Chapter 2

Natalie knew that she had the most aggravating older sister in the history of aggravating older sisters. Amy was sitting on her right, staring at her green slip, agape. It was so obvious what they were going to choose!

Their Aunt Beatrice stormed up to the podium and started yelling at Mr. McIntyre about this "foolishness that her sister had bestowed on everyone", or something. Natalie turned to Amy, who looked the same as she did five seconds ago. Who cared about some wild goose chase and treasure? The treasure was all in the green slip.

"Amy, listen to me!" Natalie put her hands on her sister's shoulders. "We're going to each take a million dollars. Then we can run away from Aunt Beatrice. It won't matter by that time because we'll be rich!"

Amy said nothing.

"Think about it; we could get everything we wanted! I could get new clothes and you could get all the...books you wanted!" Natalie reasoned. "This is an offer we can't pass up!"

"You're right." Amy murmured softly.

"I am right!--Wait, are you agreeing with me?" Natalie raised an eyebrow.

"This is an offer we can't pass up. We have to take the clue." Amy said firmly.

"Are you loony in the head, Amy?" Natalie snapped.

"We both know that if we took the money, Aunt Beatrice would just insist that we save it for college." Amy tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "And I know that...Grace would want us to make the right choice by not taking the money."

Natalie had no response to this. She was speechless for the first time in her life. Amy just had to bring this all up.

It was true, Aunt Beatrice would force to do whatever she wanted them to do with the money. She was their legal guardian, after all. But for some peculiar reason, after their parents died, Grace literally begged Aunt Beatrice to take Amy and Natalie in. At first, Natalie was the one most outraged at this and tried to be mad at Grace. But come weekend, her angry feelings were replaced with ones of joy when she and Amy visited Grace's house.

After Sunday, things were back to normal. For the past seven years, the sisters suffered under Aunt Beatrice's care. She was cruel, and cared nothing for Amy or Natalie. She often left them with an au pair, but it wasn't like they did a better job.

Then there was Grace. Grace would be proud if they accepted the challenge. Natalie could almost hear Grace speaking to her, saying, "You will make me proud. My adventures will seem like nothing compared to the ones you will have."

What adventures? They went to public school like normal kids. They did homework. They watched TV and movies.

By now, Amy and Natalie were thinking the same thing. If they declined the challenge, then maybe things could change slightly. Some of the money could be used for personal things, right? It could make their lives better. The suffering would be gone.

At least...Natalie thought so. But as Amy stared at their family yelling and screaming, she wasn't so sure. The money would help them. But if they took the clue, it would not only make Grace proud, but their parents as well.

Natalie didn't remember them at all. They died when she was really young. She could make out a woman with reddish-brown hair like Amy and a man with a caring smile. But that was all. Everything else was a big blur. She didn't want to tell Amy about making their parents proud because it would bring back bad memories, but she had a feeling that Amy was already thinking that.

"Okay," Natalie began slowly. "We have about three minutes to decide now."

Amy gave Natalie a pained expression. She was dearly afraid of big crowds and this was no exception. It didn't help that it was so loud, Amy could barely think.

The Holts were squaring up against poor old Alistair. Sinead Starling was screaming at her brothers. Irina Spasky was cursing in some foreign language--it was most likely Russian--at Jonah Wizard and his dad, Broderick. The Wizards stared back at Irina; they certainly did not know Russian. Cousins were yelling at uncles and aunts. Uncles were yelling at nieces and aunts were yelling at children no older than Amy.

"You'll decline the challenge, right?" Someone behind the Cahill sisters asked.

Natalie turned first and saw Ian Kabra, with Dan sitting at his side, both looking slightly smug. Amy, despite the commotion, managed to make her stomach do a flip. Ian was beyond good-looking. He had cinnamon-colored skin, eyes like amber, and a pearly-white smile. He was fourteen, the same age as Amy, but he acted like a twenty-year-old. His silk suit and tie were completely perfect with no creases. He even smelled heavenly. Amy almost slapped herself for being so observant.

