The next morning came faster than I expected. I didn't sleep much, my mind kept going back to that map and Living's words. After breakfast, I grabbed my jacket and headed to Chakshu's house again.
When I got there, Palash and Chakshu were already waiting outside with Living. He looked a bit better, though still pale.
"You sure you're okay to walk?" I asked.
Living nodded. "Yeah. I need to see if it's still there."
So we started walking toward his house, which was on the other side of town. The streets were quiet, covered in a thin layer of snow that crunched softly under our shoes.
Living's house stood alone near the edge of the woods — a small, old place with broken fencing and frosted windows. It looked empty, like no one had been there for days.
Chakshu looked around. "You sure this is it?"
Living gave a small nod and unlocked the door. The moment we stepped inside, a cold breeze hit our faces. The place was a mess. Papers, books, and pieces of wood were scattered all over the floor. A chair was knocked over, and one of the drawers was pulled halfway out.
"What the…" Chakshu whispered.
Palash stepped forward carefully. "Looks like someone's already been here."
Living stared around in shock. "This wasn't like this before. I kept everything clean."
I looked near the table where he said he had kept the map. The drawer was empty, its corners scratched like someone had forced it open.
"It's gone," I said quietly. "The map's missing."
Living clenched his fists. "Someone took it. But who would even know about it?"
Chakshu walked around the room, checking under things. "Whoever it was, they were looking for something. Maybe they only wanted that map."
Palash frowned. "That means they knew what they were coming for."
The silence in the room felt heavy. Only the sound of the wind came through the broken window.
I bent down and picked up a small piece of paper near the door. It was part of something — old, burned at one edge, just like my half map.
"Guys," I said, showing it to them. "Look at this."
Living's eyes widened. "That's from my map."
"So they took the main part," I said, "but this piece got left behind."
Palash crossed his arms. "That means someone else knows about the treasure. And they're already ahead of us."
Chakshu sighed. "Great. So we're not the only ones chasing it."
I looked out the window at the forest in the distance. "Whoever took it didn't go far. Maybe we can still find them."
Living looked unsure but nodded slowly. "If we follow the path I took that night, maybe we'll find some clue."
Palash glanced at us. "Then that's our next move."
We followed the same trail Living had taken that night. The forest was quiet, only the sound of our boots crunching on the snow. The cold air bit at our faces, and thin fog floated between the trees.
Chakshu kept glancing around. "Man, this place gives me chills," he muttered.
"Stay alert," I said. "If someone took the map, they can't be too far ahead."
Living walked a bit slower, looking around carefully. "I think this is where I passed out that night," he said, pointing toward a group of large trees near the river bend.
Palash scanned the area. "No footprints this time. Whoever it was, they covered their tracks well."
We split up slightly, checking around the trees and rocks. As I walked near a thick oak tree, something caught my eye — a bit of movement, small but quick.
I froze. Then, I saw it — a hand, barely visible, sticking out from behind the tree trunk. Someone was hiding there.
"Got you," I muttered under my breath.
Before he could react, I rushed forward and grabbed his arm, pinning him against the tree. The person struggled, but I held tight. "Who are you!? Why are you hiding?"
The others ran over quickly. Chakshu's eyes widened. "Whoa, you actually found someone!"
The man looked young, maybe a few years older than us. His clothes were dirty and torn, and his face was covered with dust. He avoided eye contact, breathing heavily.
Palash stepped closer. "You took the map, didn't you?"
The man didn't answer. He just looked down, his jaw tight.
I pressed him harder against the tree. "Tell us how you knew about it."
He finally spoke, his voice rough. "You wouldn't understand."
"Try us," I said.
He looked at each of us slowly, then sighed. "I've been searching for that map for months. My brother… he disappeared while trying to find that treasure. I thought if I could find the full map, I'd know what happened to him."
Chakshu frowned. "So you broke into Living's house just for that?"
The man looked guilty. "I didn't mean to. I just… I had no other way."
Palash crossed his arms. "And where's the rest of the map now?"
The man hesitated for a moment. "It's not with me."
"What do you mean it's not with you?" I asked.
"I hid it," he said quietly. "It's not safe to carry it around. Too many people are looking for it."
The air around us felt heavy again. Chakshu exchanged a worried glance with me. "Wait — too many people? What do you mean by that?"
The man looked straight at us for the first time. "You think you're the only ones chasing the treasure? You have no idea what you've gotten into."
The man took a slow breath, his eyes scanning the trees around us as if he expected someone to appear any second. "There are many teams now," he said finally. "Groups formed from different towns, all searching for the same thing. Everyone wants the treasure."
Chakshu looked surprised. "Teams? You mean there are others just like us?"
He nodded. "Yes. I've met a few. Some work together, some don't trust anyone. Everyone thinks the treasure is real, and whoever finds it first will control whatever's hidden out there."
Palash narrowed his eyes. "Control? What are you talking about?"
The man hesitated. "No one knows for sure. Some say it's gold, some say it's an ancient power, something lost long ago. But whatever it is, people are serious about finding it. For now, no one is fighting, but it won't stay like that for long."
I let go of his arm slowly. "So you're saying all of this is going to turn into a war over a map?"
He nodded. "It might. Everyone's trying to get clues before the others. The map pieces are rare — each one leads to a different point. I only know about two pieces: yours… and mine."
Living looked uneasy. "You said you hid your piece. Where?"
The man shook his head. "I can't tell you here. Too risky. If anyone followed you, they'll know soon enough."
Chakshu crossed his arms. "Then what do we do now? Just sit and wait?"
"No," the man said, his voice low. "You need to be careful. Keep that half map safe and don't let anyone else see it. I'll contact you when it's time. Until then, stay away from the forest at night."
Palash frowned. "Why? What happens at night?"
The man didn't answer right away. He looked at the fog-covered trees and whispered, "That's when they move."
Before any of us could ask what he meant, he pulled free from my grip and ran into the woods, disappearing between the trees.
Chakshu blinked. "Wait—hey! He just left!"
I stood there for a moment, staring at the direction he ran. The forest was silent again.
Living looked at me. "Do you think he was telling the truth?"
"I don't know," I said quietly. "But if he was… then we're not just chasing a treasure anymore."