Golden rays pierced the window, casting shadows across the small room where they signaled the dawning of a new day. Normally it would be something that would bring great joy, but for Kevin, it only brought lamenting.
He’d stayed up all night gaming, and on the first day of tourist season too!
A dull glow emanated from the small television set upon a dresser where it had remained on all night as pixilated characters cut down monsters. Kevin had bought it when their neighbor moved away, not having deemed the small thing to be worth taking with them back to the mainland. Along with that had come an old video game console and a single cartridge that cost him his entire allowance that he had saved up at the time. Given how remote Isla Sein was, the only way to get new games was to take a trip to the mainland.
Something his parents never did.
He’d played through the game dozens of times. He even had a guidebook that the neighbor had annotated with some of the tricks they discovered. Yet, Kevin had added more than a few notes of his own to the pages over the years. He preferred playing as the girl, for a number of reasons. The biggest one was that the name of the player determined their stat growth, and his chosen name for playing as the girl led to the highest stat growth possible. Lito was a terrible name for a male character, being the default the game suggested, but Bria?
Much nicer if he had to say so.
The biggest trick he’d discovered was a way for the girl MC to marry another girl within the party, which he didn’t think was intended. He still did it every time, even if it was suboptimal. Because who would want to marry a guy? Just the thought of it made him squirm, nevermind what his parents might say about it.
Shuffling came from outside his door and he was quick to save the game and shut everything off. Kevin knew he only had a few minutes before father would bang on the door and demand he get ready for the day. Much as he didn’t want to, that meant getting dressed in the ceremonial garb for their loony tourist trap.
As cool as the ruins on the island were, nobody knew anything about the former inhabitants. Yet, there had been no sign of any trade with the continent, or even any farming when the Spanish first made landfall. Not a single grave had ever been found, just a few men said to have been killed during a ‘misunderstanding’ with the first settlers some four hundred years ago. Then there was the most baffling part of it all. Architecturally the ruins matched nothing else on Earth.
Not exactly.
There were similarities to several ancient civilizations, but nothing came close enough to definitively say that they were built by that culture or an offshoot of it. For heaven’s sake, they had a three-sided pyramid atop the highest hill!
Which was why a town of any sort even existed on the forsaken rock.
People from around the world flocked to their little town hoping to be the one to finally solve the mystery. One of the greatest unsolved archeological sites in the world and he’d grown up playing within the ruins. Yet for all the mystery, there was a Burger Queen five minutes down the road from it that happened to have a great view of the pyramid from atop the play place. They had even based them off the ruins to really sell it.
Kevin called it home for his eighteen years of life.
Grabbing the clothes he was expected to wear, he couldn’t help but grimace at the hand-stitched leather vest that was meant to pass as armor worn by the natives that the Spanish described. He very much doubted the firsthand accounts of witches and wizards slinging lights as destructive as cannons at them as they vanished into the structures to never be seen again. Yet, that was the role he was to play in the reenactment.
Twice a day, every day, until late fall once the season officially kicked off.
And that was on top of his schooling. There were three other children on the island of high school age currently, and they were all technically homeschooled. A single teacher oversaw the entire island’s schooling as they completed their classwork and watched tapes of lessons from a continental classroom on a TV with a VCR built in.
It was so much nicer than his own TV back home.
The tapes had been bought a decade earlier, to save money on hiring teachers to live on the island. He knew they all struggled to keep the island running, and that compromises were the name of the game. Thankfully he only had a few days left and he would be done with that mess entirely.
Sure enough, that heavy knocking came just as he slipped on the pair of linen pants that his mother had sewn for him in the old, garish, style. They were dyed a putrid brownish green that looked more like it belonged inside a diaper rather than his legs. Worse, they were baggy in all the places he would rather they grip.
The bracers were the best part of the costume, and only because they had been his grandfather’s from when he did the reenactments back in the fifties. They’d been made by a proper leatherworker back when that craft was still widely practiced. Now everything was being made by his grandson who never paid attention to the lessons.
With his kit properly in place, Kevin stepped out of his room and hurried down the stairs. Where some might expect a hot breakfast on such an important day, he knew that a box of cereal was all that waited. At least it was the cinnamon stuff, and not the bran. Then again, they lacked any fresh milk to go with it. The powdered stuff never tasted right when it came to cereal, but his father never seemed to mind.
