Hey guys!
Thank you again for the reviews and love! I would love to have more of your thoughts and comments. Share and spread the love :)
I think after this chapter the adventure really starts to be roller coster fast, so enjoy :D
-Heather
Chapter 10
Josh had everything ready for them to go to Washington, DC when they got back from the dance. Riley felt a mixture of emotions, but mainly she was excited. They didn't know what they would find at the church and they didn't know if they would even let them in. It was late at night and Josh thought they should get a motel when they got there.
"You're forgetting something genius," Maya said looking around at everyone. Josh knew what she was thinking and she was right. There was no way any motel would let them take out a room. They were all under age by the law except for Josh. That would look really suspicious.
"Maybe they'll let us in at the church. I mean don't they still give shelter to the homeless?" Riley asked. Homeless people still existed, but there was government housing available for them. So, there weren't as many homeless people as there were in the past. Now, it took effort to be homeless.
"Maybe, the only way we'll know is if we leave," Josh said and headed out to the car. They crammed into Riley's tiny sports car and Josh put it in flying mode. The ride to Washington, DC was swift with light air traffic. It had taken the United States a long time to allow citizens to fly their cars. Not because building a flying car was difficult, but because of the air traffic and aviation schooling. Now, it was mandatory to learn how to fly in order to get your driver's license. Two years of classes in high school and many hours of flying experience. All cars were built with the ability, but few people used it in the south.
"It's a nice night to fly," Farkle said looking across the vast empty sky. There were a few cars scattered here and there, but it was an open highway.
"The view is beautiful," Maya said looking at the window. Riley wished it was just her and Lucas in the car and he flashed a thought in her mind. It warmed her heart and she wished she wasn't in the back seat.
"Don't be too mushy. I can hardly take all the teenage hormonal thoughts," Josh said with a groan and we couldn't help but laugh at him. He should have known that two teenage couples were going to be hormonal.
They arrived in DC a little after midnight and parked in the church's empty parking lot. The night air was crisp and Riley was glad she wore a sweatshirt. The church building was a beautiful old stone building. There was a light on a window and they wondered if they always kept it on. They knocked on a side door that said office and waited. Two minutes passed without anyone coming to the door and knocked repeatedly.
"Coming, coming," a man's voice sounded over their banging. A balding man about seventy answered. He held a lantern as he hunched over in his brown robes. Riley stared in astonishment. She didn't know that people dressed in traditional monk clothing anymore. Churches weren't popular and many people didn't practice religion.
"Never seen a monk before?" The old man asked with amusement and ushered the group inside.
"No," Lucas answered for them as they followed him into a reception area of the office. The monk ushered them to sit down when they reached his office. Josh and Lucas stood, because there were only three seats available.
"Now, why are you pestering an old man past the witching hour?" The old man asked settling in behind his desk. Riley looked between herself Maya and Farkle before answering.
"Sir, this is going to sound really strange and we don't know if you can help us…" Riley started and Maya got anxious.
"Her grandmother is Elizabeth Marcum and she sent us on a quest for the book of secrets. Can you help us?" Maya asked and Farkle gave her a look. She shrugged and gave Riley a small smile.
The old man looked at the young people and took off his glasses. He rubbed his eyes and stared up at them. The silence in the room maddened Riley, because she knew they were at the right place. She knew that he had to be the hand that turned the wheel. What wheel she didn't know, but she had a hunch that it was a metaphor.
"You're Riley?" The old man asked looking at Riley with warmth in his eyes. Riley was surprised that he knew her name.
"You know who I am?"
"Your grandmother left everything in order before she died. Very meticulous, detailed order. She told me that one day you would come and if I died that I had to pass down the mantel," he answered her slowly and Riley looked at him amazed.
"So, you know where the book is. You're the hand that turns the wheel. What did she mean by that? Where do we go from here?" Riley asked without taking a breath and Lucas put a hand on her shoulder.
"You're an interesting pair," the old man looked between Lucas and Riley with a smile. "One question at a time dear. We have a few hours before dawn", he rose slowly to his feet.
