The abandoned gem : When it all begin.

CHAPTER 3

Tim flipped through the dusty pages of the journal, hoping to find some clue about the vision he had. But the journal was mostly filled with boring notes and sketches, nothing that explained the door or the crystal. Tim was about to give up when he reached the last page. There, in his dad's handwriting, was a sentence that made his heart skip a beat: "Always follow the arrow of your ". The sentence was cut off by drops of dried blood that stained the paper. Tim felt a chill run down his spine. What did it mean? What arrow? And whose blood was it? He slammed the journal shut and ran upstairs.

During dinner, he tried to act normal, but he couldn't stop thinking about the journal. He decided to ask his mom a question that had been bothering him for a long time. "Mom, what was Dad working on before he vanished?" His mom looked at him with sadness in her eyes. "He had found a strange crystal somewhere, and he was obsessed with it. He said it had some kind of power, but he wouldn't tell me more. He spent hours in the attic, studying it and writing in his journal. Then one night, I heard him protesting and shouting, and when I went to check on him, he was gone. The only thing left was the journal in which he was writing." She sighed and wiped a tear from her cheek. Tim felt sorry for her, but he also felt curious. How was the crystal connected to his dad's disappearance?

That night, Tim couldn't sleep. He tossed and turned in his bed, haunted by the vision of the door and the words in the journal. He knew he had to find out more, but he couldn't do it alone. He needed help from his friends. The next morning, he called Sarah and James and asked them to come over to his house. They agreed to meet him in an hour.

Tim waited nervously for them at the door. He wondered how they would react when he showed them the crystal and told them his story. Would they believe him? Would they think he was crazy? Would they help him? He hoped so because he trusted them more than anyone else.

When they arrived, he greeted them with a smile and led them to the attic. He showed them the crystal and the journal and explained everything that had happened to him since he found them. Sarah and James listened with wide eyes and open mouths, amazed by Tim's tale. They asked him questions and examined the items with curiosity.

"Wow, this is incredible," Sarah said, holding the crystal in her hand. "It's so beautiful and shiny."

"Yeah, but be careful," Tim warned her. "Don't bring it close to the necklace."

"Why not?" James asked.

"Because something weird happens when you do," Tim said.

"What kind of weird?" James asked.

"Watch this," Tim said. He took the crystal from Sarah and brought it close to his necklace. As soon as they touched, there was a bright flash of light and a loud noise that made them all jump.

Tim blinked and realized he was back in the same mysterious landscape. But this time, he had company. His two best friends, Sarah and Jake, were with him, looking just as old and confused. Before they could say anything, Tim blurted out, "This is what I was talking about! " He pointed at the ancient door that stood in front of them. It was made of metal and wood, with strange symbols carved on it. Tim noticed something new on the door: a large hole that looked like a keyhole. He reached for his necklace, where a crystal pendant hung. It was the same shape and size as the hole. He inserted the crystal into the hole and heard a click. The door swung open, revealing a dark room beyond. Tim felt a surge of curiosity and fear. He stepped into the room, followed by his friends. They fumbled around for a light switch or a torch. "I got it!" Sarah shouted. With a flick of a switch, the lights came to life. The room was illuminated with a harsh brightness that revealed a pile of ancient relics. Among the dusty objects, they spotted gladiator helmets, swords, and other gear that hinted at the room's history.

"Look at that chest!" James cried out. "It has the same keyhole as the door."

Tim wasted no time in taking out the key from his pocket and inserting it into the lock. He heard a satisfying click and lifted the lid. He and Sarah peered inside, curious about what they would discover. Sarah reached in and pulled out some old files and photographs that were stained and torn over time.

"Wait a second! That looks like your dad!" Sarah exclaimed.

Tim snatched the photos and gazed at them in disbelief. He saw his father and a few other men wearing gladiator outfits. They had grim expressions on their faces. He also noticed some clothes in the chest that looked oddly familiar. As they emptied the chest, they stumbled upon a shocking discovery that would turn Tim's world upside down. Inside, there were trophies and medals engraved with his father's name. He had been the greatest gladiator in the arena, a legend among the fighters. But how could that be? What had happened to him? Why had his mother told him that he had vanished after hearing protesting in the attic?