Hello all! Welcome to my story, "Bastet and Seshat," first in The Secrets Never Told. This is a revision of season 1 of the TV series House of Anubis. This story is about my OC and the relationships she forms at Anubis House and their school as well as her role in the mysteries of Anubis House. This will be a Jerome Clarke/OC story. Each episode of the story will be one chapter, with original chapters here and there throughout the story.

My OC is Cameron Zack. She is 16 years old and American. Cameron is a taller, petite girl with pale skin, some freckles, dark brown eyes like coffee, and long, thick caramel hair that is always in a ponytail or bun. She is really pretty. When she's not in her school uniform, she likes to wear leggings or skinny jeans with tank tops and sweaters. Flats and boots are her shoes of choice, but she occasionally wears Converse. She is never seen without a notebook or her laptop.

italics is thoughts, or Cameron's texts
'italics' is mental quotes from past chapters
bold is texts from Cameron's correspondents

~)8(~ is a scene break

This story will be told in 3rd person, but more often than not, will focus on the scenes with Cameron, or where people are expressing her views of her.

Disclaimer: I do not own House of Anubis

Dedication: I would like to dedicate this story to the user and my friend Lauren Kassidy. She has helped me so much with this story and my confidence in putting my stories up. She is a really amazing person and this story would not be here without her. She also has her own House of Anubis story, so go check it out!


Episode 1: "House of Secrets"

This edited and revised version of this chapter was uploaded on June 19, 2020


Chapter 1: Americans in Anubis House

The tiny train station was quiet beyond the sound of the train pulling away. Cameron Zack sighed with relief. She was here. She was finally here. She had been looking forward to this for months now. And she would've been here earlier if it weren't for the screw up with her scholarship. Nina Martin, she was not. Whoever that was.

But now, Cameron was finally away from chaotic Manhattan. She was finally away from all the pressure. She was finally free of her stressful, controlling family.

Cameron walked through the small station, which was nothing more than a building on the side of the road. She got outside, and waited. There was supposed to be a cab coming for her. Cameron bounced lightly on her heels in anticipation. Her laptop bag was starting to get heavy on her shoulder, so she gently set it on top of her suitcase.

Within five minutes of waiting, a cab pulled up. A balding man climbed out of it.

"Cameron Zack?" he asked. Cameron smiled and nodded. "Great! How are you today, love?"

"I'm good, sir. I'm glad to finally be here," Cameron replied. The man looked at her for a second.

"Are you American?" he asked. Cameron nodded. The United States, this was not. Cameron was now a resident of Liverpool, England, where she had the accent, not the other way around. This was where she lived now. This was where she was going to school now. This was her home now.

"Go on, get in, I'll put your suitcase in the back," the cabbie said. Cameron thanked him and climbed into the car. She put her laptop bag on the seat beside her.

"So, which house are you in?" the cabbie asked once he started driving.

Cameron reached into her bag and ruffled around in the papers there.

"Uh… Anubis House."

"Oh, really? I just took another girl there. She was American as well," the cabbie said. Cameron raised her eyebrows at that. Maybe she wouldn't be the odd one out after all. Then again, though, Cameron wasn't wildly concerned with making friends. She'd never had very many, even back in New York. She did just fine on her own.

But… this was England. This was a foreign country. In a foreign continent. Despite how excited Cameron was, she still felt the stone-like bundle of nerves in her stomach. She did just fine on her own, but she wasn't sure it would hold up in a foreign country.

A few friends would be more than welcomed.

Cameron heard her phone vibrate and dug it out of her bag.

"Are those your parents?" the cabbie asked. Cameron almost snorted. No, they would not be checking up on her. In fact, they were probably glad she was gone. The text was, instead, from older brother, Matthew.

"No," Cameron said, "it's my brother, Matt." The cabbie nodded and fell silent. She texted Matt back, telling him that she had arrived and was on her way to school.

"We're here, Cameron."

Cameron looked out the window, and her eyes widened.

The school was beautiful.

Looming, enormous, gothic, and brick, Cameron felt like she was at Hogwarts or something. It almost seemed too good to be true.

She was here. She was really here.

The cabbie pulled up to the front of the school. There were only a few students around, but they all stared at Cameron as she got out. She did her best to ignore them and walked off with the cabbie. He was carrying her duffle. When they got to the housing property, she paid the man and he left.

Cameron swallowed as she looked up at the big, historical home. It was a far cry from her high-rise, modern penthouse back in Manhattan.

Cameron tried to shake off the feeling that she was being watched, and rang the doorbell.

It was answered by a woman with kind eyes, and Cameron immediately felt herself relax.

"My name's Cameron Zack. I'm supposed to be staying here," Cameron started. The woman beamed at her.

"Oh, hello, sweetie! Come in, come in." Cameron did, and gasped. The interior of the home was gorgeous! A spacious entry, beautiful floors, a wooden staircase, historical artifacts all over the place. It was amazing! "My name's Trudy. I'm your housemother." Cameron snapped out of her gazing and shook hands with the woman. She truly was as kind as she looked.

"Nice to meet you," Cameron replied.

"Now, why don't you come upstairs, and I'll introduce you to Victor," Trudy said.

Cameron recognized the name. Victor Rodenmaar was the caretaker of Anubis House. Cameron imagined he was somewhere between a surly landlord and a strict RA.

Cameron picked up her duffle bag and followed Trudy upstairs. They walked across the landing and into an office. The man sitting at the desk was looming, and quite frankly, scary in appearance.

"Victor," Trudy started. "This is Miss Cameron Zack." Victor looked up and Cameron almost shivered under his critical and hard gaze.

"You're late." He stood before her. "Two weeks late."

"There was a mix-up with the scholarship," Cameron explained. Victor didn't seem to care and walked out of his office.

"Follow me," he merely said. Cameron did as she was told. Surly landlord and strict RA indeed.

Victor led her off the landing to the upstairs hallway. He stopped at the first bedroom. It was big, with three beds and sets of furniture. One of the beds looked completely in use. Another one appeared as if someone had just moved in. The third, Cameron's, was empty and waiting for her.

"This is your room," Victor said. "That bed is yours." He turned and pointed to a door across the hall. "That is the attic and it is strictly off-limits, am I understood?"

"Yes, sir," Cameron replied. She hadn't been at Anubis House five minutes and she already understood that Victor was, simply put, a creep. After a few more rules, one of which was the fact that the cellar was off-limits as well, Trudy came to the rescue, offering Cameron a tour of the house.

