The Scavenger Hunt (8 ) : 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.
Today was the day. The day the scavenger hunt began! Kianna had been looking forward to this event for weeks! It was literally the only thing she heard about at track and field practice. The hunt was designed to encourage people to get out and explore their city. But for her it was something more. It was a chance to let her competitive spirit run. Honestly, she couldn't care less about the prize. With that thought in mind she quickly got dressed, grabbed her backpack, and raced off ready to hunt. She was determined to find every item on the list and be the first to cross the finish line. With a deep breath, she embarked on her adventure.
As she arrived at the starting point, she noticed everyone had gathered around the starting point and the rules were explained. When she listened, she could feel herself becoming more and more excited, and that excitement was evident on her face as well. She took a deep breath and prepared herself for the race. or at least the race that existed in her mind anyways.
tefla
Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2023 9:31 pm
Rayna hadn't been one hundred percent sold on the idea of signing up for the scavenger hunt around the city but considering that it seemed to be a good way to get exercise and maybe snoop around some old buildings was the only thing that seemed to intrigue her to finally sign up. Hey if it gave participants access to the insides of the historic buildings, why wouldn't she sign up?
On the afternoon that everyone was told to gather did Rayna stand off to the side before eyeing the individuals that had joined this particular start time for the hunt. It wasn't really a time-based activity but one that participants could complete at their leisure. That didn't mean that there probably weren't competitive people here but Rayna wouldn't mind either way. In no way was she super competitive but she would not be the last to turn in a completed hunt.
Receiving her scavenger hunt list did Rayna note an addendum to her list of places to explore of the fact that one needed to partner up for this specific hunt. Well that made the hunt a little more exciting. Scanning the crowd did Rayna note a younger teenager who looked a little too keyed up on excitement for the hunt to begin and so with a measured step did she walk over and positioned herself to the right of this younger girl, "I have a feeling that if you are this keyed up to start ... that you'll be dragging your feet at the end of the day. I don't think it's a race to see who can finish first but if it were, I bet you'd come out on top."
Rayna extended a hand to the girl before hoping that she'd accept the invitation. "I'm Rayna, wanna be partners like it said we need today?"
As her hands wrapped around her list of places to explore. Her excitement was growing inside her. Kianna turned around when she heard a voice speaking in her direction. The second they heard her mention someone keyed up, she knew it was for her. There weren't any other people in her vicinity half as excited as she was. She quickly spun around, her heart pounding with anticipation. Her gaze met the speaker's and a wide smile spread across her face. "Well thank you for the compliment I think, but I can assure you I have plenty of energy to spare, but you probably are right. I should calm it down a bit," she replied confidently with a slight laugh. Since if track and field taught her anything, that was that her legs could carry her as far as she wanted them to carry her. She had practiced for hours on end, pushing her body to its limits, and it had paid off. She was now ready to face whatever challenge came her way, but she knew getting this hyped probably could relax till later.
She quickly extended her hand back to the female, since if she was this willing to come up to someone as excited as she was, that was great partner material in her eyes! And she wanted nothing but the best to finish this competition with. "You know what? I think that sounds like a great plan, Rayna. I'm Kianna, and it's great to meet you! So where do you think we should start first?" she asked as she looked at her scavenger hunt list in her hand.
tefla
Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2023 2:14 am
Rayna laughed lightly at Kianna's confidence before she glanced down at her list. It was good to know that she hadn't completely botched this encounter by commenting on her new partner's excitement levels. Even more so Kianna had made it clear that she was in it to win it. Perhaps it was catching though because suddenly Rayna knew that deep down she probably wanted to win just as much. When Kianna asked where should they start the young woman glanced back down to her list before her eyes widened. Her finger traced down the list before she glanced to Kianna, "if you think you could plot a course that would take the least amount of time to get to all these places ... I say we start with that approach."
