Whoa, final chapter! It all comes down to this. Thanks to all who reviewed/Followed/Favorited this story. Ohsnapitscarly said I should do a sequel. So that is my major question. Should I write a sequel, about season 2? Leave your thoughts in the review box, I'd love to hear them. I've also made a poll, for those who don't want to review. For the final time, enjoy!
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX HOUSE OF FINALES
I screamed. My other hand shot out to scratch his face with my fingernails. He grunted and used me to pull himself out. Jerome pulled me away from him, but Rufus shoved us. I fell back, head hitting the wall. My vision doubled.
"Mary Ann, are you OK?" Jerome asked. Shouting was heard in the hall. I groaned, rubbing my head.
"Merry." I snapped in an irked fashion. Victor shouted at everyone to get to bed. Fabian and Alfie returned to the kitchen. Jerome leaned against the sink. Alfie patted him on the back.
"I hope this is worth it." Jerome went cold, handing me the final Ankh piece.
"It is." I told him. "I'm just frustrated that we couldn't nab Rufus."
"Hey, no problemo, Mary Ann." Jerome said sarcastically. "Now listen up, I kept my side of the bargain. I got you back that – that thing. Now you keep your side, and you protect me from that – that maniac. Or else."
"Or else what?" I snapped back. "What else can you do?"
"I am going to the teachers, myself." He threatened. "And I am telling them everything that you have told me. About the search, about the puzzle pieces, about that Sarah woman, and about your little Scooby gig."
"You bring Sarah into this and you will have more to worry about than that maniac." I snarled, clenching my fists. Jerome just pushed off the sink and walked out of the room.
~ Morning ~
"Don't worry, Mary Ann." Patricia said during breakfast. "Jerome's just bluffing because he's scared of what Rufus might do. Can't say I blame him."
"And here he is," Fabian announced as Jerome entered. "Good work last night, Jerome."
"Nice one, mate." Alfie encouraged.
"There is still the small matter of Rufus getting away," Jerome reminded us, "And the fact that he still thinks I've got the puzzle pieces."
"Yeah, there is that but you could always say…" Fabian trailed off.
"That Victor took them." I offered.
"Right and that's when he mummifies me." Jerome stated. "Why don't we just give the puzzle piece back to Rufus and get him off our backs once and for all?"
"Do you really think if we give Rufus the pieces, we're in a stronger position than if we hold onto them ourselves?" Patricia said. "Because I don't. You need to speak to Rufus again. Play him along." Before he could argue, she added, "We hold the cards here, Jerome, not him."
"Maybe we need to try putting these pieces back together again." Jerome suggested.
"We will." I told him. "Tonight."
Amber came in screaming at that exact moment. We all turned to see her stopped in the doorway.
"I got a message on my profile!" she cried. "Someone blatantly wants me for their date!" She squealed and ran away.
"Good morning to you too." I said sarcastically. "So glad you're focused."
~ School, Break ~
"Sibuna, at seven." I told Patricia and Alfie. "To-night." They nodded. Amber walked in.
"Yo, meeting at seven." I told her.
"OK, no probs." She replied. "Although, I can't neglect my own little treasure hunt, the search for King Tut, which is proving to be surprisingly difficult. What about you and Fabian? Has he asked you yet?"
I shushed her. "No!" I blushed. "He doesn't like me like that!"
"Take it from Millington," she said. "He does." A smile etched across her face. "Why don't you ask Fabian?"
As if on cue, Fabian entered the room. "Ask me what?" he asked, looking at me with those gorgeous blue eyes and–
Snap out of it!
"U-uh," I stammered. "If it's true that… your favorite color's pink?"
He looked at me funnily. "What?"
"She's lying." Amber declared. 'Just ask him!' she mouthed.
My savior, Jerome, came walking in. "Hey, it's Jerry!" I left swiftly and practically attacked Clark. "Hey Jer," I said, looping arms with him. He jumped. "How's it hanging?" I pushed him to sit down with me. Immediately, Sibuna gathered around. The fake smile fell from my face. "How'd it go?" I asked seriously.
"He still trusts me." Jerome said.
"Told you so." I said.
"And he has told me more stuff about the Cup." I smiled genuinely. Really? Excitement attacked me.
"OK, guys!" Mr. Winkler took my attention. "Can we gather around in a circle, please, and we'll do some vocal warm ups. May, mee, mi, mo, mu."
~ Evening ~
Fabian, Patricia, Alfie and I met in my room. Amber was helping Mick dance… I guess.
"OK." Fabian called the clear as he closed the door.
"Still saying we should do this outside." I commented.
"It's almost dark out." Patricia told me. "What if Rufus is sneaking around out there?"
"What about Jerome?" Alfie asked. "Shouldn't we involve him in this too?"
"He attempted blackmail." I countered.
"True, but the more involved Jerome feels, the better it is for us." Fabian persuaded.
"Go get him." I sighed. "But I swear we are going to regret this." Alfie beamed and went out the door. Jerome returned with him a moment later. I took the Ankh pieces from under my bed. Everyone sat around me, but Jerome sat on Amber's bed. Alfie pushed my nightstand in front of the door.
