Chapter Ten: House of Flames/House of Passages
Georgie was reeling after listening to last night's recording...Victor. It couldn't be him though, there had to be some sort of logical explanation. Like he wanted to follow his father or grandfather...follow them very closely. But even still Georgie felt not quite right around him, and felt even worse when he became suspicious of the old chandelier being restored.
But it was Friday evening and the wonderful weekend was ahead. The gem atop of the latest puzzle piece was Nina's latest challenge, as it was extremely stiff and she was convinced it would screw right off to reveal another clue inside it. But that would take some muscle, and a few days to achieve that. If she was even right, too.
Jerome had been keeping up his playful flirting that he had suddenly started. It was very Jerome, Georgie reasoned, and it was fun to bite back but she really wanted this - whatever this was - to be something more. In fact, it was as if Jerome was almost making her want it by playing this game. It was certainly working. But then a part of her wanted Jerome to come to her first. That would be satisfying…
Walking past Patricia's bedroom, she heard her mutter, seemingly to herself, about ringing somebody. Georgie stopped and pressed her ear to the door.
"Patricia, I really don't think you should - " Oh so Mara was in there. She sounded troubled.
"Ssh Mara - oh, hello?" She must be on the phone now. "It's Patricia. Did you get Joy's photo?"
Who the hell is she talking to? "Good. No, I was actually calling about something else. I think I've found the Eye of Horus. Yeah thanks Rene, I'll try my best."
"How do you know you can trust this man?" Mara asked in disbelief.
"He's helping me find Joy, ok?" said Patricia. "And anyway, who else can I trust?"
Georgie scarpered when she heard Victor coming from his office. So, somebody is interested in helping Patricia find Joy? Why was he looking for ancient Egyptian artefacts? Did Mr Winkler give up, then, or perhaps did Victor dissuade him from helping? He has been acting slightly odd these last couple of days. Mara doesn't sound convinced, but then this is Mara. If Patricia really thought Joy was dead and the teachers and Victor are all scheming then she must be desperate...not that Georgie was getting soft and cared for Patricia all of a sudden but she wouldn't want her getting hurt by a stranger. Should she tell someone?
Sitting in bed now she bit her lip as Nina and Amber had already settled down for the night. Alongside hearing what was apparently Victor on the recording, nothing felt right. It was unsettling. And it was about to get worse…
"Georgie?" Amber whispered, creeping over to her.
"What?"
"Are you awake?"
"Obviously."
"Something happened earlier…" Amber sounded worried and no doubt would feel better if she told somebody else a secret. So the burden wasn't all hers; that sounds about right.
"What?" Georgie whispered, reaching to turn on her lamp as Amber sat on her bed.
"No, no, I don't want to wake Nina up!" Amber hissed.
"Ok...what's going on?" Georgie asked quietly.
"Well I caught Patricia sneaking around Nina's stuff. She had taken Nina's locket."
Georgie froze, hearing Patricia's voice echo in her mind: I think I've found the Eye of Horus. "Did she say why?"
"She said she had a good reason to borrow it, and then Nina walked in...I've kept it a secret." She sighed heavily.
"What! Why? Nina has a right to know that Patricia is after her locket," Georgie reasoned.
"They don't get along anyway, so it won't change anything...you won't tell Nina will you?" Amber pleaded and Georgie imagined through the darkness her puppy-dog eyes at play.
"Fine, seeing as it's not my secret to tell, but you should at some point."
Amber whispered a thank you and returned to her own bed. Georgie wondered why a random person apparently interested in Joy's disappearance wanted something with the Eye of Horus on, particularly as Nina's locket is related to the mystery of the House itself. What is going on?
During the weekend, Nina had joined her for netball practise at the local sports centre, and she did really well. Georgie wouldn't be surprised if she was picked for the team soon. Other than that, nothing out of the ordinary happened. Nina was still obsessed with the mystery, Amber was getting over Mick pretty well, and Patricia didn't try anything else. Georgie contemplated asking Mara what she knew but decided against it. As for Jerome, well, they were still playing the game, as Georgie called it in her head. He would flirt casually, or she would, and there would be the odd touch, or the look in each other's direction. But otherwise, there was no change. They both liked the chase, seeing who would break first.
