Chapter 25
"Oh dear," Mr. Simmons said. He was at a loss for words as he tried to comprehend everything that had transpired throughout the day.
"This has to be some sort of coincidence, right?" Eugene asked. He stared at the petroglyph of Arnold's football-shaped head.
"A very weird coincidence," Sid answered. "And what about that letter? Are they connected?"
"Don't be ridiculous, Sid," Rhonda spat. "What are the chances of them being connected? We don't even know who it's from. This is all a coincidence. And the sooner we find Arnold, the sooner we can go home," she muttered.
"Hey, is that letter signed by anyone, Mr. Simmons?" Eugene asked.
"Hm..." Mr. Simmons squinted. "It looks a little faded. M...Mil," he stuttered as he tried to make out the letters. "I can't make out the rest. I guess we'll just call this person Mil."
Curly furrowed his eyebrows. "How could someone named Mil know Arnold? Especially if it's been so many years. Maybe it's aliens!"
The class silently thought about who this Mil could be, and ignored Curly's suggestion. Suddenly, one of the students came to a realization.
"Uh...have any of you ever heard Arnold talk about his relatives?" Nadine asked.
"He does talk about his cousin sometimes," Lila sighed dreamily.
"Yes, we're all aware of Arnie," Rhonda grumbled. "And of course we all know his grandparents."
"Do you think they could know a Mil? Do you think.." Nadine hesitated, "do you think it could be related to Arnold's real parents?"
"Oh, please, Nadine. How are we to know that?" Rhonda said, rolling her eyes. "There's no way it's related."
"I wouldn't be too sure about that, Rhonda," Eugene argued. "I mean, think about it, have any of you ever met or heard of Arnold's parents?"
Rhonda's eyes slightly widened as she hit the same realization everyone else had. "But..that's impossible!"
"Hey, Eugene's right! It all makes sense!" Harold agreed.
"Children, don't get all excited now," Principal Wartz said nervously.
"Yeah, I'm sure these aren't connected. This letter could be 50 years old by now!" Sid reasoned.
"No, you idiot!" Harold argued. "The letter says La Sombra! That's that weird guy that took away Arnold! He'd be dead by now if this letter was 50 years old!"
"I wouldn't say that, Harold," Principal Wartz disagreed sternly.
The class all argued with each other, debating on if it indeed was a coincidence, or if by fate, they were about to embark on a journey to save Arnold's long-lost parents.
Mr. Simmons stayed silent, his thoughts drowning out the class' arguing. He re-read the letter again and again. "His name is La Sombra. We hope this letter finds you, whoever you are, soon."
The last two lines of the brief letter stuck out to him. "Of course there's a connection," he murmured. Some of the students heard him and started to debate even louder.
"But why?" Mr. Simmons continued, ignoring the class. He turned swiftly to the old man who was simply watching them. He pointed to the letter. "What happened?" he asked loudly. The man stared at him blankly.
Mr. Simmons sighed and lowered his eyes. "Does anyone know a different variation of Spanish?" he asked the class rhetorically.
~
"I said GO!" La Sombra bellowed. He shoved Gerald forward, making him bump into Helga.
"Hey, watch it!" Gerald argued. He had grown tired of the abuse and was thinking of a way to escape from La Sombra. He looked ahead to see Adan slightly give him a look to keep quiet. Gerald grimaced in reply.
The small group had been walking for hours in the humid jungle. They were all getting covered in scratches, sweat, and bruises. La Sombra was seemingly undisturbed by this. His eyes were bright with excitement. Arnold kept his head down as they walked, too ashamed to look at his friends. Helga's expression grew soft as her concern for her love grew stronger with each second that passed.
"Hey, are you okay?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
Arnold shook his head. "I wish I could say I'm thinking of a plan, but I don't have anything. I'm really sorry for getting you and Gerald into this mess."
Helga slightly wrinkled her forehead. "Hey, we wanted to come, remember? We're with you until the end," she smiled.
Arnold looked up at her and smiled back. She almost fainted at the sight. After a prolonged moment, they looked away from each other. She felt awkward as she tried to think of words to console Arnold. 'Oh, my beloved. Why can't I comfort you in this time of need?'
"THERE IT IS!" La Sombra suddenly yelled. He started to jump around like a child on Christmas morning.
They all looked up to see they had come upon a big temple. It was the biggest temple Arnold had seen yet. Trees were covering the top of it and there was moss and brush of the jungle all around it. He looked around for the Green Eye symbol, but it was nowhere to be found. This confused him. What was it La Sombra had found?
"This is it! Finally!" he exclaimed. "Adan, you stay out here and keep an eye on them," he commanded. He turned on his flashlight and made his way into the temple.
