Mara was asleep. Jerome turned off the movie they'd been watching. Zombies 2: Return Of The Zombies. He smiled as he fell asleep too.
(Next day.)
Jerome and Mara walked into the dining area. There was no food on the table, no housemates, no housemother. They went upstairs. No Victor.
"Jerry, I'm scared."
"Maybe they've gone to school. Trudy's probably shopping and Victor's scaring Mr Sweet senseless. C'mon, let's go to the school."
They walked over to the school. Weirdly, they didn't bump into anyone. In the school, it was eerily silent. No one was there. No Mr Sweet. The whole school was empty. Where was everyone?
"Jerome, I'm really terrified now."
"Look, we'll go on Face Book, see if anyone's online who can help us. Or maybe see where Trudy and Victor and the others have got to. OK? No need to worry."
Jerome logged onto Face Book via his BlackBerry. The wi-fi was so down, he couldn't get further than his homepage. Nobody seemed to be online and his mobile wasn't responding.
"OK, I'll call Trudy's mobile."
"You have Trudy's mobile number?"
"Yeah. She gave it to me in case of emergencies or if Victor or one of us lot were in danger and needed her quickly."
He dialled her number. It didn't ring, just went to her voice mail. Her perky recording started up.
"Sorry, I'm unavailable at the moment. Please leave a message and I'll be sure to call you back as soon as I can. Thank you."
"That was odd. OK, I'll try Amber. She always has her phone on."
A cheery voice sounded.
"Hi! Sorry, I can't take your call right now. I'm busy with my iPod. Or something. Leave me a message and I'll call you when my manicure's dry. Thanks!"
"Oh, fantastic. She's not got her phone either."
"Try Eddie."
"Sorry, I'm unavailable. I have a date with some hoagies, so leave a message, I'll get back to you."
"Great. Right, try Patricia."
"Talk to the hand, I'm not home, leave your message after the tone. Beeeeep, memory full of my popularity."
"That's typically Trixie. She's not gonna answer that."
"Does Victor have a mobile?"
"Don't think so. I'm surprised he knew how to work a computer. Let's try Fabian. You try Nina."
Nina's voice flew through Mara's mobile.
"Hey! I can't take your call just now. I'm off at a dance class with my friends. Leave a message and I'll call back."
Fabian's message flew through Jerome's mobile.
"Hi, I'm not available to take your call. If it's an emergency, please leave a message with my house mother or caretaker and they'll pass on the message."
Jerome cursed quietly. He called Mick.
"Sorry. I'm out running right now, so leave a message and I'll call you back."
Mara tried Joy.
"Hello?"
"Joy, finally!"
"I'm busy choosing where to shop on Saturday, so leave a message after the tone and I'll call you back."
"No! Another... Joy where are you? Please ring me back, Jerome and I are freaking out here!"
She hung up in horror and despair.
"Who haven't we tried? Anubis house?"
"Alfie. And us. And Victor, who may not even have a mobile."
"CALL ALFIE!"
"OK."
He called the number.
"Hey, mate."
"Alfie, mate, finally."
"I'm watching an alien movie with Amber right now."
"Great, man, but we're really worried. We've been calling everyone today. You guys in Anubis?"
"Leave a message and I'll call you back."
Jerome screamed out the worst curse he knew.
"Jerome, really? Swearing at your mobile is not gonna help us."
"Sorry, Mara. I'm just freaking out."
"I am too. It's like the Sarah Jane Adventures: The Empty Planet. Now I know how Rani and Clyde felt. Terrified."
"Aw, Mars Bar. I'm scared too."
They grabbed each other for a hug. They were so panicky, they nearly screamed.
What was going to happen to them?
All the way for Jara! Please R&R. Until next update, Random Dizzy. :D