The Cursed Island (✓)

Chapter 10

! W ! Use of strong language and graphic depictions of explicit scenes and blood.

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-Izzy's POV-

Fresh blood dripped from the words written on the paper onto the bald, mutilated head of Lydia's, deforming the clue with every passing second. Blonde strands were peeking through the pieces as if it was a part of the decoration. The urge to puke was strong as a shiver ran down Izzy's spine, but there wasn't anything left in her system that could come out.

"Now, what were you saying, Will?" Tessa's tone was mockingly cold as she bore the deadly gaze on her husband, who cleared his throat, looking everywhere but at that chest.

"Okay, my bad. I just want to get out of here, and you know that, Tess."

"We all do, William." Magnus said, "But we need to think things through instead of making rash decisions. I'm sure you don't want to die."

"You're right, I'm sorry Tess."

"Forgiven," Tessa said, voice still cold and flat. "But we need to figure out this clue before it completely drips off. What in the world is that language, though?"

"It's a cipher code," Alec said, "and I think it says - it's the treasure of your escape."

"This is the treasure of our escape," Jace raised his brow, "how?"

"Do we have any other clues?" Catarina asked.

"From what we gathered," Simon said, "we have - it lies deep inside the ground, hidden in plain sight. Now- find one, you find both, and, it's the treasure of your escape. Woah, wait, this makes it a complete sentence." His eyes widened, and he wandered his gaze at every person present there.

"It lies deep inside the ground, hidden in plain sight. Find one, you find both. It's the treasure of your escape." Jem repeated, "So that treasure is buried somewhere on this island?"

"But then the following sentences don't make sense, Jem." Will said, slightly shaking his head, "it says find one, you find both. If that supposedly mysterious chest is buried somewhere, what else are we supposed to find? A ghost?"

"Hidden basement!" Simon and Izzy exclaimed in unison, then exchanged looks and gazed at others.

"You're becoming like Simon, Izzy," Jace stated, making her tilt her head sideways and glare at her idiotic brother.

"And?"

Jace cleared his throat, "Sorry. But why do you think it's a hidden basement?"

"Jace, remember that psycho said we need to bring that chest into a hidden basement in that mansion? What if it's not a clue for the treasure but rather for that basement?" Izzy's heart was pounding as she put forward her theory, hoping that it was right and wouldn't backfire, because if it would, she'll never forgive herself.

"I was thinking the same thing," Simon said, and Izzy's gaze turned towards her boyfriend when he gently intertwined their fingers, giving it a light squeeze. "The clue says- it lies deep inside the ground, hidden in plain sight. Basements are constructed underground, right? And we need to search for it anyway after finding that stupid chest.

So what if that treasure thing is kept in that basement? 'Find one, you find both'. Basements can be both small and large as per requirement, so it is possible that we'll find the chest and that psycho in one place, and that psychopath is just confusing us. Enjoying our misery."

"So we needed to find that basement all along?" Will's tone was filled with amusement, "that bastard was just confusing us. Is there even 2000 levels in this game!?"