Lea, her glasses catching glints of light, adjusts her dress with a big purple flower stitched on the front. Marcus, in a bold red t-shirt and blue jeans, hops off the bus, grinning at his friends. Priya, sporting denim dungarees over a crisp white t-shirt, scans the crowd, her brown hair tied back in a ponytail.
"I can't wait to see the dinosaur bones!"
"Race you to the entrance!"
"Let's stick together, or we'll get lost in all those exhibits," she laughs, pulling them along as the teachers herd everyone inside.
The trio wanders past a glittering minerals display, pausing at a glass case holding an old, faded parchment. Lea squints through her glasses, pointing at a strange symbol on the case.
"Look, there are numbers scribbled in the corner. Do you think it's a code?"
"Maybe it's a clue for a secret exhibit!" Marcus exclaims, pressing closer. Priya grins, fishing a notebook from her pocket to jot the numbers down.
Priya holds up her notebook, comparing the numbers to a tiny plaque beneath the painting. Marcus notices that the grass in the painting hides a small, painted X.
"There's something weird about that hill—see the tiny X?"
"The numbers match the date on the plaque. Maybe there's more hidden nearby," Priya says, excitement building.
Inside, they find shelves crammed with old maps and tools. On the desk rests a rolled-up parchment sealed with wax. Lea carefully breaks the seal, unrolling a hand-drawn map showing their school and a hill marked with a golden X.
"This is amazing! It's a treasure map... and it's pointing to Willow Hill, right behind our school!"
"We have to check it out after school—imagine what could be buried there!"
"Let's take a picture of the map so we don't get caught," whispers Priya, snapping a quick photo with her phone.
Lea[/@ch_1], Marcus, and Priya huddle in a corner, whispering excitedly.]
"Meet at the old oak tree after school. Bring shovels if you can,"
"I'll bring my dad's flashlight, just in case,"
"And I'll print out the map. This is going to be the best adventure ever!" Their eyes shine with anticipation as the teachers call them to board the buses.
As the buses pull away from the museum, Lea, Marcus, and Priya press their faces to the window, imagining the secrets waiting in the hill's shadow. Their hearts race with the promise of treasure and the thrill of discovery, knowing tomorrow will bring an adventure they’ll never forget.
