WHY ARE WE ALIVE?

The five sat at their usual table lost in thought. Nancy picked up her phone to at least clear her mind of what was bothering her. The others were confused and worried at the same time. Zander walked inside the café searching for where they might be at. After noticing them, she walked over and sat beside Nancy. She looked at them and sensed sadness. They weren't even aware she was there. She knew that she only started talking to them inside the cave. But what happened inside the cave bonded them together as she can't just leave without talking it out first or pretending it never happened. It's been two days and no one has said anything about what happened and Zander was clearly tired of sitting with them in silence. She buried her head under her arms waiting for someone to speak.

Benjamin knocked on the table after a few moments and got no attention. He decided to try again as he remembered a psychological trick that states when there is an unwanted silence in a room knock on something at least three times to get their attention, although it may seem annoying, but it'll work. He tried again and this time he got their attention without anyone glaring at him.

"Come on guys, now is not the time to be sulking." He stated looking at all of them as he dragged each sentence.

"We almost died" Nancy returned emphasizing on the "we" as she continued with her phone.

"But we are alive, aren't we?" he questioned knowing that if he didn't say anything, the silence will overshadow the room again after all he had finally caught somebody attention.

"Are we? We saw us die and then on our bed in camp?" she dropped her phone devastated that he was trying to sound cool about this.

"You want to keep sulking?" Braun butted in siding his brother

"So? Let's talk about it." Nicolette added. Everybody head were raised, seeming interested in the banter going on between Nancy and Benjamin. A conversation was about to take place finally.

The game, showdown of stares commenced. Everybody waiting for someone to speak first. Prince looked at each of them expression and noticed Braun hesitating to say something "why don't you start Braun?" Prince finally spoke. Surprised at the sound of his name, he adjusted his sitting position. All eyes were on him including Zander. He was obviously not expecting to see her here.

"We were running and then…" he pointed at Nancy who was sitting across him. "…I saw you get chewed up" he maintained a neutral expression trying not to breakdown. They looked at each other. It was now clear that each remembered a specific part of what happened in the cave.

"I remember when we were running. Zander and I waited for Nicolette who ran back to…" he tries to recall what she was doing. "What were you doing?" all eyes now focused on Nicolette as she too had no idea of what she was doing. "Well, I…" she stammers.

"She was taking this" Zander pulls out the cross and slams it on the table. Their eyes widening as their memories became clearer. Braun pointed at the cross waiting for a word to escape from his mouth. But nothing was there.

"The coin" Prince stated beating him to it.

"Yeah, the coin. The black coin transformed into a cross" Braun finally blurted out

"But we left it in there, right?" Nancy asked still unmoved by what was happening.

"of course. It all makes sense now" he got up moving round the table as he put all the pieces together. "The monster, the cross, the cave. The monster was in the cave to protect the cross. Guys this cross is an adventure, a mystery"

"A problem" Zander added.

"What?" Nicolette asked flustered

"What Zander is trying to say is the cross is a mystery that could get us in trouble" Nancy responded

"Then why'd you take it?" Prince asked Zander as he took is seat

"I didn't. it came back with me" Zander answered looking at Benjamin hoping he would help validate her answer

"She was the last person holding the cross before we blacked out" Benjamin noticed the gesture and helped her add. The silence overshadowed the room again. Everybody was deep in thoughts trying to figure out the missing puzzle.

"But none of this answer our question. Why are we alive?"