The wooden box sat on Indy's kitchen table, its intricate carvings catching the light from the overhead lamp. She had locked the doors and drawn the curtains, but she still felt exposed, as if the man from the forest—or worse, the wolf—might burst in at any moment. Her hands trembled as she ran her fingers over the symbols, trying to make sense of them.
The spiral with the arrow was there, along with others she didn't recognize. One looked like a tree, another like a star. The box had no visible latch or hinge, but she could feel the weight of something inside. She turned it over, examining every inch, until her fingers brushed against a small, almost imperceptible indentation on the bottom.
Pressing it, she heard a soft click. The lid shifted slightly, and she carefully pried it open. Inside was a smaller, metal container, tarnished with age. Nestled beside it was a folded piece of parchment, brittle and yellowed. She unfolded it gently, revealing a handwritten note in faded ink.
*"To the seeker who finds this, know that the treasure you seek is not gold or jewels, but knowledge. The Miami people guarded this secret for generations, and now it falls to you. Follow the path of the stars, and you will find the heart of the forest."*
Indy frowned, her mind racing. The note was cryptic, but it matched the symbols on the box. She set it aside and turned her attention to the metal container. It was sealed tightly, but after a few moments of careful maneuvering, she managed to open it.
Inside was a small, polished stone, smooth and cool to the touch. It was unlike any rock she had ever seen, with faint, almost imperceptible veins of silver running through it. As she held it up to the light, she noticed something etched into its surface—a tiny star.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. She froze, her heart pounding. The knock came again, louder this time. She quickly closed the box and hid it under the table, then grabbed a kitchen knife before approaching the door.
"Who is it?" she called, her voice steady despite the fear creeping up her spine.
"It's me, Sam," came the reply. "Open up, Indy."
She let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding and unlocked the door. Sam Carter, her older brother, stood on the porch, his usual easygoing smile replaced by a look of concern. He was dressed in his park ranger uniform, his hat pulled low over his eyes.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," he said, stepping inside. "What's going on?"
Indy hesitated, then gestured to the table. "I found something. Something… important."
Sam's eyes narrowed as he saw the box and the note. He picked up the stone, turning it over in his hands. "Where did you get this?"
She told him everything—the map, the forest, the man in the coat, the wolf. Sam listened in silence, his expression growing darker with each detail.
"You shouldn't have gone out there alone," he said finally. "This guy sounds dangerous. And the wolf… Indy, there haven't been wolves in Indiana for over a century."
"I know," she said, sinking into a chair. "But it was real, Sam. And this stone… it's connected to something bigger. I can feel it."
Sam sat down across from her, setting the stone on the table. "You're right. This isn't just some random artifact. But if that guy is still out there, you're not safe. And neither is this."
He picked up the note, studying it closely. "The path of the stars… What do you think it means?"
Indy shook her head. "I don't know. But I think it's a clue. And I think we need to figure it out before someone else does."
Sam nodded, his jaw set. "Alright. But we do this together. No more solo adventures, got it?"
Indy managed a small smile. "Got it."
As they began to plan their next move, neither of them noticed the shadowy figure watching the house from across the street, his eyes gleaming with determination