Chapter 36------Divided Paths
Mai leaned against the lift wall; she did the right thing didn't she? 'But…why does it feel like I'm saying goodbye?' She sighed at the ceiling, –Ding! – And walked out…
"Mai." The girl turned at the sound of her name. "We heard from Mit-chan, that you're leaving with them…are you?" Mai looked at Max, 'He's so… like a puppy.' She walked up to the boy and ruffled his hair, "'Course not." 'You're more like a brother to me than a team mate.' She wanted to say that but decided it would be uhh… too personal. She wanted to leave it at that, in a friendly manner.
"Ne, are you guys busy tomorrow?"
"No, why?"
"Can we go to Guangzhou? I wanna see the ruins. Maybe I'll find something there that will help me locate the jewels."
"Sure, but after the award ceremony. They postponed it." Mai gave a cheery "Okay," and left the living room. Tomorrow… tomorrow she'd be one step closer to freeing Eden.
-Next day, after award ceremony-
"Okay so we're in Hong Kong –opens map of China and locates Hong Kong- cool, Guangzhou's just near here; we just have to take a ferry there and— Stop playing with your phone!" Mai slapped Tyson's hand. "I was just checking out the features… -snaps his mobile shut- So, where exactly is the ruins?" Tyson asked and she pointed to the WuYi Mountains, "We'll have to ask for directions once we reach Guangzhou."
"And you think they'll be willing to let us go hunting around the site? I don't think so…" Rei chipped in. "Relax, Whiskers –Rei got a bit taken aback by this- I've got a plan!" Mai had that mischievous gleam in her eyes that the group didn't like…
-Fast forward-
"Ugh…I think I feel a headache coming on…" Hilary stumbled out of the mini-van. "Dumbass! You didn't tell us the road would be bumpy!" Tyson shouted while he supported Hil with one arm. The Zeelans and Rei didn't seem to be bothered by the road, they were used to it; and Kai…he had nothing to say. "C'mon Tyson, it's not that bad." Max pushed the boy along with the rest of the group.
Mai looked around her, the place was like a campsite, with a few canvas tents pitched up around the area. She could see workers wheelbarrow-ing away dirt and soil out of a nearby cave so that meant that the excavation was still going on. She told the group to hide in the bushes first while she explored the area.
'Now where do they keep the supplies?' The girl wandered around, she passed by a table and swiftly snatched a piece of rolled up paper. She opened it up and pretended to be looking at map while walking around. She peeked into every tent and finally found what she was looking for. "Bingo!" She muttered under her breath. She checked to see if anyone was looking before slipping behind the beige sheets. Crates were piled high in one corner and there was a pile of stuff lying on the floor while shovels and mining gear were all lined up on the wall. Mai rummaged through the pile and pulled out a few dirty -jumpsuits, coats, helmets and flashlights. "This is disgusting…" She dusted off her hands and proceeded to grab two shovels and three of those pointy-hammer things. She pulled on one of the orange jumpsuits and tucked her hair under a helmet. She dumped the rest of the supplies in a wheelbarrow and covered it with a green plastic sheet. 'Damn this is heavy…' She picked up the handle and wheeled out of the tent to where her friends were waiting…
"Shh! Someone's coming!" The group fell silent as they waited for the rustling in the bushes to stop. Suddenly, a yellow head poked out of the bush, -Wham!- Copellia jumped on the stranger, "Quick run!" But a familiar angry voice sounded from underneath her, "WHAT GIVES? GET OFF ME!" "Opps! I'm so soo sorry!" The maroon-haired girl got of her friend, "Sorry Mai! I thought you were someone else, sorry!" The girl dusted herself in a huff, an anime vein popping up in her temple. "It's okay," but still sounded pretty pissed, "There're clothes in the wheelbarrow. Get changed quickly."
She sat down on a large rock and dusted off her palms, a bit of skin had come off and the dirt really made it sting. "Here." Kai tossed her a bottle. "Wash the dirt off or it'll get infected." "Thanks…" She unscrewed the cap and slowly poured the water over her wound, not knowing that someone was watching her out of the corner of his eye.
"So we're going into the cave as miners?"
"Yup, it's the only way we'll be able to get in and explore the ruins. All set?" The group nodded their heads and set off in small groups towards the cave. "Oi, deng yi xia. Ze me duo ren ah? (Hey, wait a min, why are there so many people?) A man at the opening of the cave stopped them. Thankfully, Drex managed to come up with some excuse and they were let in. "Whoa…look at all the stalactites!" The cave was lit up with small fluorescent lamps which lined the walls and there were markings to guide the way. "There're no b-bats, are there?" Kenny gazed worriedly at the dark looming ceiling over head, drilling could be heard further in the cave; they were getting close. They trail diverted into a tunnel and soon the miners came into view, "Okay, look out for any writings or markings on the wall and tell me if you've found anything all right?" "Gotcha." They headed deeper and deeper underground, "It's so hot in here…" Copellia unzipped a bit of her jumpsuit and tugged at her collar, "How much further?" As they explored further into the tunnel, the air started to cool, "We must be reaching the end" And sure enough, the tunnel finally opened up into a wide cavern.