There honestly wasn't much to see. The upstairs bathroom, the downstairs hall (the boys' hall), the laundry room, the kitchen, the living room, and the dining room. Trudy soon left Cameron to introduce herself to her new housemates as she went to finish fixing dinner.

Cameron hovered at the entry to the living room, where most of the other students were. She kind of just wanted to go back upstairs and unpack. But she couldn't deny that she also wanted to get introductions over with.

"Welcome, space girl." Cameron heard the greeting and turned to see that it was, surprisingly, not aimed at her. A thin, black boy with a goofy grin was instead speaking to another girl. "Or, blurb bleep blop, as they say in your language."

The other girl laughed nervously. Cameron wondered if she was the other new girl.

"Supper's ready!" Trudy's call sent everyone to the dining room table. Cameron almost followed, then realized she didn't have her phone with her. If dinner was going to be as awkward as she thought it was, she definitely wanted a distraction.

Cameron was quick as she went upstairs, grabbed her phone, and came back down. Matt had texted her again, making sure she was okay. Cameron smiled. God, he was such a worrywart. But she loved him for it. Cameron pocketed her phone and made to enter the dining room, ready to face her new housemates.

Instead, all she got was a face full of water.

Cameron shrieked, the iciness flooding down her face and shoulders, and spreading to her back. Her hands curled around her eyes, and she was met with seven shocked faces. The girl right in front of her, the one with dark hair and a blue extension held an empty pitcher in her hand.

Cameron ducked her face down and bolted. Her cheeks burned with complete shame, and she practically slammed her new bedroom door shut behind her.

That was humiliating. What a way to start the school year.

Cameron took a minute to calm herself down, then wrapped her hair into a bun. She peeled her wet shirt off and replaced it with one of her brother's old T-shirts. She hung her old one up in the shower to dry before returning to her bedroom. She wasn't hungry anymore. So, Cameron figured she might as well get to unpacking.

Cameron's trunks sat at the end of her bed, and she got right to it.

Cameron made quick work of her bed, wrapping the twin-size mattress in grey sheets, a black fleece blanket, and a white comforter with black and grey vine patterns. Two black pillowcases were thrown on over the pillows, and Cameron already felt more at home.

Her alarm clock and lamp were then set up on her little bedside table before Cameron made quick work of her clothing. She had both a wardrobe and a dresser, but Cameron didn't have the biggest clothing collection on the planet. Especially since her new school had a uniform. She had a fair amount of shoes, however, and it took a little longer to organize those.

Cameron had just barely popped open her next trunk when the bedroom door opened.

The girl who walked in was pretty, with dirty blonde curls and blue eyes. Her sweater was sopping wet, and she had spaghetti down her front.

"Oh, hi," she said. "Sorry, I wasn't expecting anyone to be in here."

"It's okay," Cameron assured. "You okay?"

Cameron noticed that the girl looked like she had been crying.

"Yeah," the girl said. "I'm okay. Just want to get out of this sweater." She held out her hand. "I'm Nina, by the way. Nina Martin."

"Cameron Zack."

Nina's eyes lit up with recognition.

"Oh, you're the girl whose scholarship got mixed up with mine," Nina realized. Cameron nodded and smiled a little bit. "Well, I'm glad it got cleared up."

"Me too," Cameron agreed.

With that, Nina turned to change. She grabbed herself a new sweater and went to the bathroom. Patricia Williamson, the dark-haired girl who drenched Cameron, had dumped spaghetti and water all over Nina in the middle of dinner.

When Nina got back to the room, now dressed in her pink sweater, Cameron was unpacking an entire trunkful of books.

"Wow," Nina breathed. "You have so many."

Cameron laughed quietly. "This isn't even all of them. I had to pick and choose from home."

Nina could imagine. Cameron had fiction and non-fiction of every genre and subject. Fantasy, mystery, romance, history, biography, astronomy, mythology, even books in other languages. It was a truly impressive collection.

"You'll have to let me borrow some," Nina said.

Cameron smiled. "Definitely."

Nina already liked Cameron far better than she did Patricia. But she got the sense that her new roommate was quiet, content with silence. But at the same time, Nina could already tell they would be good friends.

"Can I help?" Nina asked, seeing that Cameron was only a third the way through her books, and still had another trunk left to unpack.

Cameron seemed surprised by the offer. But she smiled and nodded.

"Sure. Thank you," she said.

"It's nothing," Nina assured with a smile. "Besides, we Americans have to stick together."

Cameron's smile widened and she laughed quietly again. "Yes, we do."

With the both of them working, they were able to unpack the rest of Cameron's things within the hour. Cameron was sorting her books into piles on her bed.

"I'm going back downstairs," Nina said. "Do you want to come?"

Cameron shook her head. "No, I'm going to finish with my books and then go for a run." It was true, she did want to go for a run. Mostly because she wanted to map out the school, figure out her way around, but also because she was still embarrassed from earlier. She wasn't sure she was ready to face her new housemates quite yet.

"Well, okay," Nina said. She sounded a little disappointed. "I'll see you later." Nina grabbed a magazine and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her. Cameron sorted through a few more of her books before changing into shorts, a tank top, and running shoes. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and went downstairs. She was out the door before anyone realized she was there.

~)8(~

"So what do you think of the new chick, then?" Mick Campbell asked his friend and roommate Fabian Rutter. Mick was currently eating a salad. He had been on a run and in the shower during dinner, so he had to get it himself.

Fabian looked at Nina, making brief eye contact with her.

"I think the new girl looks nice," Fabian said.

Mick looked at him with a cheeky smile. "Oh, really?"

"No, I meant she seems nice," Fabian corrected. He looked at Nina again. She really did seem nice. It was a shame Patricia was being so mean to her. He had to admit, Joy leaving so suddenly was a bit of a shock, but he seriously doubted Nina had anything to do with it… or the other new girl. He hadn't even seen her since Patricia accidentally emptied the water pitcher all over her. Fabian also felt bad about that. He couldn't imagine if it was him. He'd have been so embarrassed. He would have to go check on her later, see if she was okay. Introduce himself.

"What about the other one?" Mick continued. Everyone had told him what happened. Though, they all were curious as to who exactly she was. Trudy told them all that a third bed had been set up in Nina and Patricia's room. Then they asked what her name was, and Trudy had given them a good scolding for not introducing themselves properly.

At Mick's question, Fabian shrugged, a little embarrassed at his lack of interaction with her. Fabian wandered into the living room and out of sheer boredom, began constructing a castle of cards. He made brief eye contact with Nina again and they shared a small smile.

