Chapter 15: The Hidden Room

"This isn't good." Jozen thought to himself as he helps Mr. Simmons, Principal Wartz, Torval, and Olga throw a rope to Helga to get her out of the secret passage.

When they pulled her up, Olga immediately smothered her precious baby sister with kisses. "Oooooh, Helga! I'll never leave you ever again!"

Helga managed to pull free from her sister's death bringing gasp. "Finally, sweet air." Helga took deep breaths as all the kids asked her what happened. "Quiet down you doofuses! I'm breathing here!"

Mr. Simmons kneeled down and asked Helga what happened to her.

"Me?" Helga asked nervously. "Well I was …. Uuuuh walking, walking around this place and then somehow that part of the floor just dropped down like that, I think I hit a switch or something." Helga smiled trying to hide the fact of her recent episode.

Mr. Simmons scratched his head in confusion as he noticed something off. "But what happened to your shoes?" The teacher pointed to Helga's feet. The girl quickly recalled her little moment and looked at the torch holder. "I … I thought I saw some huge bug there and threw both my shoes at it. I guess it was nothing."

Sid walked to her shoes and looked at the old torch holder. "Hey, I don't remember this thing like this."

Principal Wartz examined the torch holder and came up with a theory. "This girl must have hit this which caused it to turn, thus opening this passage way …. Mr. Simmons, give this girl an A plus this instant for making a huge discovery!"

"M-Me!?" Helga looked at everyone cheering for her, including Arnold.

"Helga, this is incredible." The boy of her dreams walked up to her and smiled.

The compliment her love gave to her made her realized she needs to get herself together and act cool NOW! "Yyyyyyep, nothing too much for me." She smirked as she examined her nails. "Figuring that out was a sitch. But boy you should see what I saw in-"

"I'm going in!" Olga randomly shouted as she dropped down the entranceway.

"Oh for the love of-" Jozen quickly jumped in after her as everyone gathered around the hole.

"Oh my! Helga dear, you found something incredible!"

The kids turned to Helga. "Well I did find something …..you call that incredible?!"

Jozen sighed to himself as he managed to climb up the hole. "There's some climbing stones here, but you all might as well see what's down here."

Principal quickly races to the bags to take out flashlights and lanterns for the kids. He then ordered the kids to not touch anything and stay together as they all climbed down one by one.

They turned the lights on and looked at the shocking discovery Helga had found.

"Is that there the ol' Green Eye Devil?" Stinky pointed at a large statue of the masked creature that threatened the Green Eyes in legends, but the statue itself was nearly unrecognizable in this broken state. Well it wasn't technically broken in the smashed sort of way. "It looks like melted Swiss cheese at the Cheese Festival."

Phoebe and Mr. Simmons walked up to the statue and gave it a better look.

"Oh my, this thing looks like it was melting, I think." Mr. Simmons looked at a leg to see the misshapen figure with an odd coloration.

"Interesting, this was not carved like this." Phoebe aimed her light on the head with the missing left eye that looks like it was stabbed. "It appears as if a child melted a plastic toy with a magnifying glass, but there is no possible way this could happen. Phoebe looked at the fallen tail of the statue. "Melton Stone is lava, but perhaps a powerful acid done this, unless we came across a statue being made from some clay like substance." She held her hands together and glee. "Oh that would be a great discovery and solve many mysteries involving the structures of certain temples found in this side of the world. Such as the megalithic stones of Sacsayhuaman in Peru." Phoebe jumped up and down as Gerald smiled softly at her excitement. "What can steer away the eye of curiosity form this?"

"Hey look, honey!" Harold looked inside a jar with a green substance. "Jackpot!"

"Give me that!" Jozen swiped the jar away from Harold. "This is a …. We're not touching anything!"

Eduardo looked at the jar's marking. "I'd say you would be dead if you eat it."

"D-D-Dead?" Harold asked as Eduardo examined the pot. "'Spider venom', how interesting." Eduardo looked at the venom and poured it on the statue, but nothing happened. "Well that's out of the question for this." Eduardo looked at the statue overall and turned to Helga. "So this is what shocked you so greatly?"

Helga pointed to the left. "Well that is an eyesore, but I was referring to something along the lines of THAT!" Eduardo looked behind him and nearly screamed in fear.

Arnold aimed the flashlight and let out a small scream.

