Touch of Fear ▸ House of Anubis [2]

chapter six. house of faces

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            "And then the zombie—Ash, you okay?"

            I open my eyes, glancing at Alfie. It's breakfast now and I hardly got any sleep after the voice incident. I take my head off my hand, shaking my head as I respond, "Yeah, fine."

            "You don't look fine," Jerome remarks.

            "Just bad dreams two nights in a row," I dismiss their concern, although without looking them in the eye. While technically not being a lie, the fact that last night I was completely awake when I heard the voice talking directly to me probably does make it a full-out lie. "It's fine."

            The roommates share a doubtful glance, but fortunately a distraction comes in the form of one Nina Martin, who calls from the kitchen, "Hey, Ash, I could use your help for a sec...?" I get up and join her in the kitchen, crossing my arms as I look at her expectantly. "Uh...have you ever heard of something called the Mask of Anubis?"

            "The Mask of Anubis," I repeat thoughtfully, racking my brain. "Uh...I know that there are a lot of masks of his face, like, worship stuff and all that, but that's it. Why?"

            "No reason. Thanks, though."

            "Yeah..." I remark slowly, going back to my seat. I think Nina may be hiding something from me. I don't know what. Or why. Maybe she and Fabian are just, like, reliving the early days of their relationship with looking up Egyptian mythology stuff.

            As I sit back down, Patricia asks, "Why is Mick going to see his family so soon after the holidays?"

            "Forgot his blankie?" Jerome suggests with a laugh.

            "Okay, I think I may have missed something," I comment, glancing around confused. "Could I have the cliff-notes?"

            Mara sits down and informs the table, an answer to Trixie's question, "His family is relocating to Australia."

            "Seriously?" I question, eyebrows raised. Wait, if Mick's family is moving to Australia, does that mean Mick's leaving with them as well? This is a boarding school, so it's not like it's entirely necessary. "Is Mick going with them?"

            "No way," Mara denies. "He wants to stay here. He's telling them today."

            "Jocks and crocs," Joy says. "I'll be over there like a shot."

            As the resident Australian in the house, I feel the need to correct her (although slightly accurate) visions of my homeland. "Spiders bigger than your head, kangaroos wandering into your backyard," I list, counting on my fingers, "and oh, how could I ever forget the snakes? Now those can definitely be of some concern."