"Our parents are missing. Well, they left us and we need to find them. We're being hunted," Maya said standing and the old man looked at her with worry.
"So, it has started. I knew it would be soon. I could feel it in my old bones. Follow me and I think I have your answer," the old man said and they rose to follow him. They followed him through a long corridor and up a narrow staircase. They came to an old wooden door that opened to a library.
"What did she mean by the hand that turns the wheel?" Riley asked as they walked into the old library filled with leather bond books. It had been a long time since Riley had seen a leather bond book and Maya went to the shelves.
"I've never seen anything like this," she said in awe and Riley had to agree with her. There were a lot of books and Riley thought one of them had to have the answers.
"Let me tell you a story," the old man said and the group looked up at him with anticipation.
"When your grandmother came to see me she was pregnant with your father. She was worried that the church would be banished and deemed unnecessary in today's society. She wasn't far off and we've been kept for historical purposes. It was a Monday night in December. There was snow on the ground and the weatherman called for a blizzard. I was much younger then of course. Our family had been friends for generations and she knew she could trust me. She took out a stack of papers from her bag that could have put her in prison if anyone saw them. That was the beginning of the book of secrets. I told her she needed to write it all down in a bond book and hide it, because there were people looking for traitors. Now, I know this doesn't make any sense but just listen. She wrote down everything all of her notes and research in this book. Then she told me she was going to have it protected. I told her that modern technology would lend itself in her advantage and she said no. That the ancient way of protecting something sacred was through blood. That was when she decided that she would have her granddaughter's DNA unlock the book. I don't know how she knew she would have a granddaughter before her son was born, but she did. Let me guess you wear a heart shaped locket," the old man said and they listened to him in silence.
Riley brought the necklace from her sweatshirt and showed it to him. A smile graced his features and he looked ten years younger. Riley didn't know the importance of this man in her family, but she felt a strong connection to him.
"Please go on," Maya said leaning over a lector.
"Gladly. Elizabeth, Ell as she was called back then, spent days here writing everything in that book. Elam, her husband, was in prison at this time for being a traitor. He wasn't a traitor, but they had found information concerning the government and were planning to expose them. They had taken refuge in the church for many years, but the government overthrew the sanction of church protection long ago. They could only be here so long before they were found. She took the book with her after she left and told me that she would have her granddaughter find me after she was born. I think she knew she wouldn't live long enough to know you, but she believed I would. She had the best intuition I had ever seen from anyone. Being religious, I thought she was a prophetess. I digress though," the old man said and Riley could tell he needed to take a small break.
"That's amazing," Josh said while leaning up against a wall. The old man looked over at him and recognition came over his features.
"You're Elam's sister's son. Poor boy you've probably been an orphan your whole life," the old man said and they looked at him questioningly.
"I didn't know my parents, but yes I am an orphan".
"No boy, you are Maricka's son. You two are cousins," he said motioning between Josh and Riley. The group looked up at the old man with wonder. They didn't know what answers they were going to get, but that one shocked them.
"Can you tell me about my parents," Josh asked and Riley knew they didn't have time to learn about Josh's heritage. They were on borrowed time with the hunters on their trail.
"Another time son. When the candle goes out you have to leave," he answered. "That's the gist of what happened. Now, you keep repeating the hand that turns the wheel. When Elle left, she gave a very vague description of what she left behind. There is something in the clock, but I haven't tried to open it. She gave us strict orders not to open it until her granddaughter came for it. Follow me," the old man said and they followed him out of the library. Lucas reached for her hand and she gladly intertwined their fingers. She had waited for this moment all her life even if she didn't know it. This was her journey and she was ready to embrace it.
The old man led them to a tower that bore the face of a clock on the floor. Riley looked down at the floor and wondered what the purpose was. There was a lever in the middle that rotated between the numbers as it kept time.
