House of Pursuit:

Alfie and Fabian got out of the cellar. The girls and Aaron walked to the kitchen to check up on them.

"I knew that this was a bad idea," said Nina.

"Alfie speak to me. Are you okay?" Asked Amber.

"What happened?" Asked Patricia.

"I was whining Fabian off," said Alfie.

"Did you get the elixir?" Asked Nina.

"I dropped the sample," said Fabian.

This disappointed the club.

"We've to go another night. It's too risky now," said Nina.

That same night. Nina and Amber were in their room. Nina was writing in her dairy and Amber was busy with her essay.

"Nina can you please help me with my essay?" Asked Amber.

"What do you need help with?" Asked Nina.

"Well my theme is America, so I've to write an whole essay on it. But Mr. Sweet said that I can copy everything of the internet. So since my bestie is American, I figured she could help me," said Amber.

"Okay here is the deal. I'll help you on you essay on America. If you don't let this election get in the way of finding the treasure," said Nina.

"Deal," said Amber.

Two weeks have passed by. The club hadn't a chance to go into the cellar, because Victor was always in the cellar. During those two weeks a of other things happened. Mara and Mick were getting closer. Mara and Amber had each finished their essays and the brace around Aaron's leg was removed. But during those two weeks the club noticed that Alfie was quiet. During school the club decided to talk with Alfie, why he has been so quiet.

"Alfie we noticed that you've been super quiet these past two weeks," said Nina.

"And we wanted to know if you're okay?" Asked Patricia.

"I remembered everything. Everything from that night I was trapped in the cellar," said Alfie

"What did you see?" Asked Aaron.

"Mr. Sweet. Mrs. Andrews. Mr. Winkler. And some other people, and they were chanting," said Alfie.

"What were the chanting Alfie?" Asked Fabian.

"I don't know, I didn't understand a word that they were saying," said Alfie.

"Couldn't you really understand one word that they were saying?" Asked Amber.

"The said the chosen one. They mentioned the chosen one," said Alfie.

"You're doing great Alfie. What else?" Asked Nina.

"Victor drank from a skull, and it was horrible. And one of them was in a mask. A dog mask. That's what I dream about. A face, staring at me, coming for me," said Alfie, as he began to hyperventilate.

"It's okay Alfie. It's okay. You're safe here with us," said Patricia.

"I bet I know what he was drinking out of the skull," said Nina.

"The elixir," said Fabian.

"What elixir?" Asked Alfie.

"It's a potion they make. It keeps you young," explained Fabian.

"Ahnk. That was another word," said Alfie

"The cup of Ahnk. That's the cup you gives you immortality," said Nina.

"Ssh, someone is coming," said Aaron.

The club stopped talking and sat down. The rest of the class entered and sat down. Mr. Sweet and Mrs. Andrews also entered the class room.

"Before we start our class, Mr. Sweet has an announcement to make," said Mrs. Andrews

"Yes, I've read Amber and Mara's essays and I'm very satisfied with them, "said Mr. Sweet.

"And which of us won, sir?" Asked Amber

"I'll tell you that later. First of all, Mara your essay was just outstanding, you could make it into a book, just like that," said Mr. Sweet

"Thank you sir," said Mara.

"But Amber's essay was a bit more on the creative side, I thought it was interesting that you added information about social media and famous actors and actresses," said Mr. Sweet.

"Thanks sir," said Amber.

"But who won?" Asked Mara.

"It was a hard decision, it was very close. But the winner of the first assignment is Mara," said Mr. Sweet.

Mara was happy. Patricia, Mick, Jerome and some other classmates cheered for Mara.

"And what have I won sir?" Asked Mara.

"Yes, I'll tell you in a minute. But I'm going to tell you about the second assignment first. You have to organize a theme day and of course things must be reflected in your theme country," said Mr. Sweet.

"And it really is all day?" Asked Mara.

"Yes, all day long. And because you won Mara, you can choose where you want to hold your theme day," said Mr. Sweet.

"Okay, then I choose the drama room," said Mara

"Very well. Amber you'll get the English room, as your location for your theme day," said Mr. Sweet.

"Okay sir," said Amber.

"Congratulations Mara on your victory. And thank you Mr. Sweet," said Mrs. Andrews

"Thank you Mrs. Andrews and start your class now," said Mr. Sweet.

Mr. Sweet left the room and Mrs. Andrews started her class.

An hour later and the class was over. Mara was happy that she had won, but was unsure what to do for her theme day. Mara and Mick walked over to their lockers.