"It won't work." Jerome said.
"Will you just shut up or leave the room?" Patricia snapped.
"We've got to try." I explained to him.
"Mary Ann, I'm telling you you'll never do it."
"Jerome!" Fabian snapped this time. "Watch us." The three of us picked up the items. Something knocked around in my head, screaming. Fabian and Patricia added the vase to the bowl and the house shook violently. The lights in the room flickered like mad.
"Mary Ann?" Fabian asked worriedly.
"Freaky…" Alfie commented.
"Is this supposed to happen?" Fabian asked. The knocking in my head grew harder.
"I-I don't know!" I replied. The pieces in my hand grew red and hot. Searing in pain, I dropped the pieces.
"It's not the right time!" Jerome told us. The shaking and flickering stopped. The pain in my head lessened to a numbing throb.
"It's eight o'clock, what's wrong with that?" I snapped.
"OK," he said in an irked tone, "Listen. I will tell you everything that Rufus said. Everything! In return, I want just one thing."
"Before you ask, Jerome, we don't any money so–" Patricia started.
"Actually," he interrupted. "I just want in. To your gang."
"The Sibuna gang?" I asked.
"Yeah." He replied. "You tell me everything, all your little secrets, and I will give you the info that you need. How to put the Cup together, and when."
I thought for a moment. Was he bluffing? No, the look in his eyes said differently. Plus, we really needed the information. I sighed. "Fine. Welcome to Sibuna. Now tell me." His grin was a little unnerving, but only because I had never seen it on his face before. He got up and joined us on the floor.
"Welcome aboard, dude." Alfie congratulated, high fiving him.
"Right, OK, so according to Rufus, the Cup can only be assembled on a very special date. Once every twenty-five years, and this date is coming up very soon."
"Soon?" I repeated. He nodded. "Soon when?" His expression told me he had no clue. I sighed again, ruffling my hair. I stared at the pieces.
~ Night ~
Something was squirming inside of me. My veins ached. My head spun. My body convulsed. Get out, get out, get out!
"Open your eyes, Mary Ann." A whisper called to me. Involuntarily, my eyelids opened. I saw someone at the foot of my bed. A familiar someone. I shot up.
"Sarah!" I said aloud. She smiled at me. She wore a white nightgown, like she was going to bed.
"Here I am." She said excitedly.
"Sarah…" I repeated. "But… but you're… Am I still asleep?"
"I gave you a present, Mary Ann." She told me. "Why don't you open it?"
"Huh?"
"Twinkle, twinkle, little star…" she said, stepping back slowly. Then she… vanished.
I shot up again, screaming "NO!" Dream, it was all a dream. It was all a dream…
~ Morning ~
Amber shopped online for her dress again. I sat at the table, chewing on a muffin. Only Sibuna was in the room. I explained parts of the dream.
"So," Fabian said, sitting next to me, "you think Sarah was trying to tell you something, Mary Ann?"
"Perhaps, but it didn't make sense at all." I replied. "Something about presents?"
"The box!" Patricia said. "What about the box she gave you after she died?"
"Oh yeah…" Alfie said.
"What box?" Jerome asked from the kitchen. "Nobody here ever mentioned a box before." I bit my muffin. "Look, remember our agreement, you tell me everything."
"Should I also tell you my parents were murdered?" I snapped. Before anything could happen, Amber shouted from the couches.
"Guys, I've had a breakthrough!" We all rushed over to her. "OK, peach blush or hazy blue?" I stared at the screen. Oh, dresses again. Fabian left.
"What?" Patricia asked.
"Prom dresses," Amber explained. "Peach or blue?" Patricia and Alfie left. "Get your priorities right."
"Peach." I said randomly. I walked back to the table.
"OK, blue it is." Amber said.
"I heard that!" I shouted from the table.
"So do you think she meant the box that she entrusted to you?" Fabian asked me.
"Possibly." I shrugged. "You never know."
"Guys, guys!" Jerome called to us. "Listen to this!"
"No!" Amber protested.
"Amber has just asked me to be her date to the prom!" Jerome finished. Amber stood abruptly.
"I did not!" she yelled. "That is not what I said!" Jerome was still laughing. I rolled my eyes, like Amber would ever like Jerome. Crazy Clark.
I picked up my bag and another muffin.
"Mary Ann!" Fabian called after me just as I entered the main hall. "Mary Ann!" I stopped to let him catch up. "I wanted to…" he stopped. "Ask. Not ask, tell. No, not even tell–"
"Spit it out!" I giggled.
"About me and Patricia…"
"Yeah. It's fine. Have fun." I was about to walk away again when he grabbed my arm lightly.
"No, no, no, stop." He stuttered. "Listen. I don't know where… I think you've got the wrong end…" I pursed my lips. "What I'm trying to say is that I won't be asking Patricia to be my date." My heart pounded faster.
"You aren't?" Tame the happiness, Mary, he never said he was asking you.
"No," he said with a smile on his lips.
