Locked In by Z. Fraillon Page B

even imagine what he’d buy with that much money.
    â€˜I gave it to a foundation for street kids. Not that my parents even know what street kids are,’ the girl replied bitterly.
    That’s pretty cool , Jasper thought approvingly.
    Homework books and maps of the school grounds were handed around to all the students. The girl unrolled her map straight away and stared intently at it.
    â€˜Now,’ the first teacher announced, ‘if I read out your name, please step to my right.’
    She started calling out names, and some of the kids stepped uncertainly to one side.
    â€˜Jasper McPhee,’ she called.
    It could just be a different class, he thought, but it somehow felt more foreboding than that.
    The girl glanced at him uneasily. Jasper shrugged and moved to the side.
    â€˜Saffron Dominguez,’ the teacher called out, and the girl came and stood next to Jasper.
    â€˜Saffy,’ she corrected the teacher loudly.
    The teacher paused and glanced at Saffy, but didn’t respond.
    When she had finished reading out names, about half the kids were standing with Jasper and Saffy.
    The teacher in military uniform stepped forward. ‘Attention!’ he yelled, completely ignoring Jasper and Saffy’s group, and addressing only the other students. ‘March!’
    The students scrambled into line and were marched away.
    â€˜They’re in for it,’ Jasper whispered to Saffy.
    â€˜Now,’ said the first teacher to the remaining students. ‘If you would kindly follow me.’ She began walking briskly towards the mansion. ‘You are being moved to a different campus.’
    Jasper stopped. ‘Do our parents know?’
    The teacher faltered slightly before smiling. ‘Yes, of course. It was all in the information manual. Quickly now.’
    The wooden doors to the mansion were opened and the kids were herded through the building. The cold stone floors echoed as they trudged along. Paintings of stern-looking men in military uniforms hung on the walls, staring down at them.
    â€˜No paintings of women, then?’ Saffy said darkly, as they passed a marble staircase winding up towards yet more portraits of men in uniform.
    Jasper could hear the voices of students reciting lessons as they passed by the classrooms. He wondered whether his mum really did know about them moving campus.
    The worst part was, he couldn’t tell her himself. Although he could write letters home, he wasn’t allowed to see, hear or talk to his family or friends until his year was up.
    â€˜Jasper can write to you, of course,’ the man from the Department of Education had said. ‘But unless there is an emergency, he won’t receive any news from home. It seems tough, but it is school policy and it does help protect the children from any negative outside influences.’
    Jasper sighed. He supposed a new campus wasn’t that big a deal. And it had to be better than this creepy place.
    Another set of doors were opened, and everyone was led outside to a large field. Jasper stopped short. There was stunned silence.
    â€˜Are they for real?’ Saffy asked.
    The biggest, coolest-looking aeroplane that Jasper had ever seen was sitting on an airstrip in the middle of a field. The plane’s silver tail was emblazoned with the Monstrum House emblem. This school was loaded! Jasper felt a small flicker of hope that this might not be such a bad birthday after all.
    â€˜All aboard!’ the pilot called, waving to the astonished students.
    â€˜Talk about changing campus in style!’ said Saffy.
    Jasper was too shocked to answer. A school that flew the kids to their campus?
    â€˜Better than catching a bus,’ he said, when he finally managed to find his tongue.

    Jasper walked up the steps of the plane and into the cabin. He’d never been on a plane before, but this was beyond anything he had ever imagined. The seats turned into beds, and everyone had their own DVD