House of Pendulums:

Aaron and Alfie were hiding behind the couch, keeping quiet. Victor Jr. had woken up.

"My amulet where is my amulet?" Asked Victor jr.

"What is it? Asked Mr. Sweet, as he had woken up because of Victor jr.'s yelling.

"My amulet! Those rascals have my amulet!" Yelled Victor jr.

"You're still far too weak to get up," said Mr. Sweet.

"You don't understand! They have my amulet,' said Victor jr.

Aaron saw the amulet lying on the ground and wanted to grab it, but Alfie stopped him. Aaron looked at Alfie and Alfie opened his hand and showed the amulet. Aaron pointed to the amulet in Alfie's hand and Alfie nodded his head.

"You go to sleep and I will look for your amulet," said Mr. Sweet.

Victor Jr. lay down again and Mr. Sweet looked around and saw the fake amulet lying next to his foot. Mr. Sweet picked up the amulet.

"Here you go," said Mr. Sweet, as he gave the amulet to Victor jr.

"They failed," said Victor jr.

"Now go to sleep," said Mr. Sweet.

Victor Jr. fell asleep again and Mr. Sweet sat back in the chair and closed his eyes. Aaron and Alfie gently left the living room and headed toward their own rooms.

The next morning. Trudy was back and had made breakfast for the residents and Mr. Sweet who was eating breakfast with the residents.

"Here you go Mr. Sweet," said Trudy, as she gave Mr. Sweet a cup of coffee.

"Thank you Trudy," said Mr. Sweet.

Mr. Sweet took a sip of his coffee and then stretched his neck.

"Didn't sleep all too well Mr. Sweet?" Asked Otis.

"These chairs are not all that comfy. This was quite a physical ordeal," said Mr. Sweet.

"Maybe you should start exercising more," suggested Mara.

"Exercise? As you know, I'm a man of science," said Mr. Sweet.

"So you don't play any sports?" Asked Mara.

"I do fish," said Mr. Sweet.

"Fish?" Asked Mara.

"Fishing? But that's not a sport," said Jerome.

"Not a sport? Said Mr. Sweet," feeling offend.

"Oh, no, Dad, please don't," said Eddie.

"Fishing is an absolute top sport. It takes a lot out of you mentally as well as physically," said Mr. Sweet.

Some of the residents began to laugh softly. Eddie just looked at his breakfast and felt embarrassed.

"And do you still fish?" Asked Otis.

"Not as often as I'd like anymore. But that's about to change," said Mr. Sweet.

"Oh yeah?" Asked Mara.

"Yeah, I took the day off tomorrow, so I'm going to my cabin in the woods after school and go fishing by the lake," said Mr. Sweet.

The residents started laughing again and Eddie put his hand to his face and shook his head.

In the meantime. Victor Jr. had sneaked off to the cellar. Victor jr. walked towards the mirror and he sighed deeply.

"Father, I'm here," said Victor jr.

"Those rascals have outsmarted you again, you good-for-nothing," said Victor sr.

"I've been lying on the sofa all day, doing nothing," said Victor jr.

"That's your problem, you never do anything, you were robbed," said Victor sr.

"Robbed? You mean the amulet? Father, this time you're wrong.. I was almost robbed, but this time I outsmarted them," said Victor jr. as he showed the amulet.

"Don't be so naive Victor, that amulet is fake," said Victor sr.

"Fake?" Asked Victor jr.

Victor Jr. looked at the amulet and was shocked to find out that his father was right.

"My own fake amulet," said Victor jr. "But how is that even possible?"

"That possible because you are such a fool! Because of you, we can no longer control those scum," said Victor sr.

"But what are we supposed to do now?" Asked Victor jr.

"Shut the place down! No matter what happens, no one is going to enter the cellar," said Victor sr.


A few hours later. The Anubis residents were in school. After their class, Nina, Amber, Patricia and Joy walked toward their lockers. When Joy wanted to open her locker she saw that there was a note sticking out. Joy grabbed the note and read it.


Meet me during your break at the oak tree. O


Joy wanted to put the note away, but Amber grabbed it out her hands

"Meet me during your break by the oak tree. O," said Amber, as she read the note.

"That's mine," said Joy.

"Is it from Otis?" Asked Amber.

"Who else would it be from?" Said Joy.

"Why are you being so secretive?" Asked Amber.

"Why are you so nosy?" Asked Joy.

Joy took the note back from Amber and walked away.

"I keep telling you, she's acting strange," said Amber.

"Amber, enough already and leave Joy alone," said Patricia.

Amber wanted to say something back, but at that moment KT walked up to the three girls.

"Hi," said KT.

"Hey," said Nina.

"Amber can I talk to you for a second?" Asked KT.