Back at school on Monday, Fabian got the MP3 player confiscated by Mrs Andrews in French as he was listening to it during class, for some reason. He was getting obsessed too. That, or he wanted to impress Nina. Georgie turned as she felt eyes on her; it was Jerome, so she smiled and bit her lip, turning back to focus on her work.
"Let's face it, brother. I am so out of the babe race." It was break time, and Alfie put his legs on the table as he sighed. Jerome again looked Georgie's way. She was sharing some snacks with Nina, Fabian and Amber and laughed at something. He smiled. Alfie grinned at this. "Are you going to ask Georgie on another date? It's about time, don't you think?"
Jerome turned his attention back to his friend. "Maybe. But let's think about you for a second. Amber's mad about you, mate. She just doesn't know it yet."
"Ok. So what's your latest big idea, Casanova?"
"'If music be the food of love, play on.'"
"I'll...play her some music," Alfie said uncertainly, guessing what Jerome meant.
"No!"
"Oh! I know - I'll write her some music! A song for Amber, yeah?" Alfie said, practically bouncing up and down in his seat.
"You see I was thinking a sonnet," Jerome finally explained. "Poetry."
"My song will be poetry man," Alfie said confidently. "A tune to end all tunes. Oh yeah, I'm getting the vibe already." He grabbed his musical instrument to prove it: a kazoo from his pocket, playing a terrible melody, causing Jerome to laugh some more. Well, Alfie is trying…
After school, Georgie sat by Nina and Fabian in the girl's bedroom, with Amber at her mirror. Where else?
"Any luck?" Fabian asked as Georgie tried to turn the jewel on their latest finding. If it did come off, it sure was stiff.
"I really hope that jewel bit turns or something," Nina replied, nodding towards Georgie's hands.
"It's really stiff," Georgie sighed, watching her fingers go red. "Fabian, I could do with some brute strength please."
"Don't give it to Fabian then," Amber joked.
Georgie gasped as with a pop sound the jewel came clean off. "Just so everybody knows, I definitely loosened it."
"What's inside?" Nina asked excitedly, as Amber joined them.
"Khet is the place to find. And there in the flames, you must look behind." Fabian read this aloud and the familiar looks of confusion fell on their faces.
"Even I have no idea," Amber stated boldly, causing the other three to suppress their smiles.
"Don't suppose anybody just happens to know what 'khet' means?" Georgie asked hopefully. But, nobody did.
"I do have some good news, though," Fabian said, putting the note back inside the tube and handing it to Nina. "Mrs Andrews gave me the MP3 player back this afternoon. She was just about to turn it on, so the timing was incredible."
"Close call!" Georgie agreed.
"Thank God," Nina said, smiling at Fabian. "Although in future I think we'll have to listen to the recordings in our bedrooms and nowhere else."
"Agreed."
"I am going to start researching 'khet' then," Nina said enthusiastically, jumping up from the bed and grabbing all of the books on ancient Egypt she had, which she was using for her history project.
"No rest for the wicked," Georgie said, amused.
"I think I'll study downstairs."
"Downstairs?" Georgie asked. "Isn't that risky?"
"If anyone asks, I'll just say I'm working on my history project for Mr Winkler," Nina explained. "And I think pretty much everyone will be heading off to watch the rugby match at school soon."
"Are you going?" Fabian asked Georgie tentatively.
"Is Dean still on the team?"
"Yes."
"Then no." Georgie groaned. "I love rugby, but I haven't really seen him around school apart from at a distance. It's a Godsend that we don't share any classes."
"But, flipping that, you could potentially see him getting his butt completely kicked on the field. Right?"
"Exactly!" Amber agreed. "If he tries to score a goal, or whatever, and completely humiliates himself…"
"That's football," Georgie deadpanned. "In rugby they score tries."
"A what?"
"We'll go together," Fabian encouraged. "It'll be fun. You love rugby, although I know it's only a school's game. And you can't let Dean stop you."
