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Chapter Text

January 3rd, 2009 Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia 

"Emma!" my mother's voice called from the opposite end of the house "mail for you!" I smiled at Teddy, our small dog who looked into my eyes, then I got off my bedroom floor and ran with him at my heels to meet my mum by the kitchen counter, where she stood with an envelope in her hand and her brown hair, just a shade darker than mine hangs loosely over her shoulders. "Here you are" she handed me the envelope and watched me carefully as I read the stamp on the front 'United Kingdom Department of Education' my smile grew and I ripped it open with caution not to break whatever may be waiting for me inside. I pulled out the letter and read it over and over slowly and with a lump in my throat until it clicked. 

I lifted my head up to Mum who was reading over my shoulder "I got in?" it hit me in a wave all at once, I would move to the UK, I'd start a new school, a boarding school, the same one in my grandmother's tales. "I got in! I got in!" I jumped around in a circle cheering, scaring Teddy away from my feet.

"I knew you would," mum said and pulled me into a hug as I stopped jumping "you deserve this, it's all going to work out how it's supposed to."  

September 17th, 2011 Liverpool, United Kingdom 

I'm trying to catch my breath and pull on my right shoe while I hop down the hall, we've been back at school for two weeks and I still can't get out the door on time; my teachers must hate me. I check my watch, tie my shoe, zip my backpack and run downstairs and out the door. I'm the last to leave once again. I look at my watch again, and my head collides with a wall or a box?

"I am so so sorry" an American accent catches my attention as I gather my thoughts, American? I've heard British and Australian, but not American, my head starts to pound, I must be hearing things "I see now suitcases are supposed to stay on the ground, I'm really sorry, are you okay?" 

I meet eyes with the girl who owns the voice, she moves her messy hair away from her face, hers much lighter and longer than my own. I see her suitcase that I must've hit with my head. "No, it's my fault, I wasn't looking," I say, and when neither of us speak I remember where I was headed; school. "I have to go"

she nods with a polite smile "okay, again, I'm sorry" her voice is still American, meaning my hearing was correct or I have a concussion, though I'm hoping for the first option. 

•••••••

"Ah, Ms James, at last," Mrs Andrews says "take your seat" I lower my head, follow her instructions and I make my way into the classroom and to my seat next to my roommates Joy Mercer and Patricia Williamson. "So, this afternoon, we're going to have, as promised, a practice exam" my eyes roll while a number of classmates groan in annoyance, somehow our practice exam has completely slipped my mind. 

"But daddy, you have to extend my credit limit" Amber Millington, another girl who lives in Anubis House, talks on the phone a few seats behind.

"Phone off Amber," Andrews says

"But I've seen a pair of really important shoes" Amber continues to complain. Mick Campbell, Amber's boyfriend arrives in his sports clothes instead of our regular school uniform. "Dad, I have to go, I'm in school," Amber turns her attention to her boyfriend "Mick, you're back!"

Mick sends his soccer ball flying into the rubbish bin, smiles at his girlfriend, and takes his seat "Sorry I'm late"

"You might have changed first," Andrews says "just try not to perspire all over the paper." Exam papers are handed around, and she says, "right, you have exactly one hour to complete the paper, the time is six minutes past two"

"Mrs A?" I turn to see one of the boys from my house, Alfie Lewis with a bloody tissue to his nose

"Yes, Alfie?" she asks

"Nosebleed, it's a gusher," he says, panic rising in his tone. 

"Infirmary quickly, come on," Andrews says 

While he runs to the door he reveals his nosebleed to be fake, I laugh at his attempt to get out of the class along with a few others. Mr Sweet, our principal almost walks into Alfie before stopping him to say "Festina Lente boy, more haste less speed" Alfie proceeds to leave the classroom and I turn my attention to Mr Sweet's surprise visit. "Sorry to interrupt Mrs Andrews," he says, "Joy, there's someone to see you in my office." Joy glares at no one in particular, clearly she has no idea why she's been summoned out of class, she takes her things and leaves whilst Patricia and I share a glance.

•••••••

The metal of my locker clanks as I shut the door and turn to face Alfie in the hallway, he has a werewolf mask on his head pretending to attack Jerome. it's as if I live with five-year-olds.

"Get off, Alfie" Jerome Laughs "Alfie get off-"

"Have you guys seen Joy? " Patricia asks

Come to think of it I haven't seen Joy either, "you haven't seen her since class?" I ask, Joy and Patricia are always by each other's side, the joke has been made by Trudy once 'they're closer than conjoined twins' Patricia shakes her head no, answering my question. 

Alfie mumbles something under the werewolf mask while holding his hand in the air and Jerome translates, after laughing "Yeah, she's about this tall, dark hair" I roll my eyes, taking my necklace chain in my hand.

"Haha, no, I've just been to Sweetie's office and she's not there," Patricia says

"Do you wanna check the house? I'll go with you" I suggest

"Yeah" Patricia agrees, the two of us step in sync, down the hallway and out the double doors.