"And you're telling me this…? Why?" I said in attempt to tame the eager beast of happiness inside me.
"I was wondering if–"
"What is going on down there?" Victor boomed from his office, interrupting him. Shut up, Victor I wanted to shout. "Have you seen the time? You're late for school! Move it, move it!"
I smiled sheepishly at Fabian and ran out the door.
~ After school ~
"Oh, I forgot my iPod." I said aloud. I ran up the stairs. When I opened the door, I saw Jerome kneeling there, holding my bag and one of the pieces.
"What the hell?" I shouted. I took the bag and piece from him. I contacted the rest of the gang and we met up in Alfie's room, though Amber was still a no show. I dragged Jerome with me, not letting him out of my sight. I brought Sarah's box with me.
"I thought you wanted to be a Sibuna." Fabian said.
"I did!" Jerome cried. "I do, I– You don't understand. Rufus threatened me, and this time he meant it!"
"What happens now?" Alfie asked.
"We find out when the special date is." Fabian said. "And we take it from there. Mary Ann, can I have Sarah's box?" I passed it to him.
"OK, if we can keep the pieces until after the date, we might be in the clear." I offered. Fabian dug around in the box.
"For another twenty-five years at least," Patricia reminded me.
"But we don't know when the special day is." Jerome added. "It could be weeks away."
"I think I found something." Fabian passed the box to Alfie and started unfolding a piece of paper. Jerome started to get up from the bed he sat on, but I shot him a glare. He sat back down. Fabian laughed with accomplishment. "Look!" He turned it over so we could all see. It was a star chart! "It's a star map."
"Twinkle, twinkle, little star!" I realized. Everyone looked at me. "The last thing Sarah said in the dream." I explained.
"I don't recognize any of these constellations." Fabian said, looking at the map. I noticed some numbers written in white ink on the edge in the paper. "I'm going online. I'm going to check these out."
"I'll come too." I said. I was about to leave when I remembered the box. I snatched it from Alfie's hands and sent Jerome a death glare.
I followed Fabian to his room. He sat on his bed, typing away. I sat there, not really sure what to do.
"This is definitely an ancient Egyptian star map." Fabian told me after a moment. "This is the constellation of Osiris, this is Isis, but… what do the numbers mean?"
"Coordinates?" I suggested. "We've been thinking lots of stuff to be coordinates." I rubbed my stomach, much like a pregnant woman, remember how my history teacher said to remember longitude was to remember a pregnant woman's stomach like a globe, and the long strokes they made.
Fabian stared at the numbers. "Longitude, and latitude." He grinned at me. "Of course!" He started typing again. His eyebrows furrowed with concentration. He made a cute little frown. I couldn't help but beam. He was so…
His eyes flickered to me, and he caught me. He grinned slightly. "What are you smiling at?" he asked.
"The expression you make when you concentrate." I admitted happily. He chuckled and I glanced away.
"Mary Ann," he said. I looked back at him. "About this… end-of-term prom thing." I sat up straighter. "I was–"
Patricia barged into the room. "Guys, get this!" she said.
"Always." I muttered. There was always someone to interrupt.
She closed the door. "The Cup came only be put together by the Chosen One. By Joy!"
"Whoa, what?" I said. No way!
"Jerome just told me." She said. "I have to call her and warm her. Do we know the date yet?" Fabian returned to his computer.
"Not yet," he said. "But…" He continued to tap. "YES!" he exclaimed. "They were coordinates! And now we have a date and time." He smirked at me. "Nice work."
I grinned slyly. "When?"
"Friday. Midnight." He said. Of course it would be midnight.
"The day of the prom!" Patricia realized.
"This is it!" Fabian said excitedly. "We have the Ankh pieces. We know the date and time, we know who the Chosen One is! We can finally put the Cup together and finish the search!"
"But are we sure?" I checked. "Positively sure?"
Patricia nodded. "We have to call Joy."
~ The next day ~
"I don't care!" Amber yelled into her phone as she entered the student lounge. "I paid for the next day delivery and it hasn't arrived. If your ruin my prom I swear I'll…" She rolled her eyes at me. "OK, I'll hold."
I turned back to the rest of Sibuna. "I'm just worried about keeping the pieces safe." I said.
"I know, it's fine carrying them around with us, but what if the teachers organize another bag search or something." Fabian agreed.
"Leave that with me." Patricia stepped up. "I've got an idea."
"Yeah?" I asked. She glanced behind me.
"I'll tell you later, OK?" she said.
"Tell her what?" Jerome asked. I turned to see him walking to us.
"The less people that know, the better." Patricia sneered. "Loose Lips."
"I have told you," he pointed at us. "I am going no where near Rufus ever again." His phone beeped. He took it out, and groaned. "Oh, speak of the devil. Literally. I'm surprised my phone didn't burst into flames." He read the message and visibly paled.
"What's he say?" Alfie asked.
"It's not repeatable." He replied simply. Alfie made an 'ooh' sound.
~ Evening ~
Jerome led the housemates to secretly watch Fabian and Mick work on their dancing. Eventually, they formed a symbiotic bond and danced with each other! To finish, Mick dipped Fabian. We all came out, clapping and laughing. Mick dropped Fabian on the floor.
