House of Authors:

Jerome was still in the cellar, kind of being held there again his will by Victor. Jerome thought he drank the truth serum.

"It will work in a minute," said Victor.

Victor walked away and left the cellar. Jerome got up and started pacing and panicking.

"Come on a lie, a lie. I'm in love with Mara, that's not a lie, that's the truth. I'm in love with Amber... that was easy. My father is not in prison. This stuff doesn't even work," said Jerome.

Jerome heard that Victor was coming back and sat down in his seat.

So and how are you feeling now?" Asked Victor.

"A little weird," said Jerome.

"What's your name?" Asked Victor.

"My full name is Jerome Leslie Clarke," said Jerome.

"Leslie?" Asked Victor.

"Uh-huh. In kindergarten I put a ringworm in the teacher's coat," said Jerome.

"Jerome," said Victor.

"When I was 7, my cousin had like thirty Barbie dolls," said Jerome.

"Stop it," said Victor

"Then with her mother's nail scissors, I cut all those from all those Barbie dolls hairs of, all thirty of them," said Jerome.

In the meantime. Joy lay in her bed and couldn't sleep.

"Patricia," said Joy.

"What?" Asked Patricia.

"Are you sleeping already?" Asked Joy.

"No, but I'm trying," said Patricia.

"I need to talk to you," said Joy.

"About what?" Asked Patricia.

"Otis," said Joy.

"I thought you wanted nothing more to do with him?" Asked Patricia.

"Please this is important," said Joy.

What is it?" Asked Patricia.

"Otis wants to quit the school paper and he even wants to go to another school," said Joy.

"Why does he wants to?" Asked Patricia.

"Because I said he is a four eyed loser, a creep with a camera and guy who thinks he is funny, but in reality is just a sad sack," said Joy.

"And you told him that straight to face?" Asked Patricia.

"No he heard me saying that to Mara," said Joy.

"Joy that was so mean of you to say that. And that's coming from a person that has said a lot of mean things," said Patricia.

"I know, I know and I shouldn't have said it," said Joy.

"Then why did you do it?" Asked Patricia.

"Because I was angry," said Joy.

"I know you're mad at Otis," said Patricia.

"But I'm not mad at Otis, well at least not anymore, but I'm still mad at myself," said Joy.

"Why?" Asked Patricia.

"I don't even know that myself," said Joy.

"Do you want to know what I think?" Asked Patricia.

"What?" Asked Joy.

"That the reason you exaggerated was because you actually secretly like Otis," said Patricia.

"Maybe," said Joy.

"Well maybe you should do something about it before it's too late," said Patricia.

Patricia went back to sleep. Joy started to think, does she maybe have feelings for Otis too?

A few moments later. Jerome was still in the cellar. Victor was slowly dozing off.

"When I was 12, no 13, no 12 I crawled into my mother's car, I took the handbrake off and it rolled back like that. I jumped out and slid it slowly into the pond," said Jerome.

Victor dozed off. Jerome saw this as his chance to get away. But first he had to make sure Victor was really asleep.

"And the car landed on top of Corbierre and crushed him," said Jerome.

Victor did not respond. Jerome got up and left the cellar.

The next morning the residents were already in school. Victor was busy in the kitchen when Vera came in.

"Hello Victor," said Vera.

"Vera what can I do for you?" Asked Victor.

"You can do something for the gas company mechanic," said Vera

Vera handed Victor the bill. Victor looked at the amount and looked shocked.

"3000 pounds," said Victor.

"Apparently he used some really expensive stuff. And he won't leave until he gets a deposit," said Vera.

"The criminal," said Victor.

Victor took his wallet and took out some money.

"400 pounds with that he will have to do it. I'll go to the bank tomorrow," said Victor.

"What a miserable situation you're in," said Vera.

Victor left the kitchen and went to his office. Victor was just sitting down when the phone rang. Victor answered the phone.

"Victor Rodenmaar," said Victor.

"I hope you got the message, I'm not bluffing," said Raven.

"Well because of this nonsense I've no time for other things," said Victor.

"I advise you to make time anyway. This isn't all I can do, I can make your life much harder," said Raven.

"What now! Leakage in the middle of the night, vermin running through the house. I've had more than enough of your threats, I've already done more than enough for you," said Victor.