•••••••

"Joy? I've been..." Patricia starts as she opens the door to our shared room. the girl from this morning and the suitcase I ran into, she's unpacking her belongings onto Joy's side of the room which is clear of Joy's things, completely different from how we left it before class. "Who are you?" Patricia asks, my feet don't leave the doorway and I observe the situation in front of me.

"I'm Nina, good to meet you, I'm new. American, obviously" the girl says in her distinctive American accent I heard earlier, she glances at me and offers a smile which I return before eyeing Joy's empty bed.

"Who cares," Patricia says "where are Joys things? What's going on?"

I face the corner of the room as I step in, and a familiar photograph pokes out of the bin, I take it in my hands, it's Patricia and Joy. "This was on Joy's wardrobe," I say showing the picture to Patricia.

"Did you do this? " Patricia asks the girl, taking the picture from me.

"No I just got here," Nina says, Patricia picks up her bedding and throws her blankets into the hallway "hey, what are you doing, please stop! Victor told me that Joy had left" Nina follows Patricia out the door, then so do I. What does she mean Joy had left? We were just with her in class.

"Without this? " Patricia picks up Joy's phone and my eyes widen, leaving her phone behind is so unlike Joy. "This is her phone, did you steal it?"

"Not a great strategy for making friends. Show up and steal stuff?" Nina says, she's not a thief, a real thief would have gotten away with it.

"She has a point, Patricia," I say, she has to listen to reason at some point.

"Who's side are you on!" Patricia yells and returns to the bed, she picks up Joy's stuffed rabbit, Bunnzy Bun "and this is Joy's as well!" she grabs Nina's photo frame from the nightstand and takes it to the hall.

"Hey! Put that down, I mean it, you can't take that" Nina goes after her.

"Come on, Trixie," I say "this isn't fair"

"I don't know who you are or where you've come from, but you are not our roommate! Joy is!" Patricia shouts "now where is she?"

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Chapter Text

"Did you hear what I said? Where's Joy?" Patricia continues to yell.

"Okay, can we start over? " Nina asks.

"I think we should." I add quickly while Patricia rolls her eyes. "There has to be an explanation."

"I'm Nina, from America," Nina says calmly, "and unless Joy's hiding under the bed, I don't know where she is, the room was empty when I got here."

"I don't believe you!" Patricia continues.

"Patricia Williamson, what is going on?" Victor appears causing me to jump in surprise, that man must levitate with how quiet he is. Victor has been the groundskeeper of this house for longer than any of us have been here, he's also terrified most of us for longer than we've been here. 

"That's what I'd like to know," Patricia says, "where's Joy?"

"Joy has left," Victor says. I don't understand, how could she be gone? 

"What do you mean she's left?" I ask, keeping my voice calm in comparison to Patricia's.

"Her parents came to school this afternoon and removed her" Victor explains.

"But, that's impossible," Patricia argues, "why would they do that?"

"I have absolutely no idea."

"Joy would never leave without saying goodbye," Patricia says "or without her phone or bunnzy bun!"

"Give them to me, I'll forward them on to her." Victor holds out his hand. "Give." Patricia reluctantly hands them over to Victor. "Now, clear this stuff back into the room."

"No way." Patricia turns away. "I'm going to phone Joy and find out what's going on." 

"Patricia, come back here," Victor calls after her without success, he picks up Nina's stuff from the floor and hands it to us. "Supper will be ready in ten minutes." With that, he leaves us standing in the hallway.

We take Nina's belongings back into our room and I sit on my bed. "Sorry about Patricia, she and Joy are like super close." I say to Nina.

She smiles. "It's not your fault, don't apologize."

"I'm Emma, by the way, from Australia," I tell her, and she smiles. As much as I wish I knew what happened and if Joy is safe and okay, there is no way it was anything to do with the new girl, she's just a regular teenage girl like the rest of us.

•••••••

Nina and I walk down the staircase to introduce her to the rest of the house, all the chatting falls silent when our housemates see us, seems Patricia has told them already.

"Hi," she says cheerfully "I'm Nina, I'm from America" Patricia rolls her eyes, having already met her in a less positive setting.

"Hey." Fabian gives a small wave from the lounge.

"Welcome space girl." Alfie stands, what on earth is he doing? "Or blurp, bleep, bloop as they say in your language."

"She's human, Alfie," I laugh at him. "Although I'm not sure you are." He gives me a look of disbelief, and I roll my eyes at him.

"Supper's ready," Trudy, our housemother calls us to the table, we all go take our usual seats, except Nina who sits where Amber would sit.

"That's my seat," Amber says with a pepper shaker in her hand.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Nina stands. "Do you want to-"

"Where's Mick?" Amber asks.

"Um, I don't even know who you are so..." Nina says and Amber hands her the pepper shaker and then leaves the room, confused Nina sits back down.

"You heard what Amber said," Patricia says, "that's her seat."

"Yeah, but she's not here right now."

"That's your way, isn't it? someone's gone for five seconds, and you've already moved in."

