Starlene and Sierra continued standing there in the parking lot of the rest stop, still in a state of shock from Liv’s abduction. Starlene repeated her previous statement, her voice filled with urgency, “Someone else must be aware of the legend of the Starstone and they are using us to find it. If they expect us to just hand it over….” Sierra’s face was wet with her tears as she responded, “Whoever they are, we can’t trust them.”
“No!” Starlene stated firmly. “We absolutely cannot trust them at all. This is exactly what our great grandfather warned us about, not allowing it to be found by the wrong people.” Starlene paused when she saw her sister crying harder. Sierra wailed out, “But we don’t even know who they are.”
Taking a deep breath, Starlene took her sister firmly by the hands and responded, “Sierra, I understand how upsetting all of this is to you, but you need to pull yourself together now. It is not going to help Liv or us.”
In an instant, Starlene pulled Sierra into a tight embrace and continued, “I do not know who our enemy is, but one thing is clear to me… we will find it before they do. We possess the clues and the map that they lack. We hold the advantage here.”
Sierra clung to Starlene as she listened to Starlene’s words of wisdom when she delivered the pep talk and the reassurance she needed. Sierra knew she had complete trust in her sister. Starlene would remain focused and would not leave her side.
Sierra let out a sigh as her tears slowly subsided, stepping back from Starlene. Looking up at her sister, Sierra mustered a smile before responding, “You are right, Star. We do have the upper hand here, but they were tailing us.”
Starlene nodded slowly. Soon a slight smile appeared on her lips. “Well, let us give them a wild ride. I imagine the ones that took Liv were replaced by new ones so they can hide their prisoner away.”
Sierra sighed, her voice filled with uncertainty, “I just wish we knew how many of them are still out there, watching us.”
Starlene smiled as a thought dawned on her, a small chuckle escaping her lips. “They really messed up when they took Liv.”
Sierra seemed puzzled as Starlene continued, “We might not have realized we were not alone as we took this journey. That we were being followed by people that did not want their identities revealed.”
Sierra caught on, her expression changing slightly. “Ah, I see,” she said. “Now we can watch out for anyone that seems suspicious.” Sierra added with worry, “But what if they do not care that we would be on to them?”
Starlene smiled with determination and stated, “They must think they have nothing to lose as long as we don’t know who they are, but that doesn’t change the fact that they messed up.”
Sierra gave a subtle nod before responding, “I am determined to find them and make them pay for taking Liv. I do not care who they are.” Sierra took a moment to pause before adding playfully, “On the bright side, we can have a break from Liv’s constant whining about wishing Stacey was still around.”
Starlene playfully tapped Sierra’s arm and scolded her, “Enough with joking around. Of course, finding her is one of our priorities.” Starlene paused, then remarked, “But I’m glad your sense of humor is back.”
Sierra released a heavy sigh before replying, “But according to the note, they insisted that we would not be able to find her.”
Starlene firmly shook her head and stated, “I am not going to be bothered by their words. They said those things merely to discourage us. We will not only solve the mystery of the legend of the Starstone, but we will also get Liv back as well.”
Sierra cast a quick glance around them, her eyes catching the sight of the sun descending in the sky. “We should really get going, Star. The impending darkness is a cause for concern,” Sierra voiced nervously. “I don’t like the thought of being stranded here once night falls.”
Starlene grinned slightly as she motioned toward her car parked nearby, saying, “I do not think we have to worry about being stranded here overnight, but you are right. There must be a town nearby that we can reach in no time.” Pausing momentarily, Starlene added, “Tomorrow, we need to shift gears and start taking this situation seriously.”
Sierra’s expression turned solemn as she nodded, agreeing with Starlene’s words. “I can’t help but feel worried about Liv, wherever she was taken to.”
Starlene started walking back to her car with Sierra by her side, saying, “I hope, for her sake, she is at least sedated and will sleep through the night.”
Starlene slid back behind the wheel of her car as Sierra cast a sorrowful gaze at the now vacant backseat that used to have Liv lounging across it before settling into the passenger seat. The sisters securely locked their seatbelts in place and Starlene slipped the key into the ignition and turned it to start the engine.