"Yeah, sure," said Amber.

Nina and Patricia left Amber and KT alone and walked to the drama room.

"What's up?" Asked Amber.

"I need your help with something," said KT.

"With what?" Asked Amber.

"Aaron and I are having a picnic tonight," said KT.

"A picnic? How romantic," said Amber.

"Yeah, and I was just wondering. What kind of food would Aaron like to have at the picnic?" Asked KT.

"Aaron loves spicy chicken," said Amber.

"The picnic is after dinner, so I mean more in terms of dessert," said KT.

"Like me, Aaron likes chocolate desserts. And he likes a waffle with whipped cream and M&M's. But he also likes a smoothie or a fruit salad, as long as it doesn't have raspberries in it," said Amber.

"He doesn't like raspberries," guessed KT.

"No, he's allergic to them," said Amber.

"Okay, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks Amber," said KT.

"No problem," said Amber.

A few minutes later and Joy had arrived at the oak tree, where Omar was already waiting for her.

"Seriously you're leaving a behind a note at my locker?" Asked Joy.

"If you just answer your phone then I didn't have to," said Omar.

"You're lucky my boyfriend's name is Otis, otherwise we'd have a problem," said Joy.

"You could be a little nicer, especially since I'm here to help you," said Omar.

Omar took the box out of his pocket and handed it to Joy. Joy opened the box and got a confused face when she saw the bracelet.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" Asked Joy.

"wear it on your wrist of course, it's a bracelet after all," said Omar.

"Is there a bug in it, so that you can listen in? Or is it a transmitter so you can always tell where I am?" Asked Joy.

"Don't bring me on any ideas," said Omar.

"Well?" Asked Joy.

"This bracelet is made of Lapis Lazuli stones," said Omar.

"What kind of stones?" Asked Joy.

"This bracelet protects against spirits, if you wear this bracelet that Senkhara won't be able to curse you," said Omar.

Joy took the bracelet out of the box and put it on.

"I want to have an update from you tomorrow," said Omar, as he walked away.


A few hours later and the Anubis residents arrived home.

"Victor you just got a little better and you want to go back to the cellar already," said Trudy.

"Woman, leave me alone," said Victor jr.

"But it's not good to be in the cellar," said Trudy.

"This is my house and I do what I want," said Victor.

"Oh, no, Victor's gonna lock himself in the cellar again," said Nina.

"Now what?" Asked Patricia.

Trudy began to argue with Victor jr. again, but it was interrupted by that the bell rang. Eddie opened the door and Mr. Sweet came in.

"Dad, what are you doing here?" Asked Eddie.

"I forgot my book and I'd like to take it back to the cabin," said Mr. Sweet.

"I think it's still in the living room, I'll get it for you," said Eddie, as he walked to the living room.

"What's going on here?" Asked Mr. Sweet.

"Victor wants to lock himself in the cellar again," said Trudy.

"Amica, I don't think that's a good idea," said Mr. Sweet.

"I've an idea," said Alfie to the club.

"What is it?" Asked Amber.

"Sorry to intrude on your conversation, but I need to tell you something," said Alfie.

"What is it, Alfie?" Asked Trudy.

"I know I'm not a doctor, but I had an uncle once and he was all stressed out too and they sent him on vacation for three weeks and he was as good as new," said Alfie.

"That gives me an idea. Victor you come with me to my cabin in the woods and that will do you good," said Mr. Sweet.

"I doubt it," said Victor jr.

"Victor the outdoors would do you good," said Mr. Sweet.

A few moments later, Victor Jr. was in the cellar, looking for his suitcase.

"You can't leave, not now!" Shouted Victor sr.

"I don't want to leave at all either, but I'm being forced," said Victor jr.

"Can't you ever stand up for yourself, you weakling. Come over here," ordered Victor sr.

"No father not now," said Victor jr.

"Don't argue with me and come here," ordered Victor sr.

But before Victor Jr. could touch the mirror, Mr. Sweet walked into the cellar.

"Victor?" Asked Mr. Sweet.

"What are you doing here?" Asked Victor jr.

"Looking for you, we've to leave soon," said Mr. Sweet.

Victor Jr. found his suitcase and walked upstairs with Mr. Sweet. Trudy arrived with some clothes and put them in the suitcase.

"You've to sit in front of the door," said Victor jr.

"Outside?" Asked Trudy.

"No, the cellar door. No one is allowed to go in," said Victor jr.

"I don't know Victor," said Trudy.

"If you don't do it, I'm not going," said Victor jr.

"All right, all right, I'll do it," said Trudy.

Victor grabbed his suitcase and walked Mr. Sweet to his car. Joy who had heard the whole conversation quickly ran upstairs. The club was in Nina and Amber's room looking at the device that Fabian had put together.