Everyone nearly jumped in shock to see a horrific sight, well not to Nadine. "Ooooooh my gooooooosh!" She squealed loudly and rushed to what they found. "I new species of spider preserved in a liquid of some sort. Most likely vinegar." Nadine smiled in joy to see a well preserve specimen of a never before seen specimen of spider. She looked at all the kids' excited faces, but was surprised to see none that shares her interests. "What's the matter?"

"Oh Nadine." Rhonda spoke to her best friend in a polite manor. "I think you're forgetting the main point in our shock ….. that this spider is THE SIZE OF A DOG!" Rhonda jumped back at the large preserve spider. "I'm out! I am so-" She bumped into something and turned to see an entire shelf with more preserve spiders. "Aaaaah!"

One nearly fell over, but Jozen caught it just in time. "Everyone stay close. We should not be touching anything." Jozen was the only one that looked the least surprised. "We do not want to break anything."

"Especially with a great discovery like this!" Princpal Wartz shouted. "This is so exciting! Yes! Yes! Yes! We've discovered an ancient Green Eyes laboratory!"

"I wouldn't say ancient." Eduardo pointed out the jar that read spider venom. "This is written in Spanish and English."

"Oh fouy." Principal Wartz kicked the ground.

"And look at this, a desk." Eugene pointed out a desk with pencils and paper, only for the boy to fall over and breaking it. "I'm O.K."

Phoebe examined the desk as Lorenzo and Lila helped Eugene up. "Eduardo is right. These are modern pencils and paper." Phoebe felt the desk. "And this, yet not old, is amateur made. Which means someone already discovered this room." She examined her fingers. "And wasn't used in a while."

"Well I reckin' someone was here not too long ago." Stinky pointed at an old potato. The kids turned away from the disgusting look, but Stinky examined it despite the look. "Yep, they either came for a bit or somebody was snooping around."

"So I didn't find this place first then." Helga folded her arms, feeling rather annoyed.

"Mr. Simmons, forget that A+ for her." Principal Wartz stated before Helga protested. "And I'll be confiscating this jar." He reached for one of the jars with the preserved spiders, but Jozen stepped in front of him with his arms folded and a glare.

"You do realize you're committing a theft, right?"

After thinking over a bit, Princpal Wartz gasped. "You're right, whoever did this have done nothing wrong to my knowledge … wait, are these spiders endangered?"

Jozen felt more annoyed by the man. "No, I mean I don't know. It doesn't matter, we just can't steal!"

"Ssssss!" Coatl poked at the jar, but Jozen picked it up out of their reaches. "Someone went to the effort of capturing these beasts for science. So we will leave these alone and-"

"Hold on a second." Nadine thought out loud. "If this is recent research, then that means ….." A huge grin formed on the girl's face. "These spiders still thrive in these jungles!"

The kids have had plenty of surprises today and they all seemed to enjoy it, but not much so for the spiders in the jar. And yet, seeing how large they are, not one of them ever considered before that these spiders are still around, hiding in the trees just ready to melt your face off.

"Wow, that's amazing, best friend." Rhonda spoke in an unusual plain tone. "Well I think I speak for all of us when I say ….. I'M RUNNNING BACK TO THAT RUNDOWN VILLAGE!"

Almost everyone screamed in terror as Mr. Simmons fainted. Harold hid under the remains of the table, Sid froze in place, Lila held onto herself and shivered, Torvald eyed every corner, Brainy just stood there casually, and Rhonda was about to climb out but fell down.

Being the voice of reason he is, Arnold shouted to his classmates to help calm them down, but no one listened.

"Guys!" Arnold shouted with no hope as some kids nearly knocked over some jars. Thankfully the chaos lasted shortly when someone with a powerful voice spoke up.

"SILENCE!"

Everyone froze and turned to the owner of that frightful voice, Jozen.

"SIT!" Jozen pointed down to the floor and all the kids followed his order as Mr. Simmons woke up.

"Alright, as we all just learned, these animals exist!" Jozen pointed at a jar. "But I want to say a few words about our discovery. There are other dangerous animals in this jungle besides these spiders, and that didn't bother you before."

The kids nodded.

"We follow safety procedures to keep you kids safe." He turned to Eduardo. "Such as your chaperone here."

"Me?" Eduardo asked.