Starlene grinned at Sierra and confessed, “I had this nagging feeling that someone tampered with my car.”
Sierra responded, “I am grateful that it was not the case. I would not have been surprised if the jerks that took Liv had done something like that to delay us and make a quick escape. We took enough time in that cave for them to grab her and go.”
With a muttered remark, Starlene put her car in reverse and pulled out of the parking space. “I just wish we knew who they are, so we know what we are up against. They did not even leave us a signature on the note.”
Sierra gazed out of the window as Starlene merged back onto the highway, her voice filled with assurance. “I am glad they did leave us the note. They will make more mistakes. I am certain of it.”
As Starlene was driving again, she glanced over at the radio, realizing that it was not on. “Why don’t you choose a station for us to listen to?” Starlene said.
Sierra heaved a sigh and shook her head stubbornly. “No. I am not in the mood for music right now,” her voice filled with sadness.
After cruising down the highway for what seemed like an eternity, Starlene finally spotted the exit ramp for a decent sized town and veered off the highway, entering a bustling town just as the sun began its descent, casting a mesmerizing twilight upon the landscape.
Finally, Starlene entered the parking lot of the first motel that caught her eye. The hotel was a two-story building that was well taken care of. The bushes in front of the entrance were well groomed and attractive to the eye. Starlene nodded, pleased with her decision, and found an open parking space, turning off her car’s engine.
The sisters both slid out of their car seats and pulled out their overnight suitcases as they walked into the hotel entrance. As they stepped into the lobby, a sense of refreshing cleanliness and inviting spaciousness greeted them, setting the tone for the rest of the hotel, which had the same level of charm and elegance.
With a tired but polite expression, Starlene and Sierra approached the receptionist’s desk. Flashing the clerk a friendly smile, Starlene politely addressed the clerk behind the desk, “Hi, I hope we aren’t too late to check to see if there are any available rooms for my sister and I to spend the night.”
Sierra chimed in, “Please say you do have something for us. We only need it for the night.”
The hotel clerk, a middle-aged gentleman, could not help but chuckle at the sight of the two weary sisters, who clearly appeared to have been traveling on the road for a while. Grinning, he checked his computer in front of him and replied, “Absolutely, young ladies. I can sense that both of you are in desperate need of a restful night’s sleep. You have chosen the perfect place.”
With a weary yet grateful chuckle, Starlene expressed her appreciation to the clerk, “We truly appreciate this.” Suddenly Sierra leaned over the counter and added, “I hope you serve breakfast in the morning.”
The clerk started typing away, asking for Starlene’s credit card for check-in as he continued the process for the sisters. “Certainly, my dear girl,” he said with a cheerful smile.
Starlene handed over her purple credit card as she said to Sierra, “I bet they have vending machines here.”
The clerk nodded as he swiped Starlene’s credit card before answering, “Yes, the vending machines are straight down the hall.”
He finished checking the sisters in for the night and handed Starlene her card back and the room key. “Alright, you are all set. Your room is number 25 on the second floor. The elevator is just around the corner.”
Starlene slipped her card back into her wallet and tucked the key to the room into her pocket as she expressed her gratitude once more. She picked up her overnight suitcase and Sierra echoed her thanks as she lifted her own suitcase from the floor, before they made their way toward the elevator that would take them to the second floor.
As soon as the sisters disappeared into the elevator, the clerk’s expression shifted ever so slightly. With a subtle nod, he acknowledged the presence of the hooded figure that appeared in the doorway of the hotel’s lobby. The hooded figure slowly returned the nod and departed the premises without uttering a single word.
Upon exiting the elevator on the second floor, the sisters swiftly located their assigned room and Starlene pulled the key out of her pocket. She unlocked the door and pushed it open. Starlene quickly found the light switch and turned on the lights.
They were delighted to see that their room was very spacious, with two comfortable full-sized beds adorned with matching blankets and pillowcases. The room boasted simple yet tasteful decoration, featuring a few small potted plants on the end tables and captivating artwork adorning the walls.
