The next morning dawned with a sense of renewed purpose. With the stone tablet in their possession, they deciphered the next clue, which led them to a cave hidden behind a waterfall on the eastern side of the island.
"The Cave of Echoes," Han read aloud, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Sounds like a good place to practice my beatboxing."
Lee Know rolled his eyes. "Please, spare us."
The hike to the waterfall was relatively short, but the humidity was stifling. As they approached the cascading water, a sense of awe washed over them. The waterfall was magnificent, its water plunging into a crystal-clear pool below. Behind the waterfall, they could see the dark entrance to a cave.
"Okay, everyone, stay close," Bang Chan instructed, his voice serious. "We don't know what's inside."
With flashlights in hand, they cautiously entered the cave. The air was cool and damp, and the sound of the waterfall echoed around them, creating an eerie atmosphere. The cave was surprisingly large, with winding passages leading deeper into the darkness.
"This is creepy," Felix whispered, clinging to Changbin's arm.
"It's okay, I'm here," Changbin reassured him, squeezing his hand.
As they ventured further into the cave, they noticed strange formations on the walls. The rock was sculpted into bizarre shapes, and the patterns seemed to shift and change in the flickering light of their flashlights.
"Look!" Hyunjin exclaimed, pointing to a wall covered in ancient carvings. "These look like the same symbols that were on the stone tablet!"
Seungmin examined the carvings closely. "You're right! It's like a map, but it's incomplete."
They spent hours studying the carvings, trying to decipher the hidden message. Han, with his sharp mind and artistic eye, noticed that some of the symbols were subtly different from others.
"I think these variations are the key," he said, pointing to a series of slightly altered symbols. "They must represent a sequence."
Working together, they pieced together the sequence, realizing that it matched a series of musical notes.
"Wait a minute," Jeongin said, his eyes widening. "The name of the cave… the Cave of Echoes… maybe we need to play the sequence!"
Han, always up for a challenge, started beatboxing the sequence, creating a rhythm that echoed through the cave. As he finished, a section of the wall began to rumble. With a loud thump, a hidden passage opened, revealing a dark and narrow tunnel.
"Wow," Lee Know said, his sarcasm fading. "That was actually pretty cool, Han."
Just as they were about to enter the tunnel, the weather outside took a turn for the worse. The wind howled, and the rain began to fall in torrents. The sound of thunder reverberated through the cave, making the ground tremble.
"We can't go out there," Bang Chan said, his voice filled with concern. "It's too dangerous."
They decided to stay in the cave for the night, hoping the storm would pass. They huddled together for warmth, sharing stories and singing songs to keep their spirits up. The storm raged outside, but inside the cave, they found comfort in each other's presence.
As the night wore on, the storm intensified. The entrance to the cave was partially flooded, and the sound of the thunder was deafening. Fear began to creep in.
"I'm scared," Felix whispered, tears welling up in his eyes.
"It's okay, Felix," Seungmin said, wrapping his arms around him. "We're all scared, but we're here for each other. We'll get through this together."
Changbin pulled Felix closer, his strong arms providing comfort and reassurance. Bang Chan, despite his own fear, put on a brave face, reminding everyone that they were strong and resilient.
Throughout the night, they faced their fears together, their bond strengthened by the shared experience. The storm tested their limits, but it also revealed their unwavering love and support for one another. Straykids are a team!
They are left to discover the hidden passage the next morning.