Mick soon joined them in the living room, plopping onto a couch beside his girlfriend, Amber Millington. They were laughing at something in a magazine.

"I can't believe that creep won't give me Joy's home number!" Patricia's cry of fury broke through the amiable atmosphere. She plopped into one of the chairs with an angry sigh. "At least she should get her stuff back the day after tomorrow.

"That's good," Mara Jaffrey said. "You'll be able to ring her then." Patricia nodded in agreement before looking at Nina.

"I know you've got something to do with this, newbie." Patricia's voice was full of venom. "You and the other one. And I'm going to find out what it is!"

"So you've mentioned," Nina said. Then, under her breath, "Ten times."

"What did you say?" Patricia demanded.

"Nothing," Nina replied.

Thankfully, Patricia let it go.

~)8(~

"It's ten o'clock!" Victor's voice rang through the house. "You have five minutes precisely, and then I want to hear a pin drop."

Victor took the pin from his lapel and dropped it.

Just then, Victor heard someone come down the stairs, and he scowled at Alfie Lewis. Alfie quickly saw Victor's glare and scurried into his room.

Upstairs, Cameron was reading on her bed. She rolled her eyes lightly at Victor as he called out the curfew. She'd gotten back from her run an hour and a half ago, showered, and finished organizing her books and possessions. Now, after a long day of travel, unpacking, and embarrassing encounters, Cameron was more than ready for bed.

Downstairs, she heard Patricia (loudly) telling Victor that she didn't want to share with her or Nina, but Victor simply dismissed her, and everyone went to bed. Cameron shut her book and lay down as Nina and Patricia came into the room. Nina gave her a small smile and wave which Cameron returned. Patricia didn't even spare her a glance, but Cameron was fine with that. Without a word, the three girls turned off their lights and fell asleep for the night.

~)8(~

"Joy definitely would've called me by now! I'm telling you, something has happened to her!" Patricia exclaimed the next morning at breakfast. She was seriously starting to worry about her best friend. She had just… disappeared! And no one else seemed to care!

"Patricia, give it a break! You're driving me crazy," Jerome Clarke complained.

"Jerome," Mara scolded. "Some of us are worried about Joy, even if you're not."

"Did you get any response to that email you sent her last night?" Amber asked.

"No," Patricia sighed.

"It's difficult to know what else we can do," Fabian said. Patricia knew he was right, but she wouldn't give up. Not until she knew Joy was safe.

"Question the newbies, that's what!" Patricia exclaimed. Fabian almost stared at her for that. She seriously seemed to believe that Nina and the other girl were involved in Joy's leaving the school.

"They have nothing to do with this, Patricia," Fabian told her, exasperated at his friend's behavior. He knew she was worried about Joy, they all were, but she was being ridiculous and paranoid. "They just have… really bad timing."

"What about last night?" Patricia asked. "That business with the mirror?" Patricia had been brushing her teeth in the bathroom last night when she noticed the message written in the steam on the mirror. 'Help me, Joy!'

Jerome laughed.

"What?" Patricia demanded. "You don't believe I saw anything, do you?"

"Yes, we do," Amber quickly assured her. "It's just… Mick saw Alfie hanging out on our corridor last night."

Patricia felt anger rise in her. Alfie and Jerome were notorious for their pranks. If Alfie planted that message from Joy, she was going to kill him.

No! Alfie wouldn't! He was her friend.

"Not even Alfie would have the nerve to sneak into the bathroom and do something like that!" Even as Patricia said it, she knew it wasn't true. Jerome looked at her.

"Are we talking about the same Alfie?"

"So, who do you think did write it, then?" Fabian asked. "Joy?" That didn't make sense. Why would Joy sneak into the bathroom, write the message, and sneak back out when she could've talked to Patricia herself? Why would she hide?

"I don't know!" Patricia exclaimed. She got an idea. "Maybe… Maybe Nina or the other one wrote it to drive me crazy."

Jerome covered his mouth to stifle his laughter. Patricia was being so ridiculous about this whole ordeal. Not that he considered it an ordeal. Situation, more like. Even after meeting Nina very briefly, he knew she wasn't the type to mess with Patricia by writing a message on the mirror from her "missing" best friend.

Though… he had no idea about the other one. Then again, no one seemed to know anything about her. She had come down to dinner last night and then left in embarrassment within thirty seconds. He couldn't quite blame the girl, though. He was sure he'd be embarrassed if it had been him. He just wouldn't have shown it.

"Where are they anyway?" Patricia spoke up. Jerome looked around. Neither new girl was downstairs with them.

"Gone into school early, I think," Fabian said sadly. Again, he couldn't help but think about the way the two new girls were being treated. The house as a whole had not been kind to them.

"Oh, so they're geeks as well as everything else, are they?" Patricia taunted.

"I think it's probably more about getting away from us!" Fabian said. Everyone looked at him. "I mean, we've hardly been very welcoming. We don't even know the other girl's name."

"I know," Mara agreed. "I was thinking that too. I feel a bit mean."

Jerome rolled his eyes and Patricia's jaw dropped. She couldn't believe they were feeling bad about not welcoming the two girls. There was nothing to feel bad about! They were in on Joy's disappearance!

Patricia was sure of it. And she was going to prove it.

~)8(~

Nina and Cameron walked away from Anubis House, their bags over their shoulders and their new school uniforms on. Cameron thought the skirt was a little short for comfort, but she could deal with it. Maybe she'd start wearing tights underneath.

The American girls had planned to walk to school together, neither of them wanting to face their housemates. Especially Patricia. So they'd snuck down to the kitchen, grabbed a pair of apples for themselves, and headed off.

Or at least, they were going to. Until they spotted an old woman sitting on a bench just in front of Anubis House.

"Are you okay?" Nina gasped. She and Cameron rushed over to the woman. Nina grabbed her hand and worriedly began to check her over.

"That's my house," the woman said. There was a happy gleam in her eye as she gazed at Anubis House, as if she were remembering her childhood.

"Uh, I don't think so. It's a school," Nina told the woman. Cameron took the other spot on the bench on the woman's left. She looked around. Where had she come from?

"No, that's my house," the woman insisted.

Cameron and Nina exchanged looks. She must've been so terribly confused, the poor woman.

"Okay, it's your house," Cameron said.

"But maybe you could tell us where you really live and we could take you back," Nina suggested. "Oh, here. You'll get cold." Nina took off her school jacket and wrapped it around the woman's shoulders.