"This is the dial that your grandmother was referring to. Now, what this contraption does is allow the bells to play a tune at a specific time. You use the lever in the middle to rotate it between tunes and set it at a specific time," the old man said. The group hovered over him and waited for Riley to do what the riddle said.
"It said to turn the hand in a figure eight," Riley said and the old man got down on his knees. It didn't look possible to move the lever in a figure eight motion, but he was able to and the bells chimed.
"What's that tune?" Riley asked as the bells chimed a melodic line she didn't know. There wasn't an open door or a hidden panel beneath the clock.
"I don't know," the old man said his brow creased. There was a sound in the distance of a trumpet.
"Is that trumpet answering this melody?" Farkle asked listening as the trumpet played a melodic line in response to the bell chime.
"This is really weird," Maya said rubbing her arms as the wind whipped around them.
"It's the Carnival of the Animals," Lucas said after a long moment and the group looked up at him.
"Not typical for a church bell chime," the old man said and Josh helped him to his feet.
"We need to go. We have to find that trumpet," Riley said turning towards the door and Lucas caught her arm.
"What if it's a trap?"
"How could it be a trap? Have you ever played the melody?" She asked the old man and he shook his head no. The trumpet continued his mournful melody on repeat.
"Follow your instinct Riley. Go where it sends thee," the old man said taking her by the arms. "Come back to me when you have the book. I know what's in it dear, but the world doesn't" he said and kissed her on the forehead.
"Where do you think it's coming from?" Farkle asked quickly before they bounded down the steps.
"Northeast. My guess would be the Washington Monument or the WWII memorial," the old man said leaning his head towards the sound. It was early in the morning and the candle had almost burnt out. They knew that they had to leave when there was pounding and shouts in the courtyard by police officers.
"What do we do?" Maya asked about to panic. There were a dozen different ways to get out of the church, but only one way to their car.
"Here follow me. One of my men will answer them and give us time," the old man said leading the way out of the bell tower. There were sirens sounding in the distance and they wondered what just happened.
"Do they know?" Lucas asked and the old man answered in short breaths. They maneuvered through the corridors with swiftness. There were shouts coming from the courtyard and they knew they had to hurry.
"I'm sure after all these years they know something. They've been watching us since Elle and Elam were staying here. Peace and safety be with you child," the old monk said while blessing Riley. She gave him a hug before exiting the church and getting into their car. Josh pulled the car out of the church parking lot with urgency and tires squealed. The trumpet still played the mournful tune and Riley thought that she had no idea where the book was.
"Well, what do you think?" She asked the group and they all gave her blank stares. They hadn't had enough time to process the information that had been given. A police car pulled up behind them and Josh floored the car.
"I don't understand what's going on," Maya said holding onto Farkle and Riley.
"We're being trailed by the police," Lucas stated the obvious but no one had time to argue with him. They pulled up to the Washington Monument to see a man playing the trumpet and Josh slammed on the breaks. The police car barely missed rear ending them. The man playing the trumpet stopped and looked at the sight before dashing inside the door to the Washington Monument. The police officer got out of his car as Josh put the car in life off mode and parked on the grass by the door.
"Go find him and I'll get them off our trail. Lucas go with her," he said. Riley and Lucas scrambled out of the car and into the door. Josh drove the car off the edge of knoll and flew into the sky. The police officers fired their guns in the air, but missed. They looked around the area and got back into their cars. They must have thought the man got into the car with them.
Riley and Lucas ran up the stairs while yelling for the man. They didn't get an answer, but when they reached the top he was waiting for them. He was a middle aged man with a scholarly look to him.
"I don't have time to explain everything to you, but this is yours. Follow it wisely and do exactly as it instructs," the man said holding out a scroll made of parchment paper.
"How do you know to give it to me?" Riley asked the man who hadn't lived long enough to know her grandmother.
"There are mantels handed down to generations and this was mine. My father was given the task before me. There are some things we all know Riley," he said as Riley took the scroll from him and he headed down the stairs. Riley leaned against the glass that overlooked the reflection pool to the Lincoln Memorial. The weight of the burden she carried was heavy. Lucas put a hand on her shoulder and he relieved her stress.
