Chapter Four
The Search for the Land of Gold
The living standard of the Tolen family had improved after Mr. Tolen's new appointment as chief of security. Time passed, and the youngest of the three siblings was now sixteen years old. Their passion for searching for the land of gold had grown. They were determined to locate the land and extract its gold without being harmed by the rumored sinister creatures.
As teenagers, they now had the freedom to leave the house at will. This made it easier for them to embark on their search for the land of gold. Charley had executed one of the plans they had discussed. With Mr. Tolen at work and his wife dropping Mary off at school, the three youths set off from their home in Zinatano city early in the day. They didn't stop until they reached the paths leading into the forest.
"Hey, Charley, I remember this place," Pete shouted. "It's been a long time since we were here," Jenny remarked.
"That's right, Jenny. This was the T-Junction where we split up before. Do you remember, Charley?" Pete asked.
"Yes, Pete, but this time we won't split up. We'll stick together until we see those mysterious walls," Charley said. Pete and Jenny agreed. Charley urged them to pick up the pace, wanting to reach a certain point before sunset. They hurried along the stone-filled path, taking note of landmarks to find their way back. When they turned down a steep path leading to Kalkulta city, they suddenly came across strange old walls, tiled and stretching ahead of them.
"Pete, Jenny, we've found the walls. But I can't see the land of gold," Charley said. As they took a few more steps, a bright light appeared ahead. Excitedly, they realized they had found the land of gold.
"Those large golden gates with statues must be the entrance," Charley said.
"Look!" Pete pointed to signs warning of a danger zone. They paused, contemplating whether to continue. Pete mentioned what their Uncle Benet used to say about endurance. They decided to proceed; enticed by the wealth they believed awaited them.
They observed the golden structures, statues, and paintings, marveling at the beauty of the land. They saw inscriptions of "Land of Gold" on the walls. Charley wanted to explore further, but as he approached the walls, he felt a mysterious chill. Remembering their father's warnings, they realized they were being drawn in by the allure of the gold.
The story of the land's curse unfolded as Charley touched the paintings, unleashing the creatures that turned him to gold. Pete and Jenny, witnessing Charley's fate, tried to escape but found themselves trapped inside the land. They navigated the maze of golden chambers, avoiding the creatures that sought to ensnare them.
As they ran deeper into the land, Pete and Jenny understood the danger they were in. They had to evade the creatures and find a way out. Trapped in the land of gold, their fate uncertain, they could only hope to escape the cursed place.