The woman looked at Nina like she was an angel.

"It's you, isn't it?" she breathed.

The American girl paused, but the old woman paid her no mind and instead turned to Cameron. If she'd looked at Nina like she was an angel, then she looked at Cameron like she was a goddess.

"And you, as well! It's you! I knew you'd come."

Cameron and Nina exchanged confused looks.

"Uh…" Nina started, "I'm sorry, we don't know —"

"Sarah! Sarah, my name is Sarah!" the woman exclaimed. She grasped the two girls' hands and smiled at them.

"Okay, Sarah," Nina said. "Why don't you come inside for a cup of coffee?"

Sarah became frantic.

"I can't go in there," she said. Sarah looked back at Anubis House with fear, all the fondness from earlier long gone. "He's waiting. He's always waiting."

Cameron soothed Sarah's hand with her own, concerned.

"It's okay, Sarah," she said. "We don't have to go inside."

"Why don't you wait here with my friend and I'll go bring someone back," Nina said.

"Are you coming back?" Sarah asked, fearful of a bad answer. Cameron squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"Yeah! Yeah, yeah. Just stay with my friend."

With that, Nina left to go find someone. Sarah watched her go, a scared expression on her face. But when Cameron began soothing her again, she relaxed.

"Sarah, I'm not leaving. I'm going to stay here with you, okay?" Cameron soothed. Sarah relaxed into her, gripping her hand tight.

"Thank you, Bastian."

Cameron paused. That was not her name, but she didn't bother to say anything. Poor woman. She must've been so scared and confused.

So instead, Cameron spoke idly to the woman. She told Sarah how she'd moved from America, all about her big brother, all about her favorite books. Sarah barely noticed as the minutes ticked by, and in no time, Nina returned with someone in tow. A woman. Together, the three women took Sarah back to the old folks' home just down the road.

"It's not like you to go wandering, Emily," the woman said as they entered the home.

Nina and Cameron adopted confused expressions and Sarah put her finger to her lips, telling them to keep quiet. The woman addressed the two American teens. "She's rather confused as you've probably realized. But she's not normally a sprinter."

"That's Anubis House!" Nina exclaimed. Cameron followed her and saw a painting of Anubis House on the wall. "She said she used to live there."

The caretaker laughed.

"I don't think so. Although, with someone of these old dears, you never know." Nina and Cameron rejoined her. "Truth is, we know very little about Emily's background. Isn't that right, Emily?"

"There's no need to shout. I'm not deaf, you know," Sarah, or Emily, or whatever, said.

Nina and Cameron gave small laughs and followed along as the caretaker took her charge back to her bedroom. The caretaker sat her charge down in her chair and spread a warm blanket over her lap.

"There, that's better isn't it, Emily?"

"No."

Cameron snorted, causing Sarah/Emily to smirk, but the caretaker simply ignored the older woman. She addressed the two students.

"Now, you got time for a cup of tea or something before you get back?"

Cameron and Nina exchanged a look before smiling.

"We doubt anyone's missing us," Nina told her, trying to sound nonchalant rather than sad. "Thanks, that would be nice."

The caretaker left the room.

Sarah/Emily immediately stood. "I've been waiting so long." The reverence and trust in her gaze returned. But she sounded so firm, so sure of herself, that Cameron wasn't quite sure the woman was as confused as she originally appeared. "Keeping the secret. Now it's your turn. Quick, take this."

The old woman stuffed a necklace into Nina's hands. Both girls gawked at it. It was gorgeous, with an antique, mysterious beauty to it. The necklace was a locket in the shape of an eye with a red jewel in the middle.

"But keep it well hidden," Sarah/Emily warned. "Or they'll take it away from you. They take everything away from you in the end."

She went to her dresser and dug something out of the very bottom drawer. A small, wooden box latched closed. She pressed the box into Cameron's hands, and looked at her with piercing, clear eyes. Her gaze was so piercing that Cameron could no longer believe she was confused. Cameron could no longer dismiss her. Cameron listened. She felt she had no choice.

"Open it when you're alone. Show no one. No one but you is allowed to see what's inside. It has been waiting for you, Bastian. It is yours now, and yours alone."

Cameron gripped the box tight, unsure that she wanted to know what was inside it. Even if it was meant for her.

And despite calling her "Bastian," Sarah seemed quite sure that it was, indeed, for her. And her alone.

Cameron slid the box into her bag and gripped Sarah's hand.

"Take them," she told the girls. "They will keep you safe. There's treasure hidden in that house. And only the two of you have the power to find and protect it. But you must be careful. There's danger in that house. Evil. It's a bad house. A dark house."

Nina and Cameron exchanged looks. But where Cameron seemed dangerously convinced, Nina seemed waveringly confused.

"Evil? Spooky, yes," Nina admitted, "but I don't know about evil. Emily, I don't think —"

"Sarah! My name is Sarah and I know you!" Sarah insisted.

"I'm sorry," Nina said, her voice quiet and sad. "We know what it's like to miss the place you come from."

"And you know me, Nina! You know me, Cameron…"

Nina and Cameron froze. They had never told Sarah their names.

"How do you know our names?" Cameron asked, growing frightened.

"But you must beware the black bird," Sarah continued. "Do you hear me? Beware the black bird."

Cameron shivered. She'd seen the raven inside Victor's office. And though it was creepy, it was stuffed.

The thought did little to comfort Cameron.

As the two girls eventually left for school, both contemplating what had happened, Cameron couldn't help but wonder…

If Sarah had known that her name was Cameron… then why did she call her Bastian?

Why Bastian?

~)8(~

Cameron managed to put Sarah and the strange encounter from her mind enough to concentrate on her first day of school. By the end of classes, she had learned who all her housemates were, and which ones to avoid.

Patricia was a given. Lousy witch.

Jerome didn't seem awfully friendly either.

When classes finally ended, Cameron rushed back to Anubis House and took the precious minutes she had alone to open Sarah's box.

The box itself was exquisite — dark hardwood covered in carvings and hieroglyphs. But it was what was inside the box that truly caught Cameron's attention.

A necklace.

Cameron carefully lifted it out of the box, the long golden chain clinking quietly. There was no charm, no pendant, nor a locket like Nina's. Rather, it was a key.

A skeleton key.

The key was golden, heavy, and big, fitting perfectly in Cameron's palm. The stem was the shape of an Egyptian Ankh, and the bit was normal, like any old skeleton key.