"Patricia is head of the welcoming committee," Fabian says, making a point, she was never like this on my first day, then again, we were fourteen, and Joy was still here. Joy was the first to introduce herself and show me around, and then I met Patricia and Mara, who were just as welcoming. "Take no notice, just sit wherever you like."

We eat in silence for only a few moments before Alfie tries to fit two forkfuls of spaghetti into his mouth at once. "Stop it, Alfie, that's disgusting," Mara tells him "and you're probably going to choke on it"

"But it's delicious this way," Alfie says with his mouth so full it comes out hardly understandable.

"It's Trudy's spaghetti, it tastes good no matter how you eat it," I tell him.

"Alfie, don't play with your food," Jerome says and throws his own food at Alfie and laughs; Alfie takes two handfuls of food launching them at Jerome, and sauce-covered noodle lands on myself and Mara, Jerome is quick to throw salad at Alfie again and soon enough everyone at the table is covered in Alfie's dinner.

"Really guys? every meal?" Fabian asks as I wipe the spaghetti sauce off of my arms.

"Oops, sorry!" Patricia grins, pouring the water jug onto Nina's lap.

"Classy Patricia," Fabian glares.

"What? It was an accident," she claims though it's not the truth.

"Are you okay?" Fabian asks Nina.

"Yeah." She answers. "Except I think my sweater is shrinking to my body as well speak."

"So, Nina, when are you going to tell us what you know about Joy's disappearance?" Patricia asks.

"I guess when I actually know something." she replies.

"Oh, come on, one minute, I'm sitting next to Joy and Emma in class." Patricia stands. "And the next, Joy's disappeared, and you've taken her place, bit of a coincidence, don't you think."

"I guess it is," Nina says.

"Maybe she's snatched her and locked her in the cellar, Whooooooh," Alfie laughs.

"Alfie, shut up." I look over at him.

"Well?" Patricia continues.

"Like I said, I don't know anything about Joy or her disappearance," Nina explains.

"I'll get it out of you, eventually."

"Nina." Victor enters. "Phone call for you, what's going on?"

"Nothing," Patricia denies, "just Nina spilled water everywhere." The Patricia I've known the past few years isn't like this, sure she can be rude and snarky, but this is getting cruel.

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Chapter Text

Finally, I find a moment of quiet, my fingers run through my hair down to my shoulders and land on my duvet gifted from my Nana, all shades of blue going from the sea to the sky. The room is empty when I'm alone and even more so now that Joy's bed doesn't have her extra fluffy blanket and Bunzy bun sitting by her pillows, I'm really going to miss her. Feet slam and run past the open door, today can't possibly get any wilder. I follow the footsteps to the bathroom where Patricia, Amber, and Mara stand in the doorway watching Nina wipe clean the mirror with a towel. 

"What are you doing?" Patricia asks, frowning as if it was her toothbrush Nina was cleaning with.

"Cleaning the mirror?" Nina says, her voice asking if it isn't obvious as she shows the towel and the three of us other than Patricia stay puzzled, Patricia seems to be finding any reason to victimize Nina.

"Didn't you see what was on it?" Patricia asks

"Steam?" Nina asks

"She's wiped it off"

"What did it say?" Mara asks

"Help me! Joy." Patricia says, glaring at Nina, who would write that on the mirror? Joy can't be in danger, no way, she's at home, safe in her bed watching trashy romance movies, she has to be. "And she's wiped it off so now it looks like I'm going crazy!" 

"Take it easy, Patricia," Mara says

"This is what she wanted," Patricia says "she's involved, I'm telling you"

"I didn't see anything when I wiped the steam off the mirror, except for myself, I swear" Nina panics, I can only assume this must be the worst first day.

"Patricia, it's late, we can discuss this in the morning," I say "we're all tired"

"Why are you girls not in your rooms?" Victor's loud growl appears in the hallway "you know the rules"

"I don't want to share with her" Patricia points to Nina

"You know what? I'll move, half my stuff is in a pile on the floor anyway, or I can just sleep on the couch" Nina stammers 

"Nobody is moving anywhere," Victor denies the request "now get to your rooms immediately" 

Patricia walks ahead of us while I stay back with Nina and give her a smile "tomorrow can only get better, right?"

•••••••

"Joy definitely would have called me by now," Patricia says while taking a plate of croissants to the table for Trudy. "I'm telling you, something has happened to her, come on Emma, you know Joy better than this, you know it's not right."

"Patricia, give it a break, you're driving me crazy," Jerome says, but to an extent, I agree, I want to know she's safe too.

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

"It is kind of weird," I say, filling my cup with orange juice "that she left without telling anyone, it couldn't have been her idea, her parents must have surprised her too." 

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

"No," Patricia says

"It's difficult to know what else we can do" Fabian grabs the plate of croissants being passed around and takes one for himself

"Question the newbie, that's what," Patricia says about the girl who's not here to defend herself.

"She has nothing to do with this, Patricia" Fabian says.

