"The Elite: Prologue 2" by Joanne Barnden

Novena 8501

      Jay was standing outside the emergency room in the West Square Hospital, enjoying a break. He didn’t get them very often so he enjoyed them while he could. As he was looking away from the hospital there came a flash of light, he turned in surprise.

      There on the ground was a young woman, maybe about 16. She was struggling for breath. Jay hurried over and bent down next to her, there went his break.

      What he saw made him gasp and yell frantically for a doctor inside the emergency room. The girl looked as if she had been in an accident, but there was no accident scene anywhere around.

      The doctors arrived as quickly as possible, and they took her inside and prepared to fight for her life.

*

      Kenneth looked at the letter again, almost unable to believe his eyes. He read it a third time, yes, there was no doubting that it said what he thought it did.

      He leaned back in his seat, a large smile spreading across his face. Life had never been so good. Never.

      “What are you smiling at, husband mine?” Eleanor asked as she walked into the room.

      “Listen,” Kenneth replied, spreading out the letter. “We had a letter from Monta.

      “Dear Mr & Mrs Tolbey, I am sorry to have to be the one to convey this terrible tragedy to you, but your daughter whom you placed in our trust, Alex, was killed in a freak accident on the weekend. The school will be holding a memorial service on Sunday if you wish to come.

      “Alex had been enjoying a day out with some friends and was travelling home when the car swerved to miss a truck and hit a tree. The car then rolled down a hill and burst into flame. It was late at night and two of her companions appear to have had a bit too much to drink.

      “Alex was a model student and was extremely popular. You would have been happy that she was doing so well at Monta Private Co-Educational. Unfortunately she still thought herself a boy at the time of her death, and had from the start. She was placed, in accordance with your wishes, in a male dorm house and made many friends there. She was have to received a scholarship and prize that is rarely given to a student with as many problems such as her and her marks would have made you proud, of that we are most certain.

      “Of her companions in the car, one got off with just minor scrapes and bruises and the two boys are in a critical condition at the Batim Memorial hospital and have to be transported to Ryora in the near future. One of the boys was a older student at the college, and the other was a member at an off campus dorm.

      “We are very sorry to have lost Alex as she was an asset to the College despite all her problems. There are no remains to be buried we are afraid, because she was inside of the car when it exploded.

      “All staff, including myself, have expressed their shock and horror that her life could have been ended in such a manner, well before her time. All the staff agree that we were blessed when you sent Alex to us, although many have expressed their shock at both her problems and your willingness to let her out of your sight.

      “Yours sincerely, James S. Garrison, Headmaster.” Kenneth looked up as Eleanor gave a shriek of glee and began to dance around the room. “Isn’t it just great, my darling?”

      “Oh yes,” Eleanor smiled. “This has to be the best day of my life.”