"Beautiful!" I shouted over the laughter. They blushed, making me laugh louder.
~ Morning ~
I walked into the kitchen. "Good morning." I smiled at Fabian. I sat down and took a muffin.
"Uh, Mary Ann, great." He stammered. I was suddenly very aware of how it was just the two of us in the room. "Uh, look, l-listen, I was wondering if you would like to–"
"Yes." I interrupted. You didn't know he was going to ask you to the prom.
Shut up, you pessimistic part of my brain.
"You didn't let me finish." He said.
"We'll get interrupted." I stated. On cue, Patricia walked in saying good morning. "Told you."
"Wait," he protested, "but now I don't know if you said yes to what I was going to ask. And you don't know if I was going to ask you what you thought I was going to ask you." We were both confused by the end of that.
"Do you ever make any sense?" Patricia and I said at the same time.
"We have got to stop doing that!" I laughed to her.
"Patricia," Fabian turned to her. "Could you go out of the room for a second?" His tone was like he was talking through gritted teeth. "There's something I have to ask Mary Ann."
I shrugged when Patricia looked at me. Realization hit her. "Oh. Yeah, sure. No problem." She got up and left. I waited until she closed the door behind her.
"Now spit it out before a meteor strikes!" I pressured.
"Mary Ann, would you like to go to the prom with me?" he said without stuttering.
"Yes." I repeated my answer.
Fabian sighed, "Yes." Then he realized something. "Yes?"
"Yes." I confirmed.
"YES!" he cheered, gripping my hand.
"Adorable." Patricia said, reentering the room. "Now I am starving." Fabian smiled at me.
"I'm going to prom with Fabian." I told Patricia.
"No way," she cried, "I thought I was supposed to be going with Fabian!" My smiled faded. Wait…
She cracked up, pointing at us. I sighed with relief. Phew, she's just joking.
~ Friday Night ~
Apparently Amber ordered a doll's dress. She got so upset that when the night came, she threw dresses at Mara, Patricia, and me. She claimed she wouldn't be going to the dance.
"Can you at least help me get ready?" I asked her. She nodded somberly. I took a quick shower, and when I came back the beautifying began.
She started with the painful. Waxing. She waxed whatever hair I had left from my legs and underarms. She shaped my eyebrows as well. After that, she partially dried my hair quickly with a hair dryer. Then she took a straightener to it. But, as she planned, when we tried to flatten my hair, it only made it wavy. Then she did my make up. Black eyeliner, simple eye shadow, and lip-gloss. She didn't apply any mascara because my eyelashes were long and thick enough.
"Have I ever told you how lovely your eyelashes are?" she asked me.
"No." I replied.
"Well, don't ever use mascara. Your eyelashes are perfect."
"Thanks." I slipped on the dress.
She handed me some wedge heels. "Wear these. Have fun." She said sadly.
"Come with me," I begged. "You're Amber Millington. You won't let this stop you."
"No," she replied, crawling back into bed. "Go. I would have wanted it this way." I didn't want to leave, but she kept giving me this look. I stepped into the hallway to meet Mara and Patricia.
"Oh, you look gorgeous!" Mara exclaimed when she saw me.
"As do you." I said as I curtsied. "So do you Trixie."
"Let's get going." She smiled in response. We descended the stairs, Alfie rushing past us on the way down, holding a flash of blue. He had bumped into Mick, who was having his tie tied by Fabian, on his way, which causing both him and Fabian to see us girls cascade the final steps.
I raised an eyebrow at Fabian. He looked amazing in a tuxedo, which made me take a mental note to take a picture of him before the night was over. His smile brightened when he saw me.
"Wow." Mick said, looking at Mara.
"Whoa." Fabian commented, only looking at me. I blushed. "Wait, where's Prom Queen Millington?"
I averted my gaze. None of the girls answered. Alfie came running down the stairs. "Amber's getting ready." He said. I beamed at him. He got Amber to go to the prom?
Sibuna and I broke off from Mick and Mara into the living area. "I hope we get the chance to sneak away to meet Joy," I said in a low voice. "The teachers will be watching us incredibly close."
"I hope Joy can get away from her dad." Patricia said. Someone gasped at the doorway. We turned to see a teary-eyed Trudy.
"Oh my word," she said breathlessly. "Don't you all look so… grown up and beautiful!"
"Thanks Trudy." I said.
"Oh Patricia," she walked up to our group. "This was pushed under the door. Last minute date perhaps?" She handed Patricia a letter. "Very romantic." Patricia looked at me with skepticism. "Where's Amber?" I looked to the main hall. Trudy left, calling "Amber?" We entered the main hall as well.
"Here," she called. I gasped when I saw her. If she thought I was beautiful… Amber was a goddess. Her blue dress was gorgeous, and her hair was curled so it fell across one shoulder. She had blue eye shadow on and was holding a silver hand-purse. Trudy started to clap, and I joined, as did everyone else. Jerome joined us in the hallway, clapping as well when he saw her. Amber glared at him.
