As the group reached the other side of the lake, they found themselves in a dense pine forest surrounded by massive rocks. The atmosphere was thick with mist, making it difficult to see far. Rose squinted through the haze and suddenly spotted something that made her heart race.
"GUYS! Look!" she shouted, pointing towards a familiar canoe washed up on the shore, half-hidden by the underbrush.
Everyone rushed over, adrenaline pumping through their veins. Micheal immediately set up his drone, searching for any signs of Annie. The drone's camera picked up a trail of footprints leading up the slippery, rain-soaked rocks.
Micheal exclaimed, "Annie must be close by!"
The gang prepared to climb the muddy, wet rocks. Tina hesitated, her face twisted with a mix of disgust and fear. John and Clark exchanged exasperated glances.
John's patience wore thin, and he snapped, "Get your ass over here, Tina."
Clark's anger flared, and he considered using his strings to pull her along, but Rose quickly intervened. "Umm... Clark, my hands hurt. Can you cover the mud and water with your string?" she asked, trying to keep the situation calm.
With a sigh, Clark complied, weaving his strings over the rocks to create a safer path. They carefully climbed the rocks, following the trail, which led to the entrance of a dark cave. A sense of foreboding hung in the air as they approached.
Inside the cave, the group spread out to search for any signs of Annie. The air was damp and cold, the only sound their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. John, feeling uneasy, ventured deeper into the cave and stumbled upon something unusual. At the back of a large rock lay a broken egg, its shell shattered into pieces.
"What the hell is this?" John muttered, puzzled. The egg looked like it belonged to some strange creature, adding an eerie element to the already tense situation.
Despite the mysterious broken egg, there was no sign of Annie. Yet, Zenn sensed something—traces of her presence still lingered. It was as if she had been there recently but had vanished without a trace.
"She was definitely here," Zenn confirmed, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "But where could she have gone?"
John's voice broke the tense silence as he called out, "Guys, look at this!" He beckoned the group over to where he stood, revealing the shattered remains of an egg. Clark, who had a deep knowledge of mythical creatures, stepped closer to examine the fragments.
His eyes widened in disbelief. "Guys... it's..." he began, the realization dawning on him. "It's a dragon egg!"
The revelation sent shockwaves through the group. The presence of a dragon egg heightened their worry for Annie's safety and added a new layer of urgency to their search.
Meanwhile, just before the group arrived on the other side of the lake, Annie was nestled in the cave, cradling the tiny creature she had found. The fire she had set up had burned out, and as she cleaned up the ashes, she noticed something unusual beneath the fire pit. With curiosity piqued, she brushed away the remaining debris to reveal a stone trapdoor.
Annie's eyes widened with a mix of hope and skepticism. A trapdoor in a cave was not something she had expected to find. Bell, sensing the situation, noted something surprising.
"Zero percent danger?" Bell exclaimed, her voice ringing inside Annie's head.
Annie winced at the volume. "Don't yell so much; it hurts," she scolded Bell gently.
With cautious optimism, Annie heaved the heavy trapdoor open, revealing a spiral staircase leading down into the darkness, lined with lanterns that suggested recent use—perhaps months or even a year ago.
YOU ARE READING
Annie and my magical doll (adventure)
FantasíaAnnie, a mature and friendless 13-year-old, originally lived in the bustling chaos of New York City, where she was an outcast at school and a target for relentless bullies. Her family life was equally challenging. Her father abandoned her before she...