If they were to visit all of them in order well that would take a long time, but given it wasn't really a race, they just needed to complete the hunt, it'd be okay. But given that Kianna thought of this as a race, the best thing to do would be to spend a few minutes planning their route so that they could make the best of the time that they had.
"Once we figure out the best route to visit all these places then we'll really show these other teams what spirit we have."
chi honda
Sorry for the short tag. I'm fighting with my brain to give me words. It won and said, "nope"
Kianna was glad she had someone on her team who thought like she did. The fastest route was always the most efficient one. She quickly reviewed the paper and noticed there was an old historic building only a couple miles away. Most people would probably head there last, but if they hit that location first it would allow them the quickest time.
Kianna turned to her teammate and pointed to the old building on the list which was the fifth listed. "I think we should start with this one. It'll save us time and give us the most efficient route." Kianna knew that the building was close to the starting point, so they wouldn't have to travel out of their way to get there. Additionally, it was the fifth one listed, so if people followed in order they wouldn't even think about going there first.
"I'm looking forward to showing these other teams what spirit we have and showing them what winning is." she said with a laugh as she prepared to head off in the direction. As soon as she got her teammates approval of course.
tefla
You are totally good. I have those days too. lol. Sorry for my delay my laptop broke. x3
Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2023 9:13 pm
Rayna watched as Kianna eyed the locations on the list and she had to mentally agree with the younger girl's observation that visiting the location listed almost dead last would probably throw the organizers of this hunt off but she was chuckling at the idea. Sure would be nice if some participants did the unexpected, besides it wasn't really against any rules. All the rules stated was that you had to visit all the locations, there wasn't a time limit or set route so it was pretty much: go your own pace, go your own way.
Glancing back to her partner Rayna nodded in agreement before she spoke her response, "I think that's a fabulous idea. I'm thinking a slow jog is a good speed for me to keep up interspersed with maybe a faster pace at times. I just would hope you don't expect a full out run from yours truly," this was said with a grin on Rayna's face so hopefully Kianna wouldn't take offense to it.
Moving towards the door and watching as other teams were departing from the area, Rayna tucked her list into her back pocket before turning to side-eye her partner. "Ready or not, here we go. Lead on Kianna, I'll follow."
Kianna nodded she was totally ready to start this adventure, no matter what speed they started at. "Here we go!" she said happily as she led her new teammate Rayna forward.
Somehow it didn't take very long and before she knew it they were standing in front of a very eerie old building. Kianna felt a chill up her spine, and looked at the brochure in front of her. This building was nowhere on the map. It was like this building didn't exist in this town not now not ever. Yet here it was clear as day. She felt that this building had been abandoned for years maybe decades with how it seemed to be falling apart from the looks. However, she also felt like she had been here before like this place was familiar to her.
"Hey Rayna I don't think this is part of the hunt, but I also think we need to go in," she said towards her friend Rayna. She didn't want to sound bossy, but there was a strange feeling of Deja vu about this building, and she needed to understand why.
She cautiously stepped inside. The moment both her feet entered that first room, she saw a flash of light and hand reaching for her. Not only that but as the hand reached out to her, memories that she didn't know suddenly came flooding back. She saw two people that looked young, and like her.
tefla
Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 2:34 pm
Rayna had been all to happy to let Kianna set the pace at which they were racing to the first target location they'd set out to visit in this little contest. Although she wasn't really competitive in nature and the main objective of the scavenger hunt was to learn more about Destiny City itself it was Kianna's unbridled energy that Rayna was beginning to pick up on and channel into the desire to finish this little hunt before any other team did. It was why when Kianna called out to her that her attention had been on the sheaf of paper in her hands possibly planning their next stop instead of looking around at their location now that they had stopped.
The building that occupied the current lot seemed to have stopped her hunt partner in her tracks and although the literal clock was ticking Kianna almost seemed entranced by the building's existence. At first Rayna thought it odd that a building could do such a thing but remembered that anything could obviously happen in Destiny City. Besides given the outward appearance of what she was looking and Kianna's sudden reluctance to move onwards ... Rayna was putting two and two together in her mind. Almost absently did she wish for any of her devices that helped with her paranormal investigations but she had nothing with her on this day.
