The Greatest Lost Treasure

Chapter 5

     Sunlight filtered in through the car window as it exited the freeway headed in the direction of the airport. Luke yawned as the airport came into view. He hadn't gotten much sleep the night before having been worried of how well this day was to go.
The chauffeur pulled up to the curb in the departures section of the airport before hopping out and grabbing Luke's suitcase. Luke stepped out of the vehicle and looked at his parents both of which still remained inside. Of course they weren't going to get out and say goodbye to him.
"Goodbye Luke, have fun," said his mother forcefully having noticed people staring at the expensive car. There was no way she was ever going to look bad in public.
His father didn't even look up from his phone as he continued to type his email. This was so typical of his parents and many years ago he stopped even caring what they thought, he just couldn't wait to get away.
The chauffeur grabbed the duffle that let out a yelp as it was moved. Luke had managed to conceal his cat in the bag from his parents knowing that Stitch would be better with him in a foreign country then left roaming the neighborhoods wondering what happened to him.
"I took the liberty of placing some cat food in one of the side pockets for you," said the chauffeur as he handed Luke the duffle.
"Thank you Geoffrey, that really means a lot. I'm going to really miss you," replied Luke. Geoffrey and the rest of the staff had been Luke's friends and family when his own didn't even want him around.
"And I you sir. Please be careful."
"I will."
With that final goodbye said, Luke grabbed his suitcase's handle and headed inside.
The Heathrow Airport was abuzz with people of all different races and ages rushing about in a frantic manner as they tried to make their way to the ticket counters. Luke was going to be one of these people as well except he needed to make a quick stop to the restroom to change his appearance.
     When he returned he was wearing a blue hoodie to hide his clothes underneath and wearing a white baseball cap with fake black hair jutting out the sides. Even he wouldn't recognize himself standing in front of a mirror which would mean no one else would either.
He approached the ticket counter with butterflies in his stomach where a woman in her early thirties greeted him with a smile. "Good morning. What can I do for you?"
     "I would like to buy a one-way ticket to Madrid, Spain," he replied with a shaky voice.
     "Let me take a look here," the woman stated as she typed into her computer. It only took a minute before she found what he was looking for. "There's a flight that leaves here in about two hours. Will that work?"
     "That sounds great."
     "Perfect. Now what type of seat would you like?"
     "Coach will be fine."
     "Alright," she answered as she began typing again. "Any luggage?"
     "Yes. One suitcase and a cat carrier."
     "Is the cat in the carrier?"
     "Yes."
     "Since there is an animal traveling with you that will be an additional fee."
     "No problem."
     "Okay, all I need to do is have you place your suitcase and cat carrier on the scale so I can check their weight."
     Luke did what he was instructed and placed each item individually on the large metal scale. He watched as Stitch gave him the look of death as if to say, you are seriously putting me on a plane without you?
     After taking his luggage, the woman spoke again. "The total ticket price comes out to one hundred and sixteen euros. I just need your passport and your method of payment."
     Luke swallowed hard as he reached into his pocket to grab his wallet and passport. What if she figured out he was using a fake passport or that he was wearing a disguise? All these thoughts ran through his mind as he handed her the cash and his passport.
     She looked at the picture in the passport then at him. Luke began to sweat. He did not want to go to this far away boarding school and lose out on this adventure of a life time.
After what felt like an eternity, the woman closed his passport and said, "Looks like everything is in order." She then inserted his cash into her register and withdrew his change before handing it and his passport back. Next a receipt printed which she gave Luke as she said, "Here is your receipt and have a good trip."
     "Thank you," Luke replied quickly happy to be done with the whole ordeal.
     With the ticket bought and his luggage taken care of, all he needed to do was get through security, dispose of his phone so his parents couldn't track him, and wait for his plane to take off.
     Security was the next item on Luke's mental to-do list. He approached the line apprehensively. This was the last actual challenge he would have before he was safely off for Spain.
     Luke emptied his pockets of all electronics which included his phone and AirPods. Then he set his brown, leather messenger bag he used for traveling on the conveyor belt before taking his shoes off. Now that he was stripped of anything metal he stepped through the metal detector. When no alarm rang, he released a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding.
     With security passed and his possessions collected Luke was ready to make one last stop before boarding the plane which involved disposing of his phone. He knew his parents tracked him on the phone and they would definitely check there first when he went missing, so his only option to lead them down the wrong path would be to hide it somewhere.
Luke pulled out the his original ticket that he received the night before from his father. The choice was still his, he could change his mind and still go to the Swedish school, but he would feel guilty the rest of his life if he didn't chase after this opportunity. Pushing his doubts aside, he looked at the gate that was listed on the paper and headed in that direction.
     As he approached the gate he looked for an individual that had a purse or bag with an open zipper that he could slip his phone into without getting caught. Then he saw a guy with his girlfriend who were arguing. Perfect, Luke thought to himself as he approached the open backpack. Making sure his phone was turned off, he walked by the bag and dropped it in without stopping. Since no one called after him he knew he was in the clear.
     With his final task completed, Luke finally felt a weight lifted off his shoulders as he made his way through the airport in search of a cell phone store.
He found one that was decently priced and payed for it in cash before heading to his departure gate. Luke was ready to take off, so after waiting a short while in a rather uncomfortable chair, he was relieved to hear the plane was boarding.
He sat down at his assigned seat, thankfully he got a window seat and as the plane took off higher and higher into the clouds he found himself leaving more of his fears behind. Luke was ready to take on the daunting task left to him by his grandmother and travel the globe for as long as it took.