The Black Door

Chapter 9

The sunlight streamed through the narrow ceiling-high windows that circled three sides of the school gymnasium. Inside the air-conditioned room, the sound of rubber soles could be heard slapping and squeaking on the wooden floor, as the lower sixth jogged around the perimeter.

“That’s the way, ladies – keep those knees high, backs straight.” Physical training instructor Danielle Parker stood in the middle of the circle and watched the girls as they ran around her.

Physical exercise was considered just as important as good grades at the Seddon Academy. The Latin tag about a healthy mind in a healthy body was engraved above the entrance to the gymnasium.

Besides the well-equipped hall where the girls now were, the academy boasted four tennis courts, an Olympic indoor swimming pool, squash and badminton courts that also doubled for basketball and netball training, a running track and a weights room fitted with a dozen carefully chosen, state-of-the-art weight machines to help improve the girls’ overall posture and deportment.

Twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays, they even had yoga classes, which were run by a local specialist teacher.

Danielle Parker was, by far, the youngest teacher at Seddon. At twenty-three, she was only five years older than the upper-sixth students, which was why most of them came to her when they had difficult personal issues to discuss. Anything from boys to menstrual cycles, and everything in between.

It was an aspect of her duties that Danielle had never considered as part of her remit when she took up the post. But then, she had never gone to boarding school, so she had been lucky enough to have her mum and elder sister on hand to help her with such things.

She soon realised that the girls at Seddon had no such luxury, and it was an unwritten rule that, if they wished to discuss any such personal matters, they should either speak to the headmistress or the academy nurse. But both of them were in their late fifties and not the most sympathetic of people, from what Danielle had seen.

Nurse Baxby, for example, was a deeply religious woman, but her faith bordered on zealotry. Danielle had heard from some of the younger girls that she had told them that their monthly cycles were so heavy because they were a mark of sin and meant the girls must have been having impure thoughts throughout the month and that had led to their excessive bleeding.

As it was the medical room where the supply of sanitary towels was kept, the girls were forced to seek out Nurse Baxby’s assistance when they needed them and, needless to say, she was always prepared with a stern look and another cautionary tale.

Some of the girls had even been known to bring back suitcases full of towels at the beginning of term, to avoid the confrontation. Which was ridiculous, because the school fees their parents shelled out each term included the supply of such items.

Even so, put in their position, Danielle could easily sympathise.

She clapped her hands together to gain the class’s attention. “Okay, ladies, that should have warmed you up.”

The girls stopped and turned in to face their teacher.

“Right then,” she continued, “how about we all do some circuit training?”

There was a communal groan from the gathering.

Danielle let out a long moan, too, mimicking the girls. “Come on, you lot. It’s not as if I’m asking you to run a marathon.”

“But Miss,” came a despondent reply from one of the group, “circuits are so boring.”

Several nodded in agreement with their classmate.

Danielle held out her hands in an expression of mock sympathy. “Oh, I know, it’s such a trial for you all. My heart bleeds, it really does.”

“Now you’re just making fun,” ventured another girl.

Danielle pointed at her. “Full marks that girl, now come on, we’ll do one quick circuit, and then we will split into teams and have an exciting game of netball. How’s that?”

There were general nods and smiles of approval.

The girls gathered in groups of two next to each one of the dozen or so pieces of equipment spread around the court. Danielle blew her whistle and the first in line began her task.

As she walked around the room, checking that the girls were completing their exercise safely and thoroughly, Danielle would jump in every so often and complete the exercise herself. She knew whenever she joined in, most of the girls would stop and watch her, continuing with their own workout once she had completed hers.

Danielle felt that taking part brought her closer to the class, which in turn, made her seem more approachable to them. It seemed to have worked so far.

At the far end of the gym class, she noticed Natalie Prewst struggling to get up one of the climbing ropes.

To be fair, it was one of the most strenuous exercises in the circuit, and Natalie was not a natural athlete by anyone’s standards. But Danielle had noticed a distinct improvement in the girl’s overall fitness since she had arrived at the school, so there was hope.

“Come on, slowcoach.” Janice Cooper, Natalie’s work-out buddy was standing at the bottom of the rope, holding it in place for her friend. “We’re lagging behind because of you, fat-arse.”

Danielle walked over to give Natalie a few well-chosen words of encouragement. They seemed to have worked in the past, and certainly could do no harm.

As she approached Janice, the young girl looked up sheepishly, obviously feeling bad about what she had just called her friend.

Her cheeks flushed. “Sorry Miss, but she knows I don’t mean it really.”

Danielle took hold of the rope. “I know that she knows, but it still isn’t a very nice thing to say, is it?”

Janice looked at her feet. “No Miss, sorry Miss.”

Danielle leaned in closer. “I think it’s Natalie you need to apologise to,” she whispered. “Perhaps later, not in front of the class. It will mean more then.”

Janice looked up, smiling. “Yes Miss,” she promised.

Danielle gazed up at the struggling Natalie.

She was more than halfway up, which was not bad going, considering.

“Come on Natalie,” she called out, encouragingly. “You’re almost there, just a few more feet. Big effort now.”

Some of the girls waiting to use the rope, began to chant.

“Nat-a-lie… Nat-a-lie… Nat-a-lie…”

The echo of her name seemed to give the girl the boost she needed. Taking in a deep breath, she reached up and grabbed the rope, hoisting herself up another six inches.

“Nat-a-lie… Nat-a-lie… Nat-a-lie…” they continued, with others starting to join in.

Soon, the entire gym was cheering the girl on.

Natalie glanced down for a moment, stunned at the sight of all her classmates encouraging her to make it.

With one last almighty effort, the girl boosted herself up another six inches, then another, and finally she reached out her hand and grabbed hold of the top of the apparatus.

The room exploded with cheers and clapping.

Natalie looked back down at the group, a big beaming smile on her red, sweaty face.

“Now try to come back down as slowly as you can,” instructed Danielle, having to shout above the cacophony.

Natalie nodded, excitedly.

As she climbed down, Danielle noticed something that gave her pause to think.

The Seddon Academy gym kit was the same for all girls. It consisted of a white polo shirt with the academy crest on the right breast, short purple skirt, white socks and white plimsolls.

As Natalie slowly slid down the rope, Danielle could not help but notice the red welts showing beneath the girl’s knickers.

Danielle instructed the rest of the girls to continue with their own exercises. Once they dispersed, she looked back up as Natalie grew closer to her eye level.

There was no mistaking it.

Someone had beaten the poor girl and, judging by the redness of the marks left behind, it had been relatively recently.

Danielle was horrified. She knew that the regulations at the academy were somewhat draconian by modern standards, but she had certainly not been aware of corporal punishment being administered.

She managed to disguise her revulsion as Natalie landed on the floor beside her.

She looked up at her teacher with a beaming smile of pride. “I made it, Miss, did you see? I went all the way to the top for the first time.”

Danielle placed a comforting hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Yes, I did, and you were absolutely brilliant,” she assured her.

Natalie was panting from her efforts, but Danielle could tell the excited teen still had more to say, so she allowed her time to catch her breath.

“Did you hear them all cheering for me? Wasn’t it fantastic?”

“Yes, it was,” agreed Danielle. “See what wonders you can achieve when you set your mind to it?”

The girl nodded, excitedly. “Next time, I’m going to do it twice. You just see if I don’t.”

Danielle could not understand who could possibly want to hurt such a sweet, innocent girl, but the evidence spoke for itself.

Well, whoever it was, Danielle was going to find out, one way or another.