"Are you going to look at that now?" Lucas asked and she looked down at the scroll in her hand. She thought for a moment about opening it and unrolled it with care. It was old, but in perfect condition. It was a map of DC when it was first built with markings and footnotes. On the back were paragraphs that Elle had written.
"Well, I guess it'll guide us the rest of the way or to the next stop on this journey," Lucas said looking of Riley's shoulder.
"I don't really know what any of it means do you?" Riley asked Lucas while moving the map from side to side.
"I'll have to look at it when we get back to the house, because your car is honking at us," Lucas said as Josh flew the car past the Washington Monument blasting its horn. Riley looked out the window and sighed. They went down the stairs and out the door to as Josh pulled up on the knoll. The got inside quickly and Josh drove off.
"What is it?" Maya asked taking the scroll from Riley and she snatched it back.
"Girl be careful. It's a map, but I don't know what it means. Eze probably knows," Riley said and Lucas turned on the monitor for her.
"What a nice morning for a flight. I do love the thrill of flying," Eze said and the group rolled their eyes.
"Why does he have to be so real?" Farkle asked and Maya shrugged her shoulders.
"We have a map," Riley said and was interrupted.
"Oh, a map how exciting. I love maps!"
"Eze please focus. Can you tell us anything about this map?" Riley said handing the map to Lucas who held it up to the monitor. Her grandmother had thought of everything when building the car and creating Eze.
"Yes, this does look familiar. You know what to do," Eze said showing the heart shaped locket. Riley took it from her neck and gave it Lucas who put up to the screen and handed it back to her.
"That thing really is your lifeline," Josh said as he flew them back to the house. They all were tired from the evening and needed sleep before pursuing the next leg of the journey.
"I found one file that has information about the map," Eze said and Riley knew it would be password protected.
"What's the riddle?" Riley asked.
"What novel is this from, who said it, and who wrote the novel? "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way"," Eze asked. They all groaned before taking out their phones and researching the quote.
"I wonder if she took online search into account?" Maya asked being the first one to find the answer. "Anna Karenina, Anna Karenina, and Leo Tolstoy".
"That is correct, but isn't in the right language," Eze said and Maya let out a sigh of frustration.
"Now, I know where you got the language game from. This is ridiculous".
"Try Russian," Lucas said looking up from his phone.
"Man I hope I get this right, bсе счастливые семьи похожи друг на друга; каждая несчастливая семья несчастлива по-своему," Riley said attempting to speak Russian. She had a gift for languages, but she hadn't studied Russian before.
"Very nice, you're definitely Elle's granddaughter," Eze said opening the file that had three documents and a holograph.
"Watch the holograph first," Josh said and Lucas clicked on it. The car filled with light as Elle appeared on the dashboard.
"I won't ever get used to any of this," Farkle said from the backseat and they agreed with him. The trail of breadcrumbs that Elle had left them were puzzling.
"You have reached the second part of your journey. I'm so proud of you. This is extremely important. The map is embedded with codes as you can imagine. The map will lead you to the book of secrets. You will learn its meaning as you figure out each piece. The first part is to know the history of our country. You will find the pivotal time at the Lincoln Memorial. When you are ar the Gettysburg Address ask yourself why the location was important and how that is relevant to you. Then you will be able to follow the map to another location that isn't in DC. You may ask why all of the secrets. You will understand as you unveil the meanings behind them. Good luck on your quest baby girl," Elle said and the holograph shut off.
"Well, that was helpful," Maya said.
"Look we're all tired. My brain is exhausted. I'll have to sleep on it," Riley said rubbing her forehead and wishing that her grandmother would give her the location. She still didn't understand why there had to be codes to solve.
"Okay. I can get you all out of school, but I think you should go up until Wednesday. That gives us enough time to decipher the map," Josh said as he pulled into the drive way. They all got out of the car and headed to their rooms. When they awoke nine hours later they were hungry and still exhausted.