"Alright, alright," Georgie said, admitting defeat. "Come on then Fabian, we'd best get going."
"Cool," he grinned. "See you two later. Good luck with your research!"
They chorused a 'goodbye'; Georgie put on a jacket and they headed downstairs and out of Anubis House. They approached the rugby pitch, spotting others from Anubis House and heading over to stand by them. Mick looked relieved that Amber wasn't with them.
"Georgie," Jerome said in surprise, "If I knew you'd want to come I would have waited…"
"Fabian convinced me," she explained. "I can't let Dean stop me, right?"
"Very true. If he attempts to come near us, I will punch him."
"Again."
"Exactly. Again."
Mrs Robinson holding a megaphone announced the teams, and the mascot and the cheerleaders began doing their thing as the players left the changing rooms. "I love how we have cheerleaders and mascots this year," Georgie mused. "It's very American."
"Where is the American girl anyway?" Jerome asked.
"Working."
"She never stops, that girl," Jerome said in admiration. Fabian and Georgie shared a small smile at this. Half the time, she wasn't working at all, she was researching the mystery.
The match began and Georgie helped herself to a free tea that was on offer by the pitch, as it would be getting darker and colder and standing around without a warm cup of tea in her hands was unthinkable. Even if it was in a polystyrene cup.
At half-time, Creedy Towers was winning. Dean noticed her as he walked with his teammates to their changing room, and they shared an awkward glance. He was still handsome, she wouldn't deny it because they weren't together anymore. But he had an ugly personality. What a waste.
Georgie shivered in the cool air, and commented to Fabian, "I think somebody just walked over my grave." He chuckled and Jerome put an arm around her, rubbing his hand up and down her arm. She looked up to him, followed his eyeline to see him staring at Dean, who was staring back before he disappeared into the building. "Were you just...trying to make a point?"
"Maybe," Jerome said grinning. He looked down at her and whispered, "Just want to make him realise what he's missing."
"He dumped me," she muttered back. "He doesn't miss me."
"I know guys like that Georgie," Jerome said seriously. "He probably hoped you'd go running back, pleading and begging. And then he'd only take you back on his terms. Trust me."
"You think?" she asked.
"I know."
"What an arse," she grumbled.
"Why would he dump the most gorgeous girl in this place with no agenda?" he asked her rhetorically, cocking his head. "And now he knows you've moved on."
Georgie smiled. "Does he now?"
"You didn't push my arm away, did you?" Jerome pointed out. "Oh look, I'm still holding you even now."
"Fine." Georgie put her arm around his waist and leaned into him. She could hear his heartbeat and it had definitely sped up...he can talk a good game but his body gave him away. She made him nervous.
The second-half started and Georgie and Jerome moved their arms to their normal positions, especially when the other House of Anubis residents noticed them looking cosy. Georgie cleared her throat and shoved her hands in her pockets.
"What was that about?" Fabian asked her quietly, looking amused.
"I'll tell you later," she murmured, winking at him.
The game ended and their school had won, but only just. Dean was tackled by a huge kid on the other team and had to be substituted, and there was much satisfaction to be had on Georgie's behalf. Even if he was on her school's team. She headed back to Anubis House with Fabian and told him what had occurred.
When they arrived back, Nina and Amber had discovered that 'khet' meant place of fire, and so thus they had tried looking at the fireplace in the living room until Victor discovered them.
"Well done guys," Georgie said.
"Oh, apparently everyone is to be in bed early tonight," Nina said, rolling her eyes. "At nine o'clock. Which is soon."
"What, why?" Georgie asked, outraged. "We're not five years old. I can't remember the last time I went to bed at nine."
Nina shrugged, so the girls went upstairs to get ready for bed. She emerged from the bathroom in pyjamas, as Jerome was walking down the hallway. "Ah Georgie, good. Something epic will happen downstairs in approximately two minutes time. So, if you'll please follow me."
She followed Jerome. "Huh?"
"Alfie has prepared a song for Amber."
"Oh God," Georgie groaned as she sat down on the sofa next to Jerome. Amber came in looking very confused and sat opposite them; Alfie followed and stood in front of her.
