The Lost Loot Of The Dynasty

Chapter 4: Gathering Cold

Xavier took a deep breath, trying to appear normal, though his mind was far from calm. But for now, he was safe—and that was enough.

"Well, we'll rest today, and tomorrow we’ll head south through the Adirondack Mountains to Egypt," Marcus said, his voice steady but tired, as he pulled his worn jacket tighter around his shoulders. His eyes were fixed ahead, but his mind seemed distant, lost in thoughts that no one could predict. The cold wind blew in through the windows, sending a chill across the room.

He looked at Xavier, his gaze narrowing slightly, as if studying him carefully. "Are you...?"

"I'll join in," Xavier said without hesitation, his voice steady despite the racing of his heart. Lily and Tessa exchanged curious glances, clearly surprised by his decision. Xavier took a deep breath to calm himself. He had no choice but to go with them. Going back to New York was not an option. He couldn’t risk being arrested for a crime he didn’t commit.

"I mean, I was actually heading to Egypt myself, but got stuck in an avalanche," he added, gesturing toward his weathered pack lying on the bed. "Look, I have a bag too. So, if you don’t mind, can I join you?"

Marcus let out a long breath, clearly unsure of what to say. He turned to Lily, who had already left the room without a word. After a brief moment, he followed her, the tension in the air thick and uncomfortable. Xavier knew they had questions, but he wasn’t ready to answer them—not yet.

After some time, Xavier and Tessa finally came out, their footsteps echoing in the cold, silent hall.

"Since you’re joining us, let’s start fresh!" Tessa said, practically bouncing with excitement. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and it helped to ease the tension between them. She smiled brightly, eager to break the awkward silence. "I’m Tessa Moore, a journalist and paranormal investigator from Brazil. And that angry bird," she said, pointing towards the direction where Lily and Marcus had gone, her finger cutting through the crisp air, "is Lily Yamaguchi, a skilled diver and marine biologist from Japan. And that old man, Marcus Donovan—he’s a former soldier and survivalist in Alaska."

Xavier smiled, taking in their introductions with a thoughtful gaze. His mind was already racing, considering his new adventurer companions—who were soon going to replace Mara and Kieran in his thoughts.

‘A former soldier and Alaska survivalist,’ Xavier thought about Marcus’s past. ‘No wonder he knows so much about mountains.’

Tessa’s voice interrupted his thoughts. "And about you?" She repeated her question, her green eyes peering over the glasses as she waited for him to answer.

Xavier blinked and looked back at her. "Yeah, I’m Vee... and... well, I’m an avalanche survivalist for now." He shrugged, unsure of how much to say at this point.

Tessa burst into laughter. "You... you really have the best experience to join our team!"

Xavier glanced at her, unsure of how to respond. His mind was still processing everything—these strangers, their group, and the journey ahead.

"So, tomorrow, if we get stuck in another avalanche, you're going to save us—MR. AVALANCHE SURVIVALIST!!" Tessa joked, her eyes sparkling with mischief, but there was a hint of seriousness in Xavier's gaze when she met his eyes.

"I’d like to think I can hold my own," Xavier replied, trying to match her humor. "But let's hope it doesn’t come to that, right?"

Xavier raised an eyebrow, wanting to change the topic. "So, you all are friends... or just an adventurer team?" He couldn’t help himself from asking. His thoughts briefly drifted to his own friends. Whatever had happened between them, he still missed them. The longing for familiar faces hung in the air, lingering between their words.

Tessa hesitated, a smile tugging at her lips as she glanced away, lost in her own memories. "Lily and I are friends... high school friends," she said softly. "She's actually from Japan, but her father moved to Brazil a few years back and..."

"And Marcus—he’s your friend too?" Xavier interrupted, curious.

Tessa paused, then shook her head slightly. "Well, Marcus was our guide. I mean, Lily's father hired him to guide us through these mountains. So, technically, you could say he's our friend. But he's different. He keeps to himself a lot and doesn't talk much about the past."

Xavier nodded slowly, absorbing her words. He glanced around and noticed tourists making their way towards their rooms for the night. The mountains loomed in the fading light of dusk, standing tall like silent sentinels. They stood there for a moment, taking in the breathtaking view. The last rays of the sun painted the mountain peaks in warm gold and orange hues, casting long shadows that stretched across the snow-covered ground.

After a few moments, Marcus’s silhouette appeared in the distance. Lily, already ahead of him, moved with quick, determined steps, as if eager to rest before the next day's trek.

Tessa gave Xavier a brief, acknowledging glance before they began walking back toward the warmth of their rooms. The air was crisp, biting at their skin as they gathered around the fire to discuss plans for the next part of their journey.

"We move fast, but we stay smart," Marcus said in his low yet firm voice. He glanced at Xavier. "Double-check the climbing gear."

Xavier nodded and picked up the ropes, ice packs, and crampons, carefully inspecting each piece of gear. "Got it, Marcus," he replied, passing over the climbing equipment without a word of resistance. Despite his own experience, he was starting to trust Marcus’s leadership more than ever.

Lily, ever the practical one, was organizing the supplies on the floor. Her brown eyes were focused as she packed extra rations. "We can't rely too much on the environment for food," she said, her voice steady. "These snowstorms will make it harder to track anything." She stuffed high-protein energy bars into a waterproof pouch and grabbed the first-aid kit, double-checking the contents—bandages, antiseptic, painkillers, and extra thermal blankets just in case.

Tessa was digging through a chest of old supplies, looking for anything that could be useful. She pulled out a small, hand-crank flashlight and a flare gun, tucking them into her pack. Xavier moved closer to Lily, helping her with her gear. He adjusted her woolen scarf and secured her pack. "Stay safe and warm, Lily," he said softly. "The snow's coming in heavy, and if we're caught in another avalanche, we need to make sure we can survive the cold until rescue."

"Yeah, she'll stay safe," Marcus said, stepping in and stopping between Xavier and Lily. His eyes locked onto Xavier’s, and for a moment, Xavier felt as if Marcus was peering into his very soul. "That’s why I’m here."

Xavier shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah... no... I mean, I was just concerned since she saved me." He cleared his throat, trying to shift the conversation. "I already have a girlfriend, just in case you get me wrong."

Tessa noticed the grim expression on Marcus's face. She took a deep breath and set her bag aside. "We're going to make it," she said in her firm voice, though there was fear in her heart. "We have to make it, no matter what, because we have no other option." She paused, meeting their eyes. "We just need to stick together. We’ve got each other’s backs, right?"

Lily looked at her and gave a slight nod. "Yeah, right. Together, we’ll get through this."

But the next morning didn’t rise as expected. They faced the snowstorm, but they thought they could push through it—at least that’s what they believed. Not until they stumbled upon eight frozen corpses, their bodies stiff in the snow.