Light seeped in through holes in the roof and lit up the area. Below them, a small stream ran down the middle of the floor. "There it is!" Rei pointed over to the other side, a huge boulder was blocked off with strips of yellow and black plastic. Mai slowly made her way down the slope and landed on one of the rocks, the others following behind her. 'Finally! I finally get to see it!' She treaded from one rock to another till she reached the rock platform. The boulder towered over her small figure as she ran her gaze down the inscriptions:
Here lies the beast asleepling,
Cautious souls will heed this warning:
Dare disturb its peaceful slumber,
Thy will regret what lies beyond yonder
It is good when good does yield it,
But it destroys when evil unseals it
Two souls will decide its fate,
The power to destroy or to create
The legend has been told,
Through the generations of old
Turn away for humanities sake,
Or thy life will be forever at stake
"So this is it huh?" Riya came up beside her. "Yeah… I remember…-images of her dream appeared in her mind-" She bent under the black and yellow striped plastic and touched the surface of the rock. Instantaneously, she felt something race through her body. "She grabbed Riya's hand and placed it on the rock, "You feel that?" The boy nodded his head, "Yeah! There's something behind this rock –gazes up at rock- I can feel it…"
"Yeouch!" Kenny yelped; and Mai spun her head around. "We can't get through!" Drex tried to walk in front but – ZZRRR!- and he stepped back in surprise, it was as though an invisible wall was blocking their path. Riya ran to his friends and passed the magical barrier with ease. He stepped in and out and nothing happened. "Seems like only the both of you can get through." Rei concluded. "The area's protected by a powerful curse placed by our ancestors to protect the area. So maybe that's why you guys can't get through." "Oh yeah, only the chosen ones can get through…" Tyson replied sarcastically…
Mai ignored his comment and went back to studying the rock, 'It should be around here somewhere…' Her fingers traced the hard surface, feeling for a slight dip or a hole. Then she found it! Four small holes surrounded a weird symbol at the base of the rock. "Riya!" She dug into her pocket, pulled out the jewel and placed in one of the holes, "It fits," she looked up at Riya who seemed intrigued by all this. "But what's that symbol supposed to mean?" "Dunno." Mai shrugged her shoulders, "Maybe it's a seal?"
"So can you move the boulder?" Hilary broke their conversation. "No. There're still 3 more jewels left. Once we've got all 4, we can break the curse," she replied as she pocketed the jewel and stood up. She turned to face Riya, "Once we've got all 4, we can free Eden." Riya nodded his head; both knew what each other was thinking:
'I have to get them before he/she does.'
"Any clues?" Hilary greeted Mai and Riya as they came up from under the plastic. The two shook their heads. "Let's go. We don't want people seeing you two so close to the rock, they'll suspect something's up." Mit-chan pushed herself off the wall she was leaning on. Mai was reluctant to leave but Mit-chan had a point; no one must find out who they were. She turned to follow the group when something caught her ear; she stared at the rock, 'I was sure…' But she brushed it aside and caught up with her friends.
'Matteru ze, Eden. (Wait for me, Eden.)'
-Fast forward-
The group emerged from the mini-van and immediately, a cool breeze whipped at their faces. Mai leant on the railing and stared out at the sea while waiting for Rei to settle the tickets. "It's nice, isn't it?" Riya came up beside her and she agreed; the seagulls squawking over head, the orange sunset behind a purple ocean, Riya standing next to her…Everything was so picturesque…if she could freeze time right now, she would…
"HEY! BOAT LEAVES IN 15 MINUTES!" Tyson called and they both returned to the group. They proceeded to board the ferry but Mai noticed that something wasn't right, "You're not coming?" She saw the boy shake his head and her heart sank. "This is where we leave you Mai" Copellia replied. Her eyes were pleading for them not to do this but they didn't budge, "Why? At least come back to Hong Kong." "Sorry Mai…But you have your destiny and I have mine…This is where we go out separate ways." Riya explained, even though it hurt him terribly to say goodbye to her. "I see…" The girl hung her head and clenched her fists. "But," She slipped her hands into her pocket and flipped open her mobile phone, "can I at least have a picture?" Mit-chan smiled and nudged the girl, making her laugh. "Maxie! Mind helping us for a sec?"
The group positioned themselves in front of the camera, "Okay –holds up a finger- One, two, three!" –KACHECK!- Mai ran up and got her mobile from Mai, everyone crowded around to see the picture. "Hey! I told you! No bunny-ears!" She scolded Copellia who just playfully stuck her tongue out at her. "MAX! MAI! HURRY UP!" Rei shouted from the boat. "COMING!" Mai hollered back and took one last look at her friends. Then she gave Riya a big hug, "I'll miss you." "Me too…" The rest of the Zeelans joined in the hug and pulled back a few seconds later. "Take care of yourself all right?" Drex said. "Yeah. Maybe will meet again soon."
"MAI!" The ferry was now honking its last call.
'Argh! Shut up will ya? Can't a girl say goodbye to her friends?' She shot a glare at Tyson. "Guess I have to go now… ja ne!" She turned her heel and ran up the wooden ramp and disappeared through the ferry door.
The ferry began to pull out of the harbour when a girl's head popped through the window, "BYE GUYS!" Mai was waving with a silly smile on her face. "-chuckles- Ano ko (ahah, that kid…)" Drex sighed. The Zeelans chased after the ferry, waving, till they reached the final end of the pier and Mai was out of sight…
-On the ferry-
Mai slumped back down in her seat, seeing her friends go wasn't that bad. She smiled as she pulled out her mobile and looked at her background; she'd always have the memory with her. "So, miss your fiancé yet? Saw you two hugging back there." Rei smirked. "What about you? –imitates Mariah's voice- Rei honey?" "Mariah and I are not—"His face was tomato-red; "You don't have to deny it Rei." Tyson snickered. The boy blushed even harder and fell back down in his seat, turning away from everyone.
Feeling satisfied, Mai turned to strike up a little conversation with Kenny, "So where will we go after this?" "Dunno… back to Japan I guess." He answered.
Mai nodded her head and stared out at the waves, 'Going home huh...'