Chapter Seven
Discovery of another Colored Arrow
Pete and Jenny had ventured ahead to retrace their steps through the passage with entrances leading to the golden chambers they had previously explored before falling into the hole. They proceeded cautiously from one passage to the next, and suddenly at the end of a corridor, they encountered creatures marching directly towards them, armed with various weapons. Pete instructed Jenny to stand back while he engaged the creatures one by one.
"I've been waiting for this moment," Pete declared as he began shooting at the creatures relentlessly. When he ran out of ammunition, he would switch to a different weapon. Jenny followed behind; decapitating the creatures after Pete had incapacitated them. As she severed their heads and limbs, she proclaimed, "I've taken your head and limbs, you can never return to the land of gold to hunt me." The creatures fell to the ground as Pete continued to shoot them with precision, allowing Jenny to finish the job.
Realizing they were running low on weapons and bullets, Pete advised Jenny to only shoot in life-threatening situations as they navigated through the passages and chambers. Moving forward without looking back, they paused briefly at the end of each passage to check behind them. During one of these stops, Jenny observed a peculiar phenomenon after they had dispatched the creatures.
"Whenever I chop off their heads and limbs, they lose their golden glow and start decomposing like regular animals," Jenny informed Pete. This discovery led Pete to speculate that they had entered a different dimension where these creatures existed. As they turned a corner, Jenny noticed a new passage marked with a red arrow, unlike the black arrows they had been following.
Excited by this find, Jenny pointed out the red arrow to Pete, reminding him of the five colored arrows they had seen at the beginning of their journey. They had encountered black, red, blue, green, and yellow arrows, each leading to different passages. Pete suggested they explore the passage with the red arrow this time, hoping to find sustenance and rest.
Upon entering the new chamber, Pete and Jenny were greeted by a serene environment with a crystal-clear water pool and unique flora. They encountered statues labeled "friends" and "enemies," with Pete instinctively touching the friend statues to enlist their help. However, he accidentally activated an enemy statue, prompting a swift response from their protector friend.
As they navigated the chamber, the friends advised Pete and Jenny to avoid engaging the enemies directly, as they would continue to reappear. Following their guidance, the trio made their way to an upper chamber entrance to evade the enemies. Leaving the protector to fend off the adversaries, Pete, Jenny, and the secret revealer friend escaped the chaos and noise behind them.
Meanwhile, back at home, Mr. and Mrs. Tolen prepared to celebrate Mary's eleventh birthday and her high school acceptance. Despite their joyous gathering, the couple couldn't shake the sorrow of their missing children, Charley, Pete, and Jenny. Mr. Tolen planned a trip to Kalkulta to seek the help of a private investigator, hoping to uncover the truth about his lost children.
The next day, Mr. Tolen set off for Kalkulta, leaving behind a worried Mrs. Tolen and a still-sleeping Mary. Upon arrival, he navigated the bustling city and reached out to a police contact for assistance in locating the private investigator. With determination in his heart, Mr. Tolen embarked on his quest to find answers about his missing children