He began beatboxing before starting his song. Which turned out to be a rap. "What up, what up. Oh it's Amber, ya'll. Amber if I was a gambler I'd put my money on you. 'Cause you care about stuff about that matters like making yourself look good." He blew her a kiss. Amber didn't look impressed and Jerome was practically dying of silent laughter. "And Amber I always scramble to get to sit wit' you to make…"
"OK," Amber interrupted, holding her hands up to stop the awful rap. "Thanks Alfie. That was totally and utterly…"
"Yeah?"
"Horrible."
"Oh."
"Sweet, but seriously: don't quit your day job."
Georgie grimaced. "That was painful," she muttered to Jerome. "Please tell me you haven't prepared anything for me."
He put a hand on top of her thigh. "No, I have a bit more taste than Alfie does."
"Victor is on the warpath guys," Nina warned them, entering the living room, "and it is not pretty."
"Uh-oh."
"Time to make a quick exit," said Alfie as he darted out.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Jerome said to Georgie, squeezing her leg before following Alfie.
Fabian however sneaked in. "What is going on today? First the teachers were acting weirdly, and now Victor wants us out of the way by nine."
"The teachers?" Georgie asked him curiously.
"Apparently some staff meeting was a big deal," he said. "It was a bit odd, like I was caught in the middle of something. Enough for Mrs Andrews to give me my MP3 player back so I would leave her office."
"Weird."
"It's nine o'clock!" they heard Victor shouting from upstairs. "You have five minutes, and then I want to be able to hear a pin drop."
"Dictator," Georgie muttered.
"I just need to go and see Patricia first," Nina said sadly.
"Why?" Georgie asked. "That's unusual."
"Amber told me that she caught Patricia trying to take my locket, I want to know why," she said, holding her head high and entering her bedroom she shared with Mara.
"Good luck," Georgie called. She then beamed at Amber, locking arms with her. "You did the right thing."
"Let's just hope Patricia doesn't punish me for it," Amber said darkly.
"Why would she? She's in the wrong, not you."
But, it turned out that Amber would be right. As when they were sitting down for breakfast the following morning, Patricia stormed in and poured a whole jug of water over Amber.
"I asked you to keep a secret!" Nina and Fabian ran over with shocked faces, and Georgie sat there, feeling her blood literally boil. "She's known me since we were eleven, but now she's siding with someone who's only been here two minutes!"
"Patricia, you're the one who was trying to steal from Nina, don't take it out on Amber because you were stupid enough to get yourself caught!" Georgie shouted, standing up.
"Jerome…" Patricia started, smiling slyly. "Please pass me that jug of orange juice."
He merely scoffed at her. "Back off Patricia," he said quietly.
"Is everyone against me, and Joy, now?" Patricia demanded. "Oh wait, Jerome you're only on Georgie's side because you're both in love with each other. Don't think we don't know, because we do."
Georgie felt embarrassed and shared an alarmed look with Nina and Fabian but was saved by Mara. "Patricia, what's going on?"
"Betrayal, that's what."
"Don't go through people's private things here, that's like an unwritten rule!" Amber protested.
"Actually, that is a written rule," Nina clarified.
Patricia glared at her before flicking more water at Amber, earning more gasps from the table. "Some friend you are." She stormed out, Mara running after her.
There was stunned silence for a few seconds before Georgie said, "That girl will give me high blood pressure." Amber, and who could blame her, looked really upset. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up."
"I'll go and tell Trudy," Nina muttered, with Fabian following her. No doubt Nina felt a bit guilty, even though it's not her fault for Patricia behaving the way she did.
Georgie guided Amber upstairs. "Go and take a hot shower, I'll put your uniform in the tumble dryer."
Amber nodded sadly, changing into a dressing gown and handing Georgie her wet clothes. Luckily they had a bit of time before school started, as Amber will probably want to go through her whole morning routine again before leaving the House. In the laundry room, she was followed in by Jerome.
"Is Amber alright?"
Georgie turned the tumble dryer on. "Quiet."
"Oh dear." He leaned against the dryer. "What happened exactly?"