Sierra sat down carefully on one of the beds and scanned the room with her grey-green eyes, remarking, “Well, this isn’t too shabby.” She tested the bed by bouncing up and down a few times. Smiling with satisfaction, Sierra said, “At least this bed is comfortable.”
Curious, Starlene checked out the bathroom and was pleased to find it well-stocked with a spacious bathtub.
Sierra spotted the TV across from her on the dresser and sighed, saying, “If only I wanted to watch TV. It would be perfect.”
Starlene peeked out of the bathroom and asked, “You said it’s perfect here because of the TV?”
Sierra seemed to deflate as she lay on her back on the bed and lamented, “No, it would have been perfect if Liv was still with us.”
Starlene joined Sierra and sat on the bed opposite her and nodded solemnly. “Yes, I miss Liv too. She means a lot to us, huh?”
Sierra nodded, saying, “Yeah, it’s crazy that she started off as Stacey’s best friend.”
“Now we can both speak the truth here, Sierra,” Starlene said quietly. “Stacey and Liv were pretty unlikely friends, and she doesn’t mean as much to her as she does to us.”
Sierra sighed before answering, “I hope Liv wasn’t being used by Stacey.”
Starlene sighed before replying, “Even though they were unlikely friends to begin with, I’m sure Stacey did enjoy her company.”
Sierra’s eyes teared up again as she confessed, “I just miss Liv. I also wish I knew where Stacey is. What if she was taken like Liv?”
Starlene chuckled despite her feelings, “Then I feel sorry for them. But no, there is nothing pointing to Stacey being taken against her will. And I understand about missing Stacey. We are still family. I am grateful that we found that letter from Great Grandfather that encouraged us to embark on this journey.” Starlene’s voice trailed off.
“I know, but things have taken a different turn,” Sierra finished Starlene’s sentence. “This adventure is not what I expected it to be. I thought it would be like a fun treasure hunt,” Sierra added.
Starlene nodded as she rose from the bed after checking the time and strode toward her overnight bag, retrieving her sleepwear and the things she needed for her teeth. “It’s getting late, Sierra, and tomorrow will be quite challenging for us, so let’s get ready for bed,” Starlene declared, her voice tinged with a sense of urgency.
Sierra also got up and mirrored Starlene’s actions, pulling her sleepwear out of her suitcase and replied, “Star, I have this feeling that the next few days, maybe even longer, will be challenging.”
Starlene quickly slipped on her sleepwear as she said in agreement, “Yes, that means we should make sure we get a good night’s sleep tonight. That is why we should go to bed early, so we can get an early start to the day.”
Sierra met Starlene in the bathroom after changing into her own sleepwear and they both began their nighttime rituals of brushing their teeth and washing their faces. As soon as they were done, they returned to the main part of their room.
Sierra headed straight to the bed she had already claimed and settled under the covers, while Starlene settled into the other bed.
Sierra snuggled beneath the comforting covers and rolled over on her side toward Starlene’s bed, quietly saying, “I hope you sleep well, Star.”
Starlene gazed up at the ceiling above her and replied, “Good night, Sis. I hope you sleep well too.” Starlene then reached over to flip off the light, enveloping the room in darkness.
After some time of tossing and turning, Sierra drifted off to a peaceful sleep. Meanwhile, Starlene remained wide awake, lost in her thoughts as she listened to the steady rhythm of her sister’s breathing.
Finally, Starlene found a comfortable position, cleared her mind, and drifted off to sleep. As she entered a deeper state of sleep, she was immediately transported into a surreal yet comforting world. As Starlene continued to dream, she strolled down a path adorned with vibrant flowers that radiated a magical aura. The sky above her was also radiant. It seemed like daytime, but it was not. Flashes of light shot across the sky like fireworks.
Eventually Starlene arrived at a serene clearing with a pool filled with golden water and a quiet golden stream running into it, where she heard a mysterious voice calling out to her. The voice, sounding both otherworldly yet powerful and soothing, reassured her, saying, “Fear not, young Star. You are in a safe place.”
