House of Identity:
A few hours later and Nina was back home. The residents waited for Trudy, Aaron and Amber and a moment later they came home. Aaron had a brace on his left leg and he was walking with crutches.
"And how is your leg?" Asked Caitlin.
"Luckily my leg is not broken, It's just badly bruised and I have to walk this brace around my leg and crutches for five weeks," said Aaron.
"You can also look at it from the positive side. You don't have to do chores for five weeks," said Alfie.
"Yes, that's the only positive thing, but it also means that I can't breakdance now," said Aaron.
"You gotta sue that jerk who hit you," said Patricia.
"Unfortunately I don't know who he is," said Aaron.
"My darlings, let's not talk about it anymore and I'll make something to eat," said Trudy.
After dinner the club went to Nina and Amber's room.
"Sara definitely recognized Victor. It was terrifying. She was so scared of him. She… she said he killed them," said Nina.
"Her parents?" Asked Fabian.
"Well I think that's who she meant. Because after that she started singing this lullaby and it all got very weird," said Nina.
"It's just too creepy to even think. Victor alive, when Sarah was a little girl," said Fabian.
"Yeah. Like it's not bad enough he's alive now," said Aaron.
"Did she mention anything about the elixir?" Asked Fabian.
"Not really. Just the same thing about tipping the 'scales of life'," said Nina.
"What does that mean?" Asked Amber.
"I've no idea," said Nina.
"Speaking of the elixir, we gotta discuss what to do with it," said Fabian.
"Yeah we can't let it fall into the wrong hands," said Nina.
"So we need to hide it," said Aaron.
"But where?" Asked Amber
"I know. Give it here," said Patricia.
Fabian handed over the elixir over to Patricia and she poured it into her bottle and put it in her school bag. The club thought this was the best solution for now. After the club meeting, everyone went to their own room.
The morning all the residents, except Mara, were having breakfast. Mick asked Patricia where Mara was and Patricia said Mara was still in bed. Patricia went to her room to see where Mara was. When Patricia entered her room she saw that Mara had hidden under her covers. Patricia pulled the covers off Mara.
"Mara you awake?" Asked Patricia.
"No," said Mara.
"You've missed breakfast, and Mick's waiting for you downstairs," said Patricia
"I don't want any breakfast. And Mick can wait all day for all I care," said Mara
"Are you feeling ill?" Asked Patricia.
"Sick. Sick of myself," said Mara.
"Wait a minute. Where has all this come from?" Asked Patricia.
"I'm boring!" Said Mara.
"Says who?" Asked Patricia.
"I am aren't I?" Asked Mara.
"No, you're great. End of story," said Patricia. "Has this anything to do with Mick?" She asked.
Mara didn't answer Patricia's question and she crawled back under her covers.
At the same time in Jerome and Alfie's room, Jerome, Otis and Alfie were throwing darts at a stuffed animal that had a piece of paper on it that read "Mr. Winkler." The three boys were angry.
"Winkler seriously needs to get a sense of humor. I mean, where is the reward for enterprise in this place?" Asked Jerome
"I know right," said Alfie.
"And now we're being used as scenery for the play. How humiliating," said Otis.
"Whose fault is it that we're in this mess?" Asked Jerome.
"Mine?" Asked Alfie.
"No," said Jerome.
"Mine?" Asked Otis.
"No," said Jerome.
"Yours?" Asked Otis and Alfie in unison.
"No," said Jerome.
"Then whose fault is it?" Asked Alfie.
"It's not our fault we're in this mess. It's the seventh graders duh! And they need to be punished," said Jerome.
"Yeah. And because Mr. Winkler made me erase the all footage of yesterday, we don't even have those auditions to laugh at. luckily I still have the video of our zombie prank," said Otis.
The words of Otis gave Jerome an idea.
"Wait a minute," said Jerome.
"Do I see a light bulb above your head?" Asked Alfie.
"Indeed you do Alfie, indeed you do," said Jerome.
"So what's your idea?" Asked Otis.
"It's time for return of the zombies," said Jerome.
