[A.N. I just realized that I have SO many ideas, I can't believe I originally intended for this to be a one-shot! There's a lot more to come, and I'm really excited for it! I like the little twists in this chapter, although I'm not sure how predictable they are. After all, I know what's going to happen all the way to the end, so they're not very surprising to me. :P

Disclaimer: The disclaimer goes here]


Chapter 7 – Inside the Abandoned Janitor's Closet

In the darkness, Arnold heard the scurrying of feet, rustling of brown paper lunch bags, and the clicks of an old typewriter, though slightly muffled. The pair of hands that pulled him in led him forward and pushed him into an old rickety straight-backed chair, which wobbled even under Arnold's weight.

A light clicked on a few feet in front of him, blinding him for a few moments before he looked into the face of the person sitting directly across from him, in a squishy armchair set a few feet above the ground, with wooden steps leading up to it. It reminded Arnold of a throne room, where he was the subject looking up into the face of his king.

"So you showed up, new kid," Gerald said, sipping a bottle of Yahoo soda, "I'm happy. I'm very happy. You're a good kid. We could use someone like you on our side."

"Your side?"

Gerald raised an eyebrow at Arnold, then slowly closed his bottle and jumped down from the 'throne'. "C'mon, kid. Let me show you around. You'll like it here."

He waved Arnold over to follow him through the curtain behind the throne chair. Behind was the biggest janitor's closet Arnold had ever seen.

In the middle of the room, there were three card tables with four chairs around each. One of them was occupied by Harold, Stinky, and Lila, eating their lunches and talking amongst themselves. On the back wall were filing cabinets, a long counter stocked with Yahoo soda and various snacks, and a refrigerator. There was also a dentist's chair in the corner, with a tablecloth draped over it to hide it from sight. On the right wall hung a large bulletin board, mostly covered with pictures of his classmates with notes beneath them. On the left side of the room sat a large wooden desk with a rolling chair behind it.

"It's our home away from home, in a way," Gerald said proudly, putting his arm around Arnold's shoulders. "And if you do your part, someday you could be as high-ranked as me. I'm second in command, so I took over affairs while the boss was away."

"Second in command? I thought…you were the boss."

Gerald laughed. "I wish, kid, I wish. But no. Like I said, I was the boss while number one was away, but I'm not as good a leader as she is. I haven't got the muscle behind the words. Nobody scares her."

"So, who is number one?" Arnold asked as he was led to a table and sat down.

"She'll be here any minute. You sit right there while I officially announce her return."

Gerald walked back through the curtain, where Arnold could hear the low chatter of voices. One was the muffled voice of Gerald, the other a girl's voice. He knew that voice, of course, but he didn't want to believe that it was the one he was hearing. Although at this point, he wasn't very surprised.

Gerald emerged from the curtain, and stood on the desk to get everyone's attention.

"Everyone," he began, spreading his arms wide as the kids congregated in a small crowd in front of him, "today is a great day. Number one has returned from her break, and we are ready to continue in our never-ending quest for the best."

Everyone applauded, and Gerald beckoned for Arnold to join him upon the desk. Arnold got up from his seat, very confused, and let Gerald give him a hand climbing up onto the desk. He stood awkwardly next to Gerald, unsure of whether to be scared or nervous.

"This," Gerald continued, gesturing to his right, "is our newest recruit, Arnold. He's new to the school, so he's exactly what we need to eliminate our enemies, possibly permanently." There was a break for applause. "And back to P.S. 118 is the boss herself who will lead us to this victory."

Everyone applauded again and the two boys jumped down from the desk. They stood to the side while someone pulled back the curtain from behind which 'number one' emerged.

"Hold your applause, everyone. You're embarrassing me." Helga raised her hands for everyone to be quiet, and then climbed up upon the desk herself with an apparent air of confidence.

"Today," she began, "we begin to take back the school and the students. Because we have here with us someone who has assured me that he is sincere and wouldn't hurt a fly. Well, if it's not flies he's after, then we'll get those roaches known as Big Gino and his group! Now who's with me?"

The crowd of students who had collected in front of the desk cheered, but not for long, as Helga checked her watch and held her hands up for quiet once more.

"Lunchtime's almost over, everyone, so we need to make sure that we have our new recruit convinced. This calls for the official initiation ceremony."

"But Helga, we don't have time for the whole ceremony," Gerald began, and Helga held up a hand to cut him off.

"We'll just to skip to the oath, then."

Gerald nodded, and walked over to the filing cabinet drawer marked Members. From inside, Gerald pulled out a manila folder and a sandwich bag with various contents. He hurried back over to the desk and handed them to Helga. She took them quickly and motioned for Arnold to join her atop the desk.

"We're gonna have to make this short," she said quickly, slipping a piece of paper out of the folder as Arnold tried to climb quickly upon the desk. She held out the folder for Arnold to put his hand atop it, to swear an oath. He hesitated, but then obliged. What could he do? He couldn't go against his friends. If he did, he might get pounded, or worse, become an instant outcast like Eugene or Phoebe. He would never be able to figure out how to get back to his world.

"Do you swear to uphold to the duties of a member of this group, keeping in mind that any convicted behavior of the negative sense is subject to immediate termination of membership?"

"Y…" Arnold felt like there was a frog in his throat, but he managed to croak, "yes."

Helga put the papers back in the folder, gave a quick nod, and shook Arnold's hand. Left behind in his hand from the shake was a zebra-striped pencil eraser, which Arnold understood as a token of membership.

"Congratulations. You are now officially one of us. We just need you to answer a few questions, but Gerald here can help you with that." Arnold noticed that her voice sounded almost monotonous, like she was bored, she wasn't putting effort into her words. She got down from the desk, not looking at anyone, and Arnold could only watch her, amazed at her lack of interest of her own group.

"This paperwork shouldn't take too long. Just some records of our members is all it is," Gerald assured Arnold as they sat down at one of the card tables. He took a Polaroid picture of Arnold and taped it to the file folder. Then he picked up his pen to fill out the paper.

"So your first name is Arnold. And your last name is…?"

Before Arnold could even open his mouth, the bell in the hallway rang to signify the end of lunch, and everyone around him scrambled to collect their things and hurry to class.

"Alright, you heard the bell, people. Everyone get to class. I want to see everyone here tomorrow at lunch for an important meeting in secret spy strategizing." Helga stormed out of the room in her usual stomping-away manner, and when Arnold turned back to face Gerald, he was already at the curtain, holding it open for Arnold.

"You get used to Helga. She can be harsh, but she knows what she's doing. She'll lead us to victory over Big Gino, and soon we'll be the most powerful kids in the school!" He sighed with delight. "I can already taste the celebratory Yahoo soda."

Arnold nodded and followed Gerald out of the closet and started walking back to class. He didn't know what this future here was going to bring, but he would be ready to face whatever this new world threw at him. He gave a big sigh and was almost at his fourth-grade classroom door when he heard a whisper from around the corner.

"Hey…kid."

Arnold stopped, unsure of whether the voice was talking to him. He pointed to himself. He mouthed, me?

"Yeah, you. Come over here."

Arnold hated to be tardy for class, but he figured a minute wouldn't hurt. He could give the new kid excuse of getting lost if he was late. He walked to the source of the voice, rounded the corner, and found himself facing the very last person he expected to be face-to-face with after what had just happed during lunch.

"I've got a proposition for you, one which you'd be real stupid to refuse."