[Scene: Myrathis High School – Courtyard] The days at Myrathis High have returned to a calm normalcy—or as normal as they can be with Jace in the group. Jeremy, Amara, Leo, and Jace are sitting together, enjoying lunch in the courtyard. Jace is recounting a supposedly "legendary" prank he pulled in middle school, and the group is laughing.
Jace:[grinning] "I'm telling you, when the principal opened that fake 'emergency' locker and got hit by a spray of confetti, it was glorious. She even kept a piece of it on her desk for weeks!"
Amara:[shaking her head, laughing] "You're lucky you didn't get suspended."
Leo:[leaning back smugly] "He's lucky he didn't get expelled. You know, Jace, you should've just joined a circus. It'd suit you."
Jeremy chuckles softly, feeling more comfortable with his friends than he has in weeks. As the laughter dies down, Amara pulls a folded piece of paper out of her bag.
Amara: "Hey, speaking of shenanigans—look what I found in the library yesterday."
She unfolds the paper and places it on the table. The group leans in to see a strange, hand-drawn map with cryptic symbols and markings.
Jeremy:[squinting] "What is that?"
Amara:[shrugging] "No idea. It was tucked inside a book about Myrathis history. It looks like some kind of treasure map."
Jace:[eyes lighting up] "A treasure map?! This is it—this is our big adventure!"
Leo:[dryly] "Or it's someone's art project they forgot about."
Amara: "Come on, don't be boring. What if it leads to something cool?"
Jeremy feels a familiar unease creeping in, but he brushes it off. After all, the map seems harmless enough—just an old piece of paper.
[Scene: After School – The Hunt Begins] Armed with snacks, flashlights, and Jace's boundless enthusiasm, the group sets out after school to follow the map. The starting point, as indicated by the symbols, is the old clock tower near the library—a gothic structure with intricate carvings and creaky wooden stairs.
Jace:[excitedly] "Okay, the map says we're supposed to find a 'hidden lever' somewhere around here."
Amara:[sarcastically] "Oh, sure. A hidden lever. Easy peasy."
Leo scans the area while munching on a bag of chips.
Leo:[muttering] "This feels like one of those escape room puzzles. Except we're not paying for it, so that's a plus."
Jeremy kneels to examine the carvings near the base of the clock tower. To his surprise, one of the gargoyle statues has a movable wing.
Jeremy: "Hey, I think I found something."
Jace rushes over, nearly tripping on his own shoelaces.
Jace: "What is it? Did you find the lever? Is there treasure? Please tell me there's treasure."
Jeremy rolls his eyes but pulls the wing gently, and sure enough, a small compartment clicks open at the base of the statue. Inside is an old, weathered journal with a lock on it.
Amara: "A locked journal? What's in it?"
Jeremy: "No idea. We'll need to find a key."
Jace:[grinning] "A treasure map and a locked journal? This is officially the best day ever."
[Scene: Jeremy's Room – That Night] Jeremy sits at his desk, turning the journal over in his hands. The lock is small but sturdy, and the worn leather cover feels oddly familiar. As he stares at it, the faintest sensation of déjà vu prickles the back of his mind.
Jeremy (thinking):Why does this feel so... connected to everything?
A knock on the door interrupts his thoughts, and Elena peeks in.
Elena: "Hey, Jeremy. You've been quiet. Everything okay?"
Jeremy: "Yeah, just… homework."
Elena smiles and steps inside, noticing the journal in his hands.
Elena: "What's that?"
Jeremy:[shrugging] "Something we found at the clock tower. It's locked, though."
Elena leans closer, her expression thoughtful.
Elena: "It reminds me of something your grandfather used to have—a journal just like this. He used to say it held 'secrets of the past.' Maybe it's just a coincidence."
Jeremy's curiosity deepens, but before he c an ask more, Elena ruffles his hair and leaves the room.
Jeremy (thinking):Secrets of the past? What does that even mean?