"I would be sad if something happened to you, Amy. You desperately need the money, I believe." Ian said with mock sadness.

Amy flushed with embarrassment. How did Ian always manage to make her feel like an idiot?

"It's so weird how we're related." Dan added.

"I doubt we're related, Daniel." Natalie shot back, putting emphasis on Dan's full name. "Amy and I aren't mutants who like to play dress up and pretend we're bankers."

Dan glared, but Ian spoke. "This is all a big misunderstanding, dear Natalie. We want you to take the money, improve your poor lives, and never think about the rich and famous again."

"G-Grace," Amy started shakily. "Grace w-would w-want--"

"Would want you to risk your lives in some silly scavenger hunt and be killed?" Ian finished. "Are you certain about this, Amy? Did the old woman tell you about this beforehand?"

"What's it to you?" Natalie replied.

"So you guys were left in the dark like everyone else here," Dan said. "Just like everyone else; it looks like Grace doesn't pick favorites."

This time, it was Natalie's turn to glare. Amy stared at the ground, silent.

"Ah, Dan, perhaps you're right." Ian flashed a smile at Amy. "We wouldn't want to see our favorite cousins suffer a painful death."

The Kabras strode off, mixing in with the angry crowd.

"One day," Natalie started, fists clenched. "I will slap them so hard that they'll be stunned. Then I'll bury them in a remote part of the Gobi Desert."

Amy wasn't surprised that Natalie could be so threatening. That was her style. "They're taking the clue."

"No, really?" Natalie replied in a sarcastic tone. "Two million dollars is nothing to those idiots."

"They want us to take the money..." Amy continued.

"Which gives us all the more reason to take the challenge," Natalie sighed, exasperated. Her sister could be really slow sometimes.

"It doesn't matter." Amy said harshly, which was unusual for her. "They were right. We have poor lives that can be improved." But in the back of her mind, Amy couldn't help wondering about how this clue could help them become the most powerful people on Earth. Once that happened, there was no telling the things she could do.

"Okay, you're right." Natalie plunked down into the soft chair. "I sure would love to smack those Kabras around a few times after we win."

Just then, Aunt Beatrice marched over and grabbed the children. Her face was a mixture of wrinkles and rage. Natalie coughed from her putrid stench. "You two will listen to me! I intend to take my million dollars and that is exactly what you upstarts will do as well! Of course, I will put the money in accounts for you until you're of age."

"Of what age, sixty?" Natalie muttered bitterly.

"In return, I will allow you to continue to live under the custody of me." She finished.

Amy's anger skyrocketed. "You'll allow us to live under your custody?! No thanks, but I'd rather not live in your 'apartment'."

Natalie looked impressed and gave Amy a reassuring smile. But Amy returned to her normal phase. Aunt Beatrice looked ready to slap Amy, and she wouldn't hold back just because she was a child.

"Watch your mouth, Amy Joanne Cahill!" Beatrice roared, her breath smelling of death and decay. "Do as I say or else!"

"Or else what?" Natalie asked with complete innocence plastered on her face.

Beatrice's face turned the color of a ripe tomato. "I can and will disown you. Social Services will take care of you little urchins. You will both be orphans and I'll make sure you get zero help from any Cahill! You'll take the money and forget about my sister's ridiculous wishes of you two finding the--" She stopped suddenly, realizing what she was about to say.

"Finding what?" Natalie demanded.

"That is none of your business, young lady." Beatrice turned away and left the children alone. Amy thought she sounded scared.

"Nat--" Amy started, but Mr. McIntyre rang a bell. The turmoil stopped abruptly as everyone took their seats.

"It is time for your decision. I have one final warning for you all: You may not change your mind once you have made it."

Amy and Natalie stared at each other.

What do we do, Amy?

I'm not sure. I'm kind of scared of Aunt Beatrice now...

Don't tell me you're actually scared of that old bag!

Well...

If we don't take the challenge, it's back to the drawing board! Except this time, there won't be weekend trips to Grace's house.

