senior meetings. She’d helped them out at the end of last year but … only a little.
    This was the inner circle. These were the school’s elite.
    Katie wasn’t even in Night School.
    But there wasn’t time to ask for more information. The room had quietened. Still puzzled, Allie sank into a seat at the back between Sylvain and Nicole as Zelazny yielded the floor to Isabelle.
    The headmistress stood at the lectern, looking out at them with tired eyes.
    ‘We’ve called this meeting to discuss renewed security issues. Now that Allie has returned,’ she flickered a smile in Allie’s direction, ‘the security schedule will change. I’m sure we all are aware that, as soon as Nathaniel finds out she’s here, he’ll redouble his efforts. Therefore, we’ll be enhancing patrols on the fence line and increasing security throughout the building. Effective immediately, there will be a guard in the girls’ dorm wing every night, all night.’
    Nobody else in the room seemed surprised by the news, so Allie tried not to show how taken aback she felt. There’d always been security at Cimmeria but the guards had kept their distance. The idea of stationing them in the dorm wing to watch the girls constantly was a bit creepy.
    As if she knew Allie was thinking this, Isabelle glanced at her. ‘The system of placing guards throughout the grounds in key locations has proven effective so we’ve expanded it. The communication system has also been enhanced—’
    ‘Wait. You’re still using it?’ Allie was stunned. After Nathaniel hacked the system, she felt certain they would drop it.
    ‘Much has changed here while you’ve been away, Allie,’ Isabelle said. ‘Raj has brought in a talented tech expert who’s helping us learn to fight Nathaniel on his own level. I’ll explain more later.’ She turned her attention back to the group. ‘Obviously, as per the revised Rules, the new patrol rota will not be put on paper. You’ll be told your time and it’s your—’
    The classroom door opened suddenly. Isabelle’s voice trailed off.
    Turning to see who it was, Allie froze.
    Carter stood in the doorway, staring at her with an expression of utter disbelief.

5
    Five
    ‘ C arter , you’re late again,’ Isabelle said with an unsurprised sigh. ‘We’ve spoken about this. And we will speak of it once more, after this meeting. Take a seat.’
    But he didn’t seem to have heard her. He just stood in the doorway, eyes locked on Allie. He looked furious.
    ‘ Now , Carter.’ Isabelle’s voice sharpened.
    Wrenching his gaze away, he slunk to a seat at the back of the room as far away from Allie as he could get.
    As Allie watched him with increasing dismay, he sat stiffly, staring straight ahead.
    He was thinner than she remembered – his cheekbones were too sharp, and his uniform seemed too big on him. His dark hair had grown long; a lock fell into his large, brown eyes and he left it there.
    When it was clear he wasn’t going to look at her again, she slowly turned back to the front, a worried frown creasing her forehead.
    Something was terribly wrong.

    I t was a strange meeting , and soon Allie was too busy trying to figure out what was going on at the school to worry about Carter. Isabelle was right: much had changed at Cimmeria while she’d been gone.
    Nathaniel was only mentioned once or twice and the events in France weren’t discussed at all. Even the school’s strictly-enforced Rules were no longer the same. The old Rules on electronics and communications equipment had been dropped and new Rules seemed to have been brought in helter-skelter. The guards were in charge. Students were tightly controlled and constantly