Chapter 6:

An hour had already passed and they are still on the road. A few of the buses are way ahead of the others but are still headed towards the destination. In the bus that Leon was in, the other students were doing their own thing, some were taking long naps, some are chatting with each other in the back, as well as a few of them playing games on their phones just to pass the time.

Leon was scrolling through his phone, either watching a video or reading a book online. Nicole was beside him sleeping, wearing an eye mask that had a panda-like design on it. While he was watching a video, Leon could feel his eyes feeling heavy and let out a little yawn. He placed his phone in his pocket as he slowly gets comfy by placing his jacket over his body like a blanket before laying his head back and closing his eyes.

About two more hours have passed, Leon was still asleep in his seat while Nicole was wide awake, looking out through the window on her side watching the view until the buses drove through a tunnel that darkened the area but had a hint of light from the street lights. As the buses reached the end of the tunnel, a sight of a huge curved building can be seen just up ahead with a giant globe at the center.

The students looked from their seats and through the windows and were surprised as they are shocked in awe the moment they saw the building. Nicole is just as excited and started taking pictures while Leon is still asleep. She took a few shots before noticing that Leon is still sleeping.

"Hey. Hey. Hey, come on. Wake up," She whispered as she tried to wake him up by tapping his shoulder lightly. "We're already here,"

Leon kind of heard her but was still too sleepy. "Just...five more minutes..." he groggily said,

Nicole shrugged and said, "Alright, fine but don't blame me for not waking you up,"

Hearing that made Leon open his eyes but he rubbed them as he was still sleepy. He stretched his arms out and realized that the buses have parked in the parking lot just outside the giant building.

Looking through the window, Leon asked, "Is this the place?"

Nicole looked at him and nodded, "Yup,"

Leon blinked twice before slowly getting up from this seat, making room for Nicole to move from her spot and walk out of the bus carrying her bag, as Leon followed her, carrying his back over his shoulder.

By the time they gathered along with the students, a lady was waiting from the main entrance to the museum and walked towards the students. "Welcome to, The Central Side International Museum," She said smiling as she greets them, "I see that all of you traveled all the way safely. My name is Helena Johansen, the head of this museum."

She then received a clipboard from her secretary, who accompanied her along the way. Helena checked the list as she looked back at the students, counting each of them one by one. Her expression changed to confusion as she looked at the list and the students back and forth.

Helena was about to comment on the matter but she sees another group of students coming from another bus. She checked her clipboard again and regains her composure before looking at all of them saying, "Okay, How bout we proceed to where you will be staying for your stay, shall we?" The students didn't seem to mind and fell in line as they followed Helena lead them to a different building which is a hotel where they'll be staying.

While the whole ordeal was going on, Leon was busy using his phone, briefly playing games on his phone. Even though he was busy playing his game, he did notice Nicole walking along with the other students and followed her footsteps. As he was ever so distracted, he accidentally bumped into someone to which both of them dropped to the floor and a few items dropped from the one he bumped into. He noticed this and put his phone away as he picked up the items. "I am so sorry. Here-" he was about to hand the items he picked up but he was somewhat stunned as he sees the one he bumped into.

The one he bumped into was a girl with brown eyes, her hair up to her shoulders with curls at the ends, and wearing a red and white striped shirt tucked inside her navy blue ripped jeans. She noticed Leon, standing there, handing back the items she dropped, and stands up, taking her stuff back, "Thank you," she smiles as she carries her sling bag and hurries back with her schoolmates,

Leon managed to snap out of his daze as he thinks to himself, 'Who was that girl?'. He just shrugs that thought off his head and grabs his stuff and went inside the hotel along with the other students.

He received his key card to his room and walked around the hotel to find it. Along the way, he sees students roaming around, taking pictures as they were finding their rooms. Leon did his best to evade them as much as possible as he finds his room. He stopped and holds his key card up to the scanner on the door and enters his room.

After a few minutes of unpacking, he slumps over on the bed and continues playing his game but was suddenly interrupted by a text from Nicole. Curious, he checked the text and it read, "You in your room?"

Leon shrugs and texted back, "Yep,"

He waited for a while and got another text from her, "What room number are you at?"

"Room 325. Why?" Leon replied back. When he sees that Nicole just read his text, he shrugs and continues playing his game only to be interrupted again by a knock on the door.

Confused, Leon got up and walked towards the door, and peered through the peephole. Realizing that it was Nicole, he unlocked the door and opened it, "What's up?" he said as he sees her,

Nicole shrugged, "Nothing much. Just bored." she said, "Mind if I hang out in your room?"

Leon thinks about it for a moment and opens the door wide enough for her to enter, "Sure," he said,

Nicole went inside as Leon closed the door behind him. She sees him slumped over on the bed playing games on his phone, "Remind me again how long have you played that online card game," she said as she sits on the chair reaching for the TV remote and turning it on.

Hearing her question, Leon nonchalantly replies, "Uh, longer than I can remember? I dunno. The game helps me think."

Nicole was busy watching TV, "Y'know it's better if you play that game 'Heimdral Online'," she said, "I downloaded it a week ago and I've been playing it for a while now. You should try it,"

Leon thinks about it as he continues playing his game, "Aight, I'll try downloading it. I'll let you know when I do,"

"Noted," Nicole said as she lays her head back on the chair with one eye open while watching TV.

Leon noticed her and said, "You should go back to your room,"

Nicole looked at him with both eyes open and complained, "Oh c'mon, It's so boring!"

Leon sighs and said, "And why is that?"

Nicole looks at him and pouts, "It's boring. What more reason do you want?"

Leon was about to argue on that but sighs and said, "Fine. Only for today."

