Tommy picked up the device and closed it, placing it in his blue backpack. The two were about to get up and press on, when Larry, who was still on the ground, interjected something.

“Wait, hold up!”

“We won't leave you behind if you were wondering,” Amy brought up coldly.

“That’s not what I was going to say...”

“What’s wrong, Larry?”

“Don’t misunderstand, they’re not as bad as you think...”

“Who’s ‘they’?” Amy inquired.

“Um, I think he’s talking about those Mileti tribes,” Tommy whispered, using air quotes.

“The others are brainwashed and crazy.” Larry continued. “She forced us to work under her... um, what was her name again?”

“I get the part about brainwashed and crazy.” Tommy mentioned, “But how do we know you’re not lying about—?”

“Hold up.” Amy interrupted. “I just realized something. Since we don’t have a legit lead-in where the real place could be still...” She glanced over at Larry with a big grin.

“Oh no,” Larry replied and shook his head. “I already told you, I don’t know where it is!”

“You may not, but I know someone who does.” She said, moving the walkie-talkie closer to his head.

“You do?” It took a while for him to process what she meant by that. “Oh...”

“Go on.” Amy turned on the device and pressed the button as Larry leaned closer to the mic.

He sighed and went on with the plan, not wanting to anger her any further. “This is Larry speaking, do you hear me?”

“Lieutenant Larry, where are you?” The voice irked from the other side of the device.

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

“Um, I’m lost, again...”

“What? Are you serious?”

“Could you tell me the closest route?

“All right, fine. It’s near the gray cave.”

“How am I supposed to know where that is?”

“Besides the spooky-looking tree?”

“I don’t think that helps...”

“Where are you, at the ruined ruins?”

“Yes.”

“Start by going right.”

“Ok, thanks.”

After Amy had turned the walkie-talkie off, she and Tommy pondered what they should do now. Was he telling the truth? Should they follow what he said?

“Doesn’t that sound odd?” Tommy asked.

Amy merely shrugged. “What do we have to lose? And besides, if this ends up being a trap...”

Larry blinked, confused. “But aren’t you the ones who—?”

“Come on; we don’t have all day here!” Amy retorted.

“All right, all right!”

.-.-.-.

Maggie and Ruth slumped beside the walls, still stuck in the bottoms of the foggy pit. Neither of them were sure of what to do at the moment. Maggie’s head hung low while Ruth sighed heavily.

“This sucks,” Ruth muttered, slumping against the walls. “If only there were a way to get out of this place...” He looked over as Maggie got her back off the wall and walked away. “Hey, where are you going?”

“I’m not giving up just yet...” Maggie murmured. “I’m going to see if there’s a shortcut or secret passage around here somewhere.”

Ruth didn’t know how she could manage, considering how much fog was in this place.

Maggie declared that she’ll trudge along and hug the edges of the walls.

Maggie could tell that the fog wasn’t too thick and apparent in particular areas. She then noticed a bright light appear from the corner of her eyes. She walked over to the edge, to the other side of the wall. There, she found someone standing in front of her with a lantern lamp in hand.

The person noticed her and widened his eyes. “Magpie, you got stuck here too?”

Maggie gasped and covered her mouth when she realized who that was. “...Dad? Is that you?” She ran over to him, getting misty-eyed. “How did you—?”

“Listen, I'll only say this once... They framed me. I tried to stop them from using the experiment for evil, but they stopped me and locked me away so I wouldn’t be able to get in their way.”

“I... I knew it! Those people are terrible guys! Not only that, but you’re alive and alright!”

“Yeah, but are you?”

“Of course, I just can’t believe—”

“Hey, wait up!” Ruth yelled out as he rushed over to where Maggie was.

“Oh, hey,” Maggie said. “Look, you’ll never guess who I came across...”

“Um, who were you talking to? I don’t see anyone there...” Ruth said, tilting his head.

“What are you clarifying? Oh, that’s right, you’ve never met him before, have you?” Maggie turned around and moved her hand to greet him. “Say hello to my dad, he’s right over—” She opened her eyes and found her father nowhere in sight.

“Where did you say he was again?” Ruth asked.

Maggie just stood there, speechless and shocked. She fell to her knees and tried to hold back the tears from coming down her face.

“No way... it can’t be!” She buried her face and sobbed into her hands.

Ruth walked over and gave her a supportive and reassuring hug.