The Key to Oz

Chapter 22- Risky business

The rise of the sun casted a golden hue over the water as the group made their way toward the rocky shoreline. The lighthouse stood behind them like a silent guardian, its beam now dormant, having served its purpose a couple of nights before. The group moved with quiet determination, their gear packed into backpacks, their thoughts focused on the buoy glinting out in the distance.

"Alright," Jessper said, adjusting her sunglasses as they reached the edge of the water. "That's the buoy, right out there." She pointed to the metallic object bobbing just beyond the rough waves, the same one they had seen from the lighthouse.

Grayson frowned, peering out at it. "It doesn't look that far. But those waves..." He trailed off, eyeing the churning water warily.

Eric took a deep breath and dropped his backpack on the sand and pulled out a length of rope, along with a small inflatable raft they'd borrowed from the Jackson's garage. "We'll take this," he said simply, tossing it onto the sand. "One of us paddles out, the rest hold the rope from shore. If anything goes wrong, we can pull them back."

Grayson raised an eyebrow. "Good plan, But who's volunteering to be 'bait' in case we tip over?"

James, without hesitation, stepped forward. "I'll go. I'm a good swimmer if things get rough." He grabbed the raft, giving them a confident grin.

Jessper looked a little uneasy. "Are we sure this is a good idea? That water looks—"

"—rough," Eric finished for her, eyeing the waves.

"It'll be fine," James said, giving them a reassuring smile. "Just don't let go of the rope."

Eric and Grayson nodded as they helped James into the small raft. The waves slapped against the shore, making the task of pushing the raft into the water a challenge. Once the raft was floating, James grabbed the oar, bracing himself as he paddled toward the buoy.

The further he paddled, the more the waves pulled at the raft, lifting it up and dropping it hard as the water swelled and surged. From the shore, the others held tightly onto the rope, their feet planted firmly in the sand.

"Come on, James, you've got this," Grayson muttered, his knuckles white around the rope.

James reached the buoy after a few tense minutes of paddling. He dropped the oar into the raft and grabbed onto the metal structure, steadying himself as the water rocked him back and forth. The buoy was larger up close, rusted and worn by years of exposure to the elements. He carefully felt around the side, his fingers tracing over the cold, slick surface until he found what they were looking for.

There, bolted to the side was a small metal compartment, barely visible beneath layers of grime and salt. His heart raced as he pulled out the screwdriver Oz had handed him earlier and began loosening the screws.

"Hurry up!" Grayson called from the shore, the wind whipping his voice toward James. "Those waves aren't getting any smaller!"

James ignored the call, focusing on the task. After what felt like an eternity, the final screw came loose.

"I got it!" he shouted, holding up the box triumphantly.

"Pull him back!" Jessper yelled, waving frantically at the others.

The rope went taut as they began to haul James and the raft back toward the shore. The waves grew more aggressive, crashing against the raft and sending water splashing up over the sides, but he held on tight, clutching the box.

With a final heave, the raft skidded up onto the shore, and James stumbled out, water dripping off him as he grinned at the others.

"We were right, it really was there!" Eric exclaimed, helping James out of the raft.

Oz took the box from him, wasting no time and carefully placed the first key in the slot and with a hard twist she opened it. Inside, nestled in a watertight metal box, was another small, brass key tied to a folded piece of old, yellowed parchment.

Jessper was already reaching for the parchment, carefully unfolding it with shaking hands. "What's it say?"

The group crowded around as Jessper flattened the parchment on a dry patch of sand. The writing was faint, but legible, and they all stared in silence as he read aloud.

"Where the wind blows and the sun is bright, the final piece is hidden from sight. Where the sand is untouched by the tide, beneath the shadows where time cannot hide."

They all exchanged glances, with confused faces.

Grayson groaned. "Why is this one a riddle, the first clue was like 4 words,"

Eric, deep in thought, looked back at the horizon where the waves crashed relentlessly. "We've got two keys now. We're getting closer, we can do this."

James, still catching his breath, nodded. "And wherever the third one is..."

"We'll figure it out," Oz said with quiet confidence as she smiled wildly. "Just three more to go,"