"She just has really bad timing, obviously," I say.

"What about last night? that business with the mirror?" Patricia asks and Jerome laughs "what? You don't believe I saw anything, do you?"

"Yes we do, it's just..." Amber says "Mick saw Alfie hanging out on our corridor last night"

"Not even Alfie would have the nerve to sneak into the bathroom and do something like that," Patricia says, I drop my slice of toast onto my plate, she knows we are talking about Alfie Lewis, right?

"Are we talking about the same Alfie?" Jerome asks.

"So who do you think did write it then, Joy?" Fabian asks.

I turn my head to Patricia and I say "we both know Joy wouldn't do that to you" 

"Maybe, Maybe Nina wrote it to drive me crazy, where is she anyway?" Patricia asks 

"She was gone when I got up, think she went into school early," I say 

"Oh, so she's a geek as well as everything else, is she?"

"I think it's probably more about getting away from us," Fabian says "I mean, we've hardly been very welcoming"

"I know, I was thinking that too, I feel a bit mean," Mara says and I nod in agreement.

••••••••••

"Patricia, why do I need to go with you?" I complain as my arm is pulled down the school hallway to our headmaster's office.

"Because, she was your roommate, too" Patricia answers knocking on Mr Sweet's office, I fold my arms standing next to her "and she's our friend"

"Come" Mr Sweet calls from the other side of the door, Patricia opens it and I follow her inside "yes, girls?"

"We need to know what's happened to Joy" Patricia demands, I wasn't given a choice but to stand in front of Mr Sweet's desk, his green lamp is dustier than my pop's garden shed and I stare at it to avoid eye contact.

"Nothing has happened to Joy" Mr Sweet answers "her parents decided to remove her from the school, that's all"

"Okay, thank you, let's go Patricia" I try to leave, but she continues against my tries

"When you came into our class yesterday you said 'someone is here to see you'" Patricia says and I let out a breath.

"Yes, that's right," Sweet says.

"Why didn't you say 'your parents are here to see you?" Patricia asks.

"What?" 

"Unless it wasn't her parents."

"Now you're just being silly," he says.

"Patricia, come on," I whisper, eager to leave.

"And why did she leave her phone behind?" Patricia asks "and why hasn't she called me, and why wouldn't her parents tell Joy, they-"

"Patricia, calm down," Mr Sweet says "I'm sure Joy will get in touch in her own time, and if she doesn't, perhaps it means, she doesn't want to"

"That's not possible," Patricia says.

"Tempus fugit Patricia," Sweet says, Latin maybe, "time marches on and I have a staff meeting to prepare for, excuse me, thank you, Patricia, thank you, girls, and goodbye" Sweet guides us out of his office and closes the door.

"I think he's right, Patricia," I say, she glares and I'd hate to betray her trust "she'll call you or email you back when she's ready, maybe she's busy, maybe she's moved house or something, but she'll reach out, she's your best friend."

she ends our conversation by stalking over to the school photo, Amber and Mara walk past and Patricia calls to the three of us  "Mara, Amber, Emma, look at this"

"I know" Amber gasps "don't rub it in, bad hair day"

"Forget your hair, Amber," Patricia says "where's Joy?"

"Didn't she go home with her parents yesterday?" Amber asks.

"She means on the school photo, Amber," I say.

"Um, she's not there," Amber says, I was standing between Jerome and some girl from Isis house in the photograph, I look closer, and Joy really isn't there, but I remember that day, Joy asked to borrow a pair of shoes.

"Exactly," Patricia says.

"Wasn't she away that day?" Mara asked "with tonsillitis or something"

"No, she was standing right here, next to me when that was taken"

"How can you be so sure? It was nearly eighteen months ago, Patricia" Mara leaves after Amber

"She was there that day," Patricia says "I know she was"

I keep my mouth shut but place a hand on her shoulder, saying anything may cause more harm and stress than it's worth, Joy's at home with her parents, Mr Sweet said so himself and that's all that matters.

•••••••••

it's now ten-thirty, or eleven...

"It's evil, evil" an old woman's voice rings, I turn to see her standing in the Anubis hallways "watch out for the blackbird, you have the power, watch out for the bird, beware the bird, beware the blackbird " Victor fades into view standing with the woman and black feathers float around in the air, my vision blurs, my head dizzy and my legs wobble, I might collapse any second.

I sit up, spitting a feather out of my mouth, blinking my eyes open and I'm back in bed, It was a dream, Just a dream... a weird dream.

 "Caw, caw, caw" her voice louder than I can handle when I've hardly woken up, standing near Nina's bed, Patricia's dropping feathers from a feather boa, actually I think the scarf is Ambers. "Beware the blackbird, beware the blackbird."  Patricia laughs, Nina opens her eyes and looks around at both of us, did Patricia say blackbird?

"What are you doing?" Nina asks

"Nothing," Patricia says "you woke me up and Emma too, beware the blackbirds." she laughs one more time before getting into bed. it's not possible for two people to have the same dream, could Nina have had a dream about different blackbirds? and who was that woman?