"Amber caught her trying to take this locket of Nina's," Georgie explained.
"Wow. She was...nasty," Jerome said heavily.
"Thank you, by the way," Georgie said, heading for the door.
"What for?" he asked.
She paused. "Not passing Patricia the orange juice."
They both grinned and suddenly, at the exact same time, remembered Patricia's comment about them.
"Georgie?"
"Hm?"
"You know what Patricia said?"
Well there was no point in beating around the bush. "The part about us?"
"Yeah. Well I, er...we - " She wondered what he was trying to say, and hoped he wasn't about to profess his love for her. They couldn't be in love with each other at this early stage...right? She was snapped out of her thoughts by his sigh. He walked towards her and said quickly, "Will you go on another date with me?"
"Of course I will Jerome," she replied. "Shall we say this weekend?"
He nodded, smiling at her reply. "I think I may be available, yes."
She rolled her eyes, but in good humour. "Then I look forward to it."
At school, French was their first lesson. They had yet another practise paper. But then, their GCSE exams were not far away now. Georgie could tell, as homework was getting thinner and thinner and the teacher's new plea was for them to revise as much as possible before the exams in June. Patricia arrived late, and Georgie thought to herself that maybe she had met up with whoever was looking for Joy. She still hadn't told anybody what she knew, but then it'll probably all come out at some point. Especially as she had her phone confiscated and Mrs Andrews seemed to be looking at something on there…
When the coast was clear later that evening, Amber popped her head around the living room door. "Nobody. Not one body."
"Ok, let's go," Fabian said. He crouched down with Nina whilst Georgie kept a lookout and Amber moved the grating. They leaned back and bumped heads, both wincing as they did, causing Georgie to turn around.
"Oh I'm sorry!" he said, chuckling.
"It's ok, probably just a mild concussion," she said weakly. They both continued to stare at each other, smiling and...blushing.
Georgie shared a look with Amber who went on to say, "Hey Romeo and Juliet…"
"Yeah, moving swiftly on!" Fabian said nervously, as they both went back to searching the fireplace.
A little while later, Nina sighed in frustration. "There's nothing here. But I was so sure!"
"Maybe we've misread the riddle," Fabian reasoned.
"Maybe."
"Is it definitely this fireplace?" Georgie suggested, sitting on the arm of the sofa.
"It might be a different one," Nina acknowledged, nodding.
"Well of course!" Fabian suddenly realised. "The house has central heating now. I bet a lot of these old fireplaces were bricked up when it was fitted."
"How are we going to find out where they were?" asked Amber. Fabian's face fell.
Georgie watched Nina feel her locket. "Maybe it's time to visit Sarah."
That afternoon they visited her. But, someone had beaten them to it. Poking their heads around the door, Georgie's heart dropped. She felt so sorry for Sarah, who looked confused and...sad that she was confused. Mental illnesses were truly awful. It was a man, probably in his thirties and wearing all black. He had his back to the door.
"Sarah? Sarah, do you remember me?" he was asking her. "Sarah, try to concentrate. We're talking about the old days."
"I remember your face," she said slowly.
"That's good!"
"But I get so muddled," she said, almost in tears.
"Sarah, just relax. Everything's alright. I'll get you some tea." The mystery man got up so they quickly hid in a corner of the care home.
"Has she ever had visitors before? Aside from you?" Georgie asked Nina, as he walked past them towards wherever they kept tea.
"No."
"And he called her Sarah, and not Emily," Georgie realised. "He must truly know her. But he looked quite young, so saying the 'old days' sounded a bit off."
"We'll have to come back another time," Nina said quietly, and so they headed back to the House with no new information.
They arrived back just in time for dinner, and everybody sitting at the table was silent. Probably because Patricia was ruining the atmosphere.
"Pass the juice please Mara."
Mara just looked up, not even acknowledging her comment, and returning to her food. Georgie shared a surprise look with Jerome as Patricia sighed, getting up and fetching the juice herself.
"Well," said Trudy as she replenished the naan bread and glancing at Patricia, "aren't we quiet tonight?"