Arnold furrowed his eyebrows. "I don't understand. Adan, what's here? La Corazon can't be in there, can it? There's no Green Eye symbol here." Arnold questioned.
Adan kept his eyes to the cave as he answered. "This isn't just a temple," he answered. His mind flew to a memory that had been on his mind for the past nine years. "I had just started to work for Eduardo. He knew of La Sombra's plans to capture your parents and asked me to help his friends."
Arnold, Gerald, and Helga listened intently.
"I had been working for La Sombra under Eduardo's orders. He told me to watch Miles and Stella, to make sure they would stay alive. Arnold, you must know how sorry I am," he said bitterly.
Arnold shook his head. "Adan, what does that have to do with this temple?"
Adan looked down. "This was where your parents were captured. They had come here to leave the antidote for the disease that was killing the villagers. La Sombra knew La Corazon would be in the same place, so...we ambushed them."
Helga gasped and brought a hand to her mouth in shock.. Arnold stayed frozen in silence. Gerald was the first to speak up as he thought of something.
"But I don't understand. If La Corazon was here, why didn't La Sombra just come back and get it afterword?"
"The thing about this temple is that it's invisible. La Sombra could never find his way back to it. That's why he needed you, Arnold. He thought you would know where it was," Adan revealed. "And over the years, the Green Eyes moved on to another village. They kept La Corazon here as a reminder of what your parents sacrificed for them."
The three students stayed silent. Helga and Gerald looked to Arnold, wondering what he was thinking and what they were going to do next.
Before anyone could say anything, La Sombra came out of the temple, almost skipping. He was carrying something covered under a piece of cloth.
"Ahaha, I've got it! I'VE FINALLY GOT IT!" he exclaimed. "You're ridiculous parents couldn't keep me away from this! And to think their poor little son led me straight to it! Won't they be so proud?" he jeered.
Arnold gave him a death stare. He clenched his fists in rage and was unable to speak.
"Oh, we've made him upset," La Sombra taunted. He put his arm around Adan. "Did you tell him he's been so close to his parents all along?"
Adan kept his eyes down. In his surprise and confusion, Arnold unclenched his fists. He stood up straighter and widened his eyes.
"That's right!" La Sombra exclaimed. "When I brought you to my home, they were right there, just below your feet! Or knees, should I say," he smirked. "I have them in the dungeons below the house!" He laughed a little as Adan shoved him away.
Arnold scowled, as did Gerald and Helga. Although he was mad, Arnold couldn't deny that he felt relief knowing where they were.
"You creep!" Helga shouted. "You're going to pay for this!" she made to attack La Sombra, but Gerald held her back.
Arnold stayed still, his eyes dark with rage.
This made La Sombra laugh loudly. "Okay, okay," he said, waving his hand to them. "Let's go. I've got my prize," he smiled. "And no one will take it from me this time," he added darkly.
Gerald started to drag Helga away, but Arnold stayed put. Adan walked to him and started to push him along.
"Did you know?!" Arnold yelled and pushed him away. "Did you really know where they were this whole time?!"
Adan closed his eyes. "You have to trust me," he whispered. He opened his eyes and looked at Arnold with pleading eyes. "I will help you, but we have to go," he said.
Arnold scowled in reply and started to walk along. "We'll see," he muttered bitterly.
~
Lorenda had managed to calm down Adoncia by talking to her. "Do you remember that song I taught you, mija?" She had asked. "Can you sing it for mami?"
Adoncia sniffled and started to sing. She started to dance around in the darkness and laughed at her silliness. Lorenda wiped away silent tears as her daughter acted like a true child.
She turned her head swiftly as she heard a very faint sound. "Adoncia, stop, mija," she said, almost whispering her words. She got up and felt around the wall. She stopped after she had taken a few steps. She cocked her head to the side and waited to hear the sound again.
"He..." she heard again very softly. She gasped and almost cried from fear and excitement.
"HOLAA!" she yelled. "IS SOMEONE THERE?!" she yelled again. She cocked her head and tried very hard to listen.
"Hello?" a voice called from the distance. "Can you hear me?!" The voice muttered something unintelligable to Lorenda's ears.
Lorenda laughed in joy, happy to know she and Adoncia weren't alone. "Si! YES! WHO ARE YOU?" she questioned.
"There's two of us in here!" the voice said. It sounded like a woman.
Lorenda's eyes widened and she raised her eyebrows. 'That voice..'
"WHAT IS YOUR NAME?" she called into the darkness.
"My name is Stella!" the voice yelled back.
Lorenda's eyes widened.