"No, Trixie, you woke me up," I say with a yawn.

"Whatever," she says "aw, are you scared? Are you going to sleep with the light on, newbie?" I should stop drinking caffeine, that has to be the answer to weird dreams about Victor and birds.

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Chapter Text

Patricia laughs with Jerome and Alfie, telling them all about the feathers last night, "I've got an idea that really will give her nightmares," Patricia tells them, my eyes could roll into my skull, I miss Patrica and Joy planning midnight snack hunting and movie marathons not Patricia planning pranks with the class clown and the blackmail rat.

"Oh, yeah, what's that?" Jerome asks, and the three go silent when Nina arrives.

"Sleep well, Nina?" Patricia asks, "caw! Caw!" Alfie and Jerome join her in making ridiculous bird sounds.

"Ignore them," Fabian says, and Nina sits in the chair beside him.

"I am," she says.

"So what was this dream anyway?" Fabian asks.

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

"About that", I cut in, "I think we may have had the same dream"

"What?" Nina asks

But before I get the chance to answer, Amber walks through the door. "Anyone seen Mara? She's got my hair straighteners"

"Yeah, she's with Mick in our room," Fabian says.

"What?" Amber asks.

"Uh-oh, green-eyed monster alert," Jerome says.

"I'm not jealous," Amber claims. "Why would I be jealous? What's there to be jealous of?"

"She's helping him with homework, that's all," Fabian says.

"Yeah, I know all about that, and it's cool, I would help him, but I'm just so busy" Amber throws her hair over her shoulder, and Jerome pretends to copy, mocking Amber, though she doesn't notice and instead turns to Nina. "I see you haven't sneaked out at the crack of dawn today?"

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

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

"Nina was helping an old lady across the road, literally" Trudy brought around bowls for breakfast, "we had a surprise visitor from the old people's home." My mouth hangs open, Nina helps an old woman, and then I dream about an old woman, possibly Nina does too.

"I'm not very good with old people," Amber says, "they're all so... old aren't they?"

"Yes, Amber, that'd be correct," I say.

"Really?" Jerome says sarcastically while Alfie laughs.

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

"She did, yeah," Nina confirms.

"What happened to your mum and dad?" Amber asks.

"Oh, Amber, queen of tact," Jerome says. He has to have worse timing than Nina.

"They died in a car accident," Nina says.

"Oh, that's awful," Amber says.

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

"Me with my grandparents too," I smile to tell her she's understood.

"So how come she's packed you off to a big, bad boarding school," Patricia says, "miles away from home then? Sounds to me like she wanted to get rid-"

"Patricia!" Fabian warns, "don't be such a witch, I know you're upset about Joy, but there's no need to be taking all of this out on Nina"

"Yeah, well, everyone seems to have forgotten all about Joy," Patricia says "except me." I'm way too tired to fight and tell her that's not true, who could forget about Joy anyway?

••••••••••••

"Your biology assignments, please," Mr Sweet calls from the front of the class. The bell had just rung and we're all eager to leave. "And no excuses this time" I take my paper out of my bag and hand it to Mr Sweet as he comes by.

"Hey Nina" Patricia approaches us "I just wanted to say, you know, sorry about breakfast" I smile at her.

"That's fine," Nina says "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 says as Alfie and Jerome join us "the traditional way."

"What are you going on about?" Fabian asks.

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

"Sorry, the what?" I ask, I should have known Patricia wouldn't give up so easily; she's as stubborn as always.

"Yeah, you remember, Emma, every new person who comes to this school has to undergo like... an initiation ceremony."

"Since when?" Fabian asks.

"Since forever, Fabian," Patricia says.

"What are you trying to-"

"It's okay" Nina cuts him off. "Sounds like fun, what do I have to do?"

•••••••••

I help Amber pass around plates for dinner while Patricia tells everyone her plan. "So, Nina's initiation takes place tomorrow night, okay, at midnight."

"The witching hour," Alfie says, voice low and laughing like a cartoon villain.

"Alfie, cut it out," Fabian says.

"Tell me, Fabian," Jerome says, "does it get boring always, always being the one who's like, cut it out, or That's not right or fun is bad?"

Fabian fakes a laugh, "No."

"You must be mad," Jerome says under his breath, but not quietly enough.

"What does she have to do?" Amber asks, I place the last plate at my seat and sit down. Amber does the same with her own.

"Go up to the spooky attic and bring something back to prove she's been," Alfie says.

"You're going up into the attic?" Amber asks.

"Sure," Nina says, "why not? I mean, it's not like its-"

"Totally haunted," Amber says.

"Really?" Nina asks.

"Yeah, she's right," Jerome says, "by the ghosts of former students who went up there, never to return."

I scoff and cross my arms. "Yeah, right, no one goes up there but Victor. If students had disappeared up there, we'd know."

"That's what you think," Jerome smirks.

"Getting cold feet?" Patricia asks

"Not at all, let's start tonight," Nina insists, "can't wait."

