The beginning of the cycle.

The next day, New York City

I could feel anxiety running all over my body as soon as I woke up

"All okay Serena, you and Tom both look very quiet these days." Mom said worried as I sat quietly on the dinning table with delicious breakfast infront on me

"Nothing like that mumma." I said and smile

"They must be stressed about academics" Dad said.

"By the way, when is the camp?" Mom asked

"Which camp" I asked in surprise

"The school camp" Tom said hurriedly

"What wrong with you Serena? All Okay?" Mom asked in concerned

"Nothing like that, I'm fine." I said with smile on my lips and terrible pain in my heart. I wish I could hug my mom and cry out loud about all the pain I was going through.

"Dad- I actually wanted to ask you something." I asked not sure whether I should ask or not

"Yes, go ahead Serena." Dad said looking at me peeping out of the newspaper.

"Dad do you think Uncle Benjamin will return?" I asked

Tom looked at me stunned, talking to me with his eyebrows,

'Telling me what the heck are you doing Seri'

Dad was quiet for long time, I broke the ice by calling him up again

"Dad"

"Yes" He replied

"You haven't answered my question" I said

"I just did, I think he will come back. Though I tell you to forget about it so that you all don't get hurt but I haven't given up on him, my brother will surely come back to me." My father said confidently

Those words broke our heart, I and Tom looked at Dad and then eachother with sympathy and suffering in our eyes

"Dad, I think we should-" as Tom was about to say something

"Let's go Tom, we are getting late. Catch you later Mom and dad." And I holded Tom and brought him out.

* After school, behind the school *

All were present over there like community meeting, everyone was fine after the Sunday yet a bit frightened including me

"So what's the next hint?" Micheal asked

"It's kinda very weird." I said

"Read it loud" Jared said looking straight into my eyes. I had texted Jared in yesterday evening that what he wanted to tell me. He told me that he will tell me after the mission. It was very suspicious but his tears left me helpless, though I wasn't sure it was crocodile tears or was he genuine, but whatever it was this mission camed first for me.

"Okay" I breathe and opened up the second hint.

"In the northwest, there lies a forest

The tree of Banyan will unfold,

The fortune of Gold, if you get it take it home but remember not all glitter is gold." I read

"What the ...." Tom said

"This is really more confusing than the last one." Shawn said

"Yeah exactly." Jason agreed

"Maria, you understanding something." I asked Maria with hope

"No" She said in dissapointment.

"Wait, let's break it word by word. It referring to the forest that lies in northwest." Aphrodite said

"But aren't there wild animals there." Jason was interrupted by Aphrodite

"Wait Jason, the banyan tree- the huge Banyan in the middle of the jungle near the lake Sars." Aphrodite said

"Yes exactly- there is a strong legend about that Banyan tree." Maria agreed

"But what about that glitter and gold?" Alan asked

"We will figure about it later there, but when to go and where to go?" Micheal said

"Yes, our parents won't send us at night." Jason said

"YES" Alan said, I looked that guy with pity eyes, he smiled at me, telling me by eyes, 'it's okay'

Jared noticed that and looked a bit of envy.

"So what to do now?" Tom Asked

"Well next week is our camp, what if we skip the first day and join on directly the second day, and on the first day we can go and find the banyan tree and later joined the school camp?" Aphrodite asked

"Brilliant idea." Micheal said

"Yeah in that way even our parents be like, we are on the camp." Shawn said

"I think it's an absolute good idea." Tom said.

"Yeah let's goooooo then." Jason shouted.

I slowly whispered in Maria ears,

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm okay but I'm not getting a good feeling about this." Maria said

"I feel like a mouse who is getting trapped in cats house."

I was shocked not knowing what to do.

"You both looked as pale as if you both saw a ghost. What happened?" Shawn asked.

"Everything's okay." I said and me and Maria started pretending as if everything was fine.

"Shawn, listen." I said

"If you are scared and all, it's okay if you direct joined the camp. I'm putting a lot of people and I....." Shawn interrupted me.

"Shhhhh are you crazy? You think I will leave you just like that. I know I'm bit of a scary ass but Serena I love you alot." He said and kept his hands on my shoulder, "platonically Ofcourse."

"Yeah I love you too." I said and I hugged Shawn

"No, I love you more." He said and hugged tighter

"More than Micheal?" I asked as I smirk at him

"Shut up Serena." He said and I busted into laughter.