HOUSE OF RETURN

Chapter 13

"Hold on!" Annika shouts."We're coming!"
"What did you do?!" Jamal shouts.
"I pulled on the middle book!"
Jamal pulls on the middle book and the bookshelf spirals around and Annika and Jamal pull Danya into the secret room.
They all sigh.
~
In the main entrance, a woman enters and sees Victor.
"I'm Vera." She smiles. "I'm replacing Trudy as the new house mother!"
"I see." Victor says. "Is that a stuffed dog you're carrying?"
"Yes!" Vera laughs. "I stuff all of my beloved pets after they have tragically past. So, I can.."
"Still feel like I have them!" Victor and Vera say together.
Victor smiles. "I think you'll do great here.."
~
In the secret room, Annika, Jamal and Danya talk.
"I can't see anything!" Danya exclaims.
"We'll do something!" Annika reassures.
"How do we get into the tunnels if that beam of light is going to blind us?" Jamal asks.
"Those amulets are used for protection." Danya states. "Maybe they'll protect us from the beam of light."
"That's a great idea!" Annika smiles.
Annika and Jamal grab two amulets and go to the bookshelf.
"Be careful." Danya says. "And come back soon, I don't want to be alone when I can't see anything.."
"We will." Annika and Jamal state.
Annika pulls the middle book and the bookshelf spirals around and they are in the tunnels.
The beam of light shines and scans their bodies.
The light heads up to their eyes.
Annika and Jamal grip each other's hands and they close their eyes.
The light reaches their amulets and stops.
"It worked!" Jamal exclaims.
Annika and Jamal pull each other into a hug.
They back away from each other quickly.
"Sorry.." Jamal says, awkwardly. "I forgot."
Annika pulls the middle book and they arrive back into secret room.
"I didn't hear any screams!" Danya says. "So, you guys are okay?"
"Yep!" Annika smiles. "It worked!"
"Okay, let's go back now." Jamal says.
Annika and Jamal carry Danya out.
"I hope I'll be able to see again soon." Danya sighs.
~
The next day at school, Mrs. Andrews and Mr. Sweet talk.
"Victor and Vera are getting along well." Mrs. Andrews says.
"Good." Mr. Sweet says. "She was the only applicant for the job."
"What?" Mrs. Andrews asks. "I put a whole pile of applications on your desk!"
"I only saw Vera's.."
~
In the student lounge, Savanna goes to Hunter.
"Grace keeps bugging me about your dad." She says. "Have you done anything about it yet?"
"I'm hiring a private investigator to find out why my dad is in prison and why our mom lied about it." Hunter states.
"Hopefully the mystery is solved soon." She says. "I'll go tell Grace."
Savanna runs out.