As Nina, Amber and KT pulled up at Anubis House, Nina was flooded with excitement. She had waited so long to come and see everyone in Anubis House again! It was so exciting! As she got out of the car with Amber and KT behind, her phone in her pocket vibrated. She picked it up. It was a call from her Gran! She picked it up and signalled for Amber and KT to go ahead without her.

"Hi Gran!" Nina spoke clearly into the phone.

"Nina, darling!" Her Gran said cheerfully. "Have you seen anyone yet?" She asked.

"No Gran," Nina chuckled, "We just arrived. But I did meet this girl on the plane, her name was KT. Amber knew her, apparently she had replaced me after I left" Nina added happily.

"No one can ever replace you Nina. I'll let you go now. Tell Fabian to keep up the poems." As her Gran hung up, Nina was filled with mixed emotions.

Fabian. Oh no! She broke broke up with him in that letter...but...she knows that she still loves him! He's her best friend, and Nina knew that it would be a world of awkwardness. But nevertheless, Nina couldn't wait to see him! Being with him was always amazing. But she knew that before she could go see Fabian and everyone else, there was one place she wanted to visit...

The clearing in the woods.

As Nina proceeded to the sacred meeting place of Sibuna, she began to ideate about seeing Fabian for the first time in ages. Poor Nina. If only she knew how wrong she was.

She heard voices up ahead and decided to check it out. She was pretty much a professional when it came to eavesdropping. All thanks to Sibuna. She smiled, at all the memories that thought had evoked. All the memories of her club and times they had saved the world. She even remembered the time Amber had first made up the name. It was Anubis backwards.

All of the heart stopping moments suddenly came back to her. Meeting Sarah. Discovering her powers. Then there was sneaking around in Victor's office and breaking into the school, library, attic and cellar. All the times they had meetings, solved riddles, stole ankh pieces, elixir and amulets. That made Nina remember when Alfie had performed his magic trick to get the amulet back from Victor. The fact that they stole the amulets to go down into the tunnels and almost die from near impossible challenges.

Being blackmailed by Rufus and tormented by Senkhara, and her friends being hexed. That was something Nina definitely did not miss. They didn't bring her happiness at the time, but now that she looked back at them, a smile would always sweep her face. She didn't know why, but they did. These were the sort of things she had missed out on when she hadn't come back to Anubis House.

After her Gran had gotten better, she could've come back to Anubis House, but there was no way she could just abandon her sick Gran in America.

She had arrived at where she heard the voices the loudest. She hid behind a tree and poked her head around so that she could see who was speaking and what they were doing.

She was shocked to see two very familiar faces.

"Fabian! Why can't I call a Sibuna meeting?" Mara yelled, becoming more ardent by the second.

"You have to make a sacrifice and a vow. You also have to have at least the original founders permission! Mara, you're not a Sibuna!" Fabian hissed.

"Fine, but can't we at least go back to Anubis House? What are we doing out here anyway?" Mara asked irritated.

"We're trying to find Let Down," he replied, sounding equally annoyed.

"Let Down?" Mara asked, confused.

"Um...He sorta...mighta," Fabian scratched the back of his head, "Ahh, ran away?"

"HE RAN AWAY?!" Mara yelled in outrage.

"Well, yeah..." Nina watched Fabian turn around and blush.

She had to press her back up against the tree, so that he couldn't see her, but she kept that last vision of him implanted in her brain. That blush. The blush she loved so much, she was tempted to run out to him, to hug, and to kiss him. Kiss him hard. Directly on the lips, like she had done before. But she couldn't, that would be very weird. She was hiding behind a tree, eavesdropping on their conversation, and she would just jump out and kiss him? No, that was too weird. And stalky.

She'd have to wait until Mara left. Why was Mara with Fabian anyway? Nina didn't think that they were ever really very close. And who was Let Down? And why did Mara want to call a Sibuna meeting? Was it something important?

"Mara," Fabian said gently, turning back around to face her, "We'll find Let Down. I promise. And I'll try and find a way to let you into Sibuna. Just be patient," he added with a smile.

Nina was outraged! Fabian of all people should know how much she hates letting others into Sibuna! And she was the leader, so there was no way she would let Mara or anyone else in no matter the circumstances. Well, Eddie is leader. But he wouldn't like it either. And he's lost his powers, so technically, Nina is still kind of the leader. But it didn't matter if she was leader or not. Fabian said Mara had to get the original founders permission. And Nina was an original founder.

"Thanks Fabian," Mara replied with a smile, taking a step towards him.

Nina wondered what on earth she was doing. Then Nina heard a sudden crack of a twig, and turned her head quickly, to see who was there. But there was no one. Maybe she imagined it. When she was looked back, she couldn't believe her eyes.

Mara was kissing Fabian.