"I have nothing to say to you, dress thief." She spat coolly.
"Ooh, want some ice for that burn?" I called. Alfie met her at the bottom of the stairs, giving her a corsage.
"Somebody better pinch me," he said dreamily. "Ow!" Amber actually pinched him!
Everyone filed out. Patricia, Fabian and I were the only ones left in the hallway. "It's mirrored writing again," Patricia said as she read the letter. "It must be from Joy, change in plan." She held it up to the mirror.
"Meet me in history classroom before prom." She read out loud. "Yeah, she wants to meet me earlier in the history classroom. I wonder why…"
"Let's find out." I said with a smirk, holding out a hand. She rolled her eyes playfully, but didn't take it. I linked arms with Fabian and the three of us left the house.
"Why did the Chosen Hour have to been on the same day as our prom?" Amber complained as we made out way to through the school halls. "The universe is so selfish sometimes."
"It's important, Ambs." I replied. I opened the door to find Mr. Winkler in room, in a tux.
"Hey guys." He said in surprise. "Why are you not at the dance?"
"Why aren't you?" Patricia asked as the rest of us entered the room.
"I am waiting for my date with Miss Robinson." He admitted sheepishly. "Patricia, what's in the bag?" He eyed the bulky bag Patricia had brought with her. "I hope your not trying to smuggle contraband into prom."
"No," Patricia scoffed. "It's just… girly stuff that girls use. I can be really girly at times." I held back a snicker.
"OK, then you won't mind if I take a look?" He took the bag from Patricia. Just when he opened it, the door slammed shut. I yelped in surprise, all of us turning to see Rufus blocking the door. He held an hourglass with some red things buzzing around.
"Red, acidic sandflies." He said. "Very rare, quite vicious, and certainly deadly. Now everyone do as I say or I break this glass." I held my breath. "You," he nodded at Fabian. My body froze. "Get the blinds. The rest of you, get over there." I moved along with everyone else to the desks. Fabian went to the windows, closing all the blinds.
"Now," Rufus turned to our History teacher, "you get the Elixir and the Chosen One. I want them within the hour or I break this glass."
"You're insane." Mr. Winkler told him.
"Very observant," Rufus brushed off. "Now, go." Mr. Winkler looked at us. I caught the fear in his eyes, matching everyone else in the room. He left. Rufus locked the door behind him. I gripped Fabian's hand.
"Oh," Rufus said, as if he forgot, "Apologies, Patricia, this time the note was not from Joy. Sorry to disappoint. But at least I get what I came for." He placed the hourglass on the desk where Patricia's bag sat. "The Ankh pieces. All seven…" He pulled out a plastic water bottle.
"What's this?" he asked her. I made eye contact with Patricia. Fear sparked everywhere. Rufus dug out more water bottles. "Where are my Ankh pieces? You will all pay for this."
"They're safe." I whispered to Patricia.
"Yeah, but are we?" she replied. I gripped Fabian's hand tighter.
"Where are the Ankh pieces?" Rufus growled.
"Today of all days, we're going to carry them around?" I snapped back. "Do you think we're that stupid?"
"You gave them to Joy didn't you." Rufus concluded. "You do realize that she is part of all of this, don't you?"
"Yeah, she's the Chosen One." Patricia said. "We're not stupid."
"Who wants the Cup just as much as else? You have played straight into their hands!"
"No, no, no, no," Jerome argued. "Trixie, don't believe him, he's a liar! He's playing you!"
"Oh really? Thanks for telling me about the post-rendezvous with Joy, Jerome. You've been a very useful spy." Rufus jeered.
"I did not tell you, creep!" Jerome yelled at him. Fabian left of my hand to hold him back. He turned to us. "I did not double cross you guys, I swear I didn't all this time!"
"We believe you, Jerome." I assured him. "You're just jealous because Joy's on our side. Besides, you'll get your stupid pieces when Jason brings her and the elixir."
A knock rang across the room. We all turned to the door. "Jason?" Miss Robinson? "Are you in there? I'm sorry I'm late, I got a flat." Rufus snuck by the wall, out of sight. The six of us Sibunas held still. Amber grabbed my hand. "Jason?" Miss Robinson's figure left the door and reappeared by the faded window. She disappeared.
Patricia's phone vibrated. "What's that?" Rufus asked. He took the phone from her. "A missed call from Joy, how interesting." He handed her the phone. "Call her back and tell her to meet here immediately with the pieces."
"No." Patricia replied bluntly.
Rufus shook the hourglass at her. "They are getting very angry and so am I."
"Patricia, call her." Amber said in a scared tone. I couldn't feel my legs. Rufus held out the phone. Patricia took it and dialed back. She waited for a moment.
"It rang and rang and now it's just switched over to her voicemail." Patricia said. Rufus took the phone and listened. Angrily, he threw the phone across the room, which shattered.
"You're paying for that!" Patricia cried.
"SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP ALL OF YOU!" he snarled. We all sat down at the desks. He walked over to the front desk. "Time is running out for you people." He told us. Amber started rambling about how sorry she was for everything she did.
