HOUSE OF HADES

Chapter 13

In the secret room, Annika starts shivering from the cold.
"Here." Jamal gives her his sweatshirt. "Wear this."
"Thank you." Annika smiles.
Victor finally leaves the attic.
After awhile, Annika and Jamal leave the attic.
"That was very nerve-wrecking." She gasps.
"We'll listen to the rest of the recordings another day." Jamal says.
"Okay." Annika smiles. "I had fun. See ya."
"Bye." Jamal smiles back.
Annika goes to her room and Danya is awake.
"Why are you awake?" Annika asks.
"I was eavesdropping." Danya replies. "Were you and Jamal on a date?"
"No!"
"Then, why were you sneaking around together?"
"We weren't! I'll explain later."
They start going to bed.
~
The next day, Mark goes to Jamal.
"So, you and Annika are dating?" Mark asks.
"What?" Jamal says.
"Danya said you and Annika are dating."
"We are? YES!" Jamal runs to school.
~
At school, Jamal runs to Annika.
He clears his throat. "Oh, uh, hey Annika. What's up?"
"Nothing. Are you okay?" She asks.
"Yeah. Um, are we dating?"
"What?!" Annika's face turns red. "Uh- I don't know. Are we?!"
"I don't know!" Jamal's face turns red. "Mark said we were!"
"Oh! Danya must have told him! She thinks we're together!"
"Oh."
Annika sighs. "I got really worried."
She leaves.
"I got really happy....." Jamal mutters. He throws away the Rose he was gonna give her.
~
In Drama Class, Elayna talks to Hunter.
"You probably awoke an evil spirit!" Elayna says.
"You helped!" Hunter defends.
"Attention, everybody!" The teacher, Jason, shouts. "Get with a partner."
Annika goes with Jamal.
Mark goes with Danya.
Hunter goes with Tyler.
And Savanna goes with Elayna.
"Now, look at your partner and tell them you love them." Jason instructs.
Hunter and Tyler back away from each other.
"I'm good." Hunter says.
"Same." Tyler says.
Mark and Danya face each other.
"I love you." Mark says.
Danya looks down. "Um, I love you, too."
Annika and Jamal face each other.
"I- I, um..... I love you, Annika." Jamal blushes.
"I love you, too." Annika shakes.
Savanna and Elayna face each other.
"I love you." Savanna says.
Elayna looks out the window and sees a man watching her.
He has light brown hair with blue eyes and light skin. He wears leather and grins when he sees Elayna.
She screams. "There's a man! Out there!"
Everyone looks, but the man is gone.
~
In the halls, Jamal goes to Danya.
"Danya, me and Annika aren't dating." Jamal says.
Danya's face falls. "What? But I thought......"
"I know what you thought. But it's probably not gonna happen." Jamal walks away.
~
In Drama Class, Elayna talks to Jason.
"Mr. Winkler....." She begins.
"Please. Call me Jason." He smiles.
"Okay. Jason, can I vent to you?" Elayna asks.
"Sure! I mean I'm the DRAMA teacher after all!" He laughs.
"Sami is dead. She was killed by the teachers and I know it. A lot of things are happening and I feel like I'm going crazy! I'm scaring myself!"
"I believe you. How can I help?"
~
Annika goes into the bathroom and tries to figure out the puzzle jewel.
"Come on!" She talks to herself. "I need to find out where the treasure is!"
"What?" Danya comes.
"Danya! Hi!" Annika hides the jewel.
"What's going on with you and Jamal? You're always sneaking around and now you're talking about treasure?" Danya asks.
"It's nothing." Annika leaves.
Danya decides that she's going to figure out what's going on.
~
That night, Annika and Jamal go to the attic.
They set up the phonograph and cylinder recordings.
"Okay. Are you ready?" Jamal asks.
"Yes. I hope there's no screaming this time!" Annika laughs.
The door bursts open and Danya walks in.
"I knew it!" She whispers. "What is going on?! Tell me now or I go to Victor!"
"Fine." Annika says. "There's a treasure in this house. We're trying to find it. Would you like to help us?"
"Are you kidding?! This stuff only happens in shows, I'd love to!" Danya sits with them.
"Okay, then. Welcome to our clique." Jamal starts the phonograph.
The recording plays a little girl speaking;
'My parents named this house Hades. They are going away again soon. Father says he has to for his work. I don't want to stay here. Not with him.'
"Okay!" Danya interrupts. "I'm good! I'm leaving!"
Danya runs out of the attic and Jamal and Annika follow.
Victor is outside.
"What are you kids doing up this late?" Victor asks.
"We're hungry!" Jamal lies. "And I don't care about your stupid rules! I'm going on a fridge raid!"
Jamal runs away and Victor chases him.
Danya and Annika laugh and go to their room.
~
Elayna wakes up in the middle of the night and screams when she sees the man from earlier watching her sleep.