And just like that, the teens were back in the U.S.
The air felt different the moment their shoes hit the ground — familiar, warmer somehow. The sky stretched wide above them in that way only home skies seemed to do. For a split second, none of them moved. Then Kevin laughed.
It wasn't loud. It wasn't dramatic. It was the kind of laugh that escaped someone who had been holding their breath for too long.
"We're back," he said, spinning slowly as if expecting the scenery to vanish. "We're actually back."
Cole ran a hand through his hair, staring at the roadside sign a few feet away like it might dissolve into smoke. Lenora bent down and pressed her palm flat against the pavement.
"Solid," she muttered. "Definitely solid."
Joyce stood still.
There was relief in her eyes — Yes — but something else too. Something quieter. Something measuring.
Home — The word felt good.... Too good. And that was when it hit them.
The quest.
Kevin's smile faded first. "Don't tell me…"
Lenora didn't look up. "We are not done."
Cole exhaled slowly. "We can't just stop now. Like you said, we aren't done with the quest"
"We should have asked that guy to take us to Italy directly. Now, how do we get to Italy?" Kevin started with the questions, as usual.
Silence stretched between them like a decision waiting to be made.
Few minutes ago, they were frustrated — Lost. They had traveled farther than they ever imagined. They had seen things that would sound insane if spoken out loud. And yet here they were — standing in the safety of familiarity — with the choice to walk away.
Kevin kicked a loose stone. "We could pretend we never found the map."
"But we did..... Besides, I have it!" Lenora replied.
Joyce finally stepped forward. "We're closer than we think. We know where the Artifact is."
Kevin's eyes narrowed. "You think I forgot what happened the last time we tried a portal?"
No one answered.
The memory was still fresh — landing somewhere completely off-course, lost, confused, barely holding it together.
Joyce swallowed. "I can fix it this time. I saw some corrections the Mad guy made on his own ritual" She insisted.
"But he didn't add blood. Is that it?" Kevin fought back, staring at her.. "That's exactly what you said before."
Cole stepped between them before the tension snapped. "Enough. You two are always arguing."
Lenora folded the map carefully. "Statistically, the odds of miscalculation decrease with repetition. If Joyce tends to adjusts the coordinates based on the last error, we should land within range."
Kevin blinked. "Why do you sound like you're explaining math homework?"
"Because panic clearly doesn't help,"Lenora shot back.
Joyce didn't smile. Instead, she began gathering what they needed — Dry earth. Coins. A thin line drawn in careful precision. The ritual wasn't loud or flashy — it was controlled, almost delicate. Like assembling a lock you prayed would open the right door.
Kevin paced. "If we end up in Antarctica, I'm blaming you."
"You'd freeze before you finish complaining," Cole said dryly.
"Come on, guys. Why don't we find shelter for the night, first. Then, tomorrow, we try this" Kevin suggested
"That's time wasting" Cole said
Lenora ignored them both, watching Joyce's movements closely. There was no hesitation this time. No shaking hands.
Just focus. The wind shifted.
Four teens
Four drops of blood
Four heartbeats trying not to doubt.
It wasn't dramatic at first. Just a subtle ripple through the air, like the world inhaled without warning. The coins began to tremble against the ground. Dust lifted in a slow spiral. Kevin stopped pacing.
"Okay," he muttered. "That's new." The spiral widened.
The ground beneath their feet hummed — not loud, but deep. Ancient. Like something old had recognized their call.
Joyce's voice lowered as she completed the final words. The circle flared — not with fire, but with distortion. The space inside it bent, twisting like heat rising off asphalt.
"Everyone in," she said quickly.
Kevin hesitated. Cole grabbed his arm. "Now!" They stepped forward together.
The world folded.
It didn't feel like falling this time. It felt like being pulled through a narrow tunnel of wind and pressure — like the air itself had hands. Kevin yelled something incoherent. Lenora tried to keep her balance and dignity at the same time. Cole squeezed his eyes shut.
Then — Silence.
Hard ground. Different air.
Kevin opened one eye. "Please don't be Antarctica."
It wasn't.
The scent hit them first.
Warm stone. Old dust. Something rich and historic — like the pages of a thousand-year-old book had been left open in the sun.
Lenora slowly stood. They weren't by a roadside anymore.
They were standing in a narrow cobblestone street, buildings rising on both sides with shutters and flower boxes spilling color over ancient walls. A bell rang somewhere in the distance. Voices echoed in a language that wasn't English. Kevin blinked.
"Guys....."
Cole turned slowly.
A small café sign hung nearby. The letters curved elegantly.
Italy....
Joyce exhaled — soft, controlled. Lenora's eyes widened as her expression was unreadable.
"…We're not in Kansas anymore."
Cole laughed under his breath. "Wrong country, Kev."
Kevin looked at Joyce slowly.
"You said you could control it."
Joyce swallowed once. "I said I could open it."
Lenora stepped forward, studying the surroundings with growing realization. "If the Artifact were rumored to be relocated to a museum here… then this actually makes sense."
Kevin blinked.
"…You're telling me we accidentally did it right?"
Joyce's lips curved just slightly. "Seems like it."
"We're in Italy, Kevin!" Cole told Kevin, who hasn't believed yet.
Kevin spun in a slow circle. "We teleported across the Atlantic Ocean."
He paused.
"…That's kind of awesome."
"Besides, how did you even know that?" Lenora asked
"Don't start" Cole cut in
Lenora rolled up the ritual cloth quickly. "Awesome later. Focus now." She felt cool now or perhaps happy.
But even she couldn't hide the spark in her eyes. They had done it.
Not a misfire.
Not a disaster.
Not the wrong continent.
Italy.....
Somewhere in this ancient country stood the museum that might be holding what they were searching for.
Somewhere in these winding streets and old stone corridors, answers were waiting.
Joyce adjusted her sleeve, staring down the road ahead.
For a second — just one — something unreadable crossed her face. Then it was gone.
"Let's move," she said.
And together, beneath the Roman sky, the four teens stepped forward into a country older than their fears — and possibly more dangerous than their doubts. The quest wasn't over.
It had only just crossed borders. And they knew hey had to find that museum and get what they came to Italy for.....