Talia:
"He lived in Hoxine only… Ah, look! His address — Bakweet Street, 1/4 Room 02."
Selby:
"Bakweet Street?"
Talia:
"Yeah! I know that place. Me and Dad have been there plenty of times. There's a food corner — their crunchy rolls are super famous and honestly, delicious. You guys have to try them!"
Calla:
"We'll think about food later, Tal. First — how do we get there?"
Talia:
"That's easy. There's a bus stop near my house — we can take a direct bus to Bakweet Street."
Calla:
"Perfect. Now, do you guys have enough money on you?"
(Selby puts her hand into her pocket and accidentally drops a key.)
Selby:
"Oops! My house key."
Calla:
"Wait… Sel, doesn't that look exactly like the library's storeroom key?"
Selby:
"Oh wow, yeah! They look the same. Anyway, I only have £2.
Talia: I have nothing.
Calla: Huh… I just have £5.
Talia: So that's not enough. Okay, let's do one thing — go home, get some money, bring around £25 each. Then meet at my house by 3:00 p.m. We'll head out together.
Calla: Sounds good.
(All the girls return to their houses.)
At Calla's House
(Calla's phone rings — it's Jane.)
Calla: Hello, Jane?
Jane: Hey Calla! Do you have a black fluffy jacket?
Calla: Umm… sorry, I don't. Why though?
Jane: Remember the tour I told you about?
Calla: Ohhh yeah, I remember!
Jane: That's why I need it — I'm leaving in two days.
Calla: Nice! Enjoy the tour.
Jane: Thanks! Anyway, I'm off to buy the jacket now.
Calla: Alright, bye!
Jane: Bye!
Talia's House
(Doorbell rings. Talia opens the door — Selby and Calla are standing outside.)
Selby: Are you ready?
Talia: Oh yes, wait here — I'm coming.
Calla: Okay.
(Talia comes out.)
Talia: Let's go!
(They reach the bus stop.)
Talia: The bus should come in 5 minutes.
(15 minutes later…)
Selby: Where is the bus?
Talia: Just wait 5 more minutes — it'll come.
(Another 15 minutes pass…)
Calla: Bro, it's been 30 minutes! Where is the bus?
Talia: Hey! Why are you shouting at me? It's not like I know where the bus is stuck!
Selby: Hey guys, stop fighting — look, the bus is coming!
Talia: See? I told you it'll come in 5 minutes!
Calla: Are you serious?
Talia: Okay, sorry!
(They all get on the bus and enjoy the view. After a while, the driver shouts:)
Driver: Bakweet!
(They get off the bus.)
Calla:
"Okay… now?"
Talia:
"Ahh! See this." (She points at the house board.) "This says Room 05, and that one's 04 — so just follow me."
(Calla and Selby follow Talia.)
Talia stops in front of a house with a dusty name board. She rubs off the dust and suddenly exclaims—
Talia:
"Yeah! This is the one — Room 02. Charles R. Henderson."
Calla:
"Oh right — Richard's dad's name is Charles."
Talia:
"Let's go."
(They step inside the compound and ring the doorbell… but it doesn't ring. They knock instead. No answer. They knock again, harder.)
(Finally, the door creaks open. An old man with a walking stick peers at them.)
Victor:
Yes?
Selby:
Richard Charles Henderson?
Victor:
No, I'm his uncle — Victor Henderson.
Calla:
Oh… so do you know where he is?
Victor:
Hmm… can you tell me why you three are looking for him?
Selby:
Uh, we have a project on authors, so… we wanted to ask him a few questions.
Victor:
If it's related to an author, then why did you come here for him? He's not an author — he hasn't written any book.
Talia:
But he did! It's been years, but he wrote one… and it's all about magic and things like that.
Victor:
[sighs] Oh, so he even wrote a book on that… huh, that's frustrating. Alright, you three come in.
(All three girls step inside, slightly nervous since the man was still a stranger.)
(The house was old but well-maintained. Dust-free, yet every corner whispered of the past. Photo frames hung neatly on the walls, some a bit crooked but still cherished.)
Calla:
Ahh… can you tell us why you said that outside? "He even"?
Victor:
Oh… look, Richard was my nephew, but he was more like my younger brother.
Talia:
Brother??
Victor:
Yeah. My elder brother Charles — Richard's dad — and I had a 17-year age gap. So, when Charles was 25 and married, I was just 8. Then when I turned 9, Richard was born. So our bond was more like brothers than uncle and nephew.
Talia:
Ohh…
Victor:
When Richard was 16, his parents put him in a hostel. Back then, I didn't know much — I was in the military. But when he turned 20, his parents died in an accident. I came here to be with him, but something was off. He was… weird. He kept talking about magic being real and all that. I don't know what happened to him in that hostel… but one day, he left again. And never came back.
(Victor pauses, then gets up and walks inside. He returns with a box.)
Victor:
I have something for you three. Richard gave me this box when he left. He said — "One day, three girls will come looking for me. When they do, give them this box."
Talia:
But… how do you know we're those three girls?
Victor:
Because the date, the year — it's written on the box. It matches exactly. I don't know if Richard is with you, or if he sent you here, or what he's planning… but if you see him, please tell him — I don't have much time left. Please come and meet me. Maybe… maybe he's still hurt because of me.
Selby:
Why do you think he's hurt because of you?
Victor:
I think you three should leave now. Please… get up and go. (voice raising)
(The girls get scared and quickly rush out of the house.)
Talia:
What was that?
Selby:
Maybe something really happened between them… he looked sad. Might be personal — that's why he got mad.
Calla:
Yeah… maybe. Should we open this box now?
Selby:
I have a better idea! We still have some money left — let's grab your favorite crunchy rolls, Tal. After that, we'll go to your place and open it.
Talia:
Yess! That sounds perfect — I love it!
Calla:
Alright, alright — we'll do that. (smiles)
(The girls finish their crunchy rolls, catch the bus, and arrive at Talia's house.)
Talia's Bedroom
Talia:
Uhh… today was actually pretty amazing.
Selby:
Oh yes, totally!
Calla:
So… should we open the box now?
Talia:
Yes, yes! I'm really curious — maybe it's a key or… some secret message?
Selby:
Come on, open it, Cal!
(Calla opens the box. Inside, there's an old, rolled-up map.)
Talia:
Ohh… what's this? It's a map but… there's no name on it?
Selby:
Wait… wait! This looks familiar. Let me check.
(Selby quickly searches on her phone.)
Selby:
See! This is Mexico… and this part here is the Gulf of Mexico. But here's the weird part — in real maps, there's no island here. But on this map… there's an island drawn right in the middle of the Gulf! That's… kind of suspicious.
(Talia with her phone's flash on flashing on map.)
Talia:
Oh wait! Here… something is written — Mahō Orvellan Island… what does that even mean?
(Selby looks shocked but suddenly changes her expression.)
Selby:
You know… Mahō means Magic in Japanese.
Talia:
Wait… How do you know about that?
Selby:
Seriously, that's your question? It's not like what, that's a magic island?
Talia:
Oh, yeah.
Calla:
So that means we need to go there. And the good part is, it's not that far from us.
Talia:
Yeah, but do you think our parents will let us? We're just teenagers, and we need an 18+ adult with us. Plus, we can't share anything with anyone.
Selby:
Yeah, Tal, that's right though.
Calla:
We'll find a way. We always do.