For the Dreamers

"Stop being a baby."

"You always say that."

"But it's true. You never listen."

"I do, but you’re too bossy."

"Maybe I am. But you could try, just once."

"Okay, okay. I'll think about it."

"Remember the time we found that old map?"

"How could I forget? It was raining cats and dogs."

"Yeah, and the ink was running and blurring."

"But we still followed it, anyway."

"And ended up with wet socks and tracked mud everywhere."

"But that’s the kind of fun we'll never forget."

"What if we went back?"

"Back where?"

"To where the map led us."

"Are you serious?"

"Why not? It's not like we have anything to lose."

"We've been down that road before."

"You always get us lost."

"Do not! That was your job as the 'big sister'."

"Yeah, and you were the one always running off."

"Exactly. And maybe this time, we'll find something different."

"Do you still have it?"

"The map? Yeah, it's up in the dusty attic, covered in cobwebs."

"Let's get it."

"Now?"

"You’re still afraid of spiders?"

"Fine, but don't say I didn’t warn you."

"It could still be in one piece."

"That’d be a miracle, considering the state we left it in."

"I hope we can still read it."

"And if we find something?"

"We'll split it fifty-fifty."

"You know I don't care about the treasure."

"I know. But it's the thrill of the hunt, right?"

"Alright. Let’s do it."

"You're sure you remember the way?"

"It's burned into my brain. Like the smell of Mom’s cornbread."

"Then lead the way."

"You're the one with the compass."

"And you’re the one with the map."

"Fair enough."

"This is it."

"The clearing?"

"Yeah. Anything ring a bell?"

"It's been years. Everything seems so... small."

"Let’s get to the spot."

"Do we have to dig again?"

"Unless you brought a metal detector."

"I wish."

"This is pointless."

"You’re giving up?"

"No, just… maybe it’s always been a wild goose chase."

"We’re not leaving without trying everything. Come on."

"X marks the spot."

"Again?"

"Well, it's a classic for a reason."

"Alright, let’s get our hands dirty."

"On three. One, two, three!"

"It's... a rock?"

"No, not just a rock."

"What is it then?"

"It’s got an inscription."

"Let me see."

"It says 'the treasure lies where the rivers meet'."

"But we already checked here."

"It wasn’t here before."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. A hundred percent. No doubt in my mind."

"Or maybe we weren’t looking hard enough."

"Could be. But it’s getting late."

"We should camp here."

"Fine, but no more digging until morning."

"Deal. I hope you brought snacks?"

"It’s weird, isn’t it?"

"What?"

"Coming back here."

"Yeah. Like looking into a time capsule."

"Do you ever miss those days?"

"Sometimes. But we’ve moved on."

"To what?"

"This. The thrill of the unknown."

"I guess you’re right."

"Always am."

"I can’t sleep."

"Me neither."

"Thinking about the treasure?"

"No, about what you said earlier."

"What’s that?"

"You know, about expecting too much."

"I didn’t mean it like that."

"How did you mean it?"

"I just... I want to believe in us."

"We’re still here, aren’t we?"

"Yeah, but for how long?"

"Forever, if you want."

"We should get going."

"Already?"

"The sooner we find it, the sooner we can get home."

"I don’t know if I want to go home."

"What do you mean?"

"This... this is our place. Our adventure."

"But we can’t live in the past."

"I know. But we can always come back."

"To what?"

"To the hunt. To each other."

"I like that idea."

"Me too. Now, let’s find this treasure."

"The sun’s already up."

"It’s about time we had some luck."

"Look over there."

"The river. Where it splits."

"There’s something shiny."

"Could it be?"

"Only one way to find out."

"Let’s go."

"It’s... it’s a key."

"What’s it for?"

"I don’t know. Surely it unlocks something."

"Could be the treasure. Or part of a clue."

"Well, let’s not waste any more time."

"Agreed."

"The map’s useless now."

"We don’t need it. We’ve got the key."

"Follow the river."

"Which one?"

"Both."

"That doesn’t make sense."

