.Of all the Spooks…
The living room was empty when Isabel walked into it. Only John was sitting on the sofa, picking at his nails and humming a song.
"Hi, John," said Isabel awkwardly.
He didn't turn around. Isabel didn't really blame him after all the screaming she had done when he knocked on her door and thrust her the paper heart. But after all, he's married. She should be the one thrusting paper hearts, not him.
"Uh, where's everybody?" she asked.
The humming stopped and John started to pick at his toenails. Isabel tried not to puke as she realized what he was really doing.
"You really want to know?" he asked.
"Uh, yeah. Sure. You know where they are?" Isabel said, already backing out into the hallway.
John McCauley turned around – his face was replaced by a sickening green slimy color and tiny rivulets of blood trickled down his chin. He smiled, showing his yellowed patched teeth and his eyes were only tiny slits…under that horrifying mask as she pulled it off.
"Got ya!" he grinned. "I found this mask in the attic. Thought it'll be cool to try it out on somebody."
Isabel let out a breath she didn't knew she was holding. "You are sick," she spat. He was lucky she didn't blast him out of this house.
His grin subsided. "Come on, Iz…"
"Isabel," said Isabel automatically. "No one calls me Iz other than my close friends."
He frowned. "After 6 days together, we are not?"
"NO," replied Isabel and stomped out of the living room. She halted. There was one more thing she had to do. She marched back into the room, much to John's amusement. That was of course before she grabbed the mask, opened the front door, at the same time alerting the TV crew out there who thought she was quitting, and then throwing it out of the door. She slammed the door shut, the same time the mask hit one of the cameras, its fake blood smearing across the glass.
"Did you have to do that?" asked John, scowling.
"Yes. For the 8 other innocent people's sake in this house that will become subject to your "wonderful" joke," said Isabel and walked out, head high.
John shook his head.
Isabel walked totally in blind fury. In all her sweet 17 years, no one ever dared to scare her like that. She was too high up to be scared like that; except for that idiot boy who scared her out of her wits during Halloween when she was 12. Well, that boy had regretted scaring her so much because Isabel had made sure that he'd regret it for as long as he lived his pathetic life out. But her plan hadn't carried out well, because that boy was Mr. Michael Guerin and alien power vs. alien power never worked much.
"Iz?"
"Isabel!" she shot back.
"Whoa," Michael held out his hands. "Sorry, girl."
"Oh. Michael. It's you," she said.
"Who did you think I was?" he asked.
"I'll rather not go through these details."
"Come on."
"Ok, he scared me with a pathetic, horrid, green, slimy mask," she offered.
Michael raised his eyebrows.
"Really? What did you do?"
"I grabbed it and tossed it out of the door."
"Cool."
Isabel paused. "How do you know who do I mean?"
"Who dares scare you? It's only us and McCauley."
"Yeah, you're right. But Alex could do that too," protested Isabel, not liking it to be so obvious.
"He wouldn't. He loves you too much," Michael grinned. "Besides, you'll give him hell if he does that."
"I don't," Isabel snapped.
"Hey," said Michael. "Tell you what. We drop it. Let's go to the kitchen and whip up a real alien delight."
"With plenty of Tabasco Sauce?" asked Isabel already heading down.
"With chocolate syrup and deep fried grounded papaya."
"You are stuck with it, Guerin."
"Be my guest."
*****
"It was there. I tell you, it was right there!" Kyle was becoming more hysterical by the second.
"Well, it's not," said Liz trying to be reasonable. "Why would a bar of soap be there?"
"On top of the TV," added Maria.
"Besides, everybody uses liquid soap," said Max.
"It's Lady Michele's bar of soap." Tess grinned cheekily.
"Tess!" Liz cried.
"Sorreee," said Tess.
"No, she's right! Lady Michele's haunting this place!!!"
"Oh please, Kyle," said Maria. "We are not sure whether they had soap or not in those days."
"Sure they had soap!"
"How do you know that?" Max challenged.
"Because I know!" wailed Kyle.
"Look. Tess did it." Said Liz.
"What?!" said Tess indignantly.
"She can make people see things that are not there," said Liz to Kyle who was starting to look much better.
"What – I didn't – how – this is ridiculous," said Tess crossly.
"Just shut up, Harding," whispered Maria.
"While you accuse me?" said Tess angrily.
"What's the problem?" asked Alex.
"Soap business," said Max. "Kyle sees soap, Kyle thinks nonsense, Kyle goes hysterical."
"What soap?"
"A bar of "Lux" soap," said Max.
"There was no brand," growled Kyle.
"Is it this?" Alex retrieved a bar of soap from behind the TV.
"Yes!" said Kyle.
"But – but this is mine!" said Alex. "Where'd you steal it from?"
