Chapter10: Arrival in San Lorenzo
I am sorry that this chapter is lttle cluttered. I was trying to increase pacing. Did not work. but I hope you like it either way. Reviews are alway welcome.
There was a bus already prepared for them. It felt routine, like any other boring field trip that they had to endure. Arnold was getting bored, so he decided to listen to some music and began skimming his cd's.
"I kinda feel like Jim Lang." He said to himself as put the Jim Lang cd into his cd player. Jim Lang was a composer that grandpa said his parents listened to and for some reason reminded Arnold of home.
With the tune playing in his head, memories of the borders and PS. 118 played in his head. Arnold closed his eyes and relaxed.
Gerald on the other hand was simply playing a bunch of hand help video games. He had become addicted after beating Arnold's high score of 880,000.
Everything's is pretty normal. But deep in the shadows, something was watching them. Which even though Arnold did not conscienceless realize it, he had a very eerie feeling while riding the bus that took him out of his comfort zone. But Arnold tried to keep his mind on his father's journal instead of the jungle.
Eventfully everyone except Arnold and Gerald started rioting on the bus. Helga on the other hand, began writing in her diary about fantasies of jungle romance.
The road got a little bumpy as they headed to a village hotel. Which was about thirty miles away. The bumpiness led to worse anarchy and Mr. Simmons needed to find a way to calm the class down fast.
"Class! I have a wonderful story to tell!" Mr. Simmons said trying to be heard over the chaos. Though taking him a few minutes to get the classes attention, he started the story. "There is a very well known urban legend about two lovers who were lost at sea after the betrayal by a close friend." Mr. Simmons said with growing enthusiasm. And the class listened as the story sounded potentially like a great epic.
"You see, these lovers were on a treacherous journey to San Lorenzo. It is said they came offering strength for a dying land. But during there journey they became lost at sea." He said while raising his voice. The class seemed to have grown a great interest and became silent.
"They were caught in a horrible storm with enormous waves and believed that all was lost, but amidst all the chaos… a light." He said finally.
"Crimeny, they died? That's a cruddy way to end the story." Helga complained, depressed by Mr. Simmons tale.
"No one is really sure, legend has it they can be found at the mysterious light. And it is the light they say, is the hope of San Lorenzo. For through them can San Lorenzo survive the great darkness." Mr Simmons explained.
Helga was staring at Arnold dreaming of them saving a distant land together, which then inspired her to begin writing in her diary while Arnold like everyone else had been enchanted by the tale and wanted to learn more. "What is the darkness?"
"Well Arnold, no one really knows. But this myth is a important and very special part of the culture and heritage in San Lorenzo. Though I do admit that its strange that the legend began only a few years ago." Mr. Simmons said aloud. "It's more of an urban legend really."
Arnold in deep thought after and all of the sudden interrupted when the bus jerked to the left abruptly. And then the bus began swerving right and left.
"The breaks won't work! The breaks won't Work!" The driver said franticly.
The class began screaming as Principal Warts and Mr. Simmons tried to keep everyone relaxed. The bumpiness got much worse as the bus driver tried to regain control of the bus. Finally the bus went in for a crash landing after almost hitting a tree.
"Is everyone alright." A hazy voice said in a distance. Is everyone alright!" The voice says again, the voice sounds like Mr. Simmons. "Class! Is everyone alright!" Arnold's eyes open with everyone acting crazy. "Big surprise." Arnold says to himself.
'Baby sister! Oh baby sister are you all right?" Olga screams.
"Yes, Olga! I'm fine, now back off while I find Phoebe!" Helga says while trying to get away from her sister.
Harold is busy plotting a big joke for Principal Warts with Sid and Stinky.
"I don't know Harold." Stinky says.
"It's a great idea!" Harold assures. "Besides if it was for Warts paying for that cheap bus we wouldn't be in this mess."
"But Harold we could get into serious trouble this time." Sid says.
"Look! I'm the boss! And I say were doin it!" Harold hollers with Sid and Stinky nodding in agreement."
Rhonda franticly tries to call her parents but her phone is busted. "My phone isn't working! Why won't my phone work!" Rhonda hollers in desperation.
"Hey Rhonda!" Nadine says happily as she runs to the terrified girl.
"Nadine! What are you so happy about!" Rhonda says angrily.
"Why wouldn't I be happy? There are 20,000 species of spider in San Lorenzo!" She explains cheerfully.
Eugene was on the ground collapsed.
No one knew if he was okay or not. He was just laying there.
"I'm okay." He says clearly out of it.
Arnold walks out of the bus after having a quick check with the nurse who had tagged along for the trip.
"You should be alright." The nurse told him.
"Thank you, mamm." Arnold said politely as he about the area. Arnold realized that the bus was badly banged up. They were going to travel on foot for the remainder of the trip. This was not good news considering what he and Helga had planned. They were supposed to leave the group at least another fifty mile from where they were. At this rate the class was going to be looking for the nearest town and from there they would have to try and get help. Which means this trip was a disaster and they were going to leave as soon a possible. Arnold and Helga were going to need rethink when a good time leave the class was. This whole search was getting a lot more difficult.
Arnold continued to think about the situation when he saw something very interesting. An arrow that the rest of the class was ignoring, partially cause it was somewhat tiny was stuck to the inflated tire. Arnold pulled it out and noticed it was green, with a familiar eye the tip. Arnold then looked around him, and somehow sensed something above him.
Arnold looked far out into th darkest depths of the woods and realized that he could see two bright green lights. And as swiftly as it came, it was gone. "The green eyed." Arnold whispered to himself.
"Did you see something Arnold?" Gerald said from behind him.
"No, I don't think so." Arnold said.
"Man, I'm beginning to think this was a bad idea." Gerald said nervously. "This place gives me the creeps."
"Yeah, the creeps." Arnold said, still gazing into the trees.
"Are you okay man?" Gerald said concerned.
Arnold was about to answer when Mr. Simmons called out roll call. When he was finished Principal Warts charged out of the bus with a sword in his hand.
"Alright ladies and gentlemen! I'm leading this expedition!" Cried Warts. "Together will move to the closest town!"
Mr. Simmons tapped on Warts shoulder to get his attention. "Um… Principal Warts… you brought a weapon on a school trip?"
"Relax it's a fake, it's a symbol of my authority. Now be quiet Simmons, your cramping my style." Warts said under his breath. Warts looked back at the class with regained confidence. "Now onward class! Onward!"
Miles away Las Sombra was preparing an ambush at the town that the bus was supposed to arrive at, not knowing that a mysterious enemy has sabotaged his plans.