Fragments of the Scroll

The biting cold of the old church seemed to linger on Annabeth’s skin as she and Emmalyn stood in stunned silence. The ancient voice's cryptic message echoed in Annabeth’s thoughts, reverberating alongside the memory of the stone’s strange glow. It was real—their journey had truly begun.

Emmalyn broke the silence first, her voice edged with frustration. “Okay, what just happened? And more importantly, why does it feel like we just signed up for something out of a bad dream?”

Annabeth cradled the glowing stone in her hands, the pulsing warmth steady and oddly reassuring. “It’s not a dream. This—” she held the stone up, letting its light illuminate the darkened church “—this is a piece of something bigger. Something we’re meant to find.”

“Find?” Emmalyn snorted. “Find what? More glowing rocks? A magical sword? A secret handshake?”

Annabeth turned to her sister, her hazel eyes firm. “A scroll. That’s what the voice meant. This stone—it’s a key. The voice said the journey begins now. We’re supposed to find the rest of the pieces.”

“And what do we do when we find them? Build some ancient Ikea furniture?” Emmalyn’s sarcasm faltered as the seriousness in Annabeth’s gaze deepened.

“The scroll holds something important,” Annabeth said softly. “I can feel it. It’s… it’s like it’s calling to me. To us.”

Emmalyn looked at her sister, her expression softening despite her skepticism. “Fine,” she muttered. “Let’s say you’re right. Where do we even start?”

Before Annabeth could answer, the stone glowed brighter, casting an intricate web of light across the church’s crumbling walls. The light coalesced into shapes—a map, faint and incomplete, its lines wavering like smoke in the air.

Annabeth and Emmalyn stepped closer, their breath visible in the cold as they studied the image. A single landmark stood out amidst the swirling patterns: a mountain peak etched with strange runes.

“That’s Mount Aurelion,” Annabeth whispered, recognizing the jagged outline. It lay far beyond the valley, a looming presence in the distance that no one from Eldridge ventured to.

“Great,” Emmalyn said with a bitter laugh. “We’re supposed to go to the creepy, forbidden mountain. Because that’s not ominous at all.”

Annabeth’s fingers tightened around the stone. “It’s not forbidden. It’s just… forgotten. Like the church.”

Emmalyn shook her head. “Annabeth, that mountain is dangerous. People who go there don’t come back. You really think the next piece of your magical puzzle is up there?”

Annabeth’s reply was quiet but resolute. “I don’t just think. I know.”

The map faded, and the light from the stone dimmed, leaving them in the dim glow of the church’s decayed interior. Silence stretched between them until Emmalyn finally sighed.

“Alright,” she said, throwing her hands in the air. “I’m in. But only because I’m not letting you go alone. If this ‘calling’ gets us eaten by wolves, you owe me big time.”

Annabeth smiled, relief flickering in her chest. “We won’t fail. We’re doing this together.”

As they left the church, the weight of the first step settled on Annabeth’s shoulders. The journey ahead would be long and fraught with danger, but the stone in her hand pulsed faintly, a reminder of the hope guiding them forward. They had found the first key, and the map had shown them the way. Now, they had to face the unknown.

That night, back in their small home, Annabeth sat by the fireplace, the stone resting on her lap. Its symbols had shifted again, forming a new pattern. She traced the unfamiliar markings with her fingers, wondering what secrets they held.

Emmalyn entered the room, her fiery hair damp from the snow. She flopped into the chair opposite Annabeth and eyed the stone warily. “So, what’s the plan, fearless leader? Do we just waltz up Mount Aurelion and hope for the best?”

Annabeth looked up, her expression thoughtful. “We’ll need supplies—food, warm clothing, and something to help us navigate the mountain. And we’ll need to move fast. The snowstorm is only going to get worse.”

“Supplies are easy,” Emmalyn said. “But what about the part where we don’t get lost or fall off a cliff?”

Annabeth hesitated, then opened her Bible, flipping to a passage she had bookmarked earlier. She read the words aloud: “‘Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.’” She looked up at Emmalyn. “We’ll trust God to guide us. Like the stone—it led us to the church. It’ll lead us again.”

Emmalyn groaned but didn’t argue. “Fine. But if we’re trusting God, can we at least pack a compass? Just in case?”

Annabeth chuckled, the tension between them easing for a moment. Despite their differences, she was grateful for her sister’s steady presence. Together, they would face whatever lay ahead.

As the fire crackled and the snow fell heavily outside, the sisters began to prepare for the journey. Mount Aurelion awaited, its secrets hidden in shadow and ice. But Annabeth knew one thing for certain: they were meant to uncover them.