Chapter 5

The car ride to the airport was rather fast.

I was meeting at the airport the whole team, feeling excited about this new adventure that is to start.

Michael was not too thrilled about it, but I didn’t let it get to me and spoil my enthusiasm.

The car stopped as we arrived at the airport, getting out of the car as we gathered our things from the trunk.

Michael and I walked inside and searched around for a group of members that we meet not long ago and selected to join us on this expedition.

Finally, seeing them all, waiting patiently for us to arrive, Sir Thomas spotted us and waved us over as we started to approach them.

“Wonderful, you are here.” Sir Thomas said as he took my hand and shook it in greeting making me smile at his enthusiasm.

"It is good to see you again, Sir Thomas," I said to the older man.

"As you can see, the team is readily filled with excitement and enthusiasm." Sir Thomas said as the team of different field explorers answered with wide smiles as they listened to him speak.

"We would like to thank you again for giving us all this amazing chance to come with you and learn from the best in this field." A younger man named Noel said making others agree with his words.

I nodded my head as I turned towards Sir Thomas and asked, “Is everything ready and waiting for us as I requested?”

"Of course dear boy, and if anything else you will need do not hesitate to say to me." He said as we shook our hands and Michael, the team and I, walked away to get on board our plane that was already waiting for us to board on.

I saw my father next to Sir Thomas, as they both waved to us while the plane started to take off.

Michael as always was nervous when this part comes, so I turned towards him and tried to occupy his mind so he doesn’t think about what was happening.

When we were up in the air, he relaxed and was fast asleep, while I looked through the window, thinking about the expedition that will soon begin.

The historical facts and clues that during the time that was home I managed to find, I went through them all inside my head, sorting them chronologically not wanting to miss anything out.

I took out my laptop as I started to continue on with my research while everyone around me was asleep, but that suited me well as I could focus in peace without any interruptions.

The flight went smoothly with no problems and soon enough we started landing down in Mexico.

“Wake up.” I nudged at Michael as he woke up startled a bit.

He was looking around when he noticed we landed and relaxed in his seat as he looked back at me, “We landed?”

“Yes. Now let’s go.” I told him as I unbuckled my seatbelt and started to gather the bags that were placed in the compartment above our seats.

I gave him his backpack and soon enough we were walking off the plane.

As we all entered the airport and got our bags, we walked outside to search for the driver that was arranged to pick us all up.

“Mr. Black?” A man called my name as I walked towards him, followed closely by Michael and the team.

"Yes, that is me," I said to him as he smiled and looked behind me to the rest of the group.

"Sir Thomas informed me of your arrival and I am to pick you all up and drive you to the campground. My name is Paul and I will be escorting you." He said as we shook hands after the introduction.

"Let's place all your bags in the car and if you all are ready we can leave?" Paul asked us as he helped with loading our bags and soon enough we were again on the road to the campgrounds where we will be staying for the time being.

The drive was smooth, as I looked through the window into the passing landscape, closing my eyes a moment later, relaxing in my seat as I drifted off as we continued our journey.

As the car stopped, I opened my eyes to see that we have arrived.

Getting out of the car, I noticed that the tents were being put up and the equipment has been delivered as promised.

"Feel free to choose any tent you would like and while you are all settling down I will start to prepare some food as I am guessing you all must be feeling starved," Paul said as we all thanked him and walked towards the tents, each choosing their own and starting to unpack and change our clothes.

Settling in the tent went fast as I am used to this kind of doing from all the travels I have been gone through the years.

I walked outside the tent and could see some of the team members and Michael already sitting near the fire pit with their plates in hands as they happily chatted with Paul and enjoying their meals.

I grabbed a plate, filling it up with food as I took a seat next to Michael and started to eat.

"It is hot and I hate the mosquitoes," Michael grumbled as he complained next to me, making me laugh at his words.

"You should have been already used to it by now," I told him, as I took a spoon full of food and put it in my mouth.

He rolled his eyes at me, hearing my words, "We could have stayed home for a while longer, the tombs won't grow legs and leave you to know?"

I laughed at that, “O come on, I know you are excited about this as much as I am so stop complaining and enjoy this time.”

Snorting he kept on eating silently while I chatted with everyone as we went through the plans and historical facts that we all knew about the famous Royal family that we were on a quest to find.

As the night has fallen, everyone retreated to their tents to have rest as the next day we are going to the Maya’s temple to find what we needed.

***

The morning came and here we are, walking through the jungle, cutting wild leaves that got in our way as we made our way towards the Maya’s temple.

I was on the front, leading the group as I used my machete to cut through the jungles path.

Now and there I could hear Michael cursing under his breath as he would slap all down on his exposed skin, cursing at mosquitoes as they would try to bite him.

Shaking my head, I smiled at my best friend. He might look silly yet he was valuable to me in every expedition we would go together.

The sounds of the wildlife could be heard all around us, as nearby animals would run away as we would approach nearby them.

A while later, as we all were sweaty and tired, we came by a huge totem that was covered in Ivy.

Approaching it, I took a swing with my machete, cutting off a few of the leaves to uncover the totem of the ancient Maya.

“We are close.” I said to the group as I looked around and pointed at the direction, “We have to go that way.”

Following the path I pointed out, we finally a while later came in front of a huge stone temple, the temple of Maya.

Slowly approaching the entrance, sticking all together as they all took the same steps that I made, entering inside the temple behind me, we found statues inside with drawings on the walls, point in an ancient language, directions of the rooms.

Walking towards the signs, I started to read them as I found the one we needed. Following the path that was pointed out, we reached inside the room that was large with a huge stone throne standing on top of the stair further in the room.

Coming closer towards the throne, I instructed my team to wait until I inspect everything.

I saw a few traps that were hidden in a few stones that were set on the floor. Successfully avoiding them, I found myself standing near the throne as I noticed it had the same ancient words written on the back of the throne.

Inspecting with my hand the stone and its cracks, I found a gap that I was looking for as I moved my fingers inside and could feel like a small mechanism that I pressed hard onto making a loud clicking sound.

Standing next to the throne, on the left side sounded a loud noise as a huge statue slightly moved aside from its place.

Michael looked excitedly at me as I gave him a sign to follow me and we both walked towards that statue.

With his help, we managed to fully open it and revealing a hidden emerald, laying down on a handle as writing was under it saying, "Those who seek, they will find."

Michael was about to grab the emerald but I have managed to stop him on time.

"Don't," I said to him as he looked at me, and I pointed at him above us to show him another hidden trap.

"We have to act fast and replace it with something otherwise the trap will activate and who knows how many others can activate with it," I said as he nodded his head.

Searching around, trying to find something that would be the same as the emerald, I found a smaller rock that was light as the emerald or so I hoped.

Returning back towards the emerald, I prepared to replace the two items fast as I held my breath, looking over to Michael, asking him silently if he was ready as he nodded his head.

Moving fast, I grabbed the emerald replacing it fast with the rock, standing there listening around to see if we failed or we succeeded.