"Congratulations I knew you could do it," said Mick

"Thank you. It wasn't easy," said Mara

"That essay assignment was easy peasy for you, you won," said Mick.

"Yeah, but didn't you hear what Mr. Sweet said, it was close, he thought Amber's essay was great and much more creative than mine," said Mara.

"So? You won and she didn't," said Mick

Jerome walked up to Mick and Mara.

"Congratulations on your victory," said Jerome.

"Thank you Jerome. And also thank you for your help," said Mara.

"So what are you going to do for your theme day?" Asked Jerome.

"I've no idea yet," said Mara.

"Why not do something with Bollywood and spirituality?" Suggested Jerome.

'That's a great idea. But I don't know about spirituality," said Mara.

"Ask Fiona if she wants to help you, she is an expert when it comes to that spirituality stuff," suggested Jerome.

'Yeah that's a good idea," said Mara.

Mara walked over to Fiona and Caitlin who were standing by their lockers.

"Hey girls, said Mara.

"Oh hey Mara, congratulations, said Fiona.

"Yes, congrats on your victory," said Caitlin.

"Thank you," said Mara. "Fiona can I ask you something?" She asked.

"Of course," said Fiona.

"For my theme day I want to do something with Bollywood and spirituality and you know a lot about spirituality, so I wondered if you wanted to help me?" Asked Mara.

"Sure Mara. By the way, I am a big fan of the Indian spirituality," said Fiona.

"Thank you so much that means a lot to me," said Mara.

"Come to my room after school and I'll teach you as much as I can about it," said Fiona.

Mara, Fiona and Caitlin walked to the next class, Mick followed them. Unbeknownst to Mick, a letter fell from his bag. Jerome picked up the letter and saw it was a scholarship letter. Jerome wondered why Mick was hiding these. Jerome put the letter in his bag and walked to the next class.

While the residents were having lessons, Victor and Mr. Sweet sat in Mr. Sweet's office. There was a knock on the door.

"Enter," said Mr. Sweet.

"You wanted to talk to me Eric," said Mr. Winkler.

"Yeah Jason come in," said Mr. Sweet.

Mr. Winkler entered the office and sat down.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Asked Mr. Winkler.

"Mr. Winkler did you ever discover where Williamson and her friends did their research for that that play of yours?" Asked Victor.

"Yes. I think they said that they got the idea from a lady at the museum, named Sam or Sarah, or something," said Mr. Winkler.

Victor headed back to the house to find out of this Sarah from the museum is real or if it's the Sarah he used to know.

During lunch, Jerome and Otis sat in the drama room. Jerome looked at Mick and Mara with a smug grin.

"Why do you've that grin on your face?" Asked Otis.

"Because of this," said Jerome, as he grabbed the letter from his bag.

Jerome handed the letter that fell from Mick's bag to Otis. Otis read the letter.

"Mick didn't get the scholarship," said Otis.

"Yep," said Jerome.

"And you think that is funny?" Asked Otis.

"Well a little bit. But most of all I think Mick doesn't want Mara to find out that he's been lying to her about this for two weeks," said Jerome.

"Oh no," said Otis.

"What do you mean by 'oh no'?" Asked Jerome.

"Jerome the last time you tried to sabotage Mick's relationship to it failed," said Otis.

"Only because you told Aaron everything and he made me tell Mick," said Jerome.

"That is not the point. When Mick finds out what you're doing, he'll beat you up," said Otis.

"I'm not afraid of a meat head like Mick," said Jerome

"Remember how mad he was about that 'Alfie and Amber thing'. He was ready to beat up Alfie," said Otis

"Like I said, I'm not scared. And plus Mara doesn't deserve that her boyfriend to keep such secrets from her," said Jerome.

"Listen Jerome, you're one of my two best friends. And I know you fancy her. But this is not the way to get her," said Otis.

Jerome ignored Otis and was working to devise a plan to break up Mick and Mara.

After lunch the Anubis residents had Mrs. Andrews class again. During class Nina and Fabian were discussing what Alfie told from the night he was trapped in the cellar.

"I think the teachers must be looking for the cup of Ahnk too. We've to find it first, we've to," said Nina.

"I know, we've to. But it feels like we hit a dead end. No more clues to go on, apart from the ever so helpful 'listen to the voice'," said Fabian.

"What if it means listen to Sarah's voice on the cylinders," suggested Nina.

"Do you want to do it now?" Asked Fabian, as he was about to grab the mp-3 player.

"No. We need to listen to them on the phonograph," said Nina.