"Oh, we've got something else planned for you tonight," Patricia says.

"Can't wait to hear this," Fabian mumbles.

"The key," Patricia says, "she can't go up into the attic without the key, she has to steal it from Victor."

••••••••••

I close my notebook and put my pen away, Nina's sitting on Joy's- on her bed, and I can't believe she's going along with Patricia's stupid plan tonight. She pulls out a necklace from her shirt. "That's nice," I say, turning my body to face her and gesturing to the necklace.

"Thanks," she says quietly, hiding the necklace back underneath her clothing.

"I wear a similar one," I say. She tilts her head in interest, "My mum says it was a gift from my great-grandmother" I pull out my necklace, showing her a ring with an eye-shaped symbol and a necklace chain through the ring to keep it on my neck. (picture at the top of the chapter)

Nina leaves her bed and sits next to me on mine. "The old lady I helped gave it to me. She said something about it being my turn? or something, I don't know, she barely knew her own name," Nina says, "she also said beware the bla-"

"Blackbird," I finish for her. "I saw an old lady in my dream, she kept repeating, beware the blackbird."

"What does all this mean?" she asks.

I open my mouth to respond, and before I can, without a knock, our door opens and Alfie walks in "Patricia sent me to get you, you can come too, Emma."

"Gee thanks," I mutter with sarcasm.

•••••••••

"See the bunch of keys on the desk, next to Victor," Alfie points out.

"Yeah," Nina says.

"Those are the master keys," Alfie says, "he carries them with him everywhere he goes, so you'll never get them."

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

"Yeah, he keeps a spare set of every single key in there," Jerome says.

Victor moves his gaze to us all looking into his office window, "what are you lot looking at?" I stare up at the roof, pretending I never saw him, while Alfie, next to me, falls to the ground. Victor leaves the office and stands in front of us, waiting for an answer.

"Sir, we were just trying-" Jerome begins.

"We were just admiring your coat," Nina says, and I look at her "Is it vintage?"

"Yes, just as I thought... this floor," Alfie says, still kneeling by my feet. "It could, it could- use a polish."

"Hmmm, yes," Victor says, "in that case, please, feel free to polish it, Alfie" Victor takes Alfie downstairs. Less than a minute and Nina has run into his office, I look over the banister to check Victor is out of sight and Nina's back to us with both the spare attic key and the key to the key box, realizing, she runs back and before making it out with only one key, she knocks over Victor's stuffed raven and falls to the ground to catch it. footsteps approach us, and with no time to warn Nina, Victor is back.

"Nina Martin, what are you doing?" Victor asks. "This had better be good. What were you doing in here?"

She stands up. "Um, I was getting a closer look at Corbiere, I'm sort of an amateur taxidermist..." No way Victor believes that, I don't even believe that.

"Get out!" He shouts, "and don't let me catch you in my office ever again." Nina runs to us as the door slams behind her, and she pulls the key out of her pocket.

"Lucky," Alfie says.

"Very lucky," Jerome adds.

"Well, we'll see how lucky she is tomorrow night when she goes up into that attic," Patricia says.

•••••••••••

I join Nina and Fabian in class, sitting at the desk behind them with Mara, and we wait for our new teacher. All week, we had an extra French class or English class. I'm actually glad to finally do History again after Mr Flemming left last term. "All the world's a stage" a voice rises from the back of the classroom and everyone turns to the voice to see a young man, older than us though and I already can see the class will be interesting "the men and women merely players, hey, my name is Jason Winkler" he stands from the desk he was at "and I'm your new history teacher, I'll also be teaching drama"

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

"Yeah, that's right," he says and walks to the front of the class with all eyes on him.

"Wow, I am so pleased he had a heart attack," Amber says aloud, and the class laughs. "Sorry, that didn't come out right" I struggle to stop laughing to allow Mr Winkler to start the lesson. I cannot believe Joy is missing this.

••••••••

I take my seat in the drama room, while Alfie runs around the room making an irritating buzzing noise. Amber turns to him as he passes us, hitting him with her magazine. "Thanks, Alfie! Some of us are here to learn," he continues the noise, ignoring her statement.

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

"A mosquito in a spin dryer" Alfie stops and says, "Isn't it obvious?" Multiple people, including myself, laugh at his response and his impression.

"Now something a little more serious," Mr Winkler hands around books. "Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, timeless, tragic, tedious"

"Old, cliché, death," I mumble sarcastically, taking a book from his hand.

"See, I knew I was right," Amber whispers to Nina and me. "There's an article in here that says if your boyfriend isn't paying you enough attention, you have to flirt with someone else to make him jealous."

"Swap, please, Amber." Mr Winkler holds out a book for her.

"Do I have to, sir?" Amber reluctantly swaps her magazine for a book. Soon after reading a page or two, Mr Winkler asks for volunteers to read aloud for Romeo and Juliet, which Amber was all too happy to be Juliet, and Alfie practically jumped out of his seat to be her Romeo.