"I noticed that weapon you have around your belt."

Eduardo looked at his belt as the kids all gasp to see a clip pistol.

Jozen marched around the class. "I've lived in these lands all my life and I was trained by my father how to fend off any wild animal I come across." From his pants, Jozen took out a well cover knife. "And we've been taught that animals will stay clear of fire and groups of humans from fear."

Coatl slithered around his leg. "And I think I know how to handle an animal that can easily kill me." Jozen patted the snake on the head. "So let's all calm ourselves and enjoy your once in a lifetime trip in the jungles of San Lorenzo."

"One by one, the kids (and Mr. Simmons) slowly calmed down, unlike Rhonda who had no idea she was holding onto Curly the entire time.

"Give daddy some sugar."

They all winced at the slap Curly received for being such a brave gentleman.

Jozen sighed as he points up the entranceway. "I think we've spent enough time here. How about we-"

"SECRET DOOR!"

Jozen flinched from hearing Princpal Wartz called out from an unexplored section in the secret room.

"I'M GOING IN!"

Jozen instantly ran towards Principal Wartz who found a staircase leading down quite far judging by the Principal's lantern.

The kids and adults ran to the stairs to see Jozen running down and dragging their principal up like a spoiled brat.

They all gasped in shock and amazement by how strong Jozen was as he pinned the principal up to the wall and stare at him with his threatening green eyes.

"You do not know what's behind that door." Jozen pointed at Wartz in the face, which greatly intimidated the man who kept P.S. 118 in order by his own intimidating nature. "For all you know, that is where those spiders live." He leaned in closer as Wartz shivered. "What if a whole colony was right behind those door, ready to pounce at you for their meal. Would you like to feel the venom spreading through your body, causing a most horrific death?"

Principal Wartz gulped and nodded no.

"Good." Jozen showed the sun light exit. "How about we continue our journey and later we'll tell explorers of this place. So that well trained and level headed men can explore that land for themselves." He pulled Wartz's shirt up. "Do I make myself clear?"

Principal Wartz nodded yes.

Jozen released the Principal and held his arms behind his back. "So, is everything clear?"

"Yes, sir!" the kids and Mr. Simmons spoke.

"Now let's get some fresh air." He smiled as he leads the kids up one by one.

"That was a close one." Jozen thought to himself as he let Olga up.

"I must say, that was … well something." Olga smile with rosy cheeks. "I'm impressed you could bring Principal Wartz up all by yourself." She eyed his arm. "Much stronger than you look."

"Oh, well thank you." Jozen's face turned red, but kept calm. "My father raised me to become a strong leader."

"Leader you say?" Olga looked at the man with curiosity. "Does your father run a business, or is he a mayor?"

"M-Mayor?" Jozen started to get a little nervous as he lightly held onto his shirt. "You can say that."

"Ooooh, do tell." Olga held her hands together. "He must be a great man to raise someone like you."

"And here comes the flirting!" Helga said to herself as Olga kept on complimenting Jozen. "Next thing you know they'll get engaged in a week like with Doug." She folded her arms and rolled her eyes. "Heck, what if he ends up being a pirate? What then, Olga?"

Helga just looks in disgust as Olga took small glances at Jozen's arms as the man humbles himself. "And that guys a creep, right Arnold?"

Helga looks next to her to not see the Football head. "Huh, must have left all-" Helga then noticed Arnold walking down the steps on his own.

"Arnold!" Helga whispered to herself as she follows along with Jozen distracted.

Helga walked down the steps to see Arnold examining the writing on the door. "Well this is new, Football Head." Arnold jumped a bit to see Helga standing right there. "Ya know the moment Olga starts to get under his skin, Crazy Snake Guy is going to notice us down here, and right at the very spot he dragged Wartz away." Helga held her arms up. "He's crazy, but boy does he get scary! Did ya miss that part?"

Arnold rubbed the back of his head. "S-S-Sorry, I was … just curious." He turned around to the door and looked at the writing. "That's all."

"We'll just read about it later in some National Geographic book." Helga grabbed his wrist. "Get back up before."

"Be warned to all who enters."

"Huh?" Helga raised her unibrow as Arnold spoke up with his fingers following the writing. "For the vast cavern have not yet been colonized."

"… Very funny, now come on." Helga motioned him to follow, but he just stood there. "Hey Arnold!"