And he was kissing back.

~~~~~
Alfie stood there, confused, as Eddie went inside and Willow went to get her stuff from the car. He wondered what why Patricia and Eddie had said the things they had. He assumed they must've had a falling out. Whatever it may have been.

Alfie was relieved Willow had bought his 'I only imagined it' story. He did feel bad about lying to her, but it was for her own safety. He wasn't great at lying. This may be a mystery for Sibuna. Already. Alfie wondered why Sibuna could never just have a normal day. The mysteries always seem to follow them. Alfie heard a sudden squeal of his name and looked up, assuming it to be Willow.

But Alfie was wrong. It was Amber, who threw herself at him. As in, kissed him.

Alfie pushed Amber off, wondering what had gone through her brain. Then he remembered the conversation he and Willow had in the car. Amber didn't know.

"What's a matter?" Amber said. "Are you- are you not happy to see me?" She stuttered.

"Ummm...Ambs...I...ummm...have a-" Alfie began, but his head snapped around to the doorway when he heard his name being called.

"-Alfie, will you be a good boyfriend and help me with this luggage? It's a bit heavy." Willow cut into their conversation.

"Ummm..." Alfie looked back at Amber, who was giving him a are-you-kidding-me look, that he realised was full of sorrow.

"Oh, hi Amber!" Willow commented happily, coming down to hug Amber.

But Amber just pushed Willow away, with another look, this one being a common leave-me-alone-I-don't-want-to-talk-to-you one. She ran up the stairs in her high heels, not looking back. Alfie could've sworn he had heard her cry.

"Alfie! You dropped her heart, didn't you?" Willow accused gently, which is not something that many people do.

"Willow, I didn't mean to!" He said in defence.

"I know you didn't Alfie, but now someone has to go comfort her. I'll do it," she said running up the steps to Anubis House.

"No, Willow, I don't think that's a goo-" but before he could finish, she was gone.

It made no sense to Alfie whatsoever. Amber had never kissed him when they were actually dating. The only time that they had kissed properly, was when she was trying to make Mick jealous. And now suddenly, she's throwing herself at him after not seeing or speaking to him for two years! Was she insane? Or was it just him? He didn't know what went on inside Amber's head, but he knew it only ever made sense to her. Amber Millington.

Alfie knew eavesdropping wasn't a good thing to do (with the exception of trying to save the world) but he did it anyway.
He approached Willow's door, bobbed down on the ground, and pressed his ear against the hard, cold, wood, listening intently.

"Go away Willow!" He heard Amber yell.

"Amber, I-" but Willow suddenly went quiet, and Alfie wondered why.

Wonder no longer he shall. Before Alfie could react, Amber swung open the door, and threw the pillow she'd been hugging at him. Already being unbalanced, he was knocked down at the force of the throw, and met the cold floor with a bang.

"Alfred Marmaduke Lewis! How dare you listen at the door!? That is a total invasion of my privacy!" She said in what Alfie spontaneously named her Angry-Amber voice.

But before Alfie was able to reply, Amber stomped past him, remarkably resembling Patricia, down the hall, down the steps, out the door, and straight to the woods.

"Alfie! That wasn't very nice, and it wasn't the right thing to do either. Why did you do it?" Willow asked.

"I-" Alfie was speechless.

He didn't know why he did it. But he had done it, and he couldn't change the past now. He could try to make it better though. So without a word to Willow, he scooted down the stairs, in search of Amber.

"Alfie! Where are you going!?" Willow shouted with concern, but decided not to follow.

Alfie realised that the house seemed to be empty, except for him, KT, Eddie and Willow. KT and Eddie were in the kitchen having a discussion. Alfie went and greeted KT, but then ran off in a hurry, not caring what they were talking about.

He knew he had to apologise, but he didn't know exactly what he was apologising for. Of course, listening at the door would be one thing, but there was more to it than that. The only problem was, Alfie wasn't sure what. Alfie tried to sum it up in his head. Amber had left Anubis House and she was mad at him for getting a girlfriend? Why would Alfie apologies for that? He knew he had to say sorry, but it still didn't make sense why he was doing it.

As Alfie proceeded to the forest, he thought about what he would say to Amber. He voiced his options out loud, contemplating which one was the best.

"Hey Ambs," he said in his cool, deep, James Bond voice.

"Amber!" He screeched in a his childish and immature voice. He shook his head, deciding it was lame.

"Miss Millington," he said in a very posh voice.

After realising all of these were useless and she'd just run away at the sight of him, he decided to change is approach.

"I'm sorry Amber" he apologised in his usual voice.

That was the best one. He was being himself.

However, Alfie hadn't noticed that he had actually approached Amber, and that she had heard him.

He sat down next to her (like a good friend) as she placed her head on his shoulder.

They both heard a sudden rustling of leaves and turned in the direction it had come from. No one was there.

Not long after, he saw three silhouettes walking towards him and Amber.

~~~~~

Joy stopped suddenly and signalled to Jerome and Patricia behind her. She could see two figures sitting on the ground.

"Shhhh," she whispered quietly.

They all stood as still as they could, trying to not let their noses whistle when they breathed.

"Who is it?" Patricia whispered.

Joy looked across at her, and then at Jerome, and saw realisation dawning on his face.

"It's Amber and Alfie," he said in a hushed voice, "I think."

Without word, Patricia went straight ahead to talk to them.

"What's up losers?" she said.

