Force of Nature ▸ House of Anubis [3]

chapter seventy-three. house of hog

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            With a new ice pack on the back of my head, I've nothing left to do but wallow in my own guilt. Just kidding—somewhat. While Fabian was right when he accused me of feeling guilty over what had happened, I refuse to let them win. Which means I have to go over everything I know, in my concussed state, to find some kind of loophole. If I do find one, I'll have to remember it long enough to tell the others. On the plus side, this theorizing is keeping me awake.

            Okay, so they've got some sinners. I think Victor was the first one taken. Patricia had to have been next. Fabian was... what number was Fabian? Was he three or four? I think four have been taken, but... I can't for the life of me remember who the other one was. Maybe only three were taken. Maybe I'm imagining things, maybe we're not close to the endgame like I thought. Maybe we have time.

            Or maybe when I have my head back I'll remember everything.

            Right, so anyway, the questions that need to be answered: what else was in the parcel Fabian had with KT's name on it, who sent it to her, how did Frobisher get Fabian (of all people) to the gatehouse to take him, how are they taking them as sinners, what do those hieroglyphs have to do with anything, and how am I involved with all of this?

            Okay, so now let's do some theories. There was the message that said sinners walk among us, but KT grabbed everything else before I could look. So maybe there was more info on the sinners in it. The only adult who knew about this and was on our side was Harriet Denby. Maybe Harriet sent it, from wherever Imposter Denby shipped her off to. Frobisher must've tricked Fabian and appealed to the Egyptologist inside him; it's the only explanation for Fabian willingly walking into the line of fire. Maybe how they're taking them has to do with the sarcophagi in the tank room—wait, that photograph we found in the book in the secret room! It was of the sarcophagi in the tank room. I can't believe I didn't realize that 'til now. And Lily, as her generation's Bringer of Death, must've had dreams like I do. Except, hers predicted something that happened almost an entire century later—Jesus, what are mine like?

            And that brings me to my biggest question. How is the Bringer of Death involved? Your time is coming. Fabian said that to me right before he gave me a concussion (a phrase I literally never thought I would say) so what does it mean? Does it mean Frobisher is getting closer to summoning Ammit? We already know I get feelings whenever I'm in the same building as a sinner, so theoretically I should get a feeling of dread when/if he completes his task. Okay, that makes sense, but, like...

            I felt like I was threatened when Fabian said that. Like I won't make it out of this alive, or at least with my head on right.

            But before I can think on it anymore, someone takes the ice pack from the back of my head and pushes it on my face, instantly waking me up when the cold of it touches my skin. I yelp and jump in my seat, turning to look at the person beside me. Jerome. Of course. He'd been doing that all night.