HOUSE OF RETURN

Chapter 12

The next morning at breakfast, Annika, Jamal and Danya talk.
"We have to go back into the secret room later and figure out how to trigger the bookshelf to open." Annika says.
Trudy comes and brings out the food.
"Yes! Food!" Tyler shouts.
"I made a special breakfast for the farewell today!" Trudy says.
"Awe!" Mark smiles. "You didn't have to!"
"Not you, silly!" Trudy laughs. "Me! I'm leaving Hades House to work at the library. You'll be having a new caretaker!"
"What?! No!" Everyone shouts.
"You can't leave!" Elayna frowns. "You're amazing!"
"You're FOOD is amazing!" Tyler says.
Danya hits Tyler.
"You guys will still see me at the library! I'll miss you though!"
~
Later that day, Mark finishes packing up in his room with Jamal.
"I've finally got the room to myself!" Jamal cheers.
"Oh, thanks." Mark groans.
"I'm joking." Jamal says. "Come to the living room with me."
They go to the living room and everyone bursts out, with streamers and balloons.
"SURPRISE!"
Mark laughs. "You guys didn't have to do this!"
"We wanted to." Hunter says.
"Now, let's get this party started!" Sami says.
"Where's Savanna?" Mark asks.
"She didn't want to come." Elayna looks down.
"That's just cold..." Tyler says.
Danya hits Tyler.
"OW! Stop hitting me!"
~
Later, everyone takes group photos with Mark and they laugh, talk and play games.
Trudy comes in with a grim expression. "The taxi's here to take you to the airport, Mark."
Everyone looks down.
"Well, bye guys. Thanks for the party."
Annika, Elayna, Tyler, Hunter and Sami run up to him and give him a hug.
Danya goes to him. "I want you to have this." She gives him the bracelet he gave her when they were dating. "I know our relationship didn't go so well, but I want to give you something to remember me by. Because boyfriend or not, you still mean a lot to me."
Mark pulls Danya into a hug.
Jamal goes to him. "Bye, roomie."
"Bye." Mark laughs.
He nods at everyone then leaves Hades House.
Savanna comes running down the stairs moments later. "Where is he?!"
"He just left!" Elayna says.
Savanna charges outside and sees the taxi already going through the road in the woods.
Savanna charges into the woods after the taxi. "Mark! NO! Wait!"
The taxi continues forward, leaving Savanna in tears.
She turns back but hears rapid footsteps behind her.
She whips around to see Mark.
"I'm sorry!" She says. "I want you to go to Australia! But I still love you! Even if we're halfway across the globe from each other, I still want to be with you! I never want to lose you!"
Mark grabs Savanna and pulls her into a kiss.
They're lips depart, and Mark stares at Savanna. "I never lost my love for you, either. I'll keep in touch with you. Goodbye."
Mark looks at her with admiration then walks back to the cab, leaving Harwood.
Savanna turns and walks back to the House.
~
Later, Annika, Jamal and Danya look around in the secret room for a way to open the bookshelf.
Danya looks on the bookshelf and decides to read the books on it for clues.
She pulls on one and it causes the bookshelf to revolve, turning Danya into the tunnels.
She bangs on the bookshelf from the tunnel.
"Hey! Guys! Let me out!" She screams.
"Danya!" Annika and Jamal rush to the bookshelf and search for a way to let her out.
Danya turns and sees a beam of light scanning her body.
The beam of light reaches her face and her eyes burn and she screams.
"Danya?! What's wrong?! Are you okay?!"
"There was a beam of light! It did something to my eyes! I can't see anything! The light blinded me!"