Finding Utopia

Chapter 12: A Hidden Pathway

A week passed with no contact between the group of friends, Luz and Aliaan took this time for themselves, they got married without inviting anyone and went on a honeymoon, their friends were completely unaware of this until Luz started posting pictures of their small wedding and their honeymoon on her social media.

The friends then gathered again at Maya's place this time, because she refused to meet and talk about that. But they left her no choice by visiting her.

Maya's place was her parent's old house that she inherited after they died, she is their only child and has learned to depend on herself since a young age, she decorated and renovated parts of the place to match her personality, orderly, everything in its place and easily accessible.

As the extraterrestrials enter her house they sense some radioactivity coming from the end of the hallway. They turn to each other and signal to each other not to bring it up yet. The group moves to the living room and makes themselves comfortable while Maya prepares some tea and cookies.

Thiyya: " I don't know about you guys but I am very hurt by what Luz did, I don't think I can forgive this"

Ziri: " I honestly expected her to be fussy for a few days, then come and apologize, because even if we were a bit harsh, we wanted to protect her, she should know that."

Marco: " I told you that guy is bad news, it took one statement from him and Luz turned against Maya and all of us"

Thiyya: " Marco, sorry I dismissed everything you said because I thought you were only jealous"

Marco: " It's fine, but I have to say my feelings are fading away, she's not even the person I know anymore, I know that guy plays with her heart strings but this isn't an excuse for her to shun everyone like this"

Ziri *with a sad expression*: " Maya, you got hurt the most out of us from Luz, how are you feeling? "

Maya: " Guys, you don't have to concern yourselves with me, I admit that I was deeply hurt at first but now that place is turning colder and colder, I might forgive Luz but we will never be the same"

Maanaa: " I didn't want to say this before, but Luz isn't a saint, you think Aliaan turned her against you? Well, she turned him against me then pretended she's on my side"

Thiyya: " Luz is naive, I doubt that"

Maya: " Wow! You're still defending her?!"

Maanaa: " Look, you guys forgot how good my hearing is compared to yours, I heard her say some things to him, then she came and took my side, I am well aware that she doesn't like me because I was his best friend, honestly... I'm sick and tired of this subject"

Xeelai: " I know I'm new here, but the way I see it is they're both the same and they deserve each other. More importantly, they pushed everyone away so they can do what they want, it's better to forget about them for now"

The friends, nod in agreement, after all, there's nothing they can do, they offered help and were shut down.

Xeelai: " Ok, so, Maya, we have something to tell you but don't be alarmed!"

Maya: " Shoot away."

Maanaa: " When we entered your house, we sensed some radioactivity coming from the end of the hallway"

Xeelai: " If you don't mind, we can investigate it for you"

Maya: " I don't understand the end of the hallway has nothing in it, it's just a wall with no furniture"

Ziri: " Oh no, extraterrestrials, radioactivity, are we in an apocalyptic movie? Are we safe?"

Marco: " Calm down, radioactivity in small amounts doesn't really hurt us"

Thiyya: " Okey ..., but is it in a small amount?"

Maanaa: " We wouldn't investigate or let you and ourselves stay here if it wasn't, but it seems weird, there's a void behind that door, some stairs leading down"

Maya: " Do you have X-ray vision?"

Maanaa: " No, I have an advanced spatiotemporal sense even for an Aaraan"

Marco: " Wait! Spatial and temporal?"

Xeelai: " Yes, that was the basis for space/time travel for our kind"

Maanaa: " Guys, I'm sure you're curious but for now, let's try to see if there's an opening"

Maanaa and Xeelai move towards the wall and examine it.

Xeelai: " It seems it has been sealed, if you don't mind Maanaa can open it"

Maya: " Sure!"

Maanaa opens the door instantly, she also installs some lighting as the way down is too dark. The whole way down is made of grey stone as if it was built in the 10th century. The room however was surprisingly well lit with sun rays, there were tube holes in the ceiling with mirrors that made it possible for it to be lit.

Maya: " My parents died when I was 15 but they never mentioned anything like this, maybe they meant to tell me later but they died abruptly"

The friends move around and examine the hidden chamber.

Maanaa: " This place is incredible, there are so many cupboards here that we can look through"

Thiyya: " Guys, there's another door behind this hanging plant, I'm too scared to check it"

Xeelai: " Let me, that's where the radioactivity is emitting from"

The friends gather around Xeelai as he moves the plant away.

Ziri: " It's a stone wall, ugh! too bad"

Marco: " But why is it shaped like a door?"

Maanaa: " Guys, there's something written on it, but it's not in English or any language I know"

Thiyya: " Where? I don't see it"

Maya: " Guys, I found a book on this desk and I think it explains how to open it"

Maanaa: " Interesting, let me see" *starts flipping pages*

Xeelai: " Stop! go back I saw a drawing of this stone door thing"

Marco: " I know you guys are all excited and all but can we take it upstairs? Me and Ziri have allergies and this place is thickly dusted!"

The group goes back upstairs with the book and sits around the living room table. Maanaa carefully hands the book to Maya and says: " This is your heritage, do us the honors and read it please"

Maya takes a deep breath, grabs her reading glasses, and begins to read.

" The stone gate was carved in a language you can't understand unless you're holding hands with someone else, this is to prevent someone from crossing alone, more than two but less than 5 people can cross at a time. It is important to remember to set the intention to come back otherwise you will always be stuck there"

Xeelai: " Sounds like spacetime travel, but I don't understand why would they be stuck if  they don't set the intention to go back"

Maanaa: " I had the chance to converse with one of the Elders once and she talked about this place you can never come back from, but she said people in it will lose the will to leave it, I wanted to know more but our conversation was unfortunately cut off"

Marco: " Maybe it is this place!"

Thiyya: " I'm scared, please continue reading"

Maya: " Here we go: This gate is in fact a stargate but it leads to the only place other stargates cannot lead to, be careful not to tell anyone about it unless you trust them. It leads to a place where you can get whatever you want and need, a perfect place that fulfills all your desires, it leads to Utopia."