Simple, but beautiful.

And oh, so very strange.

Cameron couldn't even begin to fathom why Sarah had given her this, let alone why she needed it, or why it was hers, and hers alone.

But as she heard the front door open, Cameron knew she didn't have the time to ponder it. So she slipped the chain over her neck and the key down her blouse before starting on the day's homework.

~)8(~

That night, Nina, Patricia, and Cameron were all fast asleep. But Nina was tossing and turning, fitful with nightmares.

Sarah, black bird, treasure, danger, evil, house, Corbiere, Victor, Cameron.

"Beware the black birds! Beware the black birds!"

A shrill caw woke Nina up, and she found herself covered with black feathers. She felt her heart leap with panic, until she realized the caw had come from Patricia, and the feathers had come from her black boa.

"What are you doing?" Nina asked tiredly. She brushed the feathers off herself.

"Nothing," Patricia sneered. "You woke me up."

Nina felt bad for exactly one second. Then Patricia began making fun of her again. The mocking was starting to get old.

Nina scowled, but turned off the light and settled back down. She glanced down at the locket Sarah had given her and opened it.

There was a picture inside.

Nina briefly glanced over at Patricia before grabbing her phone and sliding it open. Using the light, she studied the picture.

It was a young girl. A young girl who rather looked a lot like Sarah.

Maybe she really had been telling the truth.

Nina eventually fell back to sleep, a peaceful one this time. But what she didn't know, was that just across the room, Cameron was having the same nightmare she just had.

Sarah, black bird, treasure, danger, evil, house, Corbiere, Victor, Nina.

~)8(~

"I wish I could've seen her face when she woke up just covered in feathers," Jerome commented the next morning at breakfast. Patricia told him all about Nina's apparent nightmare and what she'd done with the boa. He, Patricia, and Alfie laughed together at the thought.

"Was it like this?" Alfie asked before making a ridiculously shocked face.

The three of them laughed harder.

"Hey, guys, I have an idea that really will give her and the other one nightmares," Patricia said.

"Oh, yeah? What's that?" Jerome asked.

Suddenly, Alfie shushed them, because Nina and the other girl came in.

Jerome, Alfie, and Fabian stared at her, finally seeing her for the first time. She was about 5'7", with a petite build. Her thick hair was pulled into a high ponytail and a rich caramel color. She was pale, with a smattering of freckles across her cheeks and nose. Her eyes were a dark, coffee brown.

She was really pretty.

All three boys snapped out of their staring when Patricia started making fun of Nina again for her dream. Fabian wanted to tell them off, but simply shook his head instead.

He saw the other girl's eyes widen at the taunts, but she quickly dropped the look and sat herself down across from him.

"Ignore them," Fabian told Nina.

"I am," she replied.

"So, what was this dream anyway?" Fabian asked her. He was curious.

"It was awful," Nina admitted. "I know they're making jokes, but it felt so real. It felt… evil."

"Nina, what exactly was the dream?" the other girl asked. Fabian was startled to hear her speak. She'd been so quiet before.

"Just something about a black bird," Nina said. Fabian was confused, but the other girl seemed to understand. Fabian felt like he had missed something. But whatever it was, had the other girl looking a little frightened.

Nina noticed. "What is it, Cam?"

"I had a similar dream," the girl, Cam, breathed. Nina gasped, but Fabian wasn't so quick to believe it.

"Are you serious?" he asked. She looked at him with sharp eyes.

"Why would I joke about that?" she asked him.

Fabian immediately apologized. Cam was not Alfie or Jerome. She wouldn't joke about something like that, especially if she and Nina were friends.

"I'm Cameron, by the way."

Fabian shook her outstretched hand.

"Fabian Rutter," he introduced. She gave him a thin smile before turning back to her cereal.

"Anyone seen Mara?" Amber came into the dining room. "She's got my hair straighteners."

"Yeah, she's with Mick in our room," Fabian said. Mara was helping Mick with their biology assignment.

"What?" Amber exclaimed.

"Uh-oh. Green-eyed monster alert," Jerome quipped.

"I mean…" Amber back-tracked, trying (and failing) to seem okay with it. "I'm not jealous." Amber came and sat down between Cameron and Jerome. "Why would I be jealous? What is there to be jealous of?"

"She's helping him with homework," Fabian reassured her. "That's all."

"Yeah, I know all about that, and it's cool," Amber said. No one believed her. She was practically radiating jealousy. "I would help him but I'm just so busy." Amber pushed her blonde hair behind her shoulder and Jerome mimicked it dramatically, making Patricia and Alfie snicker. Amber looked at Nina and Cameron. "I see you two haven't sneaked out at the crack of dawn today."

"Wow, everyone really does keep tabs on everyone around here, don't they?" Nina said sarcastically.

"Fabian said you'd gone into school early, but then you didn't turn up for first class," Amber said.

"Nina and Cameron were helping an old lady across the road," Trudy explained, coming into the dining room. "Literally. We had a surprise visitor from the old people's home."

"I'm not very good with old people," Amber commented. "They're all so… old… aren't they?" Fabian choked on his orange juice and Cameron bit her lip to keep from laughing. No one else was that subtle.

"Really?" Jerome shook his head at the blonde.

"Still, Nina, you must be used to it. Trudy said your gran brought you up," Amber continued.

"She did," Nina replied with a nod.

"What happened to your mom and dad?" Amber asked. She turned to Cameron. "And what about yours?"

Both Americans became uncomfortable, though for very different reasons.

"Oh, Amber, Queen of Tact," Jerome commented.

Nina ignored him. "They died in a car accident." Both girls knew that Amber hadn't meant any offense, especially when they saw her face fall with genuine apology.

"Oh," Amber said, sincerely remorseful. "That's awful."

"It was a long time ago," Nina said. "My gran and I are really close."

"So how come she's packed you off to a big, bad boarding school miles away from home then?" Patricia mocked. She turned on Cameron. "And what about you? Do your parents not want you?"

Alfie snickered, but Jerome didn't. He noticed the way Cameron's expression hardened at Patricia's snide comment. He wondered if the jab had been a bit more on the nose than she wanted to admit.

"Sounds to me like they wanted to get rid —"

"Patricia! Don't be such a witch!" Fabian jumped on her, incredulous and horrified that she would say something so awful. That was taking it too far. "I know you're upset about Joy but that is no reason to be taking all of this out on Nina and Cameron!"

"Yeah, well, everyone seems to have forgotten all about Joy except me."

