The return home

sper in the Attic. Here's the next ~1000-wo

: A Whisper

azily in the mango trees, and the rooster crowed with pride. But Lina couldn't shake the feeling t

ith the journal tucked under her arm. Sammy had begged her to com

opened to the first page again. The handwriting was precise, the i

ledge, sacrifice, and legacy. I fear what

ee with twisted roots. Another showed a compass with strange letters replacing the direct

ot a metal one, but a key-shaped root, with bark and leaves

touch memory, th

ned. Roo

h, the phrase, the map-like compass-it all point

the faint sound of footsteps. L

d the door just

something!" he said with a gr

sed the journal.

reasure, isn't it? I heard Bibi say the wor

sed, pulling him inside and shut

er. "Did Grandpa

ft clues. And I think he wanted someone i

t up. "Like a s

act

d. "Can

ve, and far too excited. But then aga

promise-no telling anyon

y, placing his hand over h

mile. "You've ne

l cou

she hadn't noticed before-like a faint watermark behind one of

?" he asked. "Like the sy

ah... and Grandp

rred the curtains. But

y both h

his

Not clear.

na.

y f

her arm. "Did

standing. "It cam

door at the end stood slightly op

at

d with dust and cedar. The light had changed-sof

stepp

d since last nig

ow stood a small wooden box that hadn't been there b

last night?" S

N

and slowl

ot the wooden root key from the drawing, but a sma

ed. "Do you think it

ly lifting it. "Or maybe i

it, someth

m the attic, but from within

mething-her gra

ound in gold. Some is

grew sti

"We need to find out

wide-eyed.

e said.

ng chair, Lina and Sammy packed flashlights, the journal, and the key into a bac

ree stood-massive, ancient, its roots gnarled like fingers diggin

ba

hold secrets. As they approac

eath a curtain of roo

nd leaves, revealing a small iron

out the b

sli

rn

ic

revealing a dark tunnel

hanged a

dy?" Lin

s flashlight like a sword.

they stepped i

Chapt

tinue with Chapter Th