"Amber!" Fabian interrupted. "Not helping, really not helping."
"You don't know that!" she retorted. I took a deep breath.
"Sarah… Sarah, I'm so sorry that we failed you." I cried softly. A rap came at the door. Miss Robinson!
"Jason," she said with sass, "I don't know if you're in there or not, but if you are, hear this. I don't respond well with getting stood up. You're dumped."
"Feisty." Alfie commented as she left.
"Well," Rufus said, clenching his jaw. "Looks like we've all been dumped." He leaned against the desk and let out a breath. "Your teachers have clearly abandoned you to your fate." He picked up the hourglass and I held my breath. But then he started to twist the glass in his hands.
"It's over," Fabian said after a long moment of silence. "Why don't you just let us go?"
"It's not over," Rufus informed us, "until the Hour itself is over. They're probably putting the Cup together as we speak."
"Maybe they've already done it!" Fabian yelled. The thought of that made everything feel worse. "Beaten you to it! It's time to give up."
"No, you're all still alive," Rufus said. My eyes narrowed. "So clearly they haven't drunk from the Cup." Wait, what?
"Say that once more?" I asked.
"Oh yes," Rufus said. "Oh Victor and the others think it's all symbolic, the tipping of the scales. The symbolic flow of life force from the young to the old. Only immortality comes with a price."
"So we're going to…" I stopped myself.
He nodded. "It's a life for a life, my dear. I think I saw your name down there in the cellar." I paled, realizing what he meant.
"What's he talking about?" Jerome asked.
"Fabian, Fabian, the bronze coins! The ones with our names engraved on them! And the scales!" I yelled to him across the room. Oh how much I wanted to be next to him if this really was the end.
"Mary Ann, don't worry, it's going to be OK." He assured me.
"Is still have time to relieve Victor of the Cup." Rufus realized. I could see a plan forming in his head. His eyes flickered to me. "You," he pointed. He grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet. My knees banged against the desk but the pain was barely recognizable over the fear. "You are coming with me."
I started to scream. The next part was a blur, but Fabian yelled something and Rufus was tackled by him. The hourglass went flying into Alfie's hands. Jerome and Alfie yelled. Jerome ran to the door, key in hand. We all followed. He unlocked it and we started to pile outside. Amber shoved the hourglass into my hands.
Jerome yelled at me to throw it, so I hurled it at Rufus, who was just getting up. We sprinted out the door, Jerome slamming it shut. Rufus let out an awful scream. I ran into Fabian, arms wrapping around his waist, face burying into his chest. His arms wrapped around me, but the state of fear I was feeling remained.
"Are you OK?" he asked me.
"Ru… Ru…" I pointed back to the room, unable to speak.
"It was either him or us, Mary Ann," Jerome told me.
"We've got to get to the teachers." I spoke. "They can't drink!"
"What happens if they do?" Jerome asked, clearly oblivious.
"Someone dies," Patricia filled him in.
"Dies?" Amber screeched.
"Yeah," Fabian said, "but there's no reason to be scared." No reason? Our lives were in danger!
"Let's get over there and stop them!" Jerome said, pointing away. We all ran after him. The night was dark and cold, but the adrenaline kept me warm. We burst through the front door, and found Joy sitting on the staircase. She hugged Patricia.
"Oh, you're safe!" she exclaimed.
"Joy, what happened?" Patricia asked.
"Nothing happened." Joy said happily. "I'm not the Chosen One, there is no Cup."
"They…" I took a deep breath to make up for my windedness. "They said you were Chosen because of your date of birth, right?"
"Yeah, seventh of July." I paled.
"That's my birthday as well!" I whispered.
"What?" Fabian said. "Joy, you were born seven AM, right? The seventh hour of the seventh of the seventh."
"No, seven PM." She corrected.
"Mary Ann?" Fabian looked at me. They all looked at me.
"In the morning, I never asked." I said truthfully.
"I bet it was seven AM." Fabian smiled. "The true seventh hour!"
"It would be the American, wouldn't it?" Jerome commented.
"Guys, it's a quarter to one," Fabian reminded us, "We've got fifteen minutes of the Chosen Hour left. Where are the pieces?"
"Still down there, I think." Joy told us, looking at the open cellar door.
"Mary Ann?" Fabian asked me. I… I was the Chosen One?
"Mary Ann, hurry!" Sarah's voice echoed the hall. "You don't have long! Make the Cup!"
I squeezed my eyes shut. I was the Chosen One. OK... No, not okay! Holy fucking crap! How was I supposed to take this? How was I supposed to be the "hero" and save the world? I forced myself to take a breath. I didn't have time to contemplate myself. I opened my eyes. "Let's go." We went down into the cellar. Candles were still lit, but the wax was running low. The pieces were spread out on a table, surrounded by the scales. The base of the Cup had already been made. I took out Sarah's locket and squeezed it.
"You are the Chosen One, Mary Ann." Sarah's voice echoed in the cellar. "This is your destiny." She appeared in behind the table, in her white nightgown. "Make the Cup." I nodded.
