House of Bribes:

Alfie was dragged into the boys' bathroom. Alfie was released and when he turned he saw Jerome.

"Jerome? What was that for?" Asked Alfie.

"Why did it take you so long? Asked Jerome.

"I struggled to find my way home, said Alfie

"Alfie, how can you not find your way to the house? It's a ten minute walk, said Jerome.

"It was dark, said Alfie.

"I don't have time for your stupid excuses. What did you find Alfie? Asked Jerome.

"Nothing," said Alfie

"Nothing? what do you mean nothing?" Asked Jerome.

"I found nothing in the fireplace and I looked everywhere. I even searched the chimney, as you can see," said Alfie.

"Alfie shut up," said Jerome.

"I really tried my best," said Alfie

"Trying your best is not good enough Alfie," said Jerome.

"But Jerome .., "said Alfie

"You messed up again as usual, you loser, said Jerome..

Jerome left the boys' bathroom and went back to the history classroom to sleep. Alfie stayed in the bathroom to clean himself up a bit. After Alfie cleaned himself up, he also returned to the history classroom.

While all the residents were sleeping. While Mr. Sweet was in his office, he was on the phone talking to Victor.

"Did you find anything, Victor?" Asked Mr. Sweet.

"No, I think those kids probably hid the Ankh pieces outside the house," said Victor.

"And what are we going to now?" Asked Mr. Sweet.

"You've to keep an extra eye on them and especially Nina Martin," said Victor.

"I don't lose sight of them for a second," said Mr. Sweet.

The next morning. Nina, Amber and Patricia were in the girls' bathroom brushing their teeth while talking about Alfie.

"I still can't believe Alfie betrayed us," said Amber.

"You better believe, it is unfortunate, but true. Fabian and I saw him sneak through the house, searching the fireplace," said Nina.

"So then he fell into our trap that we set up for him?" Asked Amber.

"Yes, he did," said Nina.

"I couldn't believe at first. Until I and Aaron saw him walking down the corridor," said Patricia.

"And what are we going to do about Alfie now?" Asked Amber.

"Fabian is going to confront him. Hopefully he finds out why Alfie betrayed us," said Nina.

"Even though I'm sad that Alfie betrayed us, at least I'm happy that you have secured the Ankh pieces," said Patricia.

"Yes. And we found a new Ankh piece and a new riddle," said Nina.

"What?" Asked Patricia.

"Really?" Asked Amber.

"Yeah, remember when I heard voices a few days ago?" Asked Nina.

"Yeah and I always find that terrifying when you hear voices," said Amber.

"Well those voices led me to the new Ankh piece," said Nina.

"Where is it?" Asked Patricia.

"Safe and secure with the other pieces, said Nina.

"Well done, said Patricia.

"And the new riddle? Asked Amber.

"Fabian hid it in his shoe, said Nina.

"And what does it say?" Asked Amber.

"We haven't had a chance to read it yet, so we want to do that today," said Nina.

"But what are we gonna do about Alfie? I don't think it's smart if he knows that there is a new riddle," said Patricia.

"Yes, one of us must distract him," said Nina.

Nina and Patricia looked at Amber.

"What me? I can't distract Alfie. I have to prepare my speech because the final debate is today," said Amber.

"Perfect, ask Alfie if he wants to help you, if you ask him, he won't say no to you, said Patricia.

"Please Amber?" Begged Nina.

"Okay, fine I'll do it," said Amber.

"Perfect, and we'll tell you later what the new riddle is," said Nina.

The three girls did the Sibuna gesture and then went back to the drama room.

A little while later, all Anubis residents were in the drama room. Trudy walked into the classroom with a large suitcase.

"Hello sweeties," said Trudy.

"Trudy you're here," said Fiona.

"Yes, and I brought your uniforms," said Trudy.

"Did you bring breakfast too?" Asked Mick

"No, but Mr. Sweet allowed me to use the kitchen. So I'm gonna make you some of my pancakes," said Trudy.

"Yay," said Mick

Trudy put the suitcase down and opened it. In the trunk were the school uniforms of the residents. The residents each took their own uniform. Trudy went into the kitchen to make breakfast. While Trudy was busy in the kitchen, Mara was stressing because the debate was today and she had her speech at home. Fiona and Caitlin sat with Mara.

