House of Countdowns:
The club was still in Nina and Amber's room, looking at the mirror with a big nine on it.
"What the..., said Aaron.
"How is that possible? Asked Ambe.
The club looked at Fabian.
"Yeah, I don't have an answer for everything, said Fabian.
"Something's gonna happen tonight, said Nina.
"And we've got 9 hours to figure out what that is," said Fabian.
Then the nine changed to an eight.
"8," said Amber.
The club looked at the mirror again.
"Okay, I'll continue to decipher the hieroglyphics. Maybe something will come of it," said Fabian.
"I'm coming with you," said Aaron.
Fabian and Aaron left the room and went to Fabian's room. Patricia and Alfie also left the room.
In the meantime at school. Otis sat in the drama room and drank a glass of water. Otis could only think of Jeremiah's threat. Eddie walked into the room. Because of the whole tiara situation, Otis hadn't thought about Joy anymore. Eddie sat down with Otis.
"And?" Asked Otis.
"I've really tried everything," said Eddie.
"What did she say?" Asked Otis.
"She said a lot of things about you and I think it's better if I don't repeat those words," said Eddie
"I get it already, so not good," said Otis.
"Sorry dude," said Eddie.
Otis looked disappointedly at his glass of water.
"Don't worry, you'll be fine. Joy just has time to cool down," said Eddie.
"I hope so," said Otis.
"Where's Miss England?" Asked Eddie.
"She went home," said Otis.
"She went home? I still need finish my interview," said Eddie.
"That Jeremiah guy came in and saw that tiara," said Otis.
"Oh man that tiara. Was Jeremiah angry?" Asked Eddie.
"You can certainly say that," said Otis.
"What did he say?" Asked Eddie.
Otis thought back to Jeremiah's threat and what would happen if he told anyone.
"The tiara is insured, so that's no problem," lied Otis.
"But why did he took Miss Engeland away then? Asked Eddie.
"Because Jeremiah was just really mad about that tiara," said Otis.
"Oh man. How can you be so clumsy?" Asked Eddie.
"I didn't do it on purpose," said Otis
"What good is that to me. Now I can forget my interview with the most beautiful woman in England," said Eddie.
"Sorry," said Otis.
"I should have taken Jeremiah's photographer," said Eddie.
"Sorry," said Otis.
"You've said that twice now and it doesn't help me now," said Eddie.
Eddie grabbed his things and stormed out of the drama room angrily.
Back at the house. Victor Jr. was in the cellar working on his chemistry set. Victor Jr. picked up a vial of explosives and almost poured it into the beaker.
"Stop, or you'll blow up the whole house!" Shouted Victor sr.
"Father?" Asked Victor jr.
"Fortunately, there is nothing wrong with your ears," said Victor sr.
Victor Jr got up and walked over to the mirror.
"Sorry father," said Victor jr.
"You look so much like your mother," said Victor sr.
"It failed with the wall. I've failed," said Victor jr.
"I didn't expect anything else from you," said Victor sr.
"But I've tried everything father," said Victor jr.
"Yeah right," said Victor sr, sarcastically.
"I burned my eyes," said Victor jr.
"Are we going to cry? W've many important things to do," said Victor sr.
"My eyes," complained Victor jr.
"That's a small sacrifice, for what awaits us at midnight," said Victor sr.
"Midnight?" Asked Victor jr.
"The prophecy will come true and time is ticking," said Victor sr.
A few moments later in the school. Otis was busy cleaning up the drama room. Otis heard footsteps coming his way.
"Who is there?" Asked Otis.
"Otis what are you doing here so late?" Asked Ms. Delaney, as she entered the drama room.
"I still had to clean up the set", said Otis.
"On your own? I thought you did that with Eddie," said Ms. Delaney.
"He had to go," said Otis.
"Is everything okay?" Asked Ms. Delaney.
"Yeah, fine," said Otis.
"Sure? If there's anything you can tell me," said Ms. Delaney.
"I had a long day," said Otis.