"You have to say the incantation." Joy informed me. "With this circle of light, I seal the circle of life." I nodded again. I picked up the handle of the Cup, and then the bowl/demi-sphere. I murmured the incantation as I placed the bowl on the handle. My hands moved on their own, I picked up our first two pieces and lift the tethering ring with them, placing it on the bowl. It was like they were magnetic, because they stuck. I adjusted the two pieces to connect the ring to the bowl. I let go.
But nothing happened. "Why isn't something happening?" I said.
"Mary Ann, look, your locket!" Amber cried. I glanced down at it. It was glowing bright red. Drawn to the Cup. I held it out and the Cup exploded with a bright light. It made a hypnotizing tornado of light, spiraling around the Cup, sealing it into one piece. The light was so beautiful, so bright, so unifying…
"Mary Ann!" Fabian's voice rang out in my ears about the deafening silence. The tornado ceased, leaving only the Cup. The bronze was replaced with a golden sheen. Colors were more defined in the shape of flowers. It was…
"That is the most beautiful accessory I have ever seen." Amber voiced my thoughts.
"You did it." Fabian said.
"I've got to hide it." I said. "Forever."
Amber screamed, being yanked out of my vision. I turned to see Rufus, or I thought it was Rufus. His face was red with nasty boils. He clutched Amber close.
"Not unless I have something to do with it." Rufus threatened.
"Rufus!" Jerome declared.
"I knew it!" Alfie shouted. "The bad guy always comes back!"
"Did you think that I would expose myself to the deadly acidic sand-fly without first equipping myself with an antidote?" Rufus questioned. "And now, I have the queen, which I will put in this pretty girl's ear unless you do exactly what I say." I stared at Amber's terrified expression, unable to do anything.
"You." Rufus nodded at me. "Give me the Cup. You." He looked at Fabian. "Get the Elixir." When Fabian didn't move, he shouted, "Quickly! We only have a few minutes." He shook the fist with the queen in Amber's ear. She screamed, shrill and loud. I picked up the Cup.
"Yes!" Rufus said greedily. He snatched it from my hands. He looked to Fabian, who now held the Elixir. "Now pour it in! All of it! ALL OF IT!" Fabian uncorked the bottle and tipped the liquid into the Cup. I watched it swirl around for a second. Rufus muttered something before shoving Amber towards Alfie and the fly in the opposite direction. I scooted closer to Fabian, away from the direction of the fly.
Rufus brought the Cup to his lips and drank. "NO!" I screamed without thinking. "You're tainting it!" He finished the elixir. He lifted the Cup triumphantly.
"Finally, eternality is mine!" he shouted.
"No!" Victor shouted, appearing in the entryway of the cellar.
"Ah, Victor!" Rufus smiled slyly. "How lovely to see you." He glanced at the Cup with fake surprise. "Oh I'm so sorry." He shook the Cup up side down. "There's none left. Shame." He opened the furnace and threw the Cup into the flames.
"NO!" we all shouted.
"Why, Rufus? Why?" Victor asked. His voice was… devastated. "We could have shared all this, that was our plan!"
"No, that was your plan, Victor." Rufus shot back. "I always had other ideas. Big ideas that your pathetic little Society would never even dream of. And then, I found the true meaning behind the tipping of the scales." I paled. I had totally forgotten. One of us was going to die. I looked back at Sibuna. I couldn't lose any of them!
"Well I decided to go it alone!" Rufus continued. He looked at us. "Is anyone feeling… poorly?"
Alfie took a shaky breath. "Actually…" he started. "I feel a bit dizzy." He collapsed onto the floor.
"ALFIE!" I screamed. My eyes began to prickle with tears.
"What's happening?" Victor asked while Jerome and Amber knelt on the floor. Alfie was choking.
"The symbolic life force, it isn't symbolic, Victor!" Rufus explained. "It really happens! That boy is going to die, and I, I am going to live forever!" Victor rushed to Alfie's side. I screamed his name. Jerome shouted. Rufus left, running up the stairs.
"Alfie," Amber said.
"Guys, listen up." Fabian tried to say. I ran to them.
"Please help him, I'll do anything!" Amber pleaded to Victor.
"GUYS!" Fabian shouted.
"Anything?" Alfie repeated. "Like, be my girlfriend?"
"Yes, Alfie!" Amber told him, "Anything!"
"Alfie!" Fabian shouted, "You can stop play-acting now!"
"Fabian!" I said loudly, "You know someone dies when the Elixir is drunk from the Cup!"
"Except Rufus didn't drink the Elixir, did he." Fabian questioned me. We all stopped and looked at him.
"What?" Patricia asked.
"He's not immortal." Fabian said.
"He's not?" Victor repeated.
"No." Fabian said. "You know our little insurance policy? Having two identical bags, letting Joy look after the pieces?"
"Yeah?" Patricia said. Alfie got up, not dying anymore.
"I had an insurance policy of my own." Fabian explained. He made eye contact with me. "I remembered our fake elixir, I borrowed the spare cellar key from Victor's office, threw away the real elixir, and replaced it with the fake one."