"Huh?" Arnold turned around. "Sorry, did you say something?"

"Please don't make this hard to not hate you!" Helga held her head. "I don't know what joke you're polling, but I'm not falling for it. What's next?" Helga held her finger up and pretends to read. "Or else you'll be cursed with a million stupid people you have to deal with every day for the rest of your life."

"I'm sorry, Helga. I don't understand."

Helga folded her arms and just stared at her crush. "How much dust did you inhale down here?"

Arnold felt his head. "I'm really sorry, but I just want to-"

"Want to what, Son of Miles and Stella?"

The two kids quickly turned to see Jozen look at them with impatient eyes.

"Oh crap." Helga said to herself. "Heh, I was just grabbing my friend here and …. Come one Hairboy!"

"Wait!" Helga flinched as Arnold felt the door. "I, I think."

"You think what?" Jozen leaned on the door. "You heard what I told your principal. Out."

Helga laughed nervously. "Well I'm not hanging out here." Helga walked up, leaving Arnold and Jozen.

The two were just standing there quietly. Jozen leaned on that door awaiting an answer as Arnold felt nervous.

"J-Jozen?"

"Interesting, isn't it?" Jozen pointed to the door. "And look at this ancient Green Eyes writing, hard to understand, right?"

Arnold gave one more look at the writing. "Y-Yes it is."

Jozen slightly tilted his head. "And to think what may lay behind this door; a great treasure, a tunnel, adventure, or perhaps monsters?" He leaned a bit to look at Arnold. "Like I said before, let the experienced explorers handle it."

Arnold fiddled his fingers a bit. He doesn't know why, but he feels like he needs to see what's behind that door. "Jozen, you think that maybe some large cave is there? I mean really large?" Arnold rubbed the back of his head. "And …. Maybe we might find the Green Eyes." Arnold's heart raced as Jozen just gives that stare he gave his principal.

"And what makes you think that?" Jozen raised an eyebrow at the boy, determined to keep him away.

Arnold just closed his eyes. "Look, I just …. I just have a feeling."

"Care to explain some more?"

Arnold glanced at Jozen and at the door. He didn't know why, but his fear was slowly fading. "I … I just get out of the way!" Completely out of Arnold's usual behavior, he tried to pull Jozen away to see what lies behind the door, but with no effort.

"Arnold!"

Arnold suddenly snapped out of his thought and looked at Jozen. He stepped back and looked at his hands. "I … I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?"

Jozen held in a laugh. "Trust me kid, it will take a lot to hurt me." But his smile faded. "I think you need some fresh air."

Arnold felt his head and nodded. "Yeah, I think you're right. And sorry again, so sorry."

As the boy walked, Jozen kept his glare on Arnold with curiosity. "I heard what you read." Jozen glanced back at the door. "So you're interested in the Green Eyes ….. and no doubt your parents." Jozen took a deep breath. "And yet I too have a mystery to solve, and now another one." Jozen looked back at Arnold, but with a face of empathy. "I wish I have answers for you …. I wish I can answer you."

"Jozen?"

Jozen looked up to Arnold.

"Oh, sorry. I was just thinking." Jozen said as he wave his arms. "And make sure nobody took those jars with the Hell Pit Spiders."

"O.K." Arnold smile as he looked around the room, to see Curly swiping one away. "Curly, put that He ….." Arnold eyes opened wide as he turned to Jozen who followed close. "Hell Pit Spiders?"

Jozen shrugged his arms. "Just thought of the name. Interesting, yes?" Jozen grinned. "A terrifying name for such a terrifying ….. put that back."

Jozen pointed at Curly who placed the jar back with no joy.

"Come on, up." Jozen watched Arnold and Curly climbed themselves up. Has he stood in the center of the entrance, he eyed the corner and moved his hand back to the room and pressed on a stone. As he climbs up, the entranceway rose up and blocked the secret room.

"Huh?" Jozen was first to act to avoid suspicion as he felt the floor. "It's closed!"

Everyone gasped, including Principal Wartz who dropped to the floor and tried to dig his way back. "NO! DISCOVERY! GONE!" He immediately stood up and pointed at Helga. "Girl, open sesame it now!"

Helga stepped back as all eyes turned to her. "Y-Ya, let me do this." Helga turned the torch as Wartz desperately pressed each stone.