Reaching forward to try and grasp Kianna's arm before the teen wandered inside Rayna was left grasping at open air before something almost physical-like struck her in the chest. The blow hadn't been real but even as she folded in half for a moment, struggling to breath, did her vision swim. Rayna's form straightened a moment later and she then too felt whatever impulse had driven Kianna to move towards the doorway in which she had vanished from sight. The only difference was this impulse was directing her to follow a path that led around the building towards the area that could be classified as a backyard. Almost as if she were being gently prodded along in the back did Rayna finally catch a glimpse of a figure that flickered in various stages of opacity. The figure was standing in a garden of fragrant blooms and beckoned with both hands for Rayna to come forward, to approach ... to accept something, but what was it that she needed to accept.
"Please, I don't understand," came unbidden to her lips as the figure in the garden cajoled her to come nearer, "what do you need me to do?" Silent lips moved and Rayna struggled to make out any sort of idea on what was being asked of her. It almost looked like she was being told to "find her?" ... but find who, and how? The figure's words swirled around in her mind at a whirlwind pace before Rayna blinked.
Only to open her eyes to see that she stood in a garden of overgrown plants of a sort, "I have to find her, but who and why?"
chi honda
I'm reading into the prompt that each vision experienced could be different ... so Rayna didn't follow Kianna inside the building but her vision leads her around to the back. I figure when they both 'break free' that they'll be standing relatively close to each other still.
They reached out to Kianna and smiled, We love...the last words faded away. "Wait who are you? and why do you look like me?" she yelled out with tears falling from her eyes. She wasn't the kind of person to cry, but this flash affected her. She could feel the love, encouragement, and care of these people she had never met in her life.
Kianna was overwhelmed with emotion. She couldn't believe that these two people she had never met before were showing her so much love and kindness. She felt a strong connection to these two people, and she knew that she had to find out who they were. Part of her wanted to believe that something out in the universe guided her to them. Was this her wishing tree wish coming true? It couldn't be them could it? But before she could get anymore details the image faded, and she was no longer in the building.
Instead she was outside in a beautiful and overgrown garden. Perhaps this was her subconscious telling her she was meant to find them, and. The lush garden symbolizes the potential she had to find her parents. In addition, the building also symbolizes mystery, as her memory vanished with the loss of the building. Or at least what she thought was her memory. She took a deep breath, and whispered under her breath. "I will find them."
As she finished she heard a voice and turned around to see Rayna. "Rayna, are you okay?!" she asked concerned since she knew they had been separated but how long she didn't know.
tefla
Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 11:32 pm
At first Rayna wasn't aware that Kianna had been calling her name. Her entire focus was on trying to deconstruct what it was that she had seen moments ago before she stumbled over what seemed to be a loose paving stone. That sudden jolt to her balance brought her out of whatever fugue state she had been in before her gaze refocused on her scavenger hunt partner. Scanning the area around them it came as no surprise that the building seemed to have vanished all together. The garden that she stood in the middle of looked like it had always been there and there was a gate that led to the path that travelled around the garden's perimeter.
Was she okay? That's what Kianna had asked of her and she flashed back to the figure that she'd seen before nodding absently. Her gaze was steady and she put a hand to her forehead before rubbing at her eyes and wincing, "I think I'm alright. Something weird just happened though to the both of us, if I assume correctly. Things are kind of fading of what just transpired but I have this strong feeling like I've stood here before. In this exact spot, but I don't know how that's possible."
Her gaze flicked over the gate that lay wide open before she sighed. The investigator in her wanted to stay and explore but yet they had a scavenger hunt to complete. But looking at her partner Rayna wondered if both of their hearts were still in the right place. She nudged Kianna gently before sighing softly, "still game to finish this hunt of ours?"