"You threw it away?" Victor said in disbelief.
"You genius!" I cheered. "I love you!" I threw my arms around his neck, feeling the adrenaline fade but my heart beat just as fast. Victor got up and stumbled away. I almost wanted to help him. He seemed like a lost old man.
"So, does that mean Alfie isn't really dying?" Amber asked. Alfie stood up.
"Don't sound so disappointed." Alfie told her. "I actually did feel a bit ill for a second."
"Alfie!" I rolled my eyes.
"Alfie, I was really worried," Amber spoke to him. "And worrying causes wrinkles."
"The Chosen Hour has past." I said suddenly. I blinked twice. Where did that come from? Fabian glanced at his watch and nodded. "Don't… Don't we have a dance to go to?" Patricia smiled at me. Amber led the way out of the cellar.
Everything was over. The Cup was destroyed. There was no more Elixir. Everything was over. I felt a whoosh of relief wash over me.
I closed the cellar door behind me, being the last one out.
"I guess it's all over." Fabian told me. It was only us in the hallway. I hadn't even realized it.
"Yeah." I smiled. I laughed. He smiled at me, and held out his hand. I smiled even more and took it.
"Mary Ann," Sarah's voice echoed the hall as Fabian pulled me towards the door. I stopped. "It's not over!"
I exhaled. "Really? Should I have guessed it was too good to be true?"
"What?" Fabian whispered to me.
"Don't your hear it?" I asked him. Patricia opened the front door. I turned around to see the cellar door open again.
"Mary Ann," Sarah whispered, calling me.
"Mary Ann?" Fabian asked.
I turned back to him. "Go on ahead." I told him. I smiled and did a peace sign. "I've got something to finish up." I walked back into the cellar. Sarah's ghost… spirit… essence, whatever you want to call it, appeared behind the table once more.
"What's happening?" I asked. She smiled at me.
"Take the Cup." She instructed. She looked to the furnace. I walked over to it and opened the small door.
Sure enough, the Cup sat there, flames not even touching it. I picked it up and walked back to the table. I held it out to her. She reached out and touched the rim.
"Now the Cup has been restored," she said, "the curse can be lifted." She removed her hands from the cup. Two middle-aged adults joined her ghost. I had seen them before, in the living room. They were her parents: Louisa and Robert Frobisher-Smythe. "We can rest in peace. Take it. Hide it. Keep it safe." Her parents vanished.
"Sarah, I love you." I whispered. She vanished as well. I smiled down at the Cup, and then at the locket around my neck. I knew where to hide the Cup.
I can't tell you where I hid the Cup. Or how I hid it there. It would go against everything.
But I returned to the dance a few short minutes later. I found Fabian instantly and tapped him on the shoulder.
"My gosh, where were you?" he asked. "I've been so worried."
"I had something to do first." I told him.
"OK!" Amber's voice was loud over the music. I turned to see her standing on the stage. "Listen up, guys!" The music stopped. "So, I've decided it's time to announce our Prom King and Queen. We haven't actually had a chance to vote, so I get to choose." I rolled my eyes. Of course. "So without further ado, the Prom King is Fabian Rutter." Everyone started to clap and Fabian froze up. I clapped him on the back and pushed him towards the stage.
He gave a questioning look to Amber before sitting down. "And," she continued, "the Prom Queen is Mary Ann Norton." It was my turn to freeze up. Everyone clapped and cheered. Mara gave me a gently push.
"What?" I whispered to Amber before climbing onstage.
"Would it have killed you to brush your hair?" she complained instead.
I ran a hand through it, "Yeah, it would have." I replied knowingly. The music started to play again and I sat down. It felt weird to place the tiara on my head. Fabian looked adorable in a crown.
"Now, dance you two!" Amber ordered. "Dance!" As if on purpose, a slow song started to play. We got up awkwardly and Amber left the stage. Some people clapped.
I laughed and wrapped my arms around Fabian's neck. I held him closer than I probably should have, but he didn't push me away. He placed his hands on my hips. We swayed awkwardly.
"Well this is mortifying." I laughed.
"Yeah, very." Fabian chuckled. I blushed. "Mary Ann, you look–"
"Stupid," I interrupted out of self-consciousness. "Absurd, bizarre, I know."
"I was going to say beautiful." He told me softly. I blushed deeper. "So do you want to tell me what happened?"
I shook my head. "You just called me beautiful… you just did, right?" I double-checked.
"Yeah," he admitted. If it was even possible, I blushed even deeper. "So why did you go back down into the cellar?"
I shook my head again. "Shut up and kiss me already, Rutter." I leaned in and pressed my lips onto his. Something clicked. Sparks flew in my head. My brain melted and flowed into the rest of me. He kissed back.
He kissed back. He liked me like that. Ha! Take that, troubled part of my brain!
In just that split second, our lips moved in synchronization. Then the crowd cheered. I pulled back, having totally forgotten them. We both laughed. The song changed to a more upbeat tune. But we didn't care. We swayed to the unheard music.
I leaned in and we kissed again.