Chapter 11: A Path to Peru

The early morning sun peeked over the rooftops as Bucky leaned against the terrace railing, taking in the crisp air. He felt a strange mix of excitement and anxiety. His mind was churning with questions about the mysterious figure from his dreams, the dark fog, and the secrets that seemed just out of reach. He gazed up at the pale blue sky, muttering to himself, “What does this all mean? Who’s that figure I keep seeing… and what’s in that book?”

Meanwhile, back inside the apartment, Richard woke up and stretched, expecting to hear the usual sounds of Bucky clattering around. But the silence put him on edge.

“Bucky?” he called, glancing around the room. No answer.

He stood there for a moment, starting to worry. “Alright, where’d this madman disappear to now?” He scanned the room, spotting Bucky’s phone on the charger. “Great, can’t even call him,” Richard muttered, his voice tinged with frustration.

He went into the hallway, calling louder, “Bucky! Dude! Where are you?”

Still no answer.

Richard’s irritation grew as he moved from room to room, finally reaching the terrace. There, leaning against the railing and lost in thought, was Bucky.

Richard couldn’t resist. He sneaked up behind him, then kicked Bucky lightly in the rear. “Hey, space cadet! Where did you vanish to?”

Bucky spun around, startled. “Whoa! You scared me, Rich!”

Richard smirked. “You’re the one disappearing without a word. I thought you’d finally lost it. What’s going on?”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Bucky laughed, shaking his head. “Just… a lot on my mind. But I’ll explain later. Let’s get going.”

Once at the office, Bucky threw himself into his work. It was the perfect distraction. By mid-morning, he was so engrossed in a new project that he didn’t notice his manager standing behind him until he cleared his throat.

“Bucky,” his manager said, an unusual smile on his face, “I have good news. Because of your excellent performance on your last project, the company is sending you on a tour trip… to Peru!”

Bucky’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Peru? You’re serious?”

The manager chuckled, nodding. “Very serious. And there’s more—you get a second ticket for someone special. Call it a reward for your hard work.”

A smile spread across Bucky’s face. “Thank you, sir! This is… incredible!”

The first person he thought of was Stacey. He grabbed his phone, dialing her number.

“Hey, babe,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady. “Guess what? I’ve got a surprise for you. But I’ll tell you when we meet.” Then he hung up, a satisfied grin on his face.

Meanwhile, at his own office, Richard was deep into researching the mysterious book Bucky had been asking about. He’d managed to uncover some tantalizing information: the origins of the clan described in the book traced back to ancient Peru. He scribbled down notes and mentally planned to share the details with Bucky as soon as they met up.

That evening, back in their apartment, Bucky burst through the door, practically glowing with excitement. “Richie, I’ve got amazing news! I’m taking a trip to Peru… with Stacey! How awesome is that?”

Richard’s face broke into a grin. “Whoa, dude, that’s fantastic!” He held up a finger, “But wait, there’s more. I’ve been looking into that book you were asking about.”

“Yeah?” Bucky leaned in, suddenly curious. “What did you find?”

“The book you’re so interested in? It’s connected to an ancient Peruvian clan. That fog, the dark energy—it all seems linked to some ancient cult dedicated to a demon god. Isn’t that wild?”

Bucky’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding. Richie, this is… it’s almost like fate.”

Richard clapped him on the shoulder. “Hey, you know what this means, right? I’m coming with you. I’ll help you track down more about this cult. I mean, who better to help dig into some ancient mystery than me?”

Bucky nodded, his grin widening. “Alright, Richie, let’s do it. We’re heading to Peru. Get your passport ready, buddy. It’s going to be one hell of a trip.”

Richard whooped, punching the air. “Yes! Adventure time!”

The next morning, they arrived at the airport, where Stacey was waiting with a beaming smile. She hugged Bucky as he explained the plan and introduced Richard.

“Stacey, meet Richard, my unofficial partner in adventure.”

Stacey laughed, shaking Richard’s hand. “I’ve heard so much about you. Can’t wait to see what kind of trouble you two get into.”

Richard grinned, winking at her. “Trust me, you’ll love it. Bucky here is a magnet for weirdness.”

Together, they boarded the plane, filled with a mix of excitement and anticipation. As they settled in for the flight, Bucky found himself staring out the window, thinking back to the strange events that had led him to this point. He couldn’t

help but feel that Peru held answers answers he was more than ready to uncover.