Impossible; House of Anubis *B1*

[06] House of Locks

*Re-write by me - 17/05/2025*
*Edit by my wonderful Editor Beth_Celeste  - TBC (she looking over Grammar etc.)*

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Camilla, Amber, and Fabian stood with their ears pressed against the closed door of the room shared by Camilla, Patricia, and Nina. They were waiting, hearts pounding, for the telltale sound that Victor had finally left the hallway. Once they heard the heavy retreat of his footsteps, the tension in the air seemed to lift. After what felt like an age, the sound they'd been hoping for arrived: the click of the attic door lock followed by the steady thud of Victor's footsteps heading toward his office.

"I think he's gone," Camilla whispered, her eyes flicking to Amber and Fabian, both of whom nodded in silent agreement. Amber, closest to the door handle, was the first to make her move. She turned it cautiously and eased the door open, peering out into the hallway.

The door groaned on its hinges, a sharp protest that caused all three of them to stiffen, pulling back into the room before anyone could spot them.

"He didn't bring Nina," Amber whispered, realising all at once what that meant. If he had, the noise would have been far louder—Nina's footsteps would have been unmistakable.

"Right, let's get the key from Patricia," Fabian said, turning to head back toward the door they had just exited. But this time, instead of sneaking, he barged into the room with a determination that startled Camilla. Amber followed, close on his heels.

"Patricia! Hand me the key!" he demanded, his voice harsh.

Patricia groggily lifted her head from her pillow, clearly startled by their sudden reappearance. She had barely been awake when they'd hidden away in the room, and Camilla suspected she had been on the edge of drifting off again when they burst in. Slowly, Patricia sat up, rubbing her eyes.

"I didn't take it," she mumbled, her tone heavy with sleep.

Amber, sceptical, shot her a look. "You're lying," she muttered, and Camilla sighed quietly, recognising the truth behind her friend's words. Patricia's tell for dishonesty was unmistakable—she was avoiding eye contact. And though she was looking directly at Camilla, she was well aware that Camilla would catch her out.

"What did you do with the key, Trish?" Camilla asked, her voice steady but insistent.

Her brother shifted his gaze from the door to her, clearly confused. "She did something?"

"Trust me, Fabby, I know Trish," Camilla replied with a firm nod, her eyes locking with her brother's. Fabian studied her face for a moment, before nodding, seemingly satisfied with the answer he had been looking for. He then turned his attention back to Patricia, clearly expecting an answer.

"I... I threw it out the window," Patricia confessed, and the words hung in the air, leaving all of them in stunned silence.

"You did what?!" Fabian hissed in disbelief, turning to Amber and Camilla for confirmation. His voice was barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly might make the situation even worse. The plan to unlock the door for Nina had already been a challenge, and this made everything ten times worse. "Which window? This one?" He gestured to the window next to Camilla's bed.

"Yeah," Patricia replied, clearly unbothered, "I think it fell into the bushes."

"We can't go searching for it until morning," Amber muttered, clearly irritated, casting a glare in Patricia's direction.

"What a mess," Fabian muttered under his breath, walking away from the window in frustration.

"I think we should tell Victor everything," Amber suggested quietly, her tone cautious but filled with a sense of practicality. Camilla privately agreed with her; telling Victor might be the only way to get Nina out of the attic, but the fear of the consequences for Nina weighed heavily on her.