"No kidding," Patricia agreed. "So what's with the silent treatment?"
No one said anything. Georgie thought the answer was pretty obvious. "What you did to Amber was pretty terrible," Nina said quietly.
"And what do you think, Mara?"
"You went too far!" Mara told her. "Plus, I was on cleanup duty." Selfish reason, Georgie thought.
Patricia looked around the table. "Yeah, ok. You're probably right."
"Woah," said Alfie.
"I'm sorry, Amber."
"Falls off his chair in amazement." Georgie looked up after hearing a thud; Alfie had disappeared from his seat.
"Did Patricia I'm Never Wrong Williamson just apologise?" Jerome asked her.
"Shut up slimeball," she snarled, obviously not forgiving him for earlier. She sniffed. "Ooh, and nice cologne. Ode to cat pee?"
"Just terrible," he muttered.
"And yet, he still would smell better than you," Georgie told her defiantly.
Patricia however ignored her comment completely. "And Nina, I'm sorry about going through your stuff. The thing is, I did have a reason. And if you're interested, I'll tell you about it. Not now, obviously." She stared around the table, giving Georgie a harder glare. "But in private sometime?"
Nina half smiled. "Yeah, sure. You, me. No witnesses. Should be fine." Well at least Nina didn't fall for it. It's all completely fake and Georgie wondered what Patricia's agenda was. Maybe to get Nina to give up the locket…Patricia sighed, but Nina said quickly, "No, seriously. I'd like to talk."
"You would?" Georgie said out loud in disbelief.
Jerome almost spat out his drink. "What's that supposed to mean Carrington?" Patricia ground out through gritted teeth.
"Just that this whole apology thing is a fake, and I know why," Georgie said confidently. "And I would guess the first word of why begins with private." And ends with investigator. Has to be.
Patricia actually looked alarmed but quickly recovered herself. "Have you been snooping?"
"No, no. You have a loud voice though, has anyone ever told you that?" the table stifled some giggles but Trudy returning to the dining area stopped any more talk.
In the kitchen after dinner, Georgie was wiping some plates down with the other three. "So are you going to take Patricia up on her offer then Nina?" Fabian asked her.
Georgie groaned. "At least make sure someone else is present."
"Nina?"
She didn't reply.
"Nina…" Fabian now looked quite concerned. Georgie followed her eye line to the old, black oven door.
"Do you think that could have been a fireplace?" she pondered, heading over to it. "Remember on Parent's Day when Trudy said about this oven door not opening?"
"What are you getting at?"
"Ok, this is a longshot, but..." Nina took out her locket and held it against the door. To their amazement, it lit up and the oven door swung backwards and up, revealing a tunnel of sorts. Their mouths fell open. "Not that long I guess!"
"Wow!" Amber said, running over to the passageway.
"It opens up right inside, to a secret passageway!" Georgie said in disbelief, as they all crouched down to get a look inside. "Yes!"
"There are steps going down at the back!" Nina pointed out.
"Oh well of course!" Fabian said quickly, putting his hand on Georgie as he realised something, "khet, inferno: place of fire."
"Ok, English please?" Nina asked.
"Inferno, hell. The clue means…" he trailed off, staring into the dark passageway. "Down in hell."
"Lovely," Georgie said sarcastically.
"It's really dark down there," Amber stated nervously.
They heard Trudy's voice so Nina pressed the locket against the door and it shut itself, the sound of old concrete echoing in the kitchen. "So tonight, after light's out?" With everyone's agreement Nina hovered her hand over her eye. "Sibuna."
They repeated it back to her. "Sibuna."
"So what is it you know about Patricia?" Jerome asked Georgie later that evening, cornering her in the living room.
"Nosy."
"Inquisitive."
"You should have told me by now," he said, pulling the puppy-dog face.
"Oh should I?"
"Oh come on, I told you about her overhearing Victor and the policeman," Jerome reasoned.
"Alright, fair point," Georgie sat down and patted the seat next to her, and Jerome joined her. "Well she's talking to this complete stranger about Joy. She's sent him her photo and and he's told her to look around for the Eye of Horus, as apparently that's connected with Joy 'disappearing.'"
