Chapter 2: The Secret of the Beehive

Mia's eyes fell on the rows of white boxes, each one alive. A sense of pride and duty came over her that the beehive was still alive. Her father always said that bees are like mirrors, reflecting the health of the land and the people who care for them. When Mia starts examining the beehives, she notices that some of the boxes are newer than others and have slightly different patterns. She thought her father had changed before he died. She made a mental note to ask Jack, the caretaker, about this later. The sun was shining on her as she worked, and the air was filled with the scent of honey and beeswax. Just as the bees greeted her, Mia had a good sense of cleaning it. She always loved helping her father with the harvest, taking honey from the hives and putting it in family notes. While Mia was working, she noticed a strange mark moving towards the side of the new hive. It looked like a cross with two heads facing her on either side. She felt a cold wind run down her spine, as if something was watching her. Mia took a deep breath and tried to get rid of this thought. She had always felt the power of the beehive and knew that her father believed in the spiritual power of bees. Perhaps this symbol is some kind of protection or blessing for the hive. As Mia continues examining the bees, she notices that many of the new boxes have these markings on them. She wondered if her father had started a new rite or ritual before he died. After the inspection, Mia returned to the farmhouse with questions. She saw Jack the beekeeper drinking tea in the kitchen. "Hello, Jack," Mia said, sitting down next to him. "I noticed some new hives there with strange markings moving sideways. Do you know what that means?" Jack's face got very big and he put it in the glass. "Oh, you mean the horned cross," he said in a low voice. "Your father started using this symbol a few months before he died. He said it was a protection to protect the bees and the beehive from harm." "Help with what?" Jack refused and looked around the room as if he was afraid to hear it. "I don't know, Mia. Your father has always been a little secretive, but I think he was worried about something. He started acting strangely, talking about bees in danger and the destruction of beehives. Besides, Mia was preoccupied with so many things." Possibilities. What else could her father be worried about? What does the horned cross have to do with it? When she approached Jack for more information, he revealed that he had received strange letters and phone calls in the months before her father's death. It becomes more and more stressful and isolating, and Jack senses something is wrong. Mia's heart pounds as she realizes that her father's death may not have been an accident. A decision formed in her mind and she decided to investigate further. Over the next few days, Mia goes through her father's files and documents, looking for clues. She finds a mysterious document that mentions the Horned Cross and a mysterious organization called the Hive Order. She also found a hidden key that opened a small safe in the ceiling. Mia found a pile of papers and a small hard-bound book in the safe. The letters her father wrote to her reveal the terrible truth. Her father was a member of the Beehive Knights, a secret society dedicated to protecting bees and beehives from those who wish to harm them. When Mia read these letters, she knew that her father's death was just the tip of the iceberg. A greater unity is happening and she is now a part of it.