Starlene watched in complete awe as a figure materialized right before her. She gasped in shock. “I must be dreaming, but I don’t want to wake up yet.” After a moment, Starlene found her voice, gathered her courage, and asked, “Who are you and why am I here?”
The magical being’s voice resonated all around the clearing as it replied, “I am the guardian of the Starstone, and you are the chosen one. The hero of your story. This is your destiny.”
Starlene’s eyes widened with astonishment as she questioned, “You are saying the legend is true?”
With a gentle nod of its head, the guardian replied, “Indeed, young Star, my kind has safeguarded the Starstone for countless generations. Its origins lie far beyond your world. It was never meant to exist in your world.”
Starlene blinked before responding, “Why is it here and why me? Why am I the chosen one?”
The guardian smiled warmly and explained, “For reasons we do not know, the Starstone decided that your world needed it there, and as for why you were chosen, the Starstone deemed you worthy. It is a great honor that may require a sacrifice of some kind, but do not fret about that now. Your ancestor Ellis Martyr initiated the events that began before you were even born. He would have been a great guardian if not for his tragic end. You possess everything that he had. You have the same spirit. Within you burns the flame of resilience, an unwavering determination.”
Starlene curiously prodded, “What does the Starstone actually do?”
The guardian’s voice echoed once more as it revealed, “All will be revealed in time, young one. I promise you this, we will meet in the real world face to face and when the time is right, you will find the Starstone and learn to embrace its power for the good of the world.”
Starlene urgently asked, “Please, Guardian, I really need to know. You said my great grandfather Ellis met his tragic ending. What happened?”
The guardian took a moment as its light dimmed a little before responding, “Young one, he fought bravely against the ones who wanted to claim the powers of the Starstone. He managed to hide away the secrets of the legend in time just before he met his end. He believed that someone in the future would fulfill the task he had started. He stumbled across me and the first clue by accident, but I could sense that he had a pure soul.”
Starlene felt herself being pulled away from the dreamworld as she tried to cling to remain in it for a moment longer. She could not resist asking one last series of questions, her voice laced with curiosity and a touch of urgency, “Please just tell me, who am I dealing with? Who am I racing against time for, and how do my sisters fit into this, and what about Liv’s abduction?”
The guardian’s response came in the form of a playful chuckle, a knowing glimmer in its eyes. “Fear not, young Star, the chosen one, for all the answers you seek shall be unveiled in due time. But now, the time for you to return to the real world has arrived. It is time to awaken and embrace the new day.”
Starlene gasped as she woke up, still tucked under the covers of the hotel room as the sun started shining through the curtains. She sat there quietly as she tried to process everything she had learned from the dream. She could still hear the voice of the guardian and what she had heard and witnessed replaying in her mind.
Starlene quietly asked herself, “The chosen one. What if I am not worthy?” Starlene shook her head. “It is the riddle we saw in the cave. That must have influenced my dream.” Suddenly she heard a voice speaking inside her mind to her, “It is your destiny. You know what you must do.” Starlene nodded and said with conviction, “I am not going to let Great Grandfather down. I will finish what he started.”
Sierra woke up to her sister’s voice and yawned before asking, “You were not kidding about waking up early. So, did you sleep well?”
Starlene glanced at Sierra with a determined look in her grey eyes before making up her mind to tell Sierra all about her dream, saying, “I had an interesting night. I had a dream that felt so real. I met the guardian protecting Starstone. I was going to write it off as just a dream, but I still remember the details. It is like it was not a normal dream.”
Sierra sat next to Starlene, listening closely before asking, “So what did the guardian tell you?”
Starlene looked off into the distance, recalling the details before replying, “That the Starstone deemed me worthy to be called the chosen one. The guardian mentioned knowing great grandfather, and he fought to protect the secrets of the Starstone before he met a tragic end.”
Sierra blinked away her tears. “Whoa, the letter didn’t say anything about that.”
Starlene said thoughtfully, “The guardian would not reveal the details of what exactly happened to him or how we all fit in. Only to tell me that it will all be revealed in due time and that we will meet again face to face in the real world.”