"Victor, Victor, Victor, I really thought you were smarter than this, you leave me no choice but to resort to more drastic measures," said Raven.

Raven hung up the phone. A few seconds later, Jerome entered the history classroom.

"Jerome I hope you've good news for me," said Mr. Griffin.

"I found the secret room," said Jerome.

"Really? Where is it?" Asked Mr. Griffin.

"In the cellar, you can open it by saying some kind of password," said Jerome.

"And what did you see in the secret room?" Asked Mr. Griffin.

"A wall with some drawings on it," said Jerome.

"What kind of drawings?" Asked Mr. Griffin.

"Hieroglyphics I believe," said Jerome.

"Do you've photos?" Asked Mr. Griffin.

"No," said Jerome.

"Go back to the secret room and take pictures of the wall," ordered Mr. Griffin.

"And then?" Asked Jerome.

"Then you give those pictures to me," said Mr. Griffin.

"Okay," said Jerome.

"Good work Jerome," said Mr. Griffin

Jerome left the history classroom.

In the meantime, the club was in the drama room.

"How is it going with collecting the ingredients?" Asked Fabian.

"I've the salt," said Patricia.

"The sodium chloride," said Fabian.

"How did you get that?" Asked Alfie.

"When no one was in the chemistry classroom, I took it," said Patricia.

"We've got 1, 5 more to go," said Alfie

"I'm going to look online this afternoon for the flower oil," said Aaron.

"Okay," said Fabian.

"I'll get to it later, I'd like to visit gran first," said Nina.

"All right, Nina, go visit your grandmother," said Fabian.

Later that day. Joy and Otis sat in the room with Wallace Grey for the interview.

"How was your time in high school?" Asked Joy.

"What does that have to do with my book?" Asked Wallace Grey.

"Nothing really," said Joy.

"Have you done your research or is that an amateur magazine?" Asked Wallace Grey.

"Okay about your books then, how would you describe your writing style?" Asked Joy.

At the same time, Otis snapped a photo of Wallace Grey.

"I'd like to see it before you publish it," said Wallace Grey.

"It's just for the school newspaper," said Otis.

I don't appreciate your attitude young man," said Wallace Grey.

"And I don't appreciate yours," said Otis.

"Okay let's continue with the interview," said Joy.

"Let's," said Wallace Grey.

"Do you've any other hobbies besides writing?" Asked Joy.

"Writing is my job, not a hobby. Have you read anything from me at all? Do you even know how to read?" Asked Wallace Grey.

"She's too intelligent for that. At least she has her own style," said Otis.

"How so? Are you saying I don't have a style of my own?" Asked Wallace Grey.

"Well those good ideas of yours, you stole those from other writers, so you're nothing more than an idea stealing dingus," said Otis.

Otis snapped a photo of Wallace Grey's shocked face. Joy struggled to hold back her laugh.

"I've had enough of life, of this phase, of this image," said Wallace Grey.

"Excuse me?" Asked Joy.

"I hide behind a facade, a sign of deception. This is not who I'm, they made me how I've be, do you understand? I live by their rules, but this is the last time, I'm not doing this any longer, not a day longer, I'm done with them," said Wallace Grey.

Wallace Grey stood up and walked over to Otis and gave him a hug.

"Thanks young man, you gave me a torch when the tunnel was at its darkest," said Wallace Grey.

"No problem," said Otis.

"I'm gonna change it all, I'm gonna do what I've always dreamed of," said Wallace Grey.

"Very nice, would you perhaps let me go now," said Otis.

"I'm going to be a cheese maker in France," said Wallace Grey, as he let go of Otis.

Wallace Grey left the room and Joy and Otis burst out into laughter.

"I think I drove him crazy," said Otis.

"I think so too. What kind of man was this?" Asked Joy.

"Oh those pictures," said Otis, as he looked at the pictures he took

"Let me see," said Joy.

Otis showed Joy the pictures and they laughed. Otis soon stopped laughing and started packing his things. Joy wanted to say something else, but Otis walked out of the room.

In the meantime, Nina was in the hospital to visit her grandmother.

"Hi gran," said Nina, as she entered her grandmother's room.

