Survivor of a Twisted Fate 2

Unexpected Visitors

Guatemala was beautiful. So full of green and healthy vegetation and life. Jasmine and Kevin felt it in their souls that they belonged here. There was a sense of peace in their hearts. The mountain stood tall above everything as it reached for the sky.

Jasmine, Kevin and Chelsea followed the map to the same waterfall that Jasmine's parents had gone to, years ago. They followed the trail behind the waterfall just as the map directed them to. Jasmine and Kevin couldn't help but feel excited about their journey. Chelsea was happy that her friends had invited her. Except the fact that she didn't understand why Jasmine had to come to a different country. Jasmine and Kevin had not told her their secret. Jasmine wanted to, but her mother and father told her no one could know.

Also, look at what happened to the last person I told, and he disappeared. Jasmine thought sadly.

Curiously, they walked behind the waterfall, and the mist tickled their skin. They walked up to the entrance of the mountain, and it was a stone pillar doorway. One of the pillars had fallen across the doorway and it was crumbled at the ends. As Jasmine, Kevin and Chelsea looked around, they saw a couple of piles of bones. It looked like the skeleton structure of a dog.

Maybe wolves? Jasmine thought as she shrugged her shoulders.

"Well, I guess we should keep our eyes peeled. Whatever those were, there might be live ones around,” said Kevin, and then he pulled out his dad's pistol.

Chelsea stared at him, wide-eyed.

"Where did you get that?" asked Chelsea in amazement.

"It's my dad's. Straight from the apocalypse! Thought we may need some kind of protection,” he said and grinned.

Jasmine looked at him and grinned.

"I brought a few things of my own!" she said, as she looked at the map.

Chelsea nodded, and now she wondered what dangerous things might lay ahead. Jasmine closed the map and put it back in her back pocket.

"So we go into the belly of the beast!" said Jasmine, as she headed for the fallen pillar.

“The belly of the beast?" asked Kevin, as he laughed.

Jasmine looked at him with a straight face and she put her hands on her hips.

"Yes,” she said, as she gave him a clipped nod, and Kevin laughed.

"Alright, there captain, lead the way,” he said, and the girls giggled.

Jasmine walked over to the doorway, and Kevin and Chelsea followed her. The three teenagers climbed over the fallen pillar and looked down the dark staircase. Surprisingly, they saw a light coming from a doorway at the bottom of the steps.

"Well, I guess this is the beast's esophagus,” Chelsea whispered,as she pointed down the stairwell.

Jasmine smirked at her joke and Chelsea giggled quietly. Kevin rolled his eyes at them.

"Come on, girls,” he said like he was waiting for them to lead the way.

Jasmine and Chelsea straightened, and they all kept their heads on a swivel as they walked down the rocky steps. It was damp and dark, and their feet made different types of crunching noises, like they were stepping on bones. Jasmine shivered as she tried not to think about what they might be actually stepping on.

Carefully, they made it to the bottom of the steps and walked through the doorway. The mountain opened up to the sky, and it was like a secret hidden open cavern. Jasmine pointed, and they noticed that they were in a small village.

Noticeably, the small little village was in ruins and had to have been thousands of years old. There were man-made huts that were caved in and covered in fresh green moss and the structures were covered in spiderwebs. The rocky mountain walls glistened and glittered in the setting sun. Trees and healthy green leafy bushes grew around the wall here and there. It was beautiful, like a hidden magical paradise.

"It's like a paradise!" said Chelsea, in awe as she looked around.

Jasmine took a deep breath and felt amazing. It was a paradise.

"Alright, girls. Since the sun is setting, I think we should set up camp!" said Kevin.

Jasmine and Chelsea giggled and nodded. Kevin shook his head. They chose to camp in the open, soft grassy area before the walkway that led to the huts. They built a small campfire and laid their sleeping bags around the fire. It wasn't cold, but they didn't know if it would cool down when the sun disappeared. They pulled out some food and ate.

"I can't believe that we have made it this far, already!" exclaimed Kevin.

"I know. I didn't think this trip was going to be this easy,” said Chelsea, as she took a bite of a pre-made peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and Jasmine nodded as she chewed her granola bar.

"I wish Joseph, Damian and Mandy were here," Kevin said, sadly.

Jasmine looked at him with sorrow in her eyes. She wished the same thing. She imagined her and Joseph spending the night together under the stars that began to appear in the darkening sky. Sadly, Jasmine wondered where they were and if they missed them as much as they did. Jasmine took out her map and her mother's journal.

"The men that were with Justin had decided to take the lower cave to go to the other side of the mountain. I took the higher route. I heard something big down in that cave. Those men had a death wish," Jasmine read her mother's words out loud.

As she read on, Kevin and Chelsea had laid down, and soon they were fast asleep. Jasmine looked at her friends and smiled. She laid her head back and stared at the starry sky. She felt a sudden surge of energy call to her.

Like Joseph had felt, she didn't know what it was, but it was strong. Jasmine had felt this type of energy before, and she thought back to the time when she might have felt it. She realized she only felt this when Joseph was around.

Sorrowfully, Jasmine started thinking about him and how she missed him so much. She twirled her necklace between her fingers as tears threatened her eyes. She took a deep breath, and the energy subsided as she soon fell fast asleep.

*******************

The morning sun hit Jasmine in the face, and she opened her eyes slowly. The mountain village slowly came into view as she turned her head and shielded her eyes.

"Good morning sleepy head!" said Kevin.

He stood above her and handed her a pack of mini donuts.

"Breakfast?" asked Chelsea, cheerfully.

Jasmine stood up and stretched. They ate their breakfast and packed up their camping gear. They decided to explore the village before they headed to their next destination.

Jasmine, Kevin, and Chelsea found the bones of two bears and human bones hanging on an old-looking rope as they walked over the cobblestone walkway toward the village. Jasmine, Kevin, and Chelsea jumped at the sound of a very loud growl. They covered their ears and looked at each other.

"What was that?" asked Kevin in fear, as he looked around quickly.

They all uncovered their ears and looked around. Jasmine saw something move in between two of the huts and her eyes widened. Suddenly, a large, slick black feline-looking creature emerged from between the huts. The creature stood tall as it looked down at Jasmine, Kevin, and Chelsea. It had a feline-like body, with an enormous elongated head and its long tail had a spike at the end.

The creature had a dreaded mane that grew from the back of its head. The creature tapped a clawed foot at them as it stared down at them with big, bright blue eyes. Jasmine, Kevin and Chelsea looked up and let out a loud scream of terror.