Hello people. I'm back! As usual, I ended on a cliff-hanger. Tell me if you like it or not! Also, thanks cuz, for the heartwarming review!
"We're in one of the plantations. If we follow the trail, we should make it back to-" There's a blinding flash of light, like someone turning on a lamp when you've just woken up. For a couple of seconds, the ground shakes like a 4.0 earthquake. When I recover, I can make out a huge smoke cloud nearby. I turn to Elliot grimly.
"Wanna bet that what ever was following us found the gunpowder?" He gulps nervously.
"Yea, that'd be a safe bet."
"Come on, let's blow this popsicle stand before the police show up."
"Emma, please, let's not use the phrase 'blow'." We run all the way back to the Winnebago.
"What did you two morons do!" Gee, thanks Luca. No "Are you guys okay?", no "Did you get what you needed?". He immediately jumps to "What did you morons do!". I give him my most evil glare.
"We didn't do anything! It was the guys who were following us! I think they blew up the tunnels we were in."
"Whoa, slow down." Angeline says. "What tunnel? Who was following you?" I hear police sirens in the background.
"Let's discuss this while we're driving."
"So, let me get this straight," Angeline begins with a sigh. "You fell into a network of underground tunnels, found a room full of dynamite and this chest with the old papers in it, and then got chased out by some unidentified monster, who later blew up the whole room with dynamite."
"Yea pretty much." Skylar walks in with her phone in hand.
"Wow, we totally made national news! Everybody's talking about this, all over the internet. Luckily, nothing too important go destroyed, just a whole bunch of woods and an abandoned section of town, but still! People are saying its a terrorist attack."
"Is there anything about us?"
"Nope, not so far." I breath a sigh of utter relief.
"But there is some talk about security footage catching two kids running away from the scene." I groan. So much for utter relief. Luca and Angeline shift through the papers as Skylar describes some of the posts.
"Weekly World News says that this is the first part of the Lizard King's plan to take over the world. They advise wearing pointy tinfoil hats until the crisis is over."
"Ugh, what a mess. And for what, a bunch of stupid papers. I can't even read these, they're written in scribbles!" Angeline snorts.
"That's old cursive Luca, you idiot. Of course I'm surprised you can read regular writing." Angeline begins to read them out loud to us.
Mr. Arnold,
The Empire greatly appreciates your help in recovering what is lost. As promised, should your guess be correct you shall receive a large sum of money. I look forward to meeting you again.
sincerely,
Paulo Tabernus
I snicker "What kind of name is Paulo? Is that French or something? Because it's stupid." Angeline glares at me for interrupting her. I stop snickering.
Mr. Arnold,
It seems you are not as trusted by General Washington as you think. The information you gave me was not only faulty, but a trap. I would strangle you and feed you to my pets if you were not my only link to these "Templars", as they are calling themselves. You must continue your charade as brilliant commander and loyal rebel. Do well, and not only will I spare your life, but you will receive great compensation. Fail again, and lose everything.
may the gods have pity on you,
Paulo Tabernus
"I wonder what kind of pets they are? Like, are they Burmese pythons, or lions, or 6 month old cartons of Chinese food that have been reanimated via massive amounts of bacteria?" This time, everyone glares at me.
My Good Friend Benedict,
Congratulations. The raid on the Templar encampment in Massachusetts went off without a hitch. I have collected a very useful piece of information. I am having my men keep it safe in Williamsburg.
Bravo,
Paulo Tabernus
"Is that the Benedict Arnold I think it is? Like, the most famous traitor in American history Benedict Arnold?" Skylar says.
"One thing's for sure" I reply "it sure ain't the guy who invented eggs Benedict." Elliot, who has been staring at the letters in disbelief looks up.
"How'd these even get here? Like, wouldn't they have been with Benedict Arnold? Or burned?" Angeline shrugs.
"I have no idea. There's one more letter, do you want me to read it or not?" She doesn't wait for a reply, but opens it. A necklace with a pendent falls out.
Benedict,
The Templars have traced their stolen item to me. I am staging a distraction to safely transport it somewhere else. As for you, you must deny any contact with me, on the pain of death. So I know they will be destroyed, you must give any letter I sent back to me at our next (and last) rendezvous.
May the gods have mercy on you Arnold,
Paulo Tabernus
I pick up the necklace. There's a circular pendent on it, covered in rust. Underneath the rust I can see the glimmer of imperial gold. I roll my eyes.
"And once again what seems so promising leads us to an old, useless piece of metal." Luca glares at me.
"Seriously Emma. That's what your thinking about? We just found letters telling us that George Washington was a Templar, Benedict even bigger a traitor than we thought, and a guy named Paulo was the puppet master behind is betrayal, and you're complaining about a stupid piece of metal? Gods, you're an idiot."
"At least I'm not an asshole!" I shoot back. We give each other our best showdown glare. Skylar, sensing violence about to erupt, puts a calming hand on both of our shoulders.
"Just chill you guys. Don't you think you're overreacting a little."
"I'm not the one who freaked out over a stupid comment," I growl.
"I'm not the one who spends every second of the day I'm not smart-mouthing complaining!"
"I'm not the one with the IQ of a dumpster who thinks he's Albert Einstein!"
"You think you're so smart? You dropped out of school!" I can feel my face flush. Tears begin welling in my eyes.
"Just shut up Luca!"
"Ooh, did I strike a nerve?"
"You... I... aaaugh!" I pull over to the side of the road and storm outside, unable to hold back the tears any longer.
Oooh, drama. This has been a particularly eventful chapter. Bonus round: if you can guess who Paulo Tuberous really is, I will include the joke of your choice in my next chapter. Just tell me who think he is, along with your joke, in a review. That's all for now, folks!
-Sage