Chapter 4

-Elena-

It’s been two weeks since I had the dream. Nothing happened after that, there was no clue about what happened. Was it just a dream? Or was it a vision?

It was the only thing on my mind for the past two weeks. I now that I’m giving too much importance to a dream, but there is a part of me that it was not just that. There is something missing. And I have a feeling that I’m going to find it out soon.

And finally, today was the day we would be going for the expedition to Brazil. And I’m ready for it. It’s going to be one of the biggest projects of my life. I have to give my best in it.

I was really satisfied when Rose gave me the news of her accompanying me to Brazil. It eased me a lot knowing she would be there. After all, she is the only one capable enough to handle all the paperwork.

A smiling, young flight attendant greeted me and my team inside the airport and escorted us to our plane. It was a private jet, especially for my crew.

The stewardess led us inside the plane and I found it much smaller and more comfortable than I anticipated. I settled into my seat, gazing out at the runway through the tiny window. Rose sat beside me with her laptop typing furiously.

A tall, muscular man in a dark gray suit and sunglasses hovered nearby, watching our every move and occasionally muttering into an earpiece. It unnerved me to think we needed this level of security. Was it even needed?

All the travel arrangements were made by the company sponsoring this research. The boss spared no expenses.

She gave me a printout version of our activities for the next two days and this was what I am reading now after the plane liftoff thirty minutes ago. Everything was laid out in the printout including the name of the place we would be staying.

Everything was there except for any information about the lost city. The city is really lost now that I think. There are only urban legends that prevail this day. No one has seen it, does a city like that really exists?

We were greeted by a woman maybe in her mid-thirties with a blond ponytail stood near the entrance. She wore a white shirt tucked in a gray skirt with a gray blazer to complete her look.

She was beautiful with brown eyes and high cheekbones. She gave us a polite smile and faces me and Rose “So, this is the famous Elena Fields I have been hearing about.”

“Good morning. Thank you for helping us so much.” I gave her a smile of my own and extended my hand for an appropriate handshake.

“No. No. No. The pleasure is mine Elena,” she said while shaking my hand. “I need a lot of volunteers as much as possible. And seeing that you are the only one who can do this work. You don’t know how much your presence makes a difference.”

She awarded me a sweet smile “Now come! We must leave now for we have a long day ahead of us.”

“Her name is Ms. Blakes,” Rose whispers in my ear. “She is in charge of the project and will work under you.” I nodded my head. I forgot to ask her name with all the things going on in my head.

“Thanks, Rose. I don’t know what I would do with my life without you.” She is the one who always saves me. She smiles handing me my bag and with a nod we let Ms. Blakes guide us all to the coach.

When we neared the bus, Rose was the first one to climb up the vehicle, while I lingered in the opening for god knows why.

I felt my stomach knot upon something mysterious- although I honestly don’t know what I would say.

I was pulled out of my daze when the coach driver beeped the horn and bade me to enter the vehicle. I immediately nodded feeling slightly embarrassed for delaying our time and speedily claimed up to the three-step stairs.

I found the seat beside Rose empty, near the window, so I sat there. Rose gave me a questioning look which I just smiled assuring her of there being no problem.

But the knot in my stomach was getting heavier every passing minute. There is something I have to find out.

There is a feeling of being watched and it started as soon as our jet landed. Rose knows that I’m not comfortable but she is avoiding the topic. There is definitely something wrong.

It has been an hour or two since we got on the bus. Rose was smiling openly. Her smile reached ear to ear this time as she witnessed the untouched beauty of the mountains.

After some time, the bus came to a halt in an underdeveloped road. The driver said that we will have to go on foot from here onwards. No one complained. I most excitedly exited the bus and quickly surveyed the area.

The tribe compound where we would be spending the night was just located a short walk away from the bus. Once inside there, the tribesmen immediately welcomed our team with drums and weird dancing.

Our program kicked off after a short introduction. I was really excited with all the maps laid out in front of me. But there was something, now the knot in my stomach was too much to control. I was nervous, but what was the reason?

All the plans were ready. We have marked all the routs and were ready and our team was ready to leave first thing in the morning.

I sat alone on a wooden bench a couple of feet away from a bonfire set by my co-workers. I just finished my dinner and decided to spend my early evening in the courtyard.

Wrapping myself with a small quilt while holding a mug of chocolate milk drink was the best idea to chase away the cold wind of the night.

We were in the mountain area, so it was expected that the temperature would drop more than the usual. I wasn’t bothered by the temperature though. Just seeing the sea of stars and the mystical full moon like this was just pure awesome.

Tomorrow will be another new experience. Tomorrow we are going to the place where the ancient kingdom was situated centuries ago, and I can not wait for it.

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