"And how do you know this?"
"I overheard the conversation."
"So, you eavesdropped." Wow, that was a deva-ju moment. It was only the other week when the exact same thing was said, except she was the one accusing him of eavesdropping. His smile told her he remembered that conversation, too.
"Well, yeah. I've been avoiding her all night in case she demands to know what I know," Georgie chuckled.
"Why the Eye of Horus?" Jerome asked her. "That's very random."
"I...have no idea," she said. It wasn't technically a lie as she didn't know why the Eye of Horus, only that that's what Nina's locket is.
"This guy is having her on, surely," Jerome remarked. Georgie shrugged. "Maybe if we suspect she's going out to meet him we should follow her."
"Ooh, that sounds fun."
"Yeah?" She nodded. "So you like sneaking around do you?"
"Only when it's with you," she said, winking. He grinned, raised his eyebrows and folded his arms as she waited for his cheeky reply, but they were interrupted by others coming in the living room. Damn, there needed to be some more privacy in this place.
Georgie, Nina, Fabian and Amber crept downstairs in their dressing gowns holding torches when they were sure the House was quiet. It was pitch black, save for their own lights. Nina opened the oven door and slowly and carefully they crept down, entering the cellar. Georgie had never been in the cellar before -
"AH! GHOST!" Amber yelled.
"SSH!"
"More like a sheet," Nina informed her, with Fabian laughing quietly.
Georgie directed her torch to the table in the middle, shining her light on the contents. "Can we find a light switch, please?" Amber pleaded. "Bad things don't happen when the lights are on."
"Ok guys, let's check this out." There were bottles, test tubes, and other scientific equipment on the table. Many glass bottles were filled with liquids which didn't look pleasant. There was even stuffed animals down here, just like Sarah said in 'he' liked doing in her recording.
Fabian found the light switch and turned it on. Georgie's eyes widened at the many weird things...it was like a crazy scientist's lab. What Amber thought was a ghost turned out to be a dummy wearing a white lab coat.
"This place is weirding me out," Amber said in disgust. "Can we go?"
"Not yet," Nina replied.
"We need to find the next clue," Fabian said. "Be careful what you touch here guys, looks like there might be some other surprises." They rounded a corner, and on another table there lay antlers, a stuffed animal head…
"This stuff smells old," Amber said, wrinkling her nose. "And gross. Yuck."
"Guys look on the wall!" They ran over to where Fabian was; there was a painting of flames, above a round handle. "Flames." Fabian ran his hand over it as the others shone their torches on it.
"'There in the flames you must look behind!'"
"That's easy," Amber said, as if the riddle was below her intelligence. "It's even got like a ring-pull thing on it. May as well say 'pull me' on it."
"You were the one that wanted a simple treasure map, remember?" Georgie reminded her.
"That's not a ring-pull, Ambs," Fabian put his torch down. "It's a tethering ring. To tie animals."
There was a silence as they thought of the poor animals who suffered in this dingy cellar, if the tethering ring was used for that purpose. Fabian pulled it clean off and peeped through the hole it left behind. He pulled up and shrugged.
"Seemed like such a good plan," Nina sighed. "Wait, look!" She gasped and shone her light down to the inside of the tethering ring. "Numbers!" Georgie looked over her shoulder and saw numbers etched into the inner ring.
"Is that a code?" Georgie asked them.
"Sibuna!" Amber said in excitement at their latest find.
"Sibuna." Georgie smiled with the others, but their joy was short lived as a bang made them jump.
"What was that?" Amber asked in a panic.
"Ssh!"
What sounded like a door opening and footsteps filled their ears. "Hide!"
Amber tuned the main light off and they all switched their torches off, hiding in a cupboard big enough to fit them all in. They were doomed if they were all caught together.
The light was turned back on. Victor came into view as Nina opened the door ever so slightly to watch him pick up a beaker and sigh. "Ah. So little left." The liquid inside looked nasty. He pulled the top off and poured some into a test tube, measuring the amount carefully.
"To life," he toasted, before drinking the lot.
What was going on in this cellar?