Alfie glared up at her. Then they all realised that Amber was sobbing and Patricia realised she made a mistake.

"Ah-I-" Patricia was rendered speechless for the first time in a long time.

"So...Uh...Joy and I will leave you be. We'll be back." Jerome intervened, not wanting to be involved.

"We'll meet you back at the house if you want," Alfie offered.

"Sure," Joy said, realising that the old 'Sibuna' gang were wanting to hang out together again, "You know the way back?" She confirmed.

"Yeah," Patricia reassured.

"Okay, bye," and with that Jerome and her set off for a nice, long, romantic stroll.

"Joy?" Jerome asked an hour into their walk.

"Mhm?" Joy looked up at him.

"I know you're trying to be a loyal friend, but will you please just tell me what's going on between Patricia and Eddie." He asked.

Joy took a big breath as if she was about to say something, but all she ended up doing was shaking her head.

"Why not?" he begged.

"It's not my place to say!" she said truthfully.

"It's not like I'll tell anyone! I am brilliant at keeping secrets!" he argued.

Joy gave him a look as if to say no-you're-not, but Jerome put up a fight.

"I'm not lying. I have kept a lot of secrets. You don't know just how many." he looked at Joy meaningfully.

"Okay, I believe you," she said, giving in, "But I'm still not telling you what's going on with Peddie."

"Peddie?" Jerome asked, obviously bewildered.

"Yeah. Peddie." Joy repeated simply.

When Jerome still didn't understand, she began to elaborate.

"It's like a ship name," she continued.

"Ship?" Jerome asked, unaware of all this information.

"Like a relationship. If I say I ship someone, it means I like them as a couple, or I think they'd make a good couple," she explained.

"So, what's Peddie?" he enquired.

"Seriously, Jerome? You can't put two and two together? The 'P' is from Patricia and the 'Eddie' is from Eddie." she went on.

"So it's a mix of their names?" he asked.

"Basically," Joy shrugged.

"And do you, 'ship' it?" Jerome raised his eyebrows and used air quotation marks around the word ship.

Joy went a bit quiet. This wasn't her place to say either. She shouldn't judge other relationships. Especially her best friends. But it was just an opinion.

"Yes," she confirmed, "Do you?

"I haven't really given it that much thought, considering I only just found out what it is. But, I suppose I do." He contemplated, still unsure.

Joy giggled at the face he made. He was actually concentrating on this. He was thinking about it as if his decision would change the future of this world. When she laughed, Jerome looked down at her.

"What?" he asked with a smile.

"Nothing," Joy chuckled and flashed a smile back, as she stood on her tip toes to give him a kiss on the cheek.

After a moment of silence Jerome asked a question that made Joy smile, "So...does that make us Joyrome?"

"No, I think we'd be Jeroy," Joy replied quickly, having already put thought into the matter at hand.

They walked on for hours. The sun lowered and began to set on the horizon, it's ray's giving a sense of blissful tranquility. Jerome and Joy's laughs echoed through the surrounding trees, as they wondered carelessly through the silent forest, hearing nothing but the chirp of a bird.

It was now almost 7:00, and it was beginning to get a little darker. Joy suggested that they turned back around and headed back to the house. Jerome was reluctant at first, but Joy only had to plead once before he gave in.

Joy had been so depressed recently, that if you saw her now, you probably wouldn't recognise her as the same person she has been yesterday. At the moment, she felt like she had not a care in the world, and Jerome was a big part of that. She looked up at him and realised just how lucky she was to have him as her boyfriend.

As they walked back to the house, hand in hand, they discussed what they were going to do over the summer. Although they didn't know, or even have a clue, that in the next few days, those fun and exciting plans would go flying out the window, due to the events that would occur within the next few minutes.

"Do you reckon everyone is back at the house by now?" Jerome asked in the attempt to provoke a new topic of conversation.

"Yeah, probably. Why?" Joy responded.

"Um...just asking I suppose," he said.

Joy laughed at Jerome's feeble attempt of a conversation starter. But Joy had a great conversation starter of her own...sort of. Well, not so much for Joy and Jerome.

"Did you hear that?" Joy's head snapped around to where she heard the noise.

She let go of Jerome's hand and tiptoed over to where she thought the noise had come from.

She gasped loudly when she saw what had made the noise.

"Jerome! Come quick!" she beckoned, "Hurry up!"

"No way," he said as he made his way over to Joy, his eyes wide.

"It can't be!" they chorused, as they looked at each other sceptically.

They both stared down to the all to familiar face that was lying unconscious on the forest ground.

~~~~~
A/N

So, what do you think?

How was chapter 4?

I hope you're enjoying this book!

Okay...Question Time!

What's going to happen when Nina has to face Fabian?

Are you guys Wilfie or Amfie supporters?

When am I going to tell you what happened to Peddie?

Muhahaha (I'm so evil!)

Who do you think Joy and Jerome found?

And lastly, are you interested in this book? (I'm going to keep asking until I get an answer!)

Guys, you don't like ghost readers, so what makes us any different?!

Please vote and comment!

Love y'all!

Chapter written by Alannah💖💖