With that, Patricia stood and marched away.

~)8(~

"Your biology assignments, please!" Mr. Sweet called through the classroom as the bell rang. He was the headmaster of the school as well as the science teacher. "And no excuses this time," he added to Mick. The jock handed in the assignment with a cross of his fingers and Mr. Sweet began collecting the others.

"Hey, Nina, Cameron." Patricia approached them. The two American girls and Fabian paused. "I just wanted to say, you know, sorry about breakfast."

Both Nina and Cameron knew she didn't mean it, but accepted the apology anyway.

"It's fine," Nina told her. "A little teasing helps the tea and toast go down."

"Oh, and I think it's about time we welcomed you into the school properly," Patricia continued as Alfie and Jerome flanked her. "The traditional way."

"What are you going on about?" Fabian asked. He had no idea what they were talking about, but he had a feeling. And if he was right, then this was not going to be kind to Nina and Cameron.

"Alfie, why don't you tell Nina and Cameron about the initiation ceremony," Patricia suggested.

Fabian's eyes widened. "The what?!"

Alfie ignored him. "Yeah, every new person who comes to this school has to undergo like…" Alfie trailed off. "An initiation ceremony."

"Since when?" Fabian demanded.

"Since forever, Fabian!" Patricia said through her teeth.

"What are you trying to —"

"It's okay," Nina cut off Fabian. "Sounds like fun. What do we have to do?"

Patricia, Alfie, and Jerome told them they'd find out back at the house, then left the classroom.

"There is no initiation ceremony, is there?" Cameron asked Fabian quietly.

"No, there isn't," he confirmed.

Cameron nodded. She had been expecting that.

~)8(~

"So, Nina and Cameron's initiation takes place tomorrow night, okay?" Patricia told everyone at dinner. "At midnight."

"The witching hour!" Alfie let out a cliché evil laugh.

"Alfie, cut it out," Fabian scolded.

"Tell me, Fabian," Jerome started. "Does it get boring always being the one who's like, 'Cut it out,' or 'That's not right,' or, 'That is bad?'"

Fabian gave a humorless laugh. "No."

"What do they have to do?" Amber asked about the initiation.

"Go up to the spooky attic and bring something back to prove they've been," Alfie said. Nina and Cameron exchanged looks. Didn't Victor say the attic was off-limits?

"You're going up to the attic?" Amber asked.

"Sure, why not?" Nina said. "I mean, it's not like its —"

"Totally haunted."

Cameron rolled her eyes, but Nina looked nervous.

"Really?"

"Yeah, she's right," Jerome piped up. "By the ghosts of former students who went up there, never to return." Jerome and Alfie cackled, and Nina grew more nervous.

"Getting cold feet?" Patricia taunted. Nina quickly masked her nerves and shook her head.

"Not at all."

"Just one question," Cameron spoke up. "Why aren't we doing it tonight?"

"Oh, we've got something else planned for you tonight," Patricia said with a smirk. Fabian muttered something under his breath, but Patricia continued. "The key. They can't go up into the attic without the key. They have to steal it from Victor."

"Or I could just pick the lock," Cameron suggested. Fabian and Nina laughed. Cameron even saw Jerome hiding a laugh. Patricia merely shook her head.

"You either steal the key or don't complete initiation," Patricia said. "And you'll never live it down if you don't complete it. So, which is it going to be?"

"So what you're saying is that if I don't do this, you'll taunt and bully me?" Cameron snarked. "You're already doing that anyway."

Alfie "oohed" and Jerome outright laughed.

Cameron normally wouldn't be so snide, but Patricia was really starting to grate on her nerves.

Still though, however bad Patricia was, Cameron's parents would always be worse. She could put up with Patricia's cattiness for as long as needed.

Jerome threw an arm over Cameron's shoulder as Patricia scowled.

"You know what I think, Miss Zack?" Cameron raised an eyebrow. "I think I am going to enjoy having you around."

Cameron rolled her eyes and turned back to her food, ignoring the arm around her. She'd noted earlier that Jerome didn't seem like the friendliest of her housemates, but he was definitely better than Patricia. Still, she wasn't quite sure what to think of Jerome yet. She'd gotten an impression of all her housemates — Nina, Fabian, Mick, Amber, and Mara all seemed like nice people. Even Alfie, who may have been a prankster, but a goofy, fun-loving one rather than a mean one.

And she knew she didn't like Patricia.

But Jerome — she wasn't sure about him yet.

~)8(~

"See the bunch of keys on the desk next to Victor?" Alfie asked. He, Nina, Cameron, Jerome, and Patricia were all standing on the landing across from Victor's office. Dinner had come and gone, and now it was time for Nina and Cameron to steal the attic key for their initiation.

"Yeah," Nina replied. Cameron nodded. Alfie had figured out she was pretty quiet. Not shy, though. Oh, no, definitely not shy judging by the way she talked back to Patricia earlier. Just quiet.

"Those are the master keys," Alfie continued explaining. "He carries them with him everywhere he goes. So you'll never get them." Both Nina and Cameron gave him looks. Were they being sent on an impossible mission?

"But," Patricia interjected, "there is a key box on the wall just beside him."

"Yea, he keeps a spare set of every single key in there," Jerome said.

"What are you lot looking at?" Victor suddenly boomed at them. Everyone but Cameron shuffled around uncomfortably as Victor stalked towards them.

"Sir, we were just trying —" Jerome tried.

"We were just admiring your coat," Nina cut him off. Everyone stared at her. "Is it vintage?"

Victor didn't answer, and Alfie spoke.

"Yes! Just as I thought, this floor… it could… use a polish."

Alfie trailed off as Victor loomed over him.

"Hmmm," Victor mused. "Yes. In that case, please feel free to polish it, Alfie." Victor picked Alfie up by the arm and dragged him down the stairs. Nina turned to go into Victor's office, but stopped.

Cameron was already in there unlocking the key box.

Nina, Patricia, and Jerome gaped as Cameron simply grabbed the spare attic key, locked the box again, and calmly placed the master keys back on Victor's desk. She nonchalantly strode back out of the office like nothing happened.

Everyone still gawked at her.

"What?" she asked. Cameron held up the spare attic key. "I got the key."

"How did you do that?" Nina breathed. Cameron shrugged.

"I'm quiet and I stay calm. Being calm makes things go faster, not slower. If you're nervous or in a rush, you tend to make mistakes."

Cameron made sure to leave out the part where she learned to sneak around back in New York. Her parents hadn't approved of her chosen career, and she got used to sneaking out of the flat at night in order to see her editor.

