Oksa Pollock: The Last Hope Read Online Free Page B

subjects you’re goodat, your passions if you have any and anything else you’d like your classmates and me to know about you. But don’t get carried away and please don’t feel obliged to tell us your life story… young man, will you begin, please?”
    Gus squirmed in his chair, not looking best pleased at being the lucky one to start. “My name is Gustave Bellanger,” he said hesitantly. “I moved to London with my parents a few days ago. Maths is pretty much my forte. I really like manga and video games. I’ve done karate for six years and I also play the guitar.”
    “Maths is your forte, is it? That’s good to hear,” remarked Dr McGraw. “Your turn, young man.”
    Waiting for her turn as the other students spoke, Oksa studied their teacher while his attention was occupied by the introductions. A beanpole of a man, Dr McGraw was stylish and sombre in appearance, with slicked-back dark hair that showed off his finely lined face and inky black eyes to good advantage. His thin, slightly pursed lips looked as though they had been soldered together. He wore a plain black suit and a charcoal-grey shirt buttoned up to the base of his neck, where it was grazed by his prominent Adam’s apple which kept jumping up and down with every inflexion of his voice. One other detail caught Oksa’s attention: on the middle finger of his right hand the teacher wore a superb twisted silver ring with an amazing slate-grey stone which seemed to shimmer with a shifting light. It was an imposing ring which looked far too heavy for a hand so thin it was almost skeletal.
    “Your turn, young lady, we’re listening.”
    Dr McGraw stared right at her as he spoke these words in a low voice. Meeting his harsh, inquisitive gaze, Oksa felt sick, as if a pain were growing inside her and cutting off her air. She took a deep breath, the way her mum had taught her to help her relax, but she realized in astonishment that her ribcage had locked the moment she began to breathe in. For a fraction of a second her face contorted in an expression of fear.
    “My name is Oksa Pollock—”
    She again attempted to breathe, trying to draw some air into her lungs. A trickle of oxygen managed to get through.
    “My name is Oksa Pollock and I like astrono—”
    Out of air! Panicking, Oksa tried to take another breath. No! She mustn’t let her feelings get the better of her. Bravely she drew another breath, trying to act as though nothing was wrong, but it was no good. She had an enormous bubble of air trapped in her chest. A bubble too large to be dislodged. Feeling panicky, Oksa loosened her tie.
    “Yes, Miss Pollock, I think we know who you are now. We’re listening,” added Dr McGraw, clearly growing more impatient.
    Oksa could barely hear his voice, which sounded as if it was muffled by cotton wool. The girl was suffocating, unable to breathe, her heart racing like a bolting horse. Then an even more intense, unbearable wave of pain hit her, which felt like a violent punch to the stomach. After resisting it for a few seconds, her body and mind succumbed to the pain and panic. Oksa looked round in the hope that someone would come to her help. No use—everyone was looking at her, but none of the students seemed to realize how distressed she was. And if they had, what could they have done? She had no strength left to fight it—she clutched Gus’s arm and crashed to the floor.

5
A T ERRIBLE D AY
    E VER SINCE SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL , O KSA HAD BEEN IN the habit of visiting her gran after school in the evening. Her parents were very busy with work and Dragomira was always there. Oksa could count on her. They’d chat about one thing or another—what had happened during the day and sometimes about more serious matters, such as Oksa’s worries, disappointments or triumphs. That evening had been unusual: when she’d come home after that terrible day—one of the worst she’d ever had—the house had been dead silent, much to her annoyance.
    “Mum?