Chapter Ten: When She's Scared

Disclaimer: I don't own House of Anubis.

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When she's scared...

Patricia looked up from the tiny piece of paper in her hand, to Amber, who stood in the middle of the hallway, laughing, and brushing her hair. Patricia rolled her eyes, closed the locker, and walked over to Amber, shoving the paper in her face.

"Another mystery?" Patricia knew she shouldn't expect less, and at least this year wouldn't be straining her relationship with Eddie, but still, she almost preferred learning, over life-threatening tasks. And the identical Sibuna invites as last years, were slightly intimidating.

"No, not really." Amber beamed as Nina walked by them, and was sucked into their conversation. Pulling her bag over her shoulder, and letting out a sigh, Nina handed her invitation to Amber as well. "See." Amber looked between her two friends. "I thought that we needed time to talk things over with everyone. We need to figure stuff out."

Nina knew that Eddie was going to need to get used to the entire thing, but she didn't believe that they needed to meet in the clearing for it. And then it made sense.

"Millington!" Jerome threw his invite at Amber, who didn't manage to catch it, but watched it spin to the ground. Nina, Patricia, and Amber, looked up at the tall blond, who clearly had more to say. "I don't think that we should all be leaving Mara alone in the house."

"Jerome." Amber glared at him. "We talked about this. Sibuna functioned as five people, we are already forced to have Eddie in the group, and if you don't want to be part of it than don't, but I'm not going to listen to you, or Joy, try to convince me to let Mara in. She's been oblivious to the whole thing, and if we have to tell her we will, but as of right now – we're focused on you. Join or not. I couldn't care less." Amber huffed, crossed her arms, and turned back to face Nina and Patricia.

"You invited them?" Nina hissed, once Jerome was out of ear shot.

"I gave them an opportunity." Amber stated matter-of-factly. "Besides, you and Joy need some bonding time, and it's not like she wasn't involved in this entire mystery thing. She was kidnapped by her own parents, and died last year!"

"She wasn't kidnapped." Patricia rolled her eyes. "And, technically she didn't die. I mean, she's alive now."

"Do you want her to be a part of this or not?" Amber asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Whatever."

"Okay fine," Nina turned to Amber. "If Jerome and Joy want to join, then they can. I'm not going to argue – I'll support either decision."

"Thank you. Nina." Amber smiled, looking at Patricia.

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"Finally decided to show up did you?" Amber yelled across to Eddie. "You weren't the one given a choice to come. And the people who were, actually showed up!"

Eddie ran down hill, jumping over a log in his path, and finally settling next to Patricia. "Sorry, Amber. I'm still getting used to this."

"You mean getting used to having a schedule?" Patricia mocked.

"Shush Yacker." Eddie nudged Patricia's shoulder lightly, both of them breaking out into a smile.

"I have all day you two." Amber crossed her arms impatiently, glaring down at the couple. They immediately stopped, and returned their attention to the blond, who satisfactorily began pacing back and forth. "So, Jerome, Joy, are you two in?" Amber circled the fire pit in the middle of the circle the group had formed.

"I'm in." Joy grinned, glancing over at Jerome, who stood uncomfortably in his position.

"I guess I'm in, but, isn't it kind of unfair that I have to hide this from Mara?"

"You didn't seem to find it unfair when Patricia was hiding it from me." Eddie retorted.

"I wasn't really part of it then." Jerome urged.

"Okay you two, enough!" Amber burst. "Listen, we don't have time for details. Remember Eddie, Patricia, you don't have to hide Sibuna from each other anymore. Jerome, also, be aware that if Mara happens to find out, or get in a situation involving Sibuna, we will consider telling her."

Jerome gave the group a reluctant nod, which received him a pat on the shoulder from Alfie.

"Now," Fabian let go of Nina's hand, as he advanced towards the middle of the circle. "You have to sacrifice something really important to you."

"But Victor burned important stuff of mine already." Joy pestered.

"Not for Sibuna he didn't – now, Joy, what did you bring?"

Joy let out a sad sigh, as she lifted her copy of Twilight up to the group. Nina nodded at the brunet from across and then joining Fabian at his side, she asked Jerome what he brought. Jerome held up the envelope of the first letter his dad ever sent him and Poppy. The one that held the information that had torn Jerome apart, but changed him into a better person. Nina was reluctant to accept this, but still, watched the two throw their sacrifices into the blazing fire.

"What about Eddie?" Patricia asked, looking at Nina.

"You're not helping me by talking." Eddie whispered to her.

"Eddie can just sacrifice normality. I mean sure, Sibuna took a toll on all of us, but, Eddie still has to learn how to handle our… destinies."

Eddie rolled his eyes at Nina, "Thanks for the reassurance."

Nina smiled impishly at her fellow American, and then grabbed for Fabian's hand, leading him back to join the perimeter of the circle.

"Okay everyone. Now we're going to go back to the library. I think we need to get a look at the tunnels one last time."

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"Move Amber!"

"Will you be quiet Alfie?"

"You two shut up!"

"You're not being any better Jerome!"

"Why are you arguing? Just get your butts out of my face!"

"Seriously guys, we don't have time for this."

"Fabian stop being so rational!"

"Gosh Eddie, maybe you should stop being so bossy and let loose!"

"I'm sorry but I like to live. Keep in mind, YOLO."

"Joy! Go, I'm getting cramped back here!"

"I'm not in the front. Patricia is!"

"Patricia!"

Patricia didn't move. She stood still, ignoring the fact that they had barley gotten anywhere, and were still hunched over in the front of the tunnels. She felt frozen. Her friends were talking, but she was positive something else was too. She never got overly-scared, and Patricia rarely got creeped out, but Sibuna tasks were different. They were reality, and she knew that being like unbreakable stone was impossible. She was scared. Her face paled, and a shiver was sent up her spine. Her friends stopped bickering, just to urge her to move forward, but Patricia was choosing to ignore them.

"Yacker what's up?" Eddie's voice was different though. He sounded worried. Was he hearing the voices too? She shook the thought of her idea, and turned to him.

"Don't you guys hear that?" The rest of her friends shook their heads, looking at her oddly. "Voices. Like Rufus's voice."

"Rufus is dead." Nina coaxed glancing worriedly at her friend.

"No." Patricia shook her head. "I mean I know. But, but he's hear. Listen." Sibuna strained their ears, but they couldn't hear anything.

Eddie let out a sigh, and although it was awkward and difficult, he made his way past the rest of the group, up to the front.

Grabbing onto her hand, and wrapping an arm around her back, Eddie lead the rest of the group, and his mildly nervous girlfriend down the rest of the current tunnel.

"Don't worry." Eddie noticed Patricia tense as his words ran down her neck, and into her ear. "I've got you. I'm here for you. I'll protect you." Eddie knew the rest of the group wasn't able to hear him, but he noticed Patricia relax, and a slight smile form on her lips.

She did know he would be there for her. Eddie was determined to keep her safe, even if she was going slightly insane.

…Protect her.

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A/N: Well…. I hoped you liked it! I've gotten a small head start on writing over the weekend, and will hopefully be able to post every other day or so this week. I'd love to hear what you guys thought – I appreciate each and every one of your amazing reviews ;)

~xFabinao