"That… was amazing," Jerome breathed. He was staring at her like he was seeing her in a whole new light.

And he was. Just looking at her, one would peg her as a total sweetheart. She was wearing a baggy sweater and black leggings with flats. Her hair was currently in a high ponytail. All you had to do was add glasses and Cameron would look like a stereotypical bookworm. But she was nothing like that. Cameron was sarcastic, sneaky, and not afraid to speak her mind. When she did speak, of course. Jerome had to admit, she was pretty quiet. Cameron stuffed the key into the pocket of her sweater as Victor came back upstairs. He scowled at them all one last time before retreating into his office.

"That was lucky, very lucky," Jerome commented. Alfie looked at Cameron and nodded like he respected her for getting the key. He didn't even seem to notice all the cleaning supplies in his arms.

"We'll see how lucky they are tomorrow night when they go up into that attic," Patricia said. She had a sour look on her face, and Cameron had to resist the urge to smirk. Apparently, Patricia had not been expecting Cameron to get the spare key so easily.

And it felt amazing to knock Patricia down a peg.

~)8(~

"The calls were going to Joy's voicemail, but now I'm just getting an unobtainable signal," Patricia ranted to Jerome as they walked into class the next day. "What does that mean?"

"It just means, Patricia, that she's gotten fed up with you bombarding her with messages and texts and now she's changed her phone contract," Jerome deadpanned. He sat down at a table in the back with Alfie, noting that Cameron sat by herself as Nina sat down beside Fabian.

"All the world's a stage."

Everyone turned to the back of the classroom, and all the girls proceeded to gawk.

There sat an unfamiliar man in his twenties — brunette and slim and handsome.

"And the men and women merely players," he continued. He smiled at them, and every girl's heart skipped a beat. "Hey. My name is Jason Winkler. And I'm your new history teacher. I'll also be teaching drama."

The female excitement grew.

"You're Mr. Fleming's replacement?" Mara asked.

"Yeah, that's right," Mr. Winkler confirmed, still smiling.

All the girls in the room continued to stare. Mr. Winkler began to grow uncomfortable and moved to the front of the class.

"Wow! I am so pleased he had a heart attack!" Amber cried. The entire class burst into laughter, and Amber went pink. "Sorry, that didn't come out right."

Mr. Winkler gracefully moved past this and started the lesson for the day. He began passing out a syllabus of topics they would cover over the course of the year. When Cameron received hers, it was coupled with a folded note from Mr. Winkler.

Mr. Sweet has told me all about your scholarship and writing. Don't worry, I

won't tell anyone. Let me know if there's anything I can do for you.

-Jason Winkler

Cameron felt a rush of warmth flood through her. She gave him a small, thankful smile and stuffed the note into her bag before anyone could ask about it. She knew all the staff would support her, but to receive a direct affirmation of that was nice.

Cameron wasn't ready for people to know about her writing. Not yet, anyway. She knew people would find out at some point, but she wasn't ready for that.

Still, it was nice to know that she could talk about it with someone. Even if it was a new teacher.

~)8(~

Nina, Fabian, and Cameron were sitting at a lab table in science class, none of them really paying attention while Sweetie droned on and on about Pascal's law. Nina was staring at her locket and Cameron was absentmindedly writing in her notebook.

"That's nice," Fabian commented about Nina's locket. "Does it have a photo inside?"

"No!" Nina immediately stuffed the locket into her sweater, unwilling to talk about it. Cameron knew she was lying. Nina had showed her the photo, but she didn't say anything. It wasn't her place to tell Fabian about the locket and where Nina had gotten it.

"I'm sorry, I was only making conversation," Fabian apologized. Sweetie came up behind him.

"Mr. Rutter," he scolded. "Fari argentums aurum tacere. Which means what? Anyone?"

"Silence is golden," Cameron answered.

Everyone stared at her in surprise as she translated the Latin phrase.

"Correct," Sweetie complimented.

"Mr. Sweet?" Patricia asked. He turned to her.

"Yes, Patricia?"

"I've been meaning to ask about the school photo." Everyone either sighed or rolled their eyes. They all knew where this was going.

"I fail to see how that applies to Pascal's Law," Sweetie commented. He also knew where this was going.

"Why has Joy been erased from the photo?"

"Uh-oh…" Alfie put his finger to his ear, mimicking an earpiece. "Crazy conspiracy alert."

"That is a ridiculous notion, Patricia," Sweetie subtly agreed with Alfie. The bell rang and everyone began to pack up their things.

"Just one moment, please!" Sweetie called through the classroom. "I have your last assignments here." Sweetie took the pile of assignments and began passing them out. Cameron, Nina, and Fabian went up to receive their assignments. Fabian had an A, Nina had an A-, and Cameron, to their surprise, had an A+.

"Fabian, wait," Nina called as the three walked out of the classroom. "I'm sorry if I acted weird before. You've been so nice to me and it was kind of —"

"Rude?" Fabian suggested.

"Well, I was going to say 'snippy,' but, yeah, okay, rude works too."

"It's okay," Fabian assured her. He had a smile on his face that made Cameron feel like she was third-wheeling. It was obvious Fabian and Nina already liked each other. Though, Cameron didn't blame Nina. Fabian was really nice, smart, and kind of cute too with his boyish face and dark hair.

Still, Cameron could never picture herself feeling that way about Fabian. Actually, the only person she could picture herself crushing on was Mick. They'd officially met each other that morning on their runs, and they'd clicked. But Mick was pretty hooked on Amber, and Cameron thought they were adorable.

"Look, you two aren't seriously going to go through with this initiation nonsense, are you?" Fabian asked the American girls. Nina looked at his sheepishly and Cameron shrugged. "You don't have to, you know."

"Yeah, I do," Nina said. "I'll never live it down if they think I'm scared."

"And if Nina goes, I go," Cameron commented. She slung an arm around the girl's shoulder and smiled. "We Americans have got to stick together."

Nina laughed and put her arm around Cameron's waist. They smiled at each other before facing Fabian.

"You two are tougher than you look. Especially you, Cam." Fabian had taken up Nina's nickname for Cameron. And admittedly, she liked it. No one had ever given her a nickname besides Matt, and he called her "squirt," so it wasn't the same.

Admittedly, Cameron's start at Anubis House had been rocky, but she was really starting to feel at home.

"I think I speak for both of us when I say you mean we're willing to do anything to survive in the dangerous world of English boarding schools."