"Hey Mara are you doing okay? Asked Caitlin.

"No! It is not going well at all. I couldn't prepare anything at all because of mice. My speech is still at home and I get nothing on paper now,

"Come on Mara, do you remember something from your speech? Asked Fiona.

"Yeah I know most of it, said Mara.

"Then there is no problem, said Fiona

A few minutes later Trudy returned with pancakes and went to breakfast.

After breakfast, Nina, Fabian, Aaron and Patricia had found a place to secretly read the riddle. Fabian pulled out the riddle and began to read aloud.

"to Obtain Victory, you must first bring the Core to the Snake of glass and Unite them and that's there is where final Relic hides. put the core and the snake together in its starry night. 11-54-03-10-00-06-12-44-11-25." Said Fabian, while reading the riddle

"Final Relic, does this mean that we're just one riddle away from finding the treasure?" Asked Aaron.

"I guess so," said Nina.

"This is the weirdest riddle of all," said Fabian.

"Maybe because it's the final one?" Guessed Nina.

"Maybe. But also on the two beginning sentences do not start with a capital letter, but six other words do have a capital letter," said Fabian.

"Which words?" Asked Nina.

"Obtain, Victory, Core, Snake, Unite and Relic," said Fabian.

"What word do you get, when those letters do together?" Asked Patricia.

"OVCSUR," said Fabian.

"What does OVCSUR mean Fabian?" Asked Aaron

"I've no idea," said Fabian.

"And what about those numbers Fabian?" Asked Nina.

"No idea. I need time to examine the riddle, said Fabian.

Three hours later and it was time for the final debate. Mr. Sweet gave another speech before the debate started. After the speech, Mr. Sweet called Amber forward to give her speech. During Amber's speech, Jerome got a text message. Jerome read the text and looked a little concerned. Jerome wanted to leave the drama room. Noticing Jerome leaving, Nina patted Fabian on the shoulder to get his attention. Fabian looked at Nina and she pointed to Jerome, who was trying to leave. Nina and Fabian decided to follow Jerome. Nina and Fabian had followed Jerome behind the school. Nina and Fabian hid behind a wall, but could still see Jerome. Then Nina and Fabian saw a man approaching that they knew all too well, it was Rufus Zeno. Rufus walked towards Jerome and stood next to him.

"What have you got for me?" Asked Rufus.

"Nothing yet," said Jerome

"Nothing! I gave you a load of money, I want concrete information," said Rufus.

"I'm working on it. It is all still complicated. It's gonna be okay, I have someone working for me on the inside," said Jerome.

"Listen to me, you insect, I will give you until the end of the week and if you have not found anything then I will get all the money that you received from me, plus double of what I gave you," said Rufus

"But I don't have that much money," said Jerome.

"Then you only have one option left. If you don't have the money to pay me back, then you've to deliver the treasure to me. And if you can't pay me back or you don't deliver the treasure, then I'm going to mummify you alive as promised," threatened Rufus.

"I'll find that treasure and then it's yours," said Jerome.

"Good, because if your life is dear to you you know what to do," threatened Rufus.

"Don't worry, you get your treasure," said Jerome.

Nina and Fabian had heard enough and quickly went back inside. As Nina and Fabian walked down the hallway, they discussed what they had heard.

"So that's how he suddenly got all that money," said Nina.

"Yes, he is telling all the information he gets from Alfie, to Rufus," said Fabian.

"Do you think Alfie knows that Jerome is working for Rufus Zeno or worse that Alfie working for him too?" Asked Nina.

"No idea. But I'm gonna find out today, said Fabian.

Nina and Fabian walked back to the drama room, when they entered Mara had just finished her speech. Nina and Fabian stood next to Amber.

"Sorry Amber, that we missed yours and Mara's speech," said Nina.

"Well, I'm especially upset that you guys missed mine, but there nothing much to Mara's speech, so that isn't a total lost," said Amber.

"Yes, sorry that we missed it. But later we need to have a club meeting, it is important, said Fabian.

"Are you going to tell me what the new riddle is?" Asked Amber.

"Yes, that too. But also something else we need to talk about," said Nina.

Mr. Sweet gave a short speech and then said it was time to vote. Lots of students and voting. When the students voted, she gave their voting slips to a small boy who put the vote in the ballot box. Mick walked over to the ballot box and gave his voting slip to the small boy.

