Anubis House, England, The Basement
Howard had to be half dragged downstairs to actually be willing to go with Leonard, Sheldon, and the Sibuna kids.
"Well, what if that Senkhara lady wants a short astronaut for her ghost rituals?" Howard asked.
"Oh, she won't. Don't worry. She only does that on Tuesdays," Nina said. She bit her lip so she wouldn't laugh. Sad to admit, it was pretty funny to see Howard's reactions to these Senkhara jokes.
Sheldon looked around at Victor's taxidermy stuff scattered around the table. He scooted over next to Leonard when he saw an animal that was only half finished. Leonard gave him a look. Howard sat down on a chair and it creaked loudly. He stood and bumped into Leonard. Leonard looked at him and almost smacked him.
Patricia looked over at them and hissed, "Do you want us to get caught by Victor? AGAIN!?" For a teenager, she was pretty intimidating. Howard, Leonard, and Sheldon shut up and watched as Nina and Fabian put in the code to get into the chamber. The wall turned with the sound of stone scraping stone. The group walked into the chamber, Howard bringing up the rear tentatively. He stepped over the threshold and cringed as if a ghost would pop out of the over-stuffed chairs around the room and grab him.
Howard hung close to the wall and slouched over. He looked at the spines of the books as the rest of Sibuna walked around and sat down. They seemed so comfortable here when there was a thought of the ghost they mentioned earlier could pop out of the wall at any moment.
Nina pulled back a red book and the bookshelf swung around. She smiled at the American scientists and looked at Amber, Alfie, and Fabian.
"Okay, who wants to go to the antechamber?" she asked excitedly.
Leonard, Sheldon, and Howard gave each other looks that read, "What antechamber?"
Fabian, Alfie, Patricia and Amber jumped right up and walked over next to Nina. They obviously were used to going back there, with the cobwebs and spiders. Howard shuddered. Leonard and Sheldon were standing awkwardly by the door to the antechamber. Nina looked at them and put her hand on her hip. She gave them all a look.
"What? You guys were wondering about the basement and everything down here, and now you guys are being chickens?" she asked. Her brown curls were swept up in a loose ponytail at the nape of her neck. She looked just as intimidating as Patricia.
Leonard sighed. "She's got a point. We were so excited and curious about what was down here and now we're sitting here like wimps as everyone else is so excited. Why?" he said.
"Because we are wimps?" Howard asked.
Leonard stood and glared at Howard. Leonard walked over to the Sibuna side, his Converse slapping against the stone floor.
"So, are you going or staying?" he asked. He crossed his arms on his chest.
Sheldon looked at Howard.
"Well, I don't know about him, but I don't want to be here alone." He stepped over to Leonard's side. Howard sighed.
"You guys! Fine! I'll succumb to peer pressure! I hope you're happy!" he said. He stalked over to Sheldon's side.
And with Howard finally in tow, the Sibuna kids (and Leonard and Sheldon) stepped across the threshold to the tunnels.