Answers

Zack entered back into the chamber from outside where he had dipped his burned finger in the cool water of the lake. “Found anything?” He asked Heather as he caught sight of her now on the other side of the cave from where he saw her last.

“Oh hey, how’s the finger?” She asked.

“It’s fine. It throbs like crazy, but I’ll put some ice on it when we get back to the cabin.”

“Think you’ll survive that long?”

“You better hope so, otherwise who’ll watch your back?” Zack laughed. Heather smiled at him then motioned him over to where she stood.

“Place your hand here.” She pointed to an image of fire on the wall. He looked at her as if she were mad.

“You’re kidding me right? We were just talking about the burn I got from touching the wall.”

“Oh relax! I’ve already touched it, I’m fine see.” She put her hands right up against his face. He smacked them gently aside and gave her a look.

“Fine.” He said grudgingly. He placed his hand where Heather pointed and braced for a burning sensation, but what he felt was cool hard stone. “It’s normal.” He said incredulously looking at Heather.

“Oh really? Here, let me give it a try.” She said pushing Zack out of the way and placing her hand on the fire symbol. “Hmm, it really is normal.” She said to herself in a contemplative tone.

“You were willing to sacrifice my hand?! You said you already checked!” Zack said shocked.

“I lied.” Heather said sweetly. Zack’s face turned stormy as he watched Heather touch each painting that resembled fire and walk away from each one with a smile on her face. Zack looked down at his burned finger, sighed and put his frustrations aside to take out at another time. He walked back over to Heather and stood beside her.

“What have you found out?” He asked.

“The fire is cool and the water is hot, whatever that means.” She said.

“They didn’t like water?” Zack asked.

“That doesn’t make any sense, this place is surrounded by water.” Heather said looking at Zack.

“Maybe the water stands for off limits?” Zack supplied.

“Meaning that this place would be off limits?”

“Yeah, I guess.” Zack said scratching his head.

“You may be onto something, in all these paintings, the places with fire are all inhabited, and all the places shown with water are not, except for this one.” She pointed at the image of the rock they were currently in.

“The lake is inhabited.” Zack said, the reality dawning on him. “There have been strange sightings reported by the residents here that have been reported on the news.” Zack said.

“ok, ok. I think we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves here, remember how accurate the natives were with the whole end of the world thing in 2012? This is just meant to scare us away is all.” Heather scoffed.

“I don’t know Heather, I think we should report this to the Rangers.”

“Why would we do that? You know they would tear this place up looking for clues to the lost Native treasure.”

“Native treasure?”

“Yeah, the tale has it that as the Natives prepared to retreat from the area due to the incursion of the British, they couldn’t bring everything along with them. They decided to leave behind the heaviest things and bury them where only one of them could find it. They left a map somewhere leading to the treasure, and I think it might be here.” She said.

“You think a map to lost Native treasure might be in this cave?” Zack asked incredulously.

“Yes, right here.” She said pointing to a place on the wall. “That’s strange.” Heather said.

“What is? Do you not recognize it, because I surely don’t.” Zack said.

“No, I recognize it alright, that’s around the area where Kurt’s parents, my Uncle and his wife are excavating to build a new casino.” She said.

“Maybe he knows something about the treasure, we should ask him.” Zack said.

“No!” Heather said more sharply than she wanted to. “I don’t entirely trust the man, if he’s anything like his father, that’s bad news.”

“Why do you say that?” Zack asked.

“My dad’s younger brother Daniel Ravers is a womanizing, cheating, lying, thief of a man, who is somehow still close to my dad.” She said vehemently. “You know, I once caught him fucking my mom, and when I went to go tell my dad what I saw he slapped me and told me to stop making up stories, that’s how close they are, and Daniel just constantly takes advantage of his closeness with the most powerful man in Azure Rocks.” Heather took a breath finally after saying her piece.

“Seems like you have a history with Kurt and his family.” Zack said.

“Yeah, if it weren’t for the fact that my dad had **** me to invite Kurt along, I wouldn’t have done it, for all I know he’s a carbon copy of his dad.” She said.

Somewhere in a cabin along the lake

A phone was ringing as the young man was changing into some appropriate clothes for a hike he would be going on with his cabin mates. He glared at the name that showed up on the screen of the phone and let it ring a few more times before picking up. “What did I tell you about calling me at this number?” The man spoke into the phone.

“I’m so sorry boss, I’ve been following those two you told me about, and they have entered the cave again.”

“Are you sure?” The man asked looking out the window in his room to the stone protrusion in the middle of the lake.

“Yes sir, I’m on the edge of the woods with my binoculars watching the entrance, they haven’t come out yet.”

“Shit! Thanks for reporting in John, keep me posted on their movements when they’re away from my sight.” The man said.

“As you say boss.”

“I have to go now.”

“I understand, I’ll keep you posted when they’re any other developments.”

“Only major developments John, I don’t need to know their every movement.”

“As you say.” The man hung up the phone and threw it on the bed.

“Kurt! Are you almost ready, we’re getting ready to head out.” Ashley called from the other side of the room door.

“Thanks Ashley, I’ll be right there.” Kurt said going to pick up his phone and look out the window. “I’m disappointed in you Zacky, I thought we could’ve been good friends.” He said quietly to himself. “Now, you will suffer the same fate as Heather.” He said while tightening his belt. He opened his door and saw Ashley standing there, he smiled down at her “Shall we?” He asked her which made her laugh lightly. She wouldn’t suspect a thing.