When Kianna heard what she said, she felt a chill down her spine. She could also feel a strange familiarity with the place, as if she had been there before. Kianna felt déjà vu, even if she couldn't remember when or why. She felt it was a sign of her subconscious mind trying to tell her something. Kianna was trying to determine if the information she was getting was reliable.
She looked at Rayna and said, "Well, I'm glad you are okay. I think I know what you mean. This place feels similar, but that's impossible. Plus I think it sent me some information I needed. I just don't know if I can trust it or not."
Her mind wondered but she shook her head to try and get herself back into reality. She looked at Rayna again and realized her heart wasn't in the game anymore. Taking a deep breath, she knew it was time for her to make a decision: whether to stay in the game or choose another path.
"Rayna I am so sorry, but I think I need to investigate this vision - hallucination - whatever it was. As long as it gives me some clues to find my parents, I have to take it. I hope you understand, and again I am so sorry."
She hated to leave her teammate on the scavenger hunt especially just as it had began. She knew that she had to pursue this lead, no matter how strange, because it provided her with a potential answer to the mystery of her adoptive parents'. She hoped that Rayna would understand her decision and forgive her for having to leave the scavenger hunt.
tefla
Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2023 8:31 pm
As Kianna expressed that her focus had been diverted away from finishing the scavenger hunt Rayna felt the smallest sense of relief wash over her. Whatever it had been that her hunt partner had seen it looked like it had had a similar effect on herself as well. Now it looked as if both of them would be ending the scavenger hunt early. Rayna's gaze turned expressive as she listened to what it was that Kianna had seen before she nodded in agreement. There was no hard feelings at all. Her own vision needed to be carefully picked over but Rayna had a sneaking suspicion that the figure that had been beckoning to her, telling her to "find her" meant something to more to her powered self than her civilian self.
She instead shook her head from the memory before smiling at Kianna, "I completely understand why it is you feel that you have to end the hunt and I don't blame you in the slightest. We've both seen something this afternoon that's changed our perspective on things. Yes, even I feel the need to examine this strange vision more closely," and here Rayna actually laughed before she continued speaking, "even if I weren't intrigued by all things paranormal, I'd still be picking apart my vision to see if there's something more I need to do. My vision was asking me to find someone so I feel that it's my duty to at least try as well."
Here Rayna glanced down to the piece of paper that she held in her hand before digging into her jeans and extracting a pen before thinking of how absurd it was to not just simply give out her number if Kianna wanted it. So far her hunt partner hadn't shown an expressed interest in gaining a possible new friend but well, if the teen had a social media presence they could stay in touch. Quickly, and possibly rather impulsively, Rayna scribbled her full name she used on Facebook down on a corner of the paper and passed it to Kianna to take if she so desired to.
"I'm not sure if you would want or need assistance, but if you find out what you are looking for and need to talk, I'm here, this is just one method of reaching out. But it's only if you think you'd want that offer. I'm okay with whatever you decide."
Kianna was so happy her hunting partner understood. Since this was definitely not how she wanted this hunt to be. She was right though they couldn't un-see what they saw. It made her happy that they wanted to explore their vision too. She hadn't even considered paranormal when she mentioned it, but it made sense to her. Kianna was relieved that her hunting partner was open to the idea of exploring something beyond a natural explanation. It had been a shocking experience, but maybe there was something more to it than just what they had seen. The thought of something paranormal had never occurred to her before, but it was worth investigating.
"Well I hope you can find the person your vision pointed towards," she said with a smile. She truly hoped they found who they wanted. The people in their visions needed to be found. She knew that the visions wouldn't be easy to interpret, but she had faith that they could make sense of it all.
"Well thank you. I'd really love that, and here is my number if you ever want to meet up or just need a friend," she replied as she handed over a piece of paper with her number on it. She really hoped to see her again, and maybe they could touch base on their findings. As she said goodbye, she wished them luck on their journey and said goodbye