Emily had caught up with the group trying to get to the old man. Meanwhile Ann and Peter were just finished preparing the weapons.
The group were walking deeper inside the island, though there still wasn't any sound except the people's footsteps.
Emily reached the old man and started walking beside him, "you said only Zakynthians can see this island, why's that? And how is that possible?"
"This island didn't exist during World War 2, it was created by a monk who lived in Zakynthos," the old man said still in shock of the information.
"You mean he sent you here?"
There was a minute silence from the man.
"Not exactly, it was a command from the then Metropolitan Chrysostomos and Mayor Loukas Carrer of Zakynthos," Emily was listening carefully to the man's words.
"So they were noble people, weird how I haven't come to hear about them till now. But where does the monk come in?"
"He come to the mayor and he said he could hide and protect us but in return he wanted something from him," the man said quietly.
"What was it that he wanted? Money?" Emily asked curiously.
The man sighed, "I'm afraid that I don't know, but this was the thing he gave us," he takes the bushes in front of him out of the way to reveal the village they live in.
There are multiple houses built around each other, with lots of space to grow vegetables and ran freely. On the left side of the village, there was a waterfall with fresh water where women were washing they're small amount of clothes and talking, while the children were playing.
When the children saw the group had returned they ran quickly to the men and surrounded the old man.
"What was it mister sir?" One of the kids asked.
The old man lowered to the kid's level, "people from our home."
The kids looked at Emily and they were excited and started to dance.
Emily giggled, "What's this all about?"
The man smiled, "they're just happy to see someone they've never met before."
One of the kids went up to the Emily, "did you come to take us?"
Another kid asked from behind, "is the war over?"
"Is Hitler dead?" Another one asked, "that's probably it!"
The children were excited and started playing with each other and singing.
While the men where left paled not knowing what to say nor do.
Emily whispered to the man, "is it ok to tell them?"
He shook his head, "not now... we need to discuss other things with only the three of you," his voice sharp.
Emily nodded and went to grab the other two.
"The old man wants to talk to us," Emily whispered to Ann and Peter. They both nodded and followed the old man to the house in the middle of the village.
They sat down on the floor, the room was dark only the sunlight from the windows was lighting the room.
The man started rubbing two pieces of wood together until they caught fire. Then the room lightened. The group was able to see some books of some wooden shelf. And a bed on the back. The man offered them a basket with fruits in it.
"Hope this will be enough to satisfy you."
Peter took the basket and asked, "are they poisonous?"
The man laughed, while Ann was embarrassed and Emily didn't gave any notice. "No they're not young man, you don't have to worry."
"Thank you sir," Peter started eating some grapes from the basket.
"What were you saying?" Emily questioned, "before I mean, about the monk and stuff."
"As I said I don't know what he requested from the mayor," the man explained staring to the fire.
"Not that," Emily jumped, "you said this island didn't exist back then and that only Zakynthians can see this place, how's that possible?" she demanded.
The was hesitant, slowly he reached into his pocket and took out the blue stone from before.
"He crafted two stones, this, which I'm holding, and one other inside the waterfall," he explained to the group who were still confused. "The one in the waterfall was the stone that created this island, it was just a couple of rocks but after the monk chanted something to the stone the rocks grew bigger and bigger. Reached as high as they are now, and trees and flowers started to grow as well. The monk told us that we'll be safe here until the war is over. He sent as clothes a couple days later, saying that the mayor was executed by the Germans for not giving us away. That was the last we saw him, in that day he gave another, smaller stone, to the one we voted as our leader. The monk told him that this stone can sense lies and truths, when it's glowing for more than a moment the interrogated are telling the truth, otherwise they're lying and they'll become one with the island."
Ann and Emily's expression was changing between confused and fascinated.
"So he was a wizard?" Ann asked shaking from disbelief.
"It seems so," the man nodded.
"I can't understand, how's that even possible? And why did he let all of you here without saying a word?" Emily's head was spinning with thoughts and needed answers.
"I don't know, but if I had to guess he was either killed or left the country for his survival. This are the only logical explanations."
"How many were you when you came here compared to now?" Peter asked curiously.
"Around 200-300 when we arrived, we haven't grown since them, from the latest counting we were 187 people," the man said in a broken voice.
Peter nodded, "I see, it's a miracle you're still alive."
The man sighed, "miracle... is a big word... can't even say lucky."
"You can still leave now, it's not too late," Emily claimed, "we can tell people with boats to come and rescue you from here and then you can live your lives again, as you all deserve!"
The man started to tear up, "there's no way out, can't remember when but in one of the coldest winters in my life, we tried to get to Zakyntho in order to find medicine and clothes to survive. We created a huge rope and tied to the closest tree near the cliff, thew it down and some of us tried to use it to go down. But they couldn't go beyond the cliff, it was like a barrier pushing as away. The only way we can get out of here is if the monk, or maybe someone who knows magic can destroy the stone."
When the man finished the room fell silent. The only thing that could be heard were his tears.
Peter stood up, "do you know where the monk in what church the monk lives in? Or the church he served in?"
The man shook his head, "no, nobody told us."
Peter continued to stand there thinking, "ok, thank you for welcoming but now we need to leave hope this is ok with you."
Ann and Emily were shocked and angry at Peter's suggestion.
"Have you no shame?" Ann got up standing mext to peter, "THEY NEED HELP!"
"And we aren't capable of giving that to them, are we?"
The man got up, "it's ok, I understand you can come whenever you want."
"No sir wait," Emily insisted, "Peter we haven't even tried yet, we can't let them like they aren't even humans."
"We don't know anything yet, the best we can do is come back next week to bring them food and clothes," peter said angrily, "then we research who this monk could have been. Then we try to find a magician, unless you know magic."
"What's the use of finding information about him?" Emily asked infuriated.
"Maybe his family knows magic and they can help, until then that's all that we can do," peter stood his ground.
The others remained silent.
Peter got out of the door and started getting out of the village so he can get out of the island. Then he picks up his walkie talkie and calls Redi.
"Redi, are you there? Over."
"Yes, I'm here, over."
"We're coming there and we'll tell you what happened when we arrive, over."
"Ok, over."
Emily and Ann remained behind apologizing to the man.
"We're sorry for our friend, he is kind of sensitive," Emily said.
"Yeah he can't handle this kind of situations 'correctly', if you know what I mean."
The man nodded, "no, don't be, I understand, he seems like a good kid and I'm glad that in his own way he wants to do something for us, we appreciate it."
"Thank you sir," Emily said, "however there's a favour I want from you."
"What is it?" The man raised an eyebrow.
"I'd like to take a photo of the stone in the waterfall."
"Very well, this way miss."
The man shows to Emily the first blue stone which is shining brightly.
"That stone also provides us with fresh water so we never ran out of it."
Emily nodded while taking a picture with her underwater camera.
"Who could have thought you could take pictures underwater, unbelievable."
Emily chuckles, "you have no idea how many changes have been made."
"I can't wait to see them," he said hopefully.
"We promise we'll be back, mr.?"
"Alexander Matsas," he gives his hand, "mrs. Emily?"
"Morosinis," she shook his hand.
"Have a safe trip dear, to you and your friends."
"Thank you, we will."
Emily and Ann went after Peter and then left without any problems and went back home.