Fabian laughed and the trio walked to their next class together.

~)8(~

Cameron and the rest of the class watched as Alfie took a deep breath and let it out, calming himself. Cameron was reminded of Sharpay Evans. They were all currently in drama class and Alfie was getting ready to impersonate something. Seeing as this was Alfie, no one had any idea what to expect.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

The nasal, bug sound Alfie emitted sent the entire room into laughter. Alfie darted back and forth, flapping his hands like wings and happily squealing as he went. Cameron let out a laugh. Alfie certainly was amusing, that was for sure. She had decided that she liked him. Alfie came and got in Cameron's face briefly. She swatted him away with a smile and he moved on.

"Thanks, Alfie." Amber smacked him with her magazine. "Some of us are here to learn." Alfie merely continued on with his impersonation.

"And what exactly are you supposed to be, Alfie?" Mr. Winkler asked.

"A mosquito in a spin dryer, isn't it obvious?" Everyone laughed amusedly. Cameron glanced up from where she was sitting at Fabian's feet. He was shaking his head, but had a small smile on his face.

Cameron nudged him knowingly. He thought it was funny too.

"Now something a little more serious," Mr. Winkler said. "Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet." Mr. Winkler handed Cameron half the books and she helped him pass them out. "Timeless. Tragic."

"Tedious," Alfie muttered.

Mr. Winkler began assigning partners and scenes. Alfie and Amber were up first.

"O, Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?" Amber recited. "Deny thy father and refuse thy name. If thou wilt not, be but sworn my love and I'll no longer be a Capulet."

"Shall I hear more or shall I speak at this?" Alfie was far more dramatic in his recitation.

"'Tis but thy name that is my enemy; thou art…" Amber trailed off, and everyone frowned in confusion, "thou art… truly the yummiest boy I've ever seen, Romeo."

"What?" Alfie cried.

"That's not in the script, Amber!" Mr. Winkler scolded. Amber ignored him and dropped her book. Then, to the shock of everyone in the class, she planted a big kiss on Alfie.

Everyone's jaws dropped.

Some people cheered. Some people gasped. Jerome laughed. Cameron simply ignored all of them and looked back at Mick. He and Amber were dating! What was she thinking?

And, oh, man, Mick did not look happy.

Cameron bit her lip. This would not end well.

~)8(~

That night, Nina and Cameron stayed up with Patricia, waiting for midnight to strike. When it did, Jerome and Alfie snuck into their bedroom. They and Patricia lit up their flashlights and pointed them at the American students.

"Are you Nina Martin and Cameron Zack?" Patricia interrogated.

"Yes," both girls answered.

"Is there anyone here who can confirm this?" Patricia asked.

Alfie and Jerome looked at Patricia, amused at her antics, while Nina and Cameron exchanged looks.

"Us?" they offered.

"Are you for real?" Alfie asked Patricia, laughing with Jerome. Patricia quickly shushed them and got in the two girls' faces.

"Nina Martin and Cameron Zack. You are here to prove that you are brave enough to live at Anubis House. Swear on the graves of all your ancestors that you will never, ever tell a living soul about tonight."

Cameron swallowed hard at something Patricia said, but Jerome couldn't quite figure out what was making her so uncomfortable. So he didn't say anything.

"I swear," Nina said.

"I swear," Cameron repeated.

That was that.

Patricia led Nina and Cameron out of the room, holding the flashlight up to her face. Alfie and Jerome walked behind them, silhouetting themselves in the same fashion. Fabian, Amber, and Mara stood on either side of the hallway, also holding flashlights to their faces. Mick was not there. Cameron knew why. He didn't agree with the whole initiation thing and refused to take part in it. Not to mention the whole thing with Amber and Alfie had left him in a pretty foul mood.

When Amber asked Fabian where Mick was, Patricia shushed her.

"O, spirits of Anubis House, guide the new girls on their initiation quest to keep them from harm in the haunted attic," Patricia chanted.

"Come on, this is ridiculous," Fabian burst. Patricia shushed him.

Cameron saw Jerome and Alfie laughing at Patricia behind her back. She was glad to know that she wasn't the only one who thought this whole thing was ridiculous.

"Unlock the door," Patricia instructed.

Nina and Cameron stepped forward, and Nina pulled out the key. Since Cameron had stolen it, the girls agreed that Nina would keep it safe. Both of them stepped forward and Nina inserted the key into the lock.

"We just have to go up there and bring something back?" Nina asked. "And then we're done? I mean, you guys didn't booby trap the place or anything, did you?"

"Of course not! Go. One item for each of you," Patricia clarified.

Cameron nodded, and Nina unlocked the door. Slowly, the door opened, and the girls were forced to stare at the dark staircase before them. Cameron was the first to move, and Nina followed her in. They slowly walked up the stairs, but turned back around when they heard their housemates talking.

The next thing they knew, the attic door was slammed shut and locked.

Cameron mentally sighed. She should've expected Patricia to do something like this.

"Hey! What's going on? Let us out!" Nina cried. She tried to open the door, but it wouldn't budge.

"Come on, Patricia, let us out!" Cameron exclaimed.

"You heard them, let them out!" Fabian backed them up.

"Not until you tell us what you know about Joy's disappearance," Patricia said.

"Nothing, Patricia," Cameron sighed. "We don't know anything. Now let us out!"

"No. You'll have to stay in there until morning."

Cameron couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"All right, Patricia, you've had your fun, now just unlock the door," Fabian said.

"Yeah, Patricia. This is getting silly," Mara agreed.

"Whose side are you on?" Patricia demanded. "Last chance, newbies. What can you tell me about Joy?"

"Nothing! We know nothing!" Nina cried.

"You're not really going to leave them in there all night, are you?" Fabian asked incredulously. No one on the other side of the door was aware of the noises Nina and Cameron were hearing.

"Hey, let us out!" Nina cried. "There's something up there!"

"Open the door!" Amber hissed.

"The zombies are coming," Alfie said. Everyone, including Jerome, began telling Patricia to open the door.

This wasn't funny anymore.

"What is all this noise?" a voice boomed.

It was Victor.

Nina and Cameron fell deathly silent. There was a click, and light filtered in under the sealed door. Cameron tapped Nina's arm and pointed to the stairs leading up. The girls silently scurried up the stairs. They didn't take time to admire their surroundings.

They needed a place to hide. Victor was coming for them.


Hey guys! Thanks for reading! Let me know what you guys thought of the chapter :)

Sammiemoosam