Force of Nature ▸ House of Anubis [3]

chapter twenty-five. house of tombs

☾ ☽

The underneath of a bed in a mental institution is actually pretty nice as far as underneath beds go. Very clean, though a little compact. Then again, considering we're hiding underneath Harriet Denby's bed in an attempt to prevent Caroline Denby from finding us in her sister's room at Lakehouse Clinic, I'll happily sacrifice comfort for safety. Above us, Harriet is laying in her bed, faking sleep, and I hear the door open and close back quietly. I can see our Denby's feet.

First, she walks around, probably to see if Harriet is really asleep. She doesn't say a word. I share a cautious glance with Eddie. The, she goes to the wardrobe in the corner of the room—she must think someone's hiding in there. Then, her feet appear beside the bed, but all of a sudden, Harriet screams before Denby can find Eddie and me.

The door opens again, and this time I can see the shoes of an orderly. "Is everything all right in here?" he asks. "It might be better if you left."

"Of course," Denby agrees hesitantly. "All right, Harriet, I'll see you very soon when you've had a little rest. Remember to be a good girl for the nurses."

Both pairs of shoes disappear out the door and it closes back. I move from underneath the bed first, helping Eddie up.

"Oh, Harriet," he says, "that was brilliant! You almost had me fooled." Harriet's still sitting straight up, clutching her blanket to her chest and staring straight ahead. I look at her, taking a step forward. I don't think she was trying to fool anyone. "Okay, okay, let's go."

"Eddie, I don't think she faked it," I tell him, eyes still glued on her.

"I can't leave," Harriet states shakily. "You can't protect me from Caroline. No one can."

Speaking gently to her, I say, "Harriet, do you want us to leave?" She just nods. "We'll come back. I promise. We'll figure this out." This time, she doesn't do anything. "Eddie, let's go."

—

We make it back to Anubis House just before curfew, and for a second I think we're home-free. Then, as I start going up the stairs and Eddie goes down the hallway into his room, Victor's voice says out of nowhere, "Welcome home, Mr. Miller and Miss Adams."

I close my eyes, grimacing. Great, he caught us. And the house is eerily quiet. Victor calmly ushers us into the living room, where the rest of the Anubis House residents are standing in a straight line. Trudy and Denby are also there.

"I am grateful," Victor starts, "to Miss Denby for bringing to my attention this flagrant breach of the rules. Students are not permitted to leave the grounds of Anubis House without permission. Let alone seek to gain entry to a discotheque."