“Morning,” Kevin said, taking a seat.
His father grunted, more interested in the paper than breakfast. The paper was two weeks outdated, and arrived on the island with the latest shipment of goods and the first group for the tours. He was wearing the full kit of a historic Spanish conquistador, which was the farthest thing from what those who actually landed had with them. Those that had set out were pirates and opportunists, not the knights of the Spanish crown.
But that’s what the tourists loved to see.
Mom had it easier, she ran the bed and breakfast side of things for the tourist trap. She would be busy making sure they all got a hot breakfast in the building across the way. Sure, Kevin could sneak over there and grab something from the kitchen, but that would be taking food away from paying customers.
Specifically, those that paid the big dollars to be part of that first group, and the man who always ensured he had it booked. That was why everyone would be too focused on making sure everything was perfect. Especially if the whispers he overheard before his parents turned in for the night had any truth to them.
“Any interesting guests?” Kevin asked, hoping for something different.
“A couple of college brats,” Father said, turning a page. “You know how it is with Mister Ruiz. He always books that first slot.”
True enough. Now to pry at those rumors.
“Will it be any different this year?”
Father didn’t say anything for a moment, giving Kevin a chance to eat his breakfast. The cereal was borderline stale, but such was life over five-hundred miles out at sea. The Millers handled all the shipping for the island, owning the only boats able to make trips to the mainland regularly, and they ran on rotation. Tourists were another matter, and marked the only season when extra traffic came their way. A few boats from the mainland were set to arrive in about a week, which would mark the ‘official’ start of tourist season.
“Word is that mister Ruiz has something new to check,” Father said after a long silence. “I expect he’ll want to investigate that at his first opportunity.”
“I’m surprised he isn’t already out there,” Kevin said, eating the last of the dry cereal. “He’s always so eager when he thinks there’s a major discovery to be had.”
Father hummed. “He wants witnesses. Word is that he’s brought in a news crew to document everything as part of some big production.”
“That’s good news, isn’t it?” Kevin asked. “Film crews always lead to more tourists, even if it takes a year or two to filter out.”
Which meant more money to spend once the story spread. The thought of it had him excited, and he hoped that he could talk his parents into visiting the mainland at long last.
See, that was a secret he held close to his heart. He wanted to get out and see the world. He had one game to delve into and explore, and a handful of books that made their way to the island. There was only so much to do on a chunk of land that could be walked around in less than a day.
Like, starting at the beach and never leaving it. It was an annual event where they basically replicated the marathon, only a bit shorter because of how small the island was. Eight miles across at its widest point, and the kids of the island made a game out of running the entire distance. His home was quite absurdly small in the grand scheme of things.
It was all he had ever known.
“True enough,” Father conceded. “Every vacancy hurts, but we’ve been making enough to get by. No need to overcrowd the island again.”
He said that as if his own father hadn’t moved to the island and settled down. He married mom and started helping run the tours that grandpa had been putting on since he was young. Not that Kevin would ever point that out. Father got a bit upset when he was reminded that he wasn’t a generational native of the island. Kevin technically qualified, given he was born of two people birthed on the island.
Finished with his breakfast, he rinsed the bowl before placing it in the strainer and hurried off to grab his pack and boots. Double checking the contents—he had three water canteens and a pack of jerky inside along with a bit of trail mix—Kevin closed it up and threw it over his shoulder. Sometimes he got stuck out in the woods through lunch and had learned to keep some supplies on hand just in case.
“I’m going to head out and get the ambush site prepared,” Kevin called out.
“Be careful, the rains might have made the ground a bit mushy,” his father answered.
Not giving that much concern, he hurried out the door. Most of the town could be seen from their front yard, with the general store standing prominently, and the sole tavern being the two most popular day to day destinations. Both paled in comparison to their inn and the connecting home of course. In a way, his family was the best off out of all of them.
That didn’t stop the town from working together. Every inch of land within the village was put to use. Crops were growing strong across every yard, and cattle grazed in the cleared hills. Everything grown on the island was considered communal by necessity, which always vexed the tourists when they visited.