Nicole smiles, "Yey!" she says cheerfully like a little kid,

Leon just rolled his eyes and continues playing his game when suddenly a notification popped up in his email and it was from his class adviser, stating that they should all head out for the tour. He sighs as he sat up and tells Nicole, "We gotta go,"

Nicole was on her phone and saw a similar text, "Aww,"

Leon stands up and stretched his arms as he placed his phone in his bag to which he then slings on his back.

"Help me up," Nicole said as she stretched her hand out. Leon sighs and grabs her hand, pulling her up.

A little while later, he and Nicole met up with the other students as they entered the main building of the museum. They have then received a tablet from the staff and were confused as to why they received it.

The other students were in awe of the interior design of the museum's marble flooring. Helena was there and greeted the students, "Alright, you all should each receive a tablet with certain tasks that you need to fill up. Complete the tasks and you will receive a prize at the end." she said, "And this is by pair so find a partner and good luck,"

Leon didn't get to listen as he was checking the tasks on the tablet he received but as soon as he heard that he has to work with a partner, he failed to ask Nicole as she already picked a partner of her own. He then looks around to look for a partner but his attempts failed as he soon realizes that the other students, along with their partners, dispersed and went their way.

Thinking that he would have to do it alone, he turns around and noticed the same girl he bumped into earlier, checking the list on her tablet. She then looks up and seeing as though she was looking for a partner but noticed Leon. She just smiles and asked, "You looking for a partner?"

"Uh, yeah. I was gonna choose my friend but she already has a partner" Leon explained,

The girl nodded understandingly, "then that means you and I are partners," she concluded,

Leon shrugs "Seems so," he said, but as he was about to offer his hand for a handshake to introduce himself, the girl raised her hand, stopping him,

"I mean no disrespect but uh, we can talk about that after the hunt is over, okay?" she requested, "Sorry if I'm in a rush,"

"Nah. Nah. It's okay," Leon nodded, "Right. So, where to first?" he asked as he checked his tablet to which he realized that the tablet already synced with hers, meaning that their tasks are identical.

The girl checked her tablet then looking around and pointed at something as she said, "Over there,"

Leon looked to where she pointed and followed her to the first task they need to do which is to "Find an ancient flying creature from a world before man,". Immediately, they went to the Jurassic area. The sector was almost realistic but each of the creatures is just animatronics in their podiums.

They were both looking around as they see other students roaming around the museum, finding and finishing their tasks. The girl, on the other hand, figured out the riddle and took a picture of the creature that was flying around in circles. Leon noticed her and looks up, realizing that the answer was a Pterosaur, he too took a picture of it, clearing their first of 5 tasks.

An hour had passed and they were already 2 tasks away from finishing the list but the pair stopped to rest after roaming around. The girl then stands up as she looks at Leon, "I'm gonna go to the restroom. Wait here until then," she said before walking off, finding the restroom

Leon was drinking his water and nods as he sits there, checking the list on his tablet, trying to figure out the answer to the riddle on tasks 4 and 5. Until he heard a familiar voice from a distance. He looked up from his tablet and sees Nicole walking towards him with her partner.

"How's the hunt so far?" she asked, "Sorry if you didn't get to pick me as your partner but I was paired with Rebecca."

Leon nodded and said, "Nah. Nah. It's okay. And the hunt is going fine. Managed to find my partner in time though."

"That's good," Nicole said, "Who's your partner by the way?"

Leon was gonna reply but upon remembering that he didn't get to ask his partner's name, he said, "I, uh, don't know,"

Nicole pinched the bridge on her nose, "You forgot to ask didn't you," she said,

Leon shrugged and was about to say something until he heard his partner's voice calling out to him and he gets up, carrying her tablet, and waves goodbye at Nicole saying, "I gotta go. Good luck to you and the hunt!"

He then met up with his partner who figured the answer to the 4th task and they cleared it. Feeling guilty for not having to do much but follow her, Leon realized the answer to the 5th task and tells his partner about it.

It is now a race against the clock. Many of the students, along with their partners, were looking around for a flag hidden around the museum which is the last task that they have to clear. Leon and his partner pretended to roam around when in fact they already found its location.

Then, they immediately ran down the hallway as they see a red flag that is in front of an unopened section of the museum. However, the pair soon realized that another pair of students were running towards the flag. The two groups were neck and neck when suddenly, Leon's partner trips and fell to the floor. Leon noticed this and stopped in his tracks.

The girl noticed him as she tries to get up, "Go! Go for the flag! I'll try to catch up!" she said,

Leon looked back and as if time has slowed down, he could see the other group taking the lead then looks back at his partner who was on the ground, seemingly injured. He was having trouble making the decision but he quickly ran back to help his partner. He knelt down to sling her arm around his shoulder as he gently carried her up and walking carefully towards the goal. However just as they were so close to getting the flag, the other team got it first, which then declares them as the winner.

A little while later, a mini award show was held after the event with the pair who got the flag first being awarded their prize. Meanwhile, Leon escorted his partner and carried her to a nearby clinic to get herself checked up.

The girl sat down carefully as it was shown that she had a slight bruise on her right knee. She looked at Leon and said, "Thanks,"

Leon looked back at her and nodded, "You're welcome," he replied back.

However, just as he was about to turn around and ask her name, an announcement popped up from the speakers saying, "Attention students: Please proceed to the courtyard right outside of the hotel. We'll be having a barbeque with all you can eat buffet. Get it before it's gone!" As soon as that happens, a lot of the students rushed out of the museum, like an ocean wave. Leon was suddenly caught by the crowd and he tried to swim his way towards the clinic but failed and ended up walking along with the other students out of the museum.