"You use a bar of soap?" asked Tess.
"A crime?" snapped Alex.
"Cut it out, big guys," mumbled Maria. "Who cares where the bar of soap is supposed to be? As long Mr. Valenti is convinced that that bar of soap belongs to a flesh-and-blood owner."
"I put this right on my table. How did it come down here?" Alex narrowed his eyes. "I hope this is not your idea of a practical joke."
"Alex!" said Liz, offended. "Who wants to play with your bar of soap?"
"Hey, nice smell," John entered and plucked the soap from Alex's hand. He sniffed it. "Can I take it? Thanks."
He walked out of the room.
"Hey, hey!" Alex ran after him.
"I'm gonna read the newspaper," said Liz starting towards the door.
"Save it. It's full of soccer scores," answered Maria.
Kyle gave a howl.
"What?"
"Don't mention soccer. I mean it!" he yelled.
"Guess what, it's England against Argentina," Michael poked his head in, munching a burger that was dripping with Tabasco Sauce and chocolate sprinkles. "Do you think they'll have a …"
"Guerin!" snapped Kyle.
"Ok, ok," said Michael. "I'll make you one!"
"I don't want your disgusting burger," yelled Kyle. "I'm outta here."
"Kyle!" said Maria. "It's only one more day!"
"That's it. You get the money, then you come and divide it tomorrow."
"That's cheating," said Maria.
"I want to watch soccer," growled Kyle.
"You can tomorrow," pleaded Maria.
"There is no reruns," Kyle said.
"Michael can make you one," said Maria quickly.
"What? Since when…"
"Just use your powers!"
"There is no such thing as that!"
"Can't you just…make time turn back?"
"I'm not Sabrina the Teenage Witch."
"Sabrina can't turn back time. She has too…"
"Shut up, Kyle."
"That's crap! And what are you winking at me for?"
"Michael Guerin!"
"She's trying to tell you to bluff, idiot."
"Tess!"
"Bye. Guys."
"What's the deal about soccer?"
"Ask him!"
"Who?"
"Mr. Kyle Valenti!"
A ray of sunlight interrupted the heated argument between Michael and Maria.
"Kyle! No!"
Kyle lifted his foot, ready to step out and step quit.
"Kyle! Don't move!" yelled Tess.
Maria dashed to the door with the speed of lighting, leaving Michael's jaw to drop into a perfect O. She slammed the door and faced Kyle. "Over my dead body!"
Kyle lifted his finger.
"Oh please," Maria rolled her eyes. "Who are you? Sabrina Spellman? I…"
"No, just Kyle Valenti and the Finger," said Kyle and dug his fingers into Maria's side.
"KYLE VALENTI!!"
The sound of whirring cameras in action caught their attention.
"Oh, great," said Liz.
"It's not that," said Alex returning with his bar of soap tucked nicely under his arm. "It's afternoon."
"Oh."
"Good afternoon, folks!" the door opened sending Maria sprawling into Kyle.
"Oops, have I interrupted something?" asked Duncan.
"Nothing, nothing," said Maria getting up and dusting her clothes quickly.
"Never before we had such brave contestants. Usually after 6 days, at least 10 will quit leaving 2. And that 2 will answer questions – winner will get the prize."
"So?"
"We are going ask all of you, 2 general knowledge questions."
"Do it fast!" growled Kyle.
"Chill, boy." Said Duncan. He flipped open a notebook and started tearing out pieces of paper. Our last vote for the week."
They grabbed it from him and wrote furiously. Duncan collected the slips giving each of them a funny look.
"You'll get five points for each question answered, combined with the votes."
John got up.
"First of all," said Duncan. "McCauley here is actually a mole for us, setting all the haunted effects here. This house is not haunted of course."
"Hey!" said everyone.
"Quiz time," cut it Duncan.
They took their places.
"First, DeLuca."
"Here!" said Maria enthusiastically.
"Pick a topic."
A fishbowl was held under her nose and Maria picked one out.
"Soccer."
"No!" wailed Maria.
"England's goalkeeper."
"Uh…David Beckham? Michael Owen?"
"NO!!" howled Kyle.
"Please be quiet, Mr. Valenti. It'll be your turn soon."
"Sorry, Miss DeLuca. It's David Seaman."
"I got the David right!"
"Sorry. Who won the World Cup in the Year 1994?"
"Uh…America?"
"Miss Evans."
Topic: Fishes
"Guppy fish is named Guppy because…"
"They like to gulp?"
"How many teeth does the white shark have?"
"Pass."
"Mr. Evans."
Topic: Complete these sentences.
"An apple a week…"
"What?"
"An apple a day, sorry."
"Keeps the doctor away?"
"No fair! It's so easy!"
"Be quiet, Miss Maria DeLuca."