Chapter 12: In the forest

The players, opponents and teammates alike, started to rush inside, scattering in all directions. The further instructions appeared, voiv=ced by the same woman;

"THIS IS NOT A TIME-BASED EVENT. THE FIRST ONE TO GET INSIDE THE ABANDONED TEMPLE OF PEACE AND OBTAIN THE TOPAZ GEM WINS. THE PLAYERS ARE TO DO THIS INDIVIDUALLY. THE CLUE IS PROVIDED TO EVERYONE. FURTHER CLUES WILL BE GIVEN AS YOU SOLVE THEM/ REACH AT THE GIVEN DESTINATION. CLUES MAY VARY FOR EACH PLAYER TO PREVENT ANY DISTURBANCE. EACH OF THE PLAYERS IS ALLOWED THE FOLLOWING AID:

1) One map of the forest to show where you are, useless to look for any object, building, etc.

2) One rifle

3) One grenade

4) A basic guide to all the creatures found in the forest along with basic guidance on how to tackle them.

WATCH OUT FOR ALL SORTS OF LURKING CREATURES AND TRAPS INSIDE THE TEMPLE. THE DIMENSION-CHANGERS ARE PRESENT. THE WINNER WILL GET A SURPRISE REWARD AFTER THE END OF THE MISSION. LET THE GAME COMMENCE!"

I stood still digesting this information when my badge started to vibrate violently. Upon picking it up, it showed the clue;

" IN THE MESIAL OF THE WOODLAND LAND YOU SHALL FLEE

THE CROWN AWAITS TO BE SOUGHT

RESTING UNDER THE PALM, UNDER THE ACORN;

FOR THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT CAN HELP

THE ONLY THING WE CAN GUARANTEE"

I reread the poem several times. For the first time in my life, I regretted failing Geography. I wish I had paid attention. I distinctly remember an exclusive lecture on forests and their features. 'Mr.Charleston, if I manage to succeed and get out of this game, I promise I'll never ignore your lectures' I thought quietly.

Ivy and Jorge had also taken a look at their clues. They were now looking at me. I was puzzled. I thought it was supposed to be team task but my confusion was cleared almost instantly.

"We have to work the clues out ourselves." Ivy said, with a slight smirk on her face, which was really piercing for me to watch.

"All right then, I'm going." I said turning away and started to walk not sure where I was going of what was I supposed to do.

"Yeah later." I heard Jorge call out. Both of them went off in opposite directions. I had the sickening feeling that they had already cracked up their riddle. Possibly, what if I was given a harder one because I was the leader? Anyway, I tried my best to push these sort of thoughts to the back of my head and started to walk slightly faster.

This kind of situation made me wonder, how much us humans hide under our skin. Me, acting so confident and smart in front of my team while being a coward and dumb person on the inside. And then, the beauty of nature. I was a curious individual since childhood but I was seldom philosophical about life. But it was this beautiful forest bringing this back. The green leaves of trees, swaying gently in the breeze, a jet cutting its way through the sky, making no noise, but leaving a trail of smoke behind it.

"So that's the type of place where poets get their ideas from." I wondered aloud. I wanted to sit under some tree and rest but I had to focus on my mission. It was important to maintain my description of being 'undefeatable'.

I reread the hint several more times. The more I read, the more sense it seemed to make. "So, the mesial means the middle of a forest, then there is a crown, hidden under a palm tree. I'd have to dig? Ugh." I said. I wasn't even convinced that I knew what a palm tree looked like. I could make out a lot of trees, by the shape of their trunk and leaves, because I remeber my dad telling me about them when we used to go for a walk together. But palms weren't local trees. I did remember going to a beach on summer vacation three years ago where Eric, my brother pointed out some coconut trees, saying that it is a palm. One of the highlights of the trip, since my parents praised him afterward how 'smart' he was.

Finally, after about forty-five minutes of circling the forest, and then remembering to have a map, I, somehow made it to a clearing right in the middle of the forest. But my panic, instead of going downs, started to rise upwards. There were no palms in there! All there were, were elms and chestnut trees. I tried to look in every direction.

THINK BEVIN-I MEAN FREN, NO I AM BEVIN. NEVER MIND THAT NOW! THINK OF SOMETHING!