"O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" Amber reads, "deny thy father and refuse thy name if thou will 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 reads so dramatically as if he were speaking to royalty.

"Tis but thy name that is my enemy," Amber continues, "thou art... thou art... truly the yummiest boy I've ever seen, Romeo." What is she doing? I've only read through it once, but I'm sure that's not Shakespeare.

"What?" Alfie asks.

"That's not in the script, Amber," Mr Winkler calls out. Amber drops her book, leans over, and kisses Alfie. My mouth drops open. That was definitely not in the script.

••••••••

I stood in the girls' hallway past curfew with Mara, Amber, and Fabian, my flashlight shining on my face as we wait for Patricia, Alfie, Jerome, and Nina. This 'initiation' is ridiculous, but Nina insists on going along to please Patricia. Our door opens, and Nina exits along with Patricia and the boys behind her.

"Oh spirits of Anubis house guide the new girl on her initiation quest," Patricia says, "and keep her from harm in the haunted attic."

"Come on, this is ridiculous," Fabian says.

"Yeah, Patricia, this is so dumb," I say.

"Shhhh!" Patricia glares. "Unlock the door."

Nina steps toward the door and unlocks it, she turns back to face everyone "I just have to go up there and bring something back? And then I'm done? I mean you guys didn't booby trap the place or anything, did you?"

"Course not," Patricia says, "go!" Nina turns the handle, opens the door, takes a deep breath, and starts up the stairs. Once she's near the top, Patricia grabs the door, slams it shut, and locks it.

"What are you doing?" Amber asks.

"Patricia!" I shout in a whisper.

"What does it look like?" Patricia asks.

"Hey! What's going on?" Nina asks from behind the door, "let me out."

"You heard her, let her out!" Fabian says.

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

"I don't know anything!" Nina says.

"Then, you'll have to stay in there till morning," Patricia says.

"Patricia, don't do this," I say "open the door and we can forget about this, come on."

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

"Yeah, Patricia, this is getting silly," Mara says.

"Whose side are you on?" Patricia asks, "last chance, newbie, what can you tell me about Joy?"

"Nothing, I know nothing!" Nina says.

"Come on, Patricia, you're not really going to leave her in there all night, are you?" I ask.

"Let me out!" Nina shouts, "hey let me out! There's something up there!"

"Open the door!" Amber says.

"The zombies are coming," Alfie says, panicking, and I honestly think he believes that zombies live in our attic and will eat Nina alive.

"Hurry," Mara says.

"Patricia, hurry up," Fabian says.

"Come on, Patricia," I say.

"What's all this noise?" Victor walks into the hall and turns the light on. "What's going on? Why are you all out of bed? Hmm?" he walks over to the attic door. "Were you trying to break this door down?"

"No, we thought we heard mice, that's all," Patricia lies.

"Get to bed now!" He shouts, "before I put you all on detention" all of us run across the hardwood floor to our rooms and the boys downstairs.

"Nice going," I glare at Patricia and get into bed. Nina will be up there all night if we don't do something about it, but now with Victor guarding the hall, what can we do?

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Chapter Text

I can't sleep, not now. My eyes won't stay closed and my brain is running a marathon. I squeeze my eyes shut and turn under my covers again. If Victor hasn't found Nina, she'll be trapped up there all night with nothing but the cold floor and maybe a mouse for company because of Patricia and her ridiculous theories. I haven't known Nina nearly as long as I've known Patricia, but this isn't fair and I won't let it happen. My feet hit the floor and I step toward the door, reach out to open it, and the handle turns before I can touch it. Fabian and Amber appear with perfect timing, walking with purpose into the room.

"Patricia, give me the key!" Fabian whispers and wakes my roommate. Getting the key is a better plan than going to tell Victor, which was an idea floating in the back of my mind.

Patricia sits up in her bed with Amber, Fabian, and me waiting for her answer. "I haven't got it," Patricia says slowly.

"Liar" Amber accuses.

"Seriously," Patricia says "I haven't"

"Patricia?" I ask and lean my hands down on her wooden bed ends. "If you don't have the key, where is it?"

"I threw it out the window"

"You what?" I ask, my throat tightens and I lower my voice. "When? I didn't see"

"Which window?" Fabian asks, and he moves to the window by Patricia's bed. "This one?"

"Yeah, I think it went in the bushes," Patricia says

"Oh, that's wonderful," I say sarcastically, walking in a half circle to face Fabian.

"We won't be able to look for it till morning," Amber says

"What a mess," Fabian walks back to his spot next to me.

"I think we should go and tell Victor everything," Amber says

"No!" Patricia says "we can't do that"

"We can't just leave Nina in there," Fabian says

"Do either of you know how to pick a lock?" I ask "because there's no way we're getting that key now"

"Come on," Fabian says, and Amber and I follow him out the door into the hallway, all lights are out except for the torches in Amber and Fabian's hands. "Nina" Fabian calls quietly as we get closer to the attic door "Nina."