"And this is supposed to help with the task?" Asked Aaron.

"Yes," said Fabian.

"But how?" Asked Amber.

"No idea, we'll find out tonight," said Fabian.

Joy came running into the room.

"Guys, Victor's gone," said Joy.

"Yes, Super Alfie's plan worked," said Alfie.

"No, because now Trudy is sitting in front of the cellar door. Victor arranged that. She had to promise, otherwise he wouldn't leave," said Joy.

"That's not going to be a problem for, we don't even have to use that door, we've the secret passage," said Amber.

"Amber if Trudy is sitting in front of the cellar door we can't go to the kitchen unnoticed and then we can't get to the secret passage," said Patricia.

"Oh yeah, then we've a problem," said Amber.

"I've an idea," said Fabian.

Fabian told the club his idea and they all seemed to think it was a good idea.

A few hours later. Trudy was sitting on a chair in front of the cellar door doing some knitting. Aaron walked up to Trudy then tapped her on the shoulder, startling her.

Relax Trudy, it's me Aaron," said Aaron.

"Aaron don't scare me like that," said Trudy

"Sorry, but I need your help," said Aaron.

"With what?" Asked Trudy.

"Can you come to the boys bathroom for a sec and I'll show you, said Aaron.

Trudy put down her knitting work and followed Aaron into the boys' bathroom. While Aaron distracted Trudy, Nina, Amber, Patricia and Joy snuck into the kitchen, where Fabian and Alfie were already waiting for them. A few seconds later, Aaron also entered the kitchen and Nina opened the secret passageway and the club entered the cellar. The club walked right through to the secret room.

"Don't be scared Joy," said Patricia.

"Why should I be scared?" Asked Joy.

"Because soon light will appear, but because you're wearing the amulet the light won't hurt you," said Patricia.

The light appeared. Joy held her hands in front of her eyes, but soon noticed that the light didn't do anything to her and she followed the rest of the club into the tunnels. The club walked through the tunnels until they came to a bridge.

"This is a piece of cake," said Alfie.

Alfie stepped onto the bridge and took a step forward and two pendulums appeared, swinging back and forth. Alfie quickly moved backwards. Joy grabbed her phone and secretly started taking pictures.

"We're going to die," said Anber.

"Amber calm down," said Aaron.

Amber was so panicked, she dropped her flashlight on the ground and it rolled into abyss and they didn't hear the flashlight crashing.

"How deep is this abyss?" Asked Patricia.

"Very deep, I think," said Nina.

"We're gonna fall down into the abyss!" Yelled Amber.

In the meantime. KT was in the garden getting everything ready for the picnic. After a few minutes, KT had set everything up and sat down on the rug and waited for Aaron to come.

Back in the tunnels. The club still had no idea how to cross bridge.

"We need to do something with this device," said Fabian, as he took the device out of his bag and turned it on.

"Ticking? Is that all?" Asked Patricia.

"It must mean something," said Fabian.

"It's the rhythm," said Aaron.

"The what?" Asked Amber.

"This device goes against the rhythm of the pendulums," said Aaron.

"So Fabian built the device wrong," said Amber.

"No, it's supposed to go this way. If we move with the rhythm of the device on, we can get across the bridge," said Aaron.

"You think so?" Asked Nina.

"There's only one way to find out," said Aaron.

Aaron got on the bridge and listened carefully to the device. Aaron followed the rhythm and he managed to get past the first pendulum and then he passed the second. After Aaron had crossed the bridge, the club managed to cross the bridge and lastly it was Amber's turn

"Come on, Amber, we'll get you through this," said Aaron.

"I can't do it," said Amber.

"You've to listen very carefully to the device," said Fabian.

"I know, but I can't," said Amber.

"You can do it. Believe in yourself," said Nina.

"Aaron you've to sing for Amber," said Fabian.

"What?" Asked Aaron.

"It may calm her down and maybe it will help Amber find the right rhythm, said Fabian.

"Okay, I'll do it," said Aaron.

Aaron started singing and seemed to calm down Amber. Amber took a deep breath and stepped onto the bridge. The singing also helped Amber find the rhythm. Amber managed to pass the first pendulum and then she passed the second pendulum. When Amber got off the bridge, the pendulums disappeared and the abyss turned solid ground. The club was happy that it was a success. And a few seconds later, the artifact appeared. Joy walked over to the artifact and picked it up. The club celebrated that the two trial had succeeded.

At the same time. KT was still in the garden waiting for Aaron. KT looked at her watch.

"Guess that's it, he's not coming," said KT.

A disappointed KT cleaned up the picnic gear and went back into the house.