"I command you to open, floor! Or it's a year worth of detention!"

"Principal Wartz." Mr. Simmons kneeled down and patted the man on the back. "I'm sure the archeologists will find that room. I just know it!"

"Very well." Principal Wartz said with a heavy heart and stood up. "Well, let's go."

As everyone exits the temple, Eduardo explains to the class what their next stage for their adventure is.

"We will travel longer until we reached our next camping site. In the morning we shall head to a harbor where we'll meet Jozen's aunt and my fellow archeologist Kisiin." Eduardo pulled out a map and pointed at a large lake with many rivers. "Then we'll board my steam boat and travel down this river deeper into the jungle and get off here for more hiking." Eduardo closed the map and smiled. "And of course on that boat, we will throw in a wonder meal for you children."

The kids cheered, with Harold being the loudest.

"Now let's gather our belongings and head out."

As the kids started to gather up their things and double check for any missing items, Arnold walked up to Helga who was packing up her stuff.

"Helga, that was amazing."

Helga held back a blush the best she could. "Don't get too mushy with me." She smiled. "But thanks."

Arnold couldn't help but grinned so widely to her. "I mean really, you found a secret passage way that the Green Eyes could have used years ago! And someone has been capturing spiders! I mean giant spiders!" Without the slightest heads up to her delicate heart, Arnold took her hand. "And just think who was doing that research! The Green Eyes! Some secret scientist! Or … Or my-"

Helga collapsed.

"H-Helga!" Arnold kneeled to Helga as the girl slowly recovered.

"Ooohoho." Helga slowly opened her eyes and saw that same old football head. "I-I'm fine." Helga picked herself up and brushed her clothes. "I'm being nice to you and all, but don't push it." Helga marched away with a smile across her face.

"Oh Helga." Arnold smiled at her as he shook his head. "We've been in this type of situation before, but now we're both happy."

"Well this is some weird times." Gerald came along. "And here I thought giant spiders stuffed in jars by some made scientist was the weirdest shock I would have ever seen; but you being friendly with Helga, now that's weird!"

Arnold felt that there was no way he'll lose the smile he had. "Call it a miracle, but I think we're finally becoming true friends."

"Now all we need are flying pigs." The two boys laughed. "I'm really glad Helga's acting this way on our trip, since you know …." Gerald felt unease talking about the subject. "Your hopes of finding your parents."

"I'm happy too." Arnold softly smiled. "I hope it stays this way. I really like having Helga as an official friend."

Gerald laughed to himself. "I would make a joke about her being your girlfriend, but even I have to say that's a huge stretch."

"Yeah, you're right." Arnold chuckled. "Nothing against Helga now, and I did mentioned once that I don't believe being married to her won't be all that bad."

"I know." Gerald nudged Arnold from that memory of Rhonda's marriage predictor. "But really, if for whatever reason you two hook up, I'm going flying pig hunting along with that Mascasa guy."

The two shared a laugh as they followed their class down the jungle path to their next destination. "Things are looking up." Arnold said to himself as Helga takes a real quick glance at him.

"This is incredible." Helga thought to herself. "We've never been this friendly to each other since that Thanksgiving Day. And now we are going on a romantic boat right." She hummed softly. "What will fate bring us this time? Another mystery, or a chance to be closer?" Helga continued to imagine the possibilities. "What if …. I'm ready to confess?" She felt her shirt where the locket lays. "I pray to the heavens that nothing shall come between me and my beloved as I finally reveal my true feeling for you, Arnold."

"So he'll be traveling by boat tomorrow?" A man in shadow spoke to some evil looking thugs. "Well what are we waiting for? Let's get ready to meet our new amigos, especially the boy." The other snickers as the shadowy man held up a picture of Miles and Stella. "After all, I'm really going to need his help since these two can no longer do the job for me."

End of Chapter

A/N: So yeah, I'm taking some inspiration from what the trailer revealed during that boat scene, but I won't do it too much, since this is still my original take on the Jungle Movie.

In just about 18 more days, we are finally getting the Jungle Movie. I can't guarantee another chapter just yet, but I just want to say I'm really having fun with this story and will try and continue this even after the movie.

And I would like to thank everyone who enjoys this and my other story, 'Miles and Stella'. So close and yet so far, let's wait for the adventure Arnold deserves for all these years.

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