Nina sat down next to her grandmother's bed.

"Gran you've to hold on a little longer, don't give up now. We're already very far with the riddles on the wall and that means that Tutankhamun and Amneris will be together again soon. And then you'll get well soon," said Nina.

At the same time, Dr. Newman came walking in.

"Hello Nina," said Dr. Newman.

"Hey," said Nina.

"How are you?" Asked Dr. Newman.

"I'm doing fine, I'm feeling a whole lot better," said Nina.

"Can I talk to you?" Asked Dr. Newman.

"Yes," said Nina.

Nina got up and walked over to Dr. Newman.

"Over the past few days, your grandmother has been getting worse and worse. The neurological damage is more serious than we thought. The central nervous system is affected, the brain activity is less and less. She may soon have to be on a ventilator," said Dr. Newman.

"What does that mean?" Asked Nina.

"That means we've to keep her alive artificially," said Dr. Newman.

Nina couldn't believe what she just heard.

"Is there still family somewhere?" Asked Dr. Newman.

"No, it's just the two of us," said Nina.

"Listen Nina, the chances of your grandmother recovering are very slim. I'm afraid she won't make it to the end of the month, said Dr. Newman.

Nina walked over to Grandma and said nothing to the doctor. Nina started to cry, fearing that she was going to lose her grandmother.

In the meantime. Otis was in the computer lab, putting the pictures on the computer.

"Hi," said Joy.

"Hey," said Otis.

Why did you walked away?" Asked Joy.

"I had to upload these photos," said Otis.

"You can do that tomorrow, right?" Asked Joy.

"Today was my last day, I'm quitting the school paper," said Otis.

"I know that Mara told me. And she also told me that you were also thinking of transferring schools," said Joy.

"Yep," said Otis.

"Did you call your parents already about that?" Asked Joy.

"No, not yet," said Otis.

"Are you mad at me?" Asked Joy.

"Why should I be mad at you?" Asked Otis.

"I know you heard what I said to Mara and I'm sorry. I'm sorry I said it and I'm sorry you heard. But...," said Joy.

"But what?" Asked Otis.

"But I didn't mean it that way. And I'd be really sad if that's the reason why you're leaving, said Joy.

Otis said nothing and started to walk out of the computer lab.

"Otis," said Joy.

"What?" Asked Otis, as he stopped walking.

"I said that I didn't mean it," said Joy.

"I wrote in those letters what I feel for you, What do you really feel for me?" Asked Otis.

"I...," said Joy.

"Bye Joy," said Otis.

"Otis wait," said Joy.

"Joy..," said Otis, but Joy interrupted him.

"I really like you," said Joy.

"What?" Asked Otis.

"I know, I can't believe it either. But when I think that you won't be here anymore, it makes me very sad. And because that makes me so sad, I think maybe I'm in love with you," said Otis.

Otis said nothing, just a look of surprise on his face.

"I don't know if it's enough to keep you here, but I was actually hoping you'd give us a chance to find out," said Joy.

"Really?" Asked Otis.

"Yes," said Joy.

Otis got a big smile on his face. Joy and Otis's faces got closer and they kissed.

At the same time. Amber and Aaron were home and in Amber's room. The Millington twins were looking for the ingredients online.

"Have you found anything yet?" Asked Amber.

"No, not yet," said Aaron.

"Aaron can you give my scarf to me?" Asked Amber.

"Yes," said Aaron.

Aaron grabbed the scarf from Amber, but then he felt something and it hurt his finger.

"Ouch," said Aaron.

"What is it?" Asked Amber.

"I cut my finger on something," said Aaron.

"How did you cut yourself?" Asked Amber

"Something that's in your scarf," said Aaron.

"My scarf?" Asked Amber.

"Yes," said Aaron.

Aaron looked at the scarf and then saw the microphone. Aaron took the microphone out of the scarf.

"What is that?" Asked Amber.

"A microphone," said Aaron.

"For singing or something?" Asked Amber.

"No, to eavesdrop," said Aaron.

"What?" Asked Amber.

"This is a bug. Someone bugged us," said Aaron.

But what Amber and Aaron didn't know was that it was Jerome who was eavesdropping on them. Will the club find out that Jerome was behind it.