But then--

And don't tell me you actually like seeing the hideous smirk on Ian and Dan's face!

"Keep in mind that only one individual or team," --Mr. McIntyre's eyes flickered briefly towards Amy and Natalie-- "will find the treasure. I am uncertain where the hunt will lead you. All around the world, possibly. Now, it's time to choose. Who will step up to the plate first?"

Aunt Beatrice stood confidently. "This is absurd! I'll take the money, of course."

Mr. McIntyre nodded. "The minute you leave this room, the numbers on the bank voucher will become active. You may then proceed to withdraw money from the Royal Bank of Scotland whenever you wish. Who is next?"

Several others stood and walked out the door, a green slip in their hands. Cousin Matilda, Uncle Francis, and more. Each of them became millionaires in five minutes.

Then the Kabras rose from their seats a few rows behind Amy and Natalie. "We accept the challenge as a team of two. Give us the clue." Ian demanded.

"Your vouchers," Mr. McIntyre said, extending an arm.

Ian and Dan approached the table and each handed him the bank voucher. Mr. McIntyre burned two million dollars with a black cigarette lighter. Everyone around watched with great curiosity. Then he held out a manila envelope sealed with wax to them. "Do not, I repeat, do not read this until instructed by me. Ian and Dan, you will be Team One."

"Hey! Foul!" Eisenhower boomed. He sprinted up to the table with his family following close behind. "The Holts are a team! Except, we have to be Team One!"

"Yeah, those losers can't be Team One." Hamilton jerked a thumb towards the Kabras who rolled their eyes simultaneously.

"As you wish." Mr. McIntyre took the five vouchers from the super-family. "The Holts shall be Team Two."

Five million dollars went 'POOF!' as the Holts received the same manila envelope. Reagan bumped Natalie in the shoulder purposely and smirked evilly. It took all the self-control in Natalie's body to refrain her from clawing Reagan's eyes out.

Alistair Oh walked up to the table, his cane clicking on the floor. "I suppose I will partake in this hunt. I will be Team Three."

The Starling triplets strode up to the table, placing three million dollars on the table. "We want in." Sinead announced. Her brothers, Ned and Ted nodded in agreement.

Irina followed the redheads and placed her million dollars on the table as well. "I work alone." She said simply.

"Yo, homies! Wait up!" Jonah ambled up to Mr. McIntyre like a 'gangsta' and slapped his green slip on the table. "All right, yo, gimme the clue."

"If we film this whole thing, it would make great TV. Plus, it would give Jonah great publicity and show his deeper side." Broderick Wizard looked up for a second and then went back to tapping away on his Blackberry.

"Absolutely not," Mr. McIntyre shook his head. "This isn't just a scavenger hunt that kids do for fun at camp and such. This is serious business."

Amy felt sick and wanted nothing more than to crawl under a table. She and Natalie were the only ones who hadn't decided. Six teams were entered in the challenge. The others were standing in the doorway. Aunt Beatrice stood out, glaring daggers at her and Natalie.

The other teams were skilled, smart, strong, or rich. They all seemed so likely to win. Amy was just a normal girl who liked to read. The only thing Natalie was good at was threatening people, but what good was that when the other teams could overpower them?

And how could Amy handle this when she could barely even speak to someone because of her stupid stutter?

Natalie stared at Amy. Two million dollars...

This was the great adventure that Grace told us we would take. We're supposed to take the challenge.

Wouldn't Aunt Beatrice explode?

Amy smiled slightly. That's what I'm counting on.

That's what I like to hear! Natalie cheered.

Together, they walked up to the table and handed Mr. McIntyre their vouchers.

"Count us in." said Amy.

Please point out any mistakes; that would be greatly appreciated! My beta, Another Artist is out for the moment and I'm just too dang lazy to look over it. I mean, it's so LONG. My fault, I guess, for making it so long. Anyways, please leave a review as always. Reviews keep me going! :)

Sky out.