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Destiny City is hosting an annual scavenger hunt during the Star Festival to encourage people to get out and explore their city. The prize for turning in a completed scavenger hunt is a coupon booklet and a few free tickets to upcoming city events. Even if you aren’t interested in the prize, the scavenger hunt is specifically designed to take you through the city to showcase a few historic buildings, some art installations, and some of the city’s greatest accomplishments. While many of the places are familiar, during your explorations you come across a building you’ve never seen before--something that feels out of time. You’ve been in the area countless times before, so how did you miss this place? When you lay eyes on the building, you feel a strange timelessness and have the distinct sensation of being a part of something bigger. Briefly, you may see flashes of some distant past--a flickering memory that you can’t quite place or fully form. It’s hard to make out, but at some point in time you have the distinct impression of a faded figure taking your hand and telling you to do something. They sound hopeful and encouraging, like they really believe in you. By the time you blink, the visions are gone, the building is gone. The only thing that remains is a beautiful little garden and a plaque so faded that you can’t make out the inscription.
Myles didn't even realize that there was a scavenger hunt until he arrived at the booth to sign up for it. He had been collecting star charms--with Jeremy's help, of course--and while he had only intended to come do a little meandering until he figured out where to pick up another one, he'd wound up at the scavenger hunt booth.
Conveniently, where they were giving some out.
He had a free day to burn, and the idea of having someone chart out a path through the city?
Naturally, he'd texted Jeremy to see if he wanted to help but Jeremy was stuck, late at work. But, he promised to meet up for Myles at lunch and help him finish anything he hadn't already, so Myles counted that as a win. As long as he stayed on streets with signs, he knew his brother would be able to find him.
There was an amazing freedom in knowing that he was allowed to get lost. Jeremy had almost even encouraged it, though he had also been the level headed one to remind that the city had set up posts and information kiosks all over the city to make sure unfortunates like him didn't wind up too far from home. List in hand, Myles had eagerly gone through the city. Long legs and a wistful heart meant that he covered a lot of distance, quickly; absentmindedness meant he missed a lot and had to backtrack.
Even if a familiar area, he was lost. There was a candy store nearby that had caramelized bacon--which was both sweet enough for Myles and manly enough for his brother that they could both enjoy it. Only, he was staring at a building just a street and a half away from it that looked completely different. In Destiny City, it wasn't surprising that a building could pop up in the span of a week or two but this one looked so old. The plants looked withered and the glass was cracking, and beautiful vines of ivy clung go the walls like they'd been growing there for longer than he'd been alive. His lips pursed and he looked around, confused that he'd gotten himself lost between the last street and this one, but everything else looked familiar.
He looked back to the building to scrutinize it, to move closer to see if maybe it was just some movie prop or something when suddenly someone appeared in front of him. It was a woman, he couldn't make out any details. She took his hand. Things felt wrong, but not in a bad way. Everything looked older, plucked right out of a 90s movie. He felt small.
'Jeremy, don't tease your brother. We can go to the candy store. But you two have to behave. I want you to grow big and strong. You have so much to do in this life. We'll make time for all of it. So stop and enjoy the little things now and then.'
His breath hitched; he couldn't see the person, but he knew his mother's voice. Maybe it was just a memory? He blinked and she was gone, and everything looked normal again.
Except, the building was gone. Instead, a crumbled structure and plants overgrowing it. Myles took a few hesitant steps forward, eyes on the plaque he could just barely make out. It was too faded to read. He reached out a hand to brush over it, desperate to understand how a buried memory could burst to the forefront of his mind so vividly but it was impossible to make out the text on the wall.
...It was probably unrelated, anyway.
It had spooked him, but...
It wasn't bad.
He felt warm. He felt good.
...He couldn't wait for Jeremy to meet up with him so he could ask if Jeremy remembered anything.
They hadn't talked about mom in a while.
Today seemed like a good day to reminisce.
