Chapter 17: The Boarding School

Marcus laid in his bed as the sun rose. Another day at the hands of the nuns was not something he was looking forward to. He pulled on his trousers and shirt. The snow was lofting down and landed on the branches of the evergreens outside. He laced up his worn out shoes and went to find Jade so he could start his daily chores.

Jade was in the kitchen when Marcus arrived. She was leaning over a pan of water preparing the oats for morning breakfast. She was deep in thought as she stirred the contents into a pot. Marcus walked up to her side and she startled then steadied herself from the fright.

"So, what are my chores today?" he said with an apologetic smile.

With a moment stare at the boy, she said, "We have to clean the father's office and get rid of his personal things." She leaned in closer to the boy and whispered, "we have an important mission to do. I will explain more later. For now, get the bowls ready for breakfast."

After the morning chores were done, Jade Grabbed Marcus and led him down the hallways and through a classroom to a closet in the room. They entered the closet and closed the door behind them. Jade nudged a board loose from the wall. She placed the board aside and Marcus could see a small hole in the wall. With her finger, slid a secret door to the side. She reached into her boot and pulled out her wand and the black open space began to illuminate to show a space filled with boxes. She gestured her head to the side to direct Marcus to enter the room.

Marcus stepped inside and walked down a hallway as Jade closed the door behind them. Marcus passed the boxes to find a library tucked away in the back of the room. His mind was full of questions because he had never seen such a library yet alone one tucked away in the back of the classroom. Jade walked up to him and smiled and sat down in front of a fire burning in a fire place. She motioned for Marcus to sit down in a chair near her.

"Marcus, you have been a great help but I need to ask more of you." She said as she shifted in her chair. "Next year, you will be old enough to leave the boarding school. I know you have seen me do magic when I fought the Wendigo, so I need to inform you that you too will have special magic."

Her eyes steadied on the boy sitting in his chair. "You see dear boy, everything you read you never forget." She watched the boy nod in agreement. "We have one year for you to spend as much time in here looking over the papers in the boxes." Marcus looked over his shoulder and his eyes widened. "I know, this is a lot to ask but your chores will be here. A new boy will take your place in the kitchen." She leaned onto her hand, "Today, we need to go and clean up father's office. We are looking for any hint of his full name. It may be here, in one of these boxes but the new priest is coming and we have to clean it out and the important papers are to brought here." She rose and walked over to the fire and the flames extinguished themselves in a muffled puff.

"Let's go and get the office done. Grab a box or two and we will head out." Jade said in a weary tone.

The children were heading into the room as they were exiting the closet. The nun looked up and Jade smiled and said, "I need Marcus today for cleaning father's office." She held up the box in her hand and grabbed the boy's shoulder and led him from the room. The nun protested as Jade led the boy down the hall.

The two opened the office door and looked at the piles of papers recklessly placed around the room. With a sigh, they began to sort and clean as they began to process the papers into piles. Marcus and Jade worked through the day hoping to find the father's full name on one of the documents. In the evening, they hauled the two boxes back to the secret room.

Day after day, Marcus spent his days in the secret room. Box after box, he viewed each sheet. Names of old and names of attending students were written on sheets of paper. Old names of nuns and priest were hand written in eloquent script on browning papers. The dingy smell of decay bothered his nose but he kept on committing the information to memory.

As he worked, he would smile with the ease of his work and knowing that he too will be rescued from the school. He will be free soon. This drove him to complete his chore with no complaint.