It was 2 in the morning. I got up because I had to be on the bus by 3:00 AM for the trip. After a quick wash, I threw on some denim and my favorite black hoodie.
I ate a few sandwiches Mom had made and packed the rest into my bag along with other essentials. Dad drove me to the bus, and I said goodbye to Mom. My little brother was still asleep after staying up late playing games.
Nat, my best friend, was already on the bus when I arrived. The bus was filled with people I didn't know, but I figured we'd all become friends soon since we were heading to the same university.
I smiled at everyone as I walked down the aisle to sit next to Nat.
"Good morning!" I said, bursting with excitement.
"Good morning," Nat mumbled. She was always drowsy in the morning and looked like a sleepy bunny.
Everyone was chatting, but I put on my headphones. I wasn't the type to strike up conversations with strangers out of the blue, so I stayed quiet for most of the ride.
As the sun began to warm the environment through the snowy fog, everyone suddenly stood up and started dancing. We all became friends without even knowing each other's names. By the time we approached our first destination, we were dancing and singing wildly, completely out of rhythm, like a bunch of drunks.
It was around 11:00 AM when we got off the bus to see the ruins of Phenisus.
Phenisus was an ancient tribe known for their remarkable technology, which even modern scientists struggle to comprehend. However, they went extinct long ago due to a massive and sudden volcanic eruption. These ruins, located in the middle of Lazon Forest, are a popular tourist attraction.
We weren't interested in appreciating the beauty or calmness of the forest or the ruins. Instead, we spent the time making fun of each other and the ancient structures. No one was listening to the guide's explanations, but he continued his job anyway.
We had lunch on the grass near the ruins. I finished mine before Nat and walked over to a nearby water fountain to wash my hands.
Though it seemed to be part of the ruins, everyone used it to wash their hands and fill their water bottles.
That's when I noticed a moss-covered stone. What caught my eye was its unusual triangular shape, unlike the spherical or circular stones around it. I picked it up and brushed off the moss.
To my surprise, there was a triangular sapphire-like gem embedded in the center of the stone.
How has no one noticed this until now? I wondered.
It was so beautiful that I couldn't resist keeping it. I slipped it into my pocket to show Nat later.
As I walked back, I noticed David staring at a circular bench in the middle of the ruins. He'd been quiet the entire trip, and I felt a little sorry for him because no one seemed to care whether he was there or not.
"Hey," I said, sauntering over with a smile, hoping to strike up a conversation.
"What are you doing?" I asked, glancing at the stone he was staring at.
"Oh, it's nothing," he said, turning his head toward me but keeping his eyes on the stone.
The carvings on the bench looked like they were meant for someone's hands, and in the center, there was a slot for something to be placed. I realized the triangular stone I'd found might fit perfectly there.
"Come on, tell me what's so interesting about this rock," I said, feigning boredom and annoyance.
"It's just… my hands fit perfectly into these carvings. Isn't that weird?" he asked, his face serious.
"Ooooh, that means you're the forgotten heir to this extinct tribe. Wow!" I said, widening my eyes in mock amazement to tease him.
He smiled and said, "Stop with the stupid jokes."
"Yes, Your Highness," I giggled, and he chuckled.
"So, did you put your hands in the carvings?" I asked, mostly because I had nothing else to talk about.
"Yeah, but nothing happened. It's probably just some random thing the tribe made. I bet a lot of people's hands fit back then," he laughed.
"No, no, you're the chosen one," I said, bowing dramatically.
"Put thy hands upon the stone and watch as these ancient ruins come alive to obey thy commands," I said, laughing like a child.
"Then are you my priest, here to perform the rituals?" he joked.
"As you wish, Your Majesty," I replied, and we both burst into laughter. Then, still giggling, he placed his hands on the carvings and said, "Summon thy stone soldiers!"
That's when I remembered the triangular stone in my pocket. It looked like it would fit perfectly in the center slot. I took it out and placed it on the stone.
What happened next was something I never expected.
The carvings on the stone began to glow blue, and the drawings on the surrounding stone towers lit up as well. The sharp tops of the towers sparked with flashes of lightning, and all the energy gathered into a single point above us.
My mouth hung open, and my body went numb. Even though my brain screamed at me to do something, I was frozen in shock.
David was trying to pull his hands out of the carvings, while the other kids stared in stunned silence.
Above us, something like a portal began to form in the sky.
David finally managed to free his hands, but the process continued.
I snapped out of my daze and remembered the stone. It had to be the source of the energy, like in those movies where an object powers some ancient mechanism.
I tried to remove the stone, but it was stuck firmly, as if magnetized. After several attempts, I finally yanked it free.
But instead of stopping the process, the electric mesh forming in the sky was absorbed by the stone, creating a protective layer around me.
I had no idea what was happening. I reached out to touch the layer, and suddenly, something hit me hard in the head. I felt myself being pushed, and the air grew so thick I could barely breathe.
In the blink of an eye, I lost consciousness.