"Nina," I copy his voice "are you there?" The attic door handle starts to jiggle like someone desperately trying to get out, the door opens, and before any of us have time to react, Nina falls out from behind the door with a trip.

"Hi," She says, out of breath and messy-haired "what's the matter? You guys look like you've seen a ghost"

"How did you" Amber stutters, her wide eyes and frozen expression never leaving her face. Nina holds up a hairpin and we laugh, who knew Nina's hair accessories would save the day?

"Shh, you'll have Victor up again" Fabian whispers, Nina closes the attic door slowly and it creaks. "Are you okay?" she turns around and nods her head.

"So, what was it like up there?" Amber asks "see any ghosts?"

"Or zombies," I ask for Alfie's sake

"No, just mice and some spiders, possibly a rat" Nina lists and we walk toward our room

"Oh, your so brave" Amber gasps "night, you three, see you in the morning" she makes a stop for her bedroom.

I face Fabian and Nina who are making eye contact "night" I copy Amber and open our door leaving Nina and Fabian alone, Patricia's asleep, clearly, she wasn't as invested in Nina's safe return as the rest of us. Her side of the room isn't as warm as it was with Joy's influence. I stretch and get into bed for the second time tonight and it's not for long before Nina joins us.

•••••••

My head falls onto my hand and I imagine crawling back under my blankets as orange juice is being passed around the table and everyone is involved in conversations; Mara's telling Patricia about our French test and Amber's going on about relationship problems, though I can't remember half of what she's said. The room becomes quiet, the voices were replaced with heads turning to the doorway, including my own, and seeing Nina standing in it. Alfie and Jerome clap for her, and the rest of us follow along, except for Patricia.

"We were certain Victor was gonna get you," Jerome says, standing with Alfie by mine and Fabian's chairs.

"Yeah, or the flesh-eating zombies," Alfie says and waves 'zombie-like' hands in front of Nina's face as she takes her seat at the head of the table.

"No zombies, mostly rat bones," Nina says

"Cool," Alfie picks a breakfast muffin and finds his seat with Jerome.

"Was it really scary up there?" Mara asks

"I thought it would be worse," Nina says "It was actually kinda cool, I might move up there"

"Don't you think she was brave?" Amber asks no one in particular.

"Even you have to admit Patricia," Fabian says "Nina passed her initiation test with flying colours"

"No," Patricia says, I face her and I assume the death glare she's giving Nina has been on her face since Nina entered the room. "She didn't bring anything back, did she?"

"Well, actually" Nina reaches into her bag and holds up an old book, I wait for Patricia's response, hopefully, to now accept Nina is staying here. Instead, she proves me wrong, Patricia groans and leaves the table without finishing breakfast.

"Patricia, wait" Mara calls after her and gets up herself to follow Patricia, I let out a huff and lean my head back down on the table.

•••••••

My locker door clanks shut while Alfie and Jerome pass by in the middle of their unusual conversation "you gotta let me know when you change nicknames, I mean last week you were captain spaghetti" Alfie says, I tilt my head watching the two with concern, captain what now?

"You alright there?" an unfamiliar British accent asks as a locker close by shuts. I move my eyes to the voice to see a boy, his face is familiar, English class? or drama? we've never spoken but I've seen his eyes before, greener than mine and bright too.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I say to the nameless boy, if I had to make one up I'd choose something like Henry or Marcus, those sound like British names.

"You looked like something was worrying, that's all," he says

"Just some idiots from Anubis House"

"Ah, I'm in Hathor house, much quieter, or so I've heard," he says, taking a step in my direction, "I think you're in my drama class, with Mr Winkler, last term was my first here, I still haven't met some people I guess"

"Yeah, I'm in Mr Winkler's class," I say, he nods with a smile right as Nina walks past with Fabian at her side.

"Hey, Nina, wait up" I turn to the boy "I'll see you in drama." Both Nina and Fabian stop and turn and I catch up and walk with them to class.

"Got the key" Fabian holds out the attic key, he must've gone searching in the bushes for that.

"That's great," I say "how are we gonna get it back to Victor's office?"

"We're not, Nina wants to go back up there," Fabian says

"What? Why?" I ask "didn't get enough of the rats?"

"There was this panel that opened when I fell," Nina says "I'm not sure but, I think I saw someone up there"

"hold on, what?" I ask, walking through the doorway of our classroom.

"I know it sounds crazy," she says

"So, this panel," Fabian says, he and Nina take a seat and I sit at the desk behind them "It just opened when you fell against it?"

"Sort of," Nina says

"What do you mean sort of?" I ask

"What kind of an answer is that?" Fabian asks

"Well, there are some other things," Nina says

"You're a real girl of mystery," Fabian says "look, if you're going up there again, then I'm coming with you"

"Yeah, me as well," I say

"And that's all there is to it," Fabian says and I take out my notebook as the two keep talking, but it's agreed that she won't go up there alone, and besides what harm will it do to go up into the attic one more time before giving the key back to Victor?

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