"What?" Said Fabian, not understanding what Nina meant.

"I think that's why I was drawn to the attic after my visit with Sarah," said Nina.

"One of your feelings? Joked Fabian.

"Yes. But do you've to say it that way every time feelings," said Nina.


Back at the house Victor was looking at the signing out book. At the same time Trudy passed by with a laundry basket in her hands.

"Hello Victor, what are you doing with that signing out book?" Asked Trudy.

"Who is this Emily grant that Nina keeps visiting?" Asked Victor

"She's a lovely lady from the home, that Nina kind of adopted," said Trudy.

This sparked Victor's interested. Victor decided the pay a visit to Emily Grant to see, if see might be Sarah.


Back at the school after class, the Anubis residents walked out of the classroom. The club got together and consulted. Caitlin stared at Aaron dreamily. Caitlin didn't pay attention and bumped into Jerome.

"Watch it!" Said Jerome.

"Oops sorry Jerome," said Caitlin.

"Oh Caitlin I should have known it was you," said Jerome.

"Again I'm sorry Jerome," said Caitlin.

Jerome looked in the direction Caitlin was looking and saw Aaron and the club leave.

"Seriously Caitlin do you really think Aaron wants someone like you," said Jerome.

"Like me?" Asked Caitlin.

"Yeah you're a walking disaster, you're a super klutz, no boy would want you," said Jerome.

Caitlin felt deeply insulted and ran away crying. Mick had overheard conversation and went to confront Jerome because he felt that Jerome was going too far with what he said to Caitlin.

"You're really a nasty piece of work sometimes," said Mick

"I would be careful if I were you," said Jerome.

"What's that supposed to mean? Asked Mick

Well in my book it's pretty nasty to keep secrets from your girlfriend," said Jerome, while he looked Mara.


The club had arrived at the house. Amber and Alfie kept watch to make sure that no-one would go up into the attic. So while Amber and Alfie kept watch, Nina, Fabian, Aaron and Patricia were in the attic. Fabian grabbed the phonograph.

"I don't understand what we're doing. We've gone through this already," said Patricia

"This is the cylinder that was blank right? But why was it blank?" Asked Nina, while she was holding one of the cylinders.

"Because it was damaged?" Suggested Aaron.

"Or because it's fake," said Nina

"Fake? Asked Aaron.

"This casing doesn't look right to me. It's different from the others," said Nina.

Nina pulled the top of the cylinder casing off and a papyrus note was in it.

"Look," said Nina.

"You're a genius" said Fabian.

"What does it say?" Asked Patricia.

"To find the secret of the past look beyond this world through glass," said Nina, as she read the riddle

And once again the club had a hard time figuring out what the riddle meant.

In the meantime. Jerome was sitting in his room reading a comic. Suddenly Mara entered the room.

"Are you going to tell me what a mean horrid person I am?" Asked Jerome.

"No, but I think what you said to Caitlin was super mean," said Mara.

"I'm sorry," said Jerome.

"I'm not the one you should apologize to," said Mara

"You're right," said Jerome

"Can I ask you something? What you said to Mick about peeping glass houses, and keeping secrets is he was he seeing someone while he was away?" Asked Mara.

"I so badly want to say yes. But hey, I can't. I guess you bring out the best out in me Mara Jaffray," said Jerome.

"So what is it?" Asked Mara.

Jerome walked over the his bag and grabbed the scholar ship letter and gave it to Mara. Mara read to letter.

"He didn't get the scholarship," said Mara.

"No," said Jerome.

"Why wouldn't he tell me?" Asked Mara.

"Maybe people like keeping secrets," said Jerome.

In the meantime. Victor went to the old people's home. Victor talked to the nurse that takes care of Sarah.

"So you're an old friend of Emily?" Asked the nurse.

"Of the family, yes. Yes my father knew her," said Victor.

Victor and the nurse walked over the Sarah, but Sarah was asleep. The nurse tried to wake her up. Then Victor saw a picture of Anubis house and came up with an idea.

"If you don't mind, I wanted to propose a visit for Emily. I work at the house she grew up in. I thought perhaps she might like to visit the old place," suggested Victor

"I'm sure she'd love to. Emily. She's sound asleep," said the nurse

"Let her sleep on. I'll wait. Perhaps a cup of tea," said Victor.

"Of course. I'll get you one, "said the nurse.

The nurse walked to the kitchen to get Victor a cup of tea. Victor sat down next to Sarah.

"Sarah, is that you?" Asked Victor.

Sarah woke up and was shocked and scared to see Victor sitting right next to her.