Above the sparse village loomed the pyramid, if it could truly be called as such. The three pointed structure was an anomaly of design, with smaller ruins standing off some distance against each point. It sat directly in the middle of the island atop the highest hill, making it the landmark everyone used to navigate the island.
The Church stood in its shadow, much to the consternation of their Bishop.
Not that Kevin cared about any of the drama resulting from that squabble. His destination was deep into the woods near the northern ruins along the path leading up to it. His father would play tour guide, bringing the group out there and following a well worn script. Kevin would then jump out, bother the tourists a bit, then run off back into the woods. He often snatched something simple, like a hat or glasses, then returned them at the end of the tour when they reached the pyramid. It was a bit rude, but most enjoyed the performance.
So of course he nearly ran right into Mister Ruiz just as he came out of the inn.
“Whoa there,” Mister Ruiz said, holding up his hands with a smile on his face. “Mister Ortega, look at you! You’re growing into such a fine young man!”
He cringed back, which only got a laugh from the salt and pepper haired gentleman.
“Oh, so modest,” he continued. “I trust you’re ready to give those kids a proper show?”
“Yes sir,” Kevin said, his eyes flicking towards the man’s stoic escorts.
Mister Ruiz smiled brighter as his eye twinkled and he leaned in closer. “Want to know a secret?”
What teenager didn’t?
“Sure!”
“I’ve brought a film crew with me this year,” Mister Ruiz whispered. “They wanted to get the full authentic tour experience before the main event. Think you can leave the one with the camera alone when you do your usual bit?”
Kevin nodded. “Got it, no bumping or stealing the camera.”
“Smart lad,” Mister Ruiz said with a wink. “If you need to, take something of mine. I’ll make sure my security won’t bother you.”
“Okay,” Kevin readily agreed.
“Infact,” Mister Ruiz said softly, pulling a necklace from his shirt to reveal a pendant that looked oddly similar to some of the designs that Kevin had seen within the ruins. “Take this, to really sell it. Just make sure I get it back before the interview, understood?”
“Crystal clear,” Kevin chirped with a mock salute.
His eyes flicked over to where the two guards stood stoically. Neither looked directly at him, but he knew them to be dangerous. Boris and Nickolai, two former Russian special forces or something if the gossip was to be believed.
Approaching them, neither openly reacted, but he could feel the weight of their attention on him. “Is that cool with both of you?”
“Boss said so,” Nickolai said. He was almost certain they traded names on a whim, not that it worked on him, but it was fun to play along with the others. “Won’t skin ya for pinchin’ something from the boss so long as you get it back on time.”
Permission to be a menace was officially given!
Mister Ruiz laughed at the enthusiasm, but Kevin wasn’t going to let anything get him down after that. Some sleight-of-hand had two small bags of snacks passed over to the two Russians who pocketed them discreetly. Yet another tradition he had with the pair, and a reason they gave him more leeway than others.
With an enthusiastic wave back, Kevin took off towards the woods where he would stage the scene. He was going to put on the best show of his life and really knock people’s socks off. Doubly so if it was going to be featured in a documentary about the island seen around the world!
***
Two hours later, it was finally time. He could hear the tour group in the distance, drawing ever nearer as they followed the trail. Just two weeks earlier he’d gone through with his father to make sure it was nice and clear. Clearing things in advance meant plenty of growth since then, which would help hide that they maintained it at all.
Peeking through the underbrush, Kevin caught his first glimpse of the coming group. The first was the typical nerdy guy with heavy glasses and dressed like an extra from a mummy movie. Well, aside from his blue hair. At least he appeared to be in shape, unlike the next in line who was pouring with sweat. Then there was a woman in full hiking gear that was definitely overprepared for a simple walking trail that was less than five miles in total. Still, he couldn’t help but watch the way her outfit clung to her form.
Next up came the man with the camera. He looked a bit out of place among the college students, as did the reporter wearing a badge around her neck. Mister Ruiz himself kept just ahead of the camera, not dominating the view, but still within easy framing. Father was right there with him, pointing out some of the simpler ruins and the common knowledge they knew about the natives that occupied them.