"Otis you know that as a confidant, I won't tell anyone what you tell me," said Ms. Delany.
"Like I said, long day and I'm just a little tired," said Otis.
"Then go home," said Ms. Delaney.
"I'm almost done and then I'll go home," said Otis.
"Okay then, but just know that you can come to me with anything that's bothering you, said Ms. Delaney.
"Thank you Ms Delaney," said Otis.
Ms. Delaney left the drama room and Otis continued cleaning up the set.
In the meantime in the house. Joy had told Patricia about what she had seen.
"Really in front of my face, it was so gross," said Joy.
"I don't know, do you really think Miss England is attracted to Otis? I mean in the updates you sent me every half hour it seemed more like she was attracted to Eddie, said Patricia.
"I've seen it with my own eyes, the tramp," said Joy.
"Miss England?" Asked Patricia.
"No Otis, both," said Joy.
"Otis will never cheat on you. It must be a misunderstanding," said Patricia.
"But a misunderstanding that is etched in my memory," said Joy.
Joy started to cry and Patricia gave Joy a hug to comfort her.
At the same time in Nina and Amber's room. The 8 on the mirror had changed to a 7.
"Look," said Amber.
"We only got 7 hours left," said Nina.
"Why does time suddenly go so fast? What do you think will happen tonight?" Asked Amber.
"I don't know," said Nina.
"Oh I can't stand this," said Amber.
"Me neither," said Nina.
"I hope so that Fabian with his brain comes up with a miracle, said Amber.
"Maybe Sarah can help us, said Nina.
"How? Asked Amber.
"We need to seek contact with her, said Nina.
"And how do you want to do that? Asked Amber.
A few moments later. Otis was on his way home. Otis had cried and wiped his tears. Otis accidentally bumped his hand against his glasses and they fell off. Otis wanted to pick up his glasses, but Jeremiah picked up his glasses first.
"Hello Otis," said Jeremiah.
"Jeremiah," said Otis.
"Aren't you happy to see me?" Asked Jeremiah.
"I can't really see all that well without my glass actualy," said Otis.
"Are we being funny?" Asked Jeremiah.
"No, no, I'm sorry," said Otis.
"Good," said Jeremiah.
"What are you doing here?" Asked Otis.
"I'm here to remind you of the 10,000 pound I'm getting from you tomorrow," said Jeremiah.
"Tomorrow? You said next week," said Otis.
"I'd rather have tomorrow," said Jeremiah.
"I don't just have 10000 pound like that," said Otis.
"That's a pity then," said Jeremiah.
"Give me a week okay?" Asked Otis.
"You know how it's going to feel when I break all your bones," said Jeremiah.
"Please? I'll get it in a week," said Otis.
"Okay I'll give you week and not a second longer," said Jeremiah.
"Okay, yeah," said Otis
"Here alone and make sure you're here," said Jeremiah.
"Yes," said Otis.
Jeremiah tossed Otis his glasses and walked away. Otis put his glasses back on and now had to figure out a way to collect 10,000 pound in a week.
In the meantime. Nina lay on her bed with her eyes closed, hoping to make contact with Sarah. Suddenly Nina heard the music from Amber's music box.
"Sorry," said Amber.
Amber closed the music box and put it away. Nina took a deep breath and closed her eyes again. Suddenly Alfie burst into the room.
"How much time do we've left?" Asked Alfie
"Shut up now, Nina is trying to contact Sarah," said Amber.
Alfie was quiet. Nina closed her eyes again and tried to make contact with Sarah again.
"She kinda looks like Snow White," joked Alfie.
"Maybe we should get Fabian to kiss her awake," joked Amber.
"No, Prince Fabian is far too busy with hieroglyphics," said Alfie.
Amber and Alfie started laughing. Nina opened her eyes and sat straight up in bed.
"This isn't going to work like this," said Nina.
"Sorry. Would you like us to leave?" Asked Alfie.
"No, it isn't you guys. I'm way too tense to sleep," said Nina.
"Maybe you should try Trudy's sleep tea," suggeted Amber.