"So Robbie, how's it looking?" Asked Mick.

"I'm not allowed to say," said Robbie

"Oh, come on, dude. Do an old buddy a favor," said Mick

"You're not my buddy. I've spoken to you loads of times, but you just ignore me. And one time, you put me in a locker," said Robbie.

"Okay, listen, small fry, if you were to tell me. Who's in the lead, then that would make us friends, wouldn't it? And if we were friends, then we could hang out more, yeah?" Said Mick.

"Okay, it's pretty close, but Amber's in the lead," said Robbie.

"Ugh, no way. Okay, I'll do you a deal. Make sure Mara wins, and I'll... I'll...," said Mick, not knowing what to say next.

"Fix me up with Patricia? Asked Robbie.

"Yeah. Yeah sure," said Mick.

"You're on," said Robbie.

Mick was about to walk away, but bumped into Jerome.

"Not cheating, are you, Campbell? Asked Jerome.

"We're not all like you, Clarke," said Mick.

"Yeah, we're not all like you, Clarke," said Robbie.

Mick gave Robbie a fist bump and walked away. Jerome walked up to Robbie and glared angry at him.

"It's king Clarke to you, pond weed, So who's in the lead?" Asked Jerome.

"I'm not allowed to say," said Robbie.

Jerome gave Robbie some money and Robbie took it.

"Amber," said Robbie.

Jerome looked pleased knowing that Mick was cheating to let Mara win and knowing that she wouldn't like that.

The rest of the school was still busy voting. In the meantime, Alfie had just finished in the bathroom and came out of the bathroom stall to wash his hands. Fabian was standing by the bathroom sink.

"Hey, you did vote for Amber too right?" Asked Alfie

"Yes," said Fabian.

"Good to hear," said Alfie.

"Did you find anything in the fireplace last night?" Asked Fabian.

Alfie was shocked that Fabian knew he had returned to the house to search the fireplace.

"No, no, otherwise I would have told you guys," said Alfie.

"Are you doing all this for Jerome?" Asked Fabian.

"No. no, I'm doing this for you. I want to find the treasure before anyone else finds it. Don't you believe me?" Asked Alfie.

"Do you also get money from Rufus Zeno?" Asked Fabian.

"Rufus Zeno? Isn't he our enemy? Why should I get money from him?" Asked Alfie.

"Because Jerome is working for him," said Fabian

"What?" Said Alfie, shocked at what he just heard.

"Listen to me, Alfie, stay away from Jerome. That boy is playing with fire and he will sooner or later burn his hands very badly," said Fabian.

Fabian left the boys' bathroom. Alfie was shocked at what he had just heard.

A few hours later and all votes were counted and the winner would be announced. Amber and Mara were both full of tension and nervous at the same time. Mr. Sweet walked onto the stage with a red envelope.

"It was an exciting and long battle and we have a winner. And the winner is ... Mara," said Mr. Sweet.

Many people cheered for Mara. Amber was sad that she hadn't won.

"Congratulations, Mara. Come on stage," said Mr. Sweet.

Mara walked forward and took the stage. Mara was standing in front of the microphone.

"First of all I would like to thank everyone who supported me, my wonderful boyfriend Mick, Patricia and Fiona who helped me with my theme day, Otis who designed my posters, Mr. Sweet my coach. And of course I also want to thank Amber, because she had the great idea to have a prom," said Mara.

Amber was speechless and kinda shocked that Mara thanked her.

"Mr. Sweet can we have our prom?" Asked Mara.

"Yes, we'll end this school year with a prom," said Mr. Sweet.

"Amber would you like to help organize the prom?" Asked Mara.

"Of course I would like that!" Said Amber.

Despite the fact that Amber had lost, she was still happy that her idea for a school prom was going become real.

A few moments later in the boys toilet. Mick and Robbie were talking.

"Job well done, bro," said Mick

"Yeah thanks. So you can make sure that Patricia is my date to the prom?" Asked Robbie.

"Oh, Patricia. Yeah. I'll go talk you up right now, big man," said Mick.

Robbie looked happy. Mick and Robbie left the boys' bathroom, but what they didn't know was that Jerome had heard the whole conversation. Jerome came out of the bathroom shed where he was hiding and had a smug grin on his face.