"It’s not supposed to. This is an adventure."

"Alright, Indiana Jones. Lead on."

"I was more of a Lara Croft fan, actually."

"Whatever works for you."

"It’s this way."

"OK, you’re the expert."

"What’s that?"

"It’s... a dark cave."

"The treasure could be inside."

"Or a family of bears."

"We’ve faced worse."

"You’re not wrong. Remember that bad perm you gave me?"

“How can I forget? Mom made me cut my own switch for her to whip me with.”

"That’s when you learned to cry on cue."

"Shut up. Get in the cave."

"You first."

"Scared?"

"Cautious."

"Same thing."

"Fine. But if I get mauled, I’m blaming you."

"Deal."

"Here goes nothing."

"Or everything."

"Let’s hope it’s everything."

"It's dark in here."

"Do you have a flashlight?"

"In my back pocket."

"Thanks."

"It's... empty."

"What do you mean?"

"The cave. There's nothing here."

"Maybe we're wrong."

"Or maybe it's a trap."

"Don't jinx it."

"I'm not. I'm being realistic."

"Well, we're not leaving without finding something."

"Look up."

"What is it?"

"A hole in the ceiling. And light."

"A way out?"

"Or a way in for something else."

"Let's check it out."

"Careful."

"Always."

"The key might fit."

"You really think so?"

"It's worth a shot."

"Okay."

"It... it fits."

"Turn it."

"It's stuck."

"Careful, you’re going to break it!"

"Like you broke my favorite doll?"

"That was years ago!"

"Still counts."

"It's... it's opening."

"What's up there?"

"I don't know, but it's definitely not bears."

"What do we do?"

"We climb."

"After you."

"You're the one with the stomach for heights."

"Don’t be a scaredy cat.”

"Fine. But only because I trust you."

"It’s… a chamber."

"Do you think this is it?"

"It has to be. Look at the carvings on the wall."

"It’s like stepping into a storybook."

"If this leads to treasure, I get first pick."

"It's beautiful."

"But, it’s empty."

"What?"

"There’s no treasure."

"This can't be right."

"The map, the key, the inscription."

"It's all been for nothing?"

"Or maybe it's not about the treasure."

"What are you talking about?"

"Look around. The walls."

"They're... covered in writing."

"Mom would’ve loved this place."

"She’d have told us to clean it first."

“All those Saturdays I spent dusting every single thing in the house.”

"It's our story."

"What do you mean?"

"Everything we've been through. It's all here."

"But why?"

"To remind us of the journey."

"The treasure was the journey?"

"That, and the memories we made."

"Together. Good or bad."

"Always."

"Maybe we found the true treasure after all."

"I think you're right."

"Let's head back to the house."

"But we can't take this with us. We don't have to. We'll carry it in our hearts."

"Forever?"

"Forever."

"I never knew it would end like this."

"End? It's just the beginning."

"Of what?"

"Our next adventure."

"But we've been everywhere."

"There's always somewhere new to explore."

"You're insatiable."

"It's what makes us who we are."

"So, where to next?"

"Anywhere but here."

"But we've only just found the treasure."

"The real treasure was the friends we made along the way."

“That’s so cheesy."

"Doesn’t mean it’s not true."

"Okay, okay. But next time, no more digging in the rain."

"Deal. Now, help me up."

"We should leave a mark for the next ones."

"Other treasure hunters?"

"No, the dreamers. Someone else may find this place and need to know it's not only about the gold."

"What do we leave?"

"Our initials. With a plus sign."

"Like we're adding to the story."

"Exactly."

"I like it."

"Ready to go?"

"Almost."

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know. It just feels like we're leaving something behind."

"We are. The treasure."

"No, something else."

"What could it be?"

"I don't know. But I'll know it when I find it."

"Find what?"

"The next adventure. The next story to write on these walls."

"We'll find it together."

"Always."

"Let's go then."

"But first, one last look."

"Ready?"

"As I’ll ever be."

"Let’s go home."

"Home’s just a stop before the next map."

"Then what are we waiting for?"

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