"Yeah," said Otis and Alfie in unison.
An hour later, almost all residents were in the classroom. Suddenly all eyes looked at Mara who came in like a bad girl. The girls looked surprised and most of the boys jaws dropped. Otis quickly took his camera from his bag to capture it. Mara sat down next to Patricia.
"Whoa! Didn't you used to be Mara?" Asked Jerome.
"I did not see that coming," said Fiona.
"You didn't have to put all your make up on at once," said Patricia.
"I was in a rut. Time for a change," said Mara.
Mrs. Andrews came into the classroom and was a little shocked by Mara's new look, and she immediately noticed that Mara was chewing gum.
"Mara are you chewing gum?" Asked Mrs. Andrews.
"Yeah," said Mara.
"You of all people should know that chewing gum is not allowed in class. Get rid of it please," said Mrs. Andrews.
Mara took the gum out of her mouth and put it behind her ear. Everyone thought this was disgusting.
"Right, collecting homework assignments please,"" said Mrs. Andrews, while walking around collecting the students homework.
"Mara, Mara why didn't you show this morning? I waited and waited," said Mick.
"Mara?" Asked Mrs. Andrews
"Haven't done it," said Mara.
"What is going on here? "Asked Mrs. Andrews.
"Don't know what you mean. I just like, don't have it, or whatever," said Mara.
"Mara? Are you all right? You don't seem quite yourself," said Mrs. Andrews.
"Good. Success," said Mara.
"Okay, see me at lunchtime please," said Mrs. Andrews.
After Mrs. Andrews' class, the residents took drama lessons from Mr. Winkler. The residents were busy rehearsing the school play. Fabian and Jerome were on stage.
" 'Tutankhamen's burial chamber lies just through there'," said Fabian, reading from the script.
" 'I wonder what artifacts we will discover within'," said Jerome, reading from the script.
Mr. Winkler gave some pointers and Jerome and Fabian started to laugh. Mr. Winkler told them to stop.
"Guys? Remember what we said everyone. Constructive criticism. So, let's hear what you like about these first few scenes," said Mr. Winkler.
"Rough scenes. Really incredibly rough scenes," said Nina
"Well actually, It's a very accurate account of how Howard Carter and his team. First broke into Tutankhamen's burial chamber," said Fabian.
"Yeah, but it's a bit boring. Sorry Neens," said Amber.
"Shouldn't someone kiss someone?" suggested Caitlin.
"No better yet, or kill someone or something?" suggested Alfie.
"It can be a bit more dramatic," said Caitlin.
"Okay, how can we help Nina? Ideas anyone?" Asked Mr. Winkler.
"Girls in bikinis," said Jerome.
"Yes, that's what it need," said Otis.
"Right, I'm just gonna put that down as a general wardrobe note. Alfie, Caitlin, I think you said you wanted to see more action," said Mr. Winkler.
"And more of the stuff that Sarah told us," said Amber.
"Err who's Sarah?" Asked Mr. Winkler.
"Oh basically…," said Amber, but Fabian interrupted her.
"She's a woman who works part time at the museum," said Fabian.
"Yeah. Sarah. From the museum. She's a research assistant. And a tour guide. Red hair. Gemini, I think," said Nina.
"Okay and what sort of stuff are we talking about here?" Asked Mr. Winkler.
"Just things like plagues of locusts and stuff like that," said Fabian.
"Sounds interesting. Nina, why don't you go back to the museum and talk to this Sarah woman again?" Suggested Mr. Winkler.
"Yeah, sure. Sarah. From the museum," said Nina.
After Mr. Winkler's class, the club was at the lockers. Nina, Fabian, Patricia were not happy that Amber had mentioned Sarah's name, because she had to remain anonymous.
"Amber, I don't know what goes on inside your head," said Patricia.
"What did I do this time?!" Asked Amber. "I thought we'd agreed we were going to use Sarah's story to get a reaction from Victor," she said.
"We are. But we don't want people to know she's still alive. And living a mile down the road from here," said Nina.
