Chapter VI: The Hunt Begins

I just stood there, mouth agape, as though mesmerized. Rereading the route, it sank in: I've walked into a trap, rather game, I can't get out.

"What the…?" I exclaimed, lowering my arms and staring into space. "You've got to be kidding me, Emma."

A treasure hunts? At one o'clock in the morning? Wow! This makes things scarier, but I won't back out. In fact, I was expecting something crazy to come up. It would be absurd for anyone to dare someone to barge in a school in the middle of the night. To add to that, it's crazy. What I didn't expect though is that, that something is a treasure hunt.

Alright! Since I'm here, I might as well do this. This ought to be fun or else…

I read the words for the third time. I've got to get the clue Emma mentioned. I figured out that for me to achieve that, I should analyze the message sentence by sentence.

Hey! The reason I dared you is because I got a bit bored and lonely.

"Nothing wrong with this sentence," I whispered to myself.

Please forgive me for such shallow reasons.

"Don't worry Emma. I'm not pissed just…surprised."

Anyway, since you're here already, let's play a game of treasure hunt.

"Nope. Nothing's suspicious here."

In a sense, I'll be treasure because you'll be looking for me.

"Obviously, she wants to play hide and seek."

Clues toward the goal are scattered throughout CC.

"Thanks girl."

The past is the key to the present's door to the future.

"I really am not sure but I guess this is the clue to my first location." I cracked my brain for help.

So, future might mean my destination, while present would mean my current situation. That's right! I have to do something now to get to my next clue. But… what?

I stood up and stretched. After which, I paced for about ten minutes, asking myself the same question over and over. Nothing…

Moments passed. I was already losing hope when suddenly; I heard low thumps, like those of shoes. Oh no… I forgot that guards are still around. I squeezed myself at the dark corner, fists ready and in waiting for action. I saw a shadow pass by. Fortunately, the guard didn't enter the back of the stage. I sighed out of relief and sank to the floor.

"I should always remember the guards rounding times," I scolded myself.

Remember…

Of course! The past is to be remembered through memories. That's the key! But remember what? I read the last line.

First clue's already stated. Go!

"Hmm… That's strange," I continued on whispering to myself. I read the note for the fourth time, then the fifth and the sixth. Out of despair, I tried to look for significant words. By "significant" I mean repeated! There are two: reason and treasure. But the other "reason" mentioned has a "s" with it. So "treasure" it is.

"If I got the wrong clue," I told myself. "I'll try to work on the reason."

Treasure. What's with that word? Then it hit me. I tried to recall the full details.

"Treasure equals money. Money equals Accounting Office. Now at least, I have a destination," I told myself. The, I caught myself clutching my necklace. I smiled as I let it hang on my neck.

I risked going back to the Botanical Garden via behind the Gym. If I'm caught, I'm dead. Luckily, nobody's around the guardhouse. I jogged as silently as possible, in fear of being heard and caught. Nearing the Garden, I heard voices approaching my direction. So I quickly jumped over the fence and strained my ears to listen to their conversations.

"I thought I saw something at the top bars of the Swimming Area," a low-pitched man said. "Then, I heard something coming from the Gym. I went to check but I found nothing. I guess it was a cat."

"You worry too much, Antonio," replied a higher-pitched masculine voice. "It's just past one o'clock in the morning. With some exceptions, people and even animals are sleeping at this hour, and remember, we are out of the exceptions."

"I agree, Rey," the man named Antonio said. "But still we need to be alert and ready. It's part of our job description, you know,"

"Right…," Rey said, voice and footsteps trailing off.

So the guards noticed our presence already. At least they don't still suspect people are here. Man! That makes things harder. Making sure they're gone, I leaped over the fence and ran like hell to Renes Descartes Building right wing, straight to the second floor. Unlike the other buildings, the Descartes Building doesn't have side gates, since this building is the main entrance to the school compound. Oh, and going straight to the Accounting Office via first floor will be suicide, because the guard's office I'll pass by. Tiptoeing through the hallway, I thought I saw someone in front of the President's Office. I quickly balled my fists and quickly hid behind one of the posts on that floor. No one passed by. After a huge sigh of relief, I continued to thread the hallway as silently as I could. Going down to the first floor, I quietly approached the Accounting Offices door and inspected the area: door: doorway, floor, wall and all.

"Wait," I whispered to myself, "No note."

I crazily looked for a note but didn't find way any. I was losing grip of myself. But of desperation, I tried the knob. The door opened.