"Or a hammer, then you'll be knocked out right away," said Alfie.
"Alfie that's one of the stupidest ideas you ever had," said Amber.
"In either case I won't be awake until midnight," said Nina.
Then Nina, Amber and Alfie saw that the 7 had changed to a 6.
"Fabian is our only hope," said Nina.
Back in the cellar. Victor Jr was still standing in front of the mirror, waiting for his father to tell his plan.
"Why don't you say anything? What will happen at midnight?" Asked Victor jr.
"You will see," said Victor sr.
"But I can't see anything," said Victor jr.
"Just make sure you're here in the cellar before midnight," said Victor sr.
"It's going to happen here? Then I must quickly lock those children in their rooms, said Victor jr.
"You don't lock any one those kids up," said Victor sr.
"But you've no idea, father, that rascals cannot be trusted. They're always up to something. Before you know it they'll be here in the cellar," said Victor jr.
"That is also the intention. You're still a big moron than I thought", said Victor sr.
"But father, those children," said Victor jr.
"Those kids are going to do the dirty work for us and we're going to reap the rewards," said Victor sr.
"How?" Asked Victor jr.
"By listening to me," said Victor sr.
"What should I do father?" Asked Victor jr.
"All you've to do is stay here and wait for me to call you. Do you think you can remember that?" Asked Victor sr.
"Yes father," said Victor jr.
"Good," said Victor sr.
"But what exactly is going to happen?" Asked Victor jr.
But before Victor Jr got an answer, Victor Sr disappeared.
"Father?" Asked Victor jr.
Victor Jr tried to seek contact with his father and didn't realize his brew was overflowing.
In the meantime in Fabian's room. Fabian was deciphering the hieroglyphics, but it wasn't easy. Aaron had the necklaces in his hands.
What do you think we should do with this?" Asked Aaron.
"I really have no idea," said Fabian.
"These are very strange necklaces," said Aaron.
"They are amulets," said Fabian.
"What are amulets?" Asked Aaron.
"Yes, amulets were used for protection in ancient times," said Fabian.
Suddenly Fabian and Aaron heard footsteps approaching them. The boys quickly hid the chest and its contents under Fabian's bed. Eddie entered the room angrily and threw his bag on the floor.
"Hey," said Eddie, angerly.
"Hello," said Fabian.
"Is everything okay?" Asked Aaron.
"I was so close, so close to get an interview with the most beautiful woman in England," said Eddie.
"What happened?" Asked Fabian
"Otis, in all his stupidity, sat down on a tiara and broke it. Miss England gone. Interview gone," said Eddie.
Suddenly there was an explosion. Fabian, Aaron and Eddie walked out of the room and into the hallway. The hallway was filling up with smoke.
"What was that?" Asked Trudy.
"That sounded like an explosion," said Fabian.
"I think it came from the cellar," said Aaron.
"Where's Victor?" Asked Trudy.
The other residents also came to the hallway, because of the explosion. Trudy banged on the cellar door. The club did not want the rest of the residents to go to down the cellar and that they will discover the secret room.
"I'm going down there," said trudy.
"No, we aren't allowed to go in there from Victor," said Alfie.
"Victor's cellar is off limits," said Jerome
"They're right, he'll go crazy when we get in there," said Fabian.
"I don't care and Jerome and Alfie go with me and the rest stay here," said Trudy.
Trudy got the cellar door open and she, Jerome and Alfie went downstairs. The whole cellar was filled with smoke.
"Victor!" Yelled Trudy.
Trudy, Jerome and Alfie went looking for Victor Jr. but they could barely see because of the smoke and they also had trouble breathing.
"I think an experiment went very wrong in here," said Alfie.
"Let's hope this isn't poisonous," said Jerome.
"He's hurt, I can feel it," said Trudy.
Trudy started to cough from the smoke and had more and more trouble breathing. Suddenly someone grabbed Trudy by the shoulder and she started screaming.
What happened in the cellar? Where is Victor Jr.? And who's the one who grabbed Trudy by the shoulder?