Sierra nodded in understanding. “It seems like you had some kind of prophetic dream.”
Starlene looked at Sierra with surprise. “So you think I should take this seriously?”
Sierra nodded with a smile. “You had it for a reason. Yes, I think you should take this seriously. You have nothing to lose if the guardian does not show up someday, but it would be cool to finish what Great Grandpa started. I believed you when you said it was not a normal dream, because we normally do not remember them this vividly. I just have one question. Do we have enough time to grab breakfast, Miss Chosen One?”
Starlene sighed as she gave Sierra a look as she said with a smile, “Calling me that is not necessary, but yes, Sierra. We do need to eat so we can get the energy to continue.”
Sierra grinned before getting up and threw Starlene’s overnight suitcase on the bed and went to get her suitcase as well. Starlene nodded as she and Sierra quickly repacked their suitcases.
Sierra entered the bathroom to fix her hair and retrieved any forgotten items, including all the complimentary miniature bars of soap and bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion. She unzipped her bag to shove those items in and zipped it up again.
Starlene glanced up at Sierra as she emerged from the bathroom to pack everything she had taken and nodded, “That is everything, right?”
Sierra nodded eagerly before replying, “You know I enjoy collecting those bottles of stuff from hotels.”
Starlene nodded with a smile. “Indeed I do. Well, let us go.”
Sierra smiled as she paused at a picture on the wall and remarked, “I wish we could take this one. The flowers are beautiful.”
Starlene scolded Sierra, saying, “We do not need to take the artwork from this room. If we happen to see something similar, I will buy it for you.”
Sierra teased as she said, “Oh, you know I was just kidding, Star.”
Starlene relaxed as she smiled back, “I had a feeling I knew that. It is time for breakfast and then we must get going.”
The sisters exited their room and took the elevator down to the lobby for breakfast. They were pleased to see all the choices available to them. They each filled a plate and sat down to eat. They watched the other patrons come and go as they enjoyed their breakfast while they chatted with each other.
The black van that had been instrumental in Liv’s abduction continued down the highway. Eventually the van exited the highway and entered an eerie and abandoned town. Standing there in the center of the town as if awaiting their arrival was Alexander. The van came to a halt just ten feet away and the two hooded figures climbed out.
In a chilling tone, Alexander uttered, “I trust you have succeeded in acquiring the girl for me.”
The hooded figures nodded in unison and one of them slid open the van’s door, revealing Liv lying unconscious on the van’s dirty floor. A dark chuckle escaped Alexander’s lips as he commended the hooded figures, “Excellent work, both of you. This will serve as Stacey’s punishment for her arrogance. Now Stacey will not be able to use her as a cheat to gain more information regarding the quest about the artifact.”
One of the hooded figures dared to question, “But Boss, wouldn’t the Master disapprove? He has been yearning to find it, to possess the artifact for so long.”
Alexander smiled darkly as he reassured the hooded figure, “Fear not, the Master will understand that I perceived her as an asset.” He nodded before continuing, “I shall deliver her to him myself.” Alexander turned to the hooded figure and added, “As for Stacey and her pursuit, I am certain she will find an alternative solution. However, it will not be as straightforward.”
Alexander’s gaze fixed on the motionless Liv, evoking the predatory stare of a cat sizing up its prey. With a subtle gesture, he signaled to the hooded figures to lift and carry the unconscious Liv to the awaiting helicopter. They swiftly placed her inside the aircraft, her wrist cuffed to a bar in case she awakened.
Conveying his approval, Alexander nodded at the hooded figures and dismissed them with a wave, saying, “You may go now. I suspect the sisters’ car has been tagged.”
The hooded figure nodded and affirmed, “We can still track them.”
With a satisfied grin, Alexander stepped into the helicopter and did the usual preparations for takeoff. As he ignited the rotors, their rhythmic whir filled the air, signaling the imminent ascent. The helicopter smoothly lifted off the ground and flew north, while the dark van drove off in the other direction.