*****

"Hey!" Dominique called out to me. "When will you pay?"

"Pay for what?" I asked defensively. "I don't owe you money."

She rolled her eyes. "Pay for our exam permits, silly."

"Oh, sorry," I said. "After lunch break. I just got my allowance."

"Then, I'll come with you. Our class won't start until five o'clock."

After our last morning class, Dominique, I and four more block mates, went to the canteen. We had chicken soup for lunch. I must say, the food looked and tasted awesome! I ate two servings while our other guy companions gobbled up three each. As we rested, I noticed two letters etched at the table's side. It was so light that I wouldn't have seen it if I wasn't staring at it. It said, "EC".

"Emma?" I softly muttered to myself. For some reason, she was the first person to come in mind.

Since I first saw Emma, I decided to keep my trap shut about her. I don't think it's appropriate to let other people, bug her while she's still recovering. Unfortunately, my secret has reached Dominique's ears.

"Who's Emma?" She asked, whispering to me.

I stiffened. "Uh.. She's a… friend," I stammered.

"Friend?" Dominique prodded on, her piercing eyes boring through me.

"Yeah. You know, the girl I told you about before our last stage play practice?"

"Oh… the girl you took pity on. Let's visit her after we got our exam permits."

"We can visit her," I said more firmly. "But not now; she's still recovering at the Infirmary."

"Recovering from what?" She inquired, curiously rising.

Before I could answer, Frank came in with a broad smile. He was carrying a bulging bag pack.

"Did you bring our supply?" I asked while Frank approached.

"Yes, of course, he replied, opening the bag pack. It contained our materials and aids for our report at five o'clock. Frank also brought food and drinks, just in case we'll be waiting in line for a very long time.

"Let's go then," I told my companions. Dominique led the way, throwing glances at me as we walked to the Cashiers. I'm sure she's waiting for a chance to ask me again.

Our expectations proved to be true. There were already a lot of people in line. Since it was payroll day yesterday, most of the students have cash in their hands.

It took us about two hours to complete the process and finally, we got hold of our permits. I quickly told my block mates that I have to go somewhere and walked towards the Infirmary. After a few meters, Dominique caught up with me.

"Come on," she said. "Let me come with you."

"Maybe next time," I replied. "I'll ask for her permission first, okay?

With that, she returned to the others while I continued my walk. I found Emma at the Infirmary garden, humming to a familiar tune. It was a lullaby, I think.

"So, where'd you come from this time?" she queried after I settled down to a bench at her right.

With accent and emotion, I answered. "I emanate from the grounds of snail-moving people and busy-as-bees personnel."

"Whoa! That's deep!" Emma exclaimed. "Spare me the poetry."

"Sorry," I said. I'm just tired, having to stand in the line for a long time and all that."

"Yeah," I understand," she shrugged. "You know, I sort of miss the times when I'd line up for the permits," Emma stroked her wheelchair's armrest. "The slowness, the heat, the sun. We always bring food and drinks. I think our neighbors salivate whom they hear the crunch of our chips."

"Hey, we do that too!" I exclaimed. To that, Emma made a comprehending face. Realizing what she thought, I quickly added. "What I mean was, er, the foods and drinks."

"Of course," she said. "Or do you mean the salivating part?"

"Whoa! Foul!" I said in mock anger.

"Alright," Emma replied with a smirk. A pause, then we laughed. Ah…the sound of her laughter. It's enchanting. Her glaze then fell to my neck. "Nice necklace," she commented.

I unclasped the necklace in response. It was a plain silver necklace, made-up of small flat chains. "Oh this?" I asked expectation.

My mouth twitched. "I really don't remember," I admitted.

"My parents handed me that necklace while recovering from an accident. Their faces resembled that of your face right now."

"Oh…,"she remarked, closing her eyes. Her eyes remained close for a few second.

"Is there a problem?" I asked Emma opened her eyes.

"Nothing really," she answered. "I was visualizing the necklace sparkle in the sun. I think it's beautiful."

I smiled. I once saw my necklace gleam when I passed by a window one sunny day. "I couldn't agree more," I said as she gave me back the jewelry.

While I returned the accessory to my neck, Emma queried. "Hey, have you ever wondered how much Celestine College collects from all the students?"

"I really don't know," I replied, surprised at the sudden change of topic. "But I think it would reach millions. The vault at the Accounting Office's is like a huge treasure chest, you know."

"Yeah, like a treasure chest," she agreed.