Treasure in the School (Part 1)
Sunday morning arrives. Mason thinks about the field trip that he had yesterday. However, upon thinking back, something bothered Mason but he can’t put his finger on it.
After getting out of bed and getting dressed, he heads into the shared dorm room. Cole is the only person there.
“Hey, Cole.”
Cole doesn't respond to Mason. He seems to be deep in thought.
“Cole, are you feeling ok?”
Cole looks at Mason in surprise.
“Huh? Oh, hey.”
Mason wonders what's wrong.
“What’s on your mind?”
Cole looks over at Mason with a confident look.
“Can you keep a secret?”
Before Mason could respond, Cole begins to elaborate.
“I might have found a way for us to get a lot of respect, fame and wealth.”
Mason appears confused. Cole thinks back to yesterday.
“Yesterday, after you disappeared, some of the students were speaking about something. About how there’s a treasure hidden somewhere in the school.”
Mason begins to think that this is a bit far fetched.
“How would our classmates know about that?”
Cole smirks.
“They found out about it from a third year student.”
Mason continues to wonder if Cole is correct, as he thinks back upon the strange architecture of the school. Cole speaks as if he is reading Mason’s mind.
“You’ve noticed it too, haven’t you? That some parts of the school are much older than others.”
Mason is startled as Cole now knows he has Mason’s attention.
“My theory is that the treasure must be hidden somewhere in the old part of the school but we need further proof. What do you say, do you want to try to find it together?”
Mason nods.
“Let's do it.”
Cole explains the next part of the plan. Mason recollects it as they begin.
“The best course of action is to split up. I want you to try investigating the old parts of the school, I'll try to find out what I can from the teachers.”
Mason heads to the oldest wing of the school and begins to investigate, as he looks around the structure, he can tell that it has been standing for a very long time. He begins to look for anything particular with the structure that could give him a clue.
“It seems to be hopeless. There isn’t anything unusual about the structure.”
As Mason continues to look around, an energetic female voice speaks from behind him.
“Ooooh, what’s going on here?”
Mason gets startled and surprised. He looks at the source of the voice to see Kiyoko Chiba.
“Kiyoko, what are you doing here?”
Kiyoko seems surprised.
“I’m more interested in what you’re doing here. Seems like something secret. I want in.”
Mason thinks for a moment.
“If I tell you, you have to keep it a secret, ok?”
Kiyoko smiles and holds out her pinky. Mason looks at it in confusion.
“What? You never heard of a pinky promise? Look, it’s simple. You just grab my pinky with yours, like this.”
Kiyoko then makes a pinky promise with Mason.
“I promise.”
Mason explains.
“Me and Cole Barrows. We’re looking for a treasure that might be hidden in the old wing of the school.”
Kiyoko thinks for a moment.
“Oh yeah, I remember students talking about a supposed treasure when we had the expedition. I suppose it makes sense that it would be hidden in the old wing.”
Mason still seems puzzled.
“But I can’t figure out anything. There doesn't seem to be anything strange about the structure.”
Kiyoko looks around.
“I can’t see anything odd either.”
Mason decides on the next course of action.
“Let’s regroup and see if Cole has learned anything.”
In a different part of the school, Cole Barrows stands outside of the door to the empty classroom that Hamlin Haemish is sitting in.
‘If anyone knows anything about the treasure, it would be him.’
Cole waits patiently outside of Hamlins office as he prepares what he will say to the professor and how he will lure him into speaking freely. .
“Do you need something, Mr.Barrows?”
Cole is in immediate shock.
‘What, how’d he spot me when I'm not even in view?’
Cole begrudgingly walks into the classroom.
“I was just wondering, professor. You’ve been teaching here for some time, right? Did you ever notice anything strange about this school?”
Hamlin stands up from his seat as he thinks back.
“Well, the school does have a rich history. But unfortunately, I haven't been around long enough to bear witness to any of it.”
Hamlin looks down at the pile of assessments on his desk.
“Now Mr.Barrows, if you excuse me, I have to have these marked by the morning.”
Hamlin escorts Cole out of the classroom, where they notice Mason and Kiyoko walking towards them. Cole questions Kiyoko’s presence.
“I assume Kiyoko knows about what we’re doing?”
Mason looks a little nervous but Kiyoko seems confident.
“That’s right.”
Cole wonders about their progress.
“How’d it go?”
They don't seem confident.
“Well…um…”
Cole looks defeated as Hamlin begins to walk back into the classroom.
“We’ll never find the treasure hidden in the school”
Hamlins overhears their conversation and finds it amusing. He turns back to face them all.
“A treasure? Why not look somewhere older than this building?”
Hamlin then closes the door and locks it from the inside. Cole begins the next step.
“Then, let’s all go to the old wing together this time and see if we can find something with all our brains put together.”
Meanwhile, Mason is focused on Hamlins remarks.
‘Somewhere older than the building… the forest! The forest outside the school building! Maybe there's a clue there!’
Mason begins to head in the other direction.
“I just had a thought. You both check out the old wing and I'm going to look for clues somewhere else. I’ve got a good idea that might help us, so give me a moment.”
Cole sighs.
“Splitting the treasure three ways is bad enough, I hope he’s not going to get more people.”
Kiyoko looks at him angrily.
“Joking, joking.”