“These were believed to be living quarters of some kind,” Father said, gesturing towards one ruined lodging. “There are bowls and cookpots inside that are replicas of the originals found in the structures shortly after they were abandoned.”
“Fascinating,” the last member of the procession said. A woman in a floral yellow sundress that fluttered in the breeze stepped forward, examining the site. “These are indeed very faithful reproductions. They even got the flaw with the third flower.”
Kevin had to stifle a giggle as the woman continued to absolutely nerd out about everything on display. At least Mister Ruiz seemed amused by the enthusiasm of the rather exuberant student. Sure, he might have sponsored the yearly trip as some sort of tax dodge for his own research—at least according to Kevin’s father—but he was genuinely engrossed in the field.
Kevin of course was doing his best to not stare at the woman, especially with how the hem of her sundress kept ruffling in the low breeze blowing through the forest. After a few moments, Mister Ruiz glanced towards him, practically catching him in the act. Kevin knew that it was time to make his appearance and he was thankful he’d made sure everything was ready during his wait. Mister Ruiz had even been nice enough to position himself closer so Kevin’s performance wouldn’t risk the camera.
Preparing himself, Kevin rustled a branch to signal that he was in place.
“What was that?” Father exclaimed, spinning towards the brush. “There’s something out there.”
“I think you’re right my friend,” Mister Ruiz said. “Perhaps with the return of the artifact, the natives have come to reclaim it?”
Well, if there was ever an invitation!
Kevin leapt out of the brush, brandishing his cypress stick like a spear. The woman in hiking clothes screamed even as Father moved to protect her. Boris and Nickolai watched from the side, and he almost broke character when the former smirked. Instead, he rushed forward, batting his stick at Father to get him to move back another step, then he moved to Mister Ruiz.
The man played it up, stumbling back so that he fell on his rear. The pendant was on full display, and held in place with a magnetic clasp that came undone with a simple yank. Kevin held it up in triumph, screeching out a keening yip of success.
And just as suddenly as he appeared, Kevin rushed back into the brush.
“Quickly, we must make it to the pyramid before that fiend does!” Father shouted.
Whatever might have been said in answer was lost to the sounds of the forest and his own mad dash through it. His goal was the main entrance to the pyramid on the south side. It was the only known way into the structure, and terminated at a single room within. Normally it took Kevin almost ten minutes to make the run, but he’d made sure to go extra fast this time. Five minutes later he was standing outside the massive structure, looking up at the stone that had once been lined with gold. It would take the others another ten following the trail, which gave him time to catch his breath.
It also let him wince at how a branch had cut the hand holding the pendant. Worse, he’d gotten a bit of blood on it! He’d need to clean that off before giving it back to Mister Ruiz for the presentation. Thankfully they kept some emergency medical supplies within the pyramid itself just in case.
Stepping into the ruin, Kevin triggered the lights and followed the lone hall. Sure enough, when he reached the main chamber, it was exactly as he remembered. The space was mostly empty, save for a raised relief on the far wall. Pillars flanked a carved doorway that led nowhere. It was simply carved into the rock, with nothing behind it.
Yet, Kevin inspected it closer. The writing remained undeciphered, yet he recognized some of it on both the wall and the pendant he had taken. They matched almost perfectly. Intrigued, he held the pendant up, and blinked when it began to glow.
He took a quick step back, but whatever had happened, it was already in motion.
The wall flickered; the space between the pillars distorting. Then, with an odd crack of air, he could see through the wall into another space. There, torches lit the walls and a woman in pale robes blinked back at him. She had pink hair cut shoulder length and eyes that somehow shone violet.
“Who?” the woman asked, her voice carrying a lyrical cadence that wasn’t English despite understanding it perfectly.
“What are you doing!?” a man shouted from behind him.
Kevin spun, finding Mister Ruiz stomping towards him. He stumbled back on reflex, and tripped. Before Kevin realized it, he had fallen through the threshold. Worse, the moment he crossed, it flickered, and where he had once seen the familiar hall now held nothing but empty stone.
The woman with pink hair stood over him, her hand held with pointer and pinky raised. She regarded him with a wary eye as she circled him. He tried to smile, raising a hand to wave at her. Immediately a flash of light enveloped him, only for darkness to claim him in that same instant.