AN: So there are only three chapters after this one left in the whole story. I know, you're all probably a bit upset, but there will be a sequel that I'm excited to post when I finish this story. This chapter will be in third person and each scene will be separated by a time and location in italics as well as the next few chapters. I hope you enjoy! Read on…
7:59 AM, Anubis House
His eyes remained glued to the clock above his head as he waited for the hour hand to move to the eight. The hour hand shifted slightly and it had become official; he had lost his mind. Not only had he been sitting for two hours straight, but in the same exact position. Everyone held an intense stare as they waited for him to move. Alfie had money on two more minutes, Joy said ten, and Patricia said never.
Mick suddenly sat up straight. Alfie silently cheered and held out his hands for the money Patricia and Joy owed him. The two girls rolled their eyes and handed him each five pounds. "Hey, that wasn't what you bet!"
"Sorry Alfie…" Patricia shrugged.
Alfie's shoulders slumped and he turned back to Mick who was now standing and staring at the table. "What's wrong with Mick?"
Amber shook her head in response to Alfie's question. Mick suddenly turned to look at his housemates before walking out the dining room and into his room. Amber exchanged glances with everyone and stepped forward. "I'll go talk to him."
She walked away from her housemates and headed to Mick's room. When Amber reached the door she lightly knocked and waited for Mick to answer. The door quickly opened and Mick pulled her into the room before closing the door and locking it behind him. His eyes scanned the area almost as if he was trying to make sure the two were alone.
"Mick, what's going on?"
Mick stepped forward and in a low voice said, "Remember what you told me that day when there was a big party?"
"Yes, but I don't see how that has any relevance to…" Mick handed a note to Amber.
"I found that on Nina's bed when I came to look for her last night. It was meant for you."
Amber's eyes scanned the note quickly and when she finished it her hand tightened causing the note to crumble. "What does this mean?"
Mick took the paper from Amber's hand before giving her a look. "I think you know Amber. They have Nina and they won't give her back until they have all the jewels… including you."
8:25 AM, Osiris House
Morgan stared at Amber as she finished explaining everything to him. He shook his head and looked at the two teens that sat in front of him. "So you're saying that they kidnapped your friend-,"
"My girlfriend." Mick added.
"Yes," Morgan glanced at Mick. "His girlfriend and they won't give her back unless you give them all the jewels?"
"Yes, and we have a deadline." Amber added.
Morgan straightened up. "How long?"
"Two weeks to find all the jewels and give them to him." Mick answered.
"Who's him?" Morgan asked.
"Umm…" Mick's eyes searched the paper. "All it says is 'from C'."
"Oh my god…" Amber got out of her seat and snatched the note from Mick's hand. "C must mean-,"
"Clarke… as in Jerome's father." Morgan finished for her. "This is really bad."
"How are we going to find all the jewels?" Amber asked.
Morgan sighed. "I know where they all are."
"What?" Amber practically yelled. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't tell anyone." Morgan stated.
"Fair enough. Where are they?" Amber asked.
Morgan looked down at the ground and rubbed the back of his neck. "One is in a museum, another is right in front of me, and the third… Jerome has."
"What? How are we going to get it from Jerome?" Amber shook her head before returning to her seat.
"Actually that's the easy one to get. Breaking into a museum is what I'm worried about." Morgan exclaimed. "What are we going to do?"
"I don't know. Any ideas Mick?" Amber looked at the blonde boy who sat on the chair across from her not saying a word.
"What if they hurt her?" Mick blurted out.
"What?" Amber gave him a strange look.
"Nina…" Mick stood from his seat. "What if they hurt her?"
Amber sighed. "We can't think about that. We need to find the jewels. We'll get her back Mick, don't worry."
Mick walked over to the window. "We need someone."
"For what?" Morgan asked.
Mick turned to face the two. "We need someone to hack into the computer system at the museum to shut down security while Amber sneaks in and grabs the jewel from its case. She'll have precisely ten seconds to take it out and replace it with a fake before the alarms turn back on and activate. Morgan will find a way to open the door to the roof where we can access a vent that is able to send us to the back of the museum into the dumpsters with the jewel. Then we make a quick escape and go straight to Jerome's father. Oh and there will be lasers that if touched will automatically signal the police as well as trigger plates. By the time they figure out the jewel is a fake we'll be long gone and there will be no evidence leading back to us."