"Especially people who might be suspected murderers," said Patricia.
"Oh sorry. I'll do better," said Amber.
"It's okay Amber and yeah, you're kind of right. We do need more of Sarah's stuff in the play," said Fabian
We just can't be too obvious about it," said Fabian.
"I think we have more pressing issues to sort out than the school play?" Said Patricia.
"The riddle! I haven't been to the library yet," said Fabian.
"I was thinking more about the elixir," said Patricia
"Yeah, I've been thinking about that, too," said Nina.
"And yet we have no answers," said Amber.
"Then for now let's keep it hidden in Patricia's bottle and focus on the riddle," said Aaron.
The club agreed with Aaron's idea.
After school, the residents were back in the house. Mick was in the hall and he was waiting for Mara. Mara entered the hall and headed for the stairs to go her room. Mara totally ignored Mick.
"Hey coach, when are we starting? In ten?" Asked Mick.
"Or never? Is never good for you?" asked Mara, sarcastically.
"Have I done something wrong?" Asked Mick.
"Actually. Yes. If you must know," said Mara.
"Sorry?" Asked Mick.
"I overheard you talking about me with Fiona and Caitlin," said Mara.
"Oh,' said Mick.
"You love training with me. You kissed me," said Mara.
"Look Mara I'm sorry. I shouldn't have kissed you. I feel guilty. Like I took advantage of your generosity in helping me out so much. You're sweet and thoughtful," said Mick.
"And that's all I'm sweet, thoughtful sensible and boring. I'm sick of it," said Mara.
'So that's why you've been acting all strange today?" Asked Mick.
"I thought it was time to stop being sensible, boring, predictable Mara," said Mara.
"I like the old Mara," said Mick.
"Because she can sort out your training program for you?" asked Mara.
"No! I like you a lot Mara," said Mick.
"But not enough to go out with me?" Asked Mara.
While Mara angrily went to her room. Jerome, Otis and Alfie were in Jerome and Alfie's room, changing in their zombie costumes. Alfie was searching for something.
"Time to terrorize the lower school dorm," said Jerome.
"And I'm going to capture it all," said Otis.
"I Can't find my zombie mask," said Alfie.
"That's fine, your face will do," joked Otis.
"Oh no," said Alfie
"What?" Asked Otis.
"I think I left it in the cellar," said Alfie.
Jerome and Otis were not happy about this. A moment later the three boys went outside. Jerome and Otis helped Alfie get into the cellar. Jerome and Otis lifted the gate while Alfie tried to get into the cellar.
"Hurry up! This thing is heavy," said Otis
"You've got to stop eating so many pies," said Jerome.
Alfie was in the cellar. Jerome and Otis dropped the gate. And suddenly Victor came from the corner.
"You boys. What do you think you're doing?" Asked Victor.
"Sir, we're were just getting into character," said Jerome.
"Yeah, we're method actors," said Otis.
"And I came to investigate, because I heard a banging. The cellar is out of bounds as well you know. Get in the house," ordered Victor.
Jerome and Otis went back into the house and reluctantly had to leave Alfie behind. Victor locked the gate. In the meantime, Alfie had found his zombie mask. Alfie wanted to leave, but he realized he was upset. Alfie thought Jerome and Otis were pranking him.
"Jerome? Otis? Hey guys this isn't funny. Open the window!" Begged Alfie.
Alfie thought that Jerome and Otis would come back for him later. The hours passed and it was bedtime. Victor started his 10'clock ritual.
"It's ten o'clock. You all know what that means, You have five minutes precisely and then I want to hear a pin drop," said Victor.
Victor saw that Jerome was trying to sneak out of his room. Victor send Jerome back to bed immediately.
Alfie was still in the cellar. Suddenly, Alfie heard the door open and thought it was Jerome and Otis. But then Alfie saw the shadows of hooded figures. Alfie quickly hid himself in a cupboard but keeped it open a little bit to see what is happening. In the background, a ritualistic chant is heard, while Alfie watched everything and being terrified.
