Chereads / The crescents moon / Chapter 1 - Chapter one

The crescents moon

🇳🇬Reed_Chiemelie
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Synopsis

Chapter 1 - Chapter one

Somewhere in the middle of the ocean, a massive ship could be seen, despite the sky being unusually dark as the moon hid behind the clouds. Artificial lights well illuminated the ship. On deck, Max stood with his right hand outstretched, trying to determine the location of the treasure box alongside his crew for their archaeological research project. With him stood two men, eagerly awaiting his signal that he had discovered the treasure.

"Stop, it's over here," Max said, signaling to the two men.

One of the men hastily ran to the ship's control room to inform the team of their arrival at the location, while the other headed to a room where people were gathered around a round table, planning the box's retrieval.

"Max discovered the location of the treasure box," the researcher announced.

"Alright, let's go!" Fiona said excitedly.

"Sorry, but you're not coming with us," Paul said, emphasizing that Fiona was to stay behind.

"What? Why? I'm part of this team," Fiona protested, chasing after the team as they headed to the front of the ship.

"You're a healer, not suited for combat or confrontation," Paul replied as the team began preparing.

"Well, I can think my way out of tough situations," Fiona insisted.

"I know," Paul said.

"You do? Then let me join the team. Oh, wait, I get it. I'm your fiancée, and should stay safe," Fiona said harshly.

"I can't argue with everything you say," Paul replied.

"I can handle myself," Fiona shot back.

"You can, but this isn't about us. It's about you being a healer. You shouldn't charge into danger or the unknown. Right, guys?" Paul said, and the crew nodded in agreement.

"Fine, I'll stay, but because I decided to, not because you convinced me," Fiona said as Paul raised his hands in resignation and jumped into the water, following Max's lead.

"Where's Ross?" James, one of Max's friends, asked.

"He's ill. Probably motion sickness," Fiona replied.

"Then he shouldn't have come," James said, jumping in to follow the crew.

Deep in the ocean, Paul and his crew followed Max, who was escorting them to the treasure box's location. They arrived at a locked tunnel and, after joining hands to twist the star-shaped handle, managed to open it and entered one by one.

As they traveled through the narrow tunnel, they began doubting the credibility of their source. The tunnel looked less spooky than an ancient relic site should. However, midway through, they unearthed a skeleton clutching the box. After verifying it was the treasure, they checked for traps, discovered none, and decided to leave the tunnel the way they came.

Everything was going smoothly until the water became turbulent, separating the team from their leader, who had the box, and closing the door.

Back on the ship, the returning crew caused a commotion, alerting Fiona. Without thinking, she grabbed an oxygen mask and dove into the ocean, heading towards the tunnel.

"If I'm precise, this is it," she said, searching for the tunnel. Discovering an alternate route, she entered from the top. The tunnel was a maze with four divergent directions. Just as she was about to pick one, Paul appeared, upset but relieved to see her. She hugged him, but he explained he couldn't leave with the box. She suggested a game of fetch with the box to increase their chances of escaping.

"Game on," Fiona signaled. Paul shot the box tied to an iron rod forward, and they began swimming out. Turbulent waves started again, but with teamwork, they managed to get the box out.

They were celebrating their victory when a ship part crashed into Fiona, pushing her back into the tunnel. Paul dove after her, using his strength to push it off her but damaging her oxygen mask in the process.

Unconscious from the lack of oxygen, Paul switched the mask between them while getting her to the ship with assistance. Onboard, he resuscitated her until she coughed back to life.

"We'll be arriving on shore," the captain announced as everyone rejoiced. Minutes later, they arrived, unpacking and chatting happily.

"This quest was surprisingly peaceful," James said.

"Please, stop. Don't jinx it," Max replied.

"I know, right? Unlike quests where everyone dies, and one survives," James said, ignoring Max.

"Max, don't mind him. It's not like anything can happen to us between here and home, right guys?" Fiona said, placing her hand on Max's shoulder.

"I hope so," Max said.

Suddenly, hooded figures appeared before them.

"I believe you possess something that isn't yours," one of them said as the team assumed a fighting stance.

Someone went to call the captain, who was with Fiona, pestering her. When the captain arrived, Paul addressed the hooded figures.

"Hello. Can I assist you?" Paul asked.

"In your possession is something that doesn't belong to you," one of the hooded figures said.

"You're right, but it's not yours either," James retorted.

"James, I'll handle this. What exactly is it that we possess that's not ours?" Paul asked, feigning ignorance.

"I'm sorry, guys," Ross said, morphing into his genuine form – a red alien with significant spikes.

"Oh my gosh, isn't that the alien Barc we were advised about?" Stella said. Grasping the situation, Paul decided not to play ignorant.

"Hand over the box," Paul said to Joe, who did so.

"Just one question. Is this really our project?" Paul asked.

"No, it's not. I switched it with something I wanted you to find," Ross replied.

"Why didn't you retrieve it yourself?" James asked.

"We won't answer that," another hooded figure said.

"What are you doing? We practically almost died for this!" Fiona exclaimed, holding onto the box.

"No one has died so far. Let's leave it this way with everyone alive. Moreover, I know you're pregnant," Paul said, confronting Fiona.

"What?" Fiona began to say, but was cut off as a thorn protruded from the treasure box Paul held, having pierced through his back.

"I was going to inform you," Fiona said.

"and please when after you died from drowning?" Paul retorted.

"No one is dying? I never promised that," said Barc One.

"Moreover, we can still get the box with or without your help," added Barc Two.

Fiona felt faint; everything seemed unreal. At that moment Paul spoke up. Fiona

"Shh, I will help you recover and get you out of here," she said, wrapping her arms around him. She pulled out the thorn, with her tears filled eyes looking down at Paul. As the box fell to the ground, its contents spilling out.

Paul collapsed into her arms and whispered, "I love you," before thrusting her into the ocean. A Barc appeared behind him, picked up the contents but didn't follow Fiona.

Smiling, Paul said, "Just as I thought, you do have weaknesses—water and mirrors. You can thank Ross for verifying this theory."

The Barc grabbed Paul by the throat, lifting him off the ground as blood dripped from his body, using him as bait to lure Fiona out. She almost believed it but was held back by a force pulling her away.

"Just as I expected, you absorbed the power used to seal the box, and it's protecting you. Then I'll just do this," the Barc said, ripping off Paul's neck in front of Fiona. Her scream of sorrow echoed everywhere. The Barc, noticing all humans were now dead, left as Fiona was whisked away by the water current.

During their journey back to their ship, the Barc encountered a group of killers camping in the forest. They attempted running, but the killers attacked them, leading to a fight that killed all the Barc, leaving only a handful of killers. These survivors decided to report what they had found about the Barc.

Unfortunately, they were hunted down by privately contracted hunters. Who wanted to obtain what they had and sell to the highest bidder obliterated them. Searching through their belongings and finding the treasure box. One of the hunters, recognized the object and its significance and called a meeting. He explained that the box was believed to be an object that helped maintain balance, and the Barc were likely after it. He suggested that the best course of action was to separate the contents and keep them safe.

Initially, there was disagreement, cause no one wanted the big responsibility associated with possessing the items, but they were eventually persuaded. Each person took part of the contents, even the box itself, and went their separate ways.