"How do you know all this?" Morgan asked.
"Let's just say I have some free time on my hands some days." Mick answered simply.
Amber lightly shook her head. "So I guess it's up to me to get the jewel from Jerome. What do I do?"
Morgan and Mick exchanged looks before simultaneously saying, "Seduce him."
"Of course that was your idea." Amber got up and headed for the door. "After I get the jewel we need to find someone that is able to hack into the system."
"I think I know someone who can. Mick and I will try to convince them." Morgan stated.
Amber nodded and opened the door to Osiris house. Before exiting she turned back to them. "We meet here in two hours."
The two nodded and Amber exited the house. She paused at the doorsteps and looked down at the note that was in her hands. "We'll get you back Nina… Don't worry."
10:15 AM, Courtyard near fountain
"Who are we looking for?" Mick asked.
"Umm…" Morgan scanned the area before spotting someone near the fountain. "Her."
A girl with curly golden blonde hair and grayish blue eyes sat near the fountain while reading a book. Sunlight seemed to shower her flawless fair skin giving her the appearance of an angel. Mick stared at the girl and than looked at Morgan. "She's gorgeous."
"Yeah, and?" Morgan asked.
Mick pointed at the girl. "How can someone that looks like a goddess hack computers?"
Morgan shook his head in response before walking to the girl. Mick sighed and followed close behind. "Excuse me?"
"Can I help you?" She spoke with an American accent.
"You're Michaela, right?" Morgan asked.
She put her book down and nodded. "Yep, what do you want?"
"A mate of mine told me you're good with computers. Is that true?" He questioned.
Michaela gave him a strange look. "Why do you want to know?"
"We'll tell you when you answer the question." Mick replied.
Michaela raised an eyebrow at him before crossing her legs and folding her arms over her chest. "Sorry, but I don't talk to strangers."
Morgan pushed Mick to the side and stepped closer. "We need your help."
"With what?" She asked.
"We need you to hack into a computer system." He answered.
Michaela stared at Morgan with wide eyes. "What?"
"Exactly what I said. Can you do it?"
"You're Morgan, aren't you?" Her voice contained a bit of shock that was well hidden.
"Yeah," Morgan eyed her curiously. "And?"
Michaela took a deep breath before uncrossing her arms and digging through her bag. She took out a piece of paper and a pen and wrote something down quickly. After a few minutes of writing she looked up. "Blondie?"
Mick turned his head to Michaela. "What?"
She handed him the piece of paper before picking up her bag and proceeding to leave. Before she walked away she leaned forward and whispered into Mick's ear, "Don't trust him. He's cursed."
Michaela started walking before Mick was able to respond. He watched as her heels clicked against the stone floor and she disappeared into the crowd of students.
"What's wrong?" Morgan looked at Mick and saw a confused expression on his face.
Instead of replying Mick opened up the paper and stared at her neat handwriting. In perfect Latin it read:
Una cum mortuis resurgat conspectu
Imperium per susurros et clamoribus in capitibus eorum
Sunt reales, non est
Audete credere es
11:05 AM, Anubis House
Amber leaned against the countertop as she read the note for about the hundredth time that day. She still couldn't process everything that had happened, but there was one thing she was sure of… It was all her fault.
"Amber, have you seen Nina? We have a project we have to work on that is due tomorrow." Fabian strolled into the kitchen.
"Umm…" Amber glanced down at the note quickly before shoving it into her pocket. "She's visiting her family in America."
"Really?" Fabian sighed. "I guess I have to do the project on my own."
"You know where Jerome is?" Amber asked.
Fabian shrugged. "I saw him leave the house a minute ago."
She nodded and walked out the room. "Well, maybe I should try my plan first."
Amber quietly made her way to Jerome and Alfie's room. She took a quick peek inside to see if anyone was in there. When Amber knew it was empty she slipped inside and closed the door behind her. "If I were a priceless jewel where would I be..."
Amber searched around for what felt like hours, but in reality actually was a few minutes. She stopped and stepped back before scanning the room. "It has to be hidden in plain sight."
Her eyes examined the room before they spotted something. Amber walked forward and bent down. She knocked on a loose floorboard on the ground. "It's hollow…"
Amber lifted up the floorboard at the edge and caught a glimpse of something. She quickly removed the entire thing and pulled out a blue velvet pouch. Amber opened it and let whatever was inside fall into her hands. A small green emerald sat at the edge of her palm. Amber's eyes widened as she stared at the stone that sparkled in the light. "Wow… it's-,"
"What are you doing here?" Amber spun around at the sound of another voice and saw Jerome standing a few feet away from her. "Alfie asked me to get his football."
"Really?" Jerome stepped forward before pointing to the pouch in her hand. "Last time I checked a football was round and black and white; not a blue pouch that clearly doesn't belong to you."
Amber gulped as Jerome snatched the pouch out of her hand. "I suggest next time you're going to try and steal something, lock the door."
Amber ran past Jerome quickly and exited the room. Once she was out of the house Amber felt a small smile spread on her face. She looked down at her ring-less finger and the emerald in her hand before making her way to Osiris House.
12:37 PM, Osiris House
Morgan stared at the priceless green emerald through the magnifying glass in his hand. After a minute more he set down the magnifying glass and turned to face Amber and Mick. "It's real."
"How did you get it?" Mick asked from his spot across the room.
Amber shrugged before standing from her seat on Morgan's bed. "The most important thing is how are going to get the last one."
"Well, that girl wasn't any help, so we need to find someone else by tomorrow." Morgan stated.
Amber nodded. "Let's talk later. I have to work on my history assignment with Patricia."
Mick followed Amber out the room leaving Morgan by himself. Morgan turned back to his desk and opened up his laptop. He typed something in, opening a bunch of documents on the screen.
"What've you been hiding Morgan?" Morgan remained still as he took in the sound of someone else's voice.
"Nothing of your interest." He spun around to face Jerome.
Jerome tsked as he walked around the room. "Last time I checked you were supposed to be dead."
Morgan's expression remained neutral as he spoke. "Guess Osiris doesn't want me."
Jerome chuckled at his response and headed towards him. "I know what you and Amber are planning and I want to congratulate you for getting this far."
"Anything honest you have to tell me?" Morgan stated.
Jerome's smile grew wider and he bent down so he was eye level with Morgan. "Do you have any idea what I'm capable of?"
"Sorry," Morgan leaned forward, "You might have to fill me in."
Jerome shook his head lightly before bringing his hands forward and lifting up Morgan's sleeve revealing a tattoo of a crest surrounded by fire. "I can make you die with a single snap of my fingers."
"Then why don't you?" Morgan spat out.
Jerome had started walking out the room by this point. At last minute he turned back and smirked. "What would be the fun in that?"
Halfway down the hallway Morgan heard Jerome yell, "Tell Amber to return the emerald before I have to get it myself."
Morgan leaned back in his seat as he stared down at his arm. Before he turned back to his computer he could have sworn he saw the tattoo glow.
1:17 PM, School Garden
Mick spotted Michaela sitting in the gazebo in the school garden. He made his way over to her and she looked up when she head footsteps. "What does it mean?"
Michaela raised an eyebrow as she stared at Mick. In her eyes she couldn't help but notice how it seemed like he had just woken up. His hair was standing up at odd angles and bags lay under his eyes. His clothes were wrinkled and his backpack was opened with half of its components getting ready to spill out. He held the note she had written him in his hand.
"The note, what does it mean?" He repeated the question.
Michaela sighed before she snatched the note from his hands. "It's Latin."
"I know that much, but what does it say?" He replied anxiously.
"It reads:
The one with the sight shall rise with the dead
Controlled by the whispers and cries in their heads
They are not real, they are not there
You are only to believe if you dare."
"And what does that mean?" Mick questioned.
Michaela rolled her eyes before standing up and slinging her backpack over one shoulder. "It means your little friend can't be trusted."
"How do you know this?" He asked as she began walking away.
"I have secrets too Blondie." She responded. "I also know everyone else's secrets."
"And what does that mean?" Mick's mind was filled with a lot of questions at this point.
"Guess you'll just have to find out on your own." And as usual, before Mick could say anything she was already out of sight.
AN: Hope you liked! The next chapter may be posted a long time from now or maybe this weekend. You'll just have to wait and see. By the way, I hope you liked Michaela because she will be in the next few chapters and maybe even in the sequel. I haven't decided yet. Keep reading and review, favorite, and alert!
-Karina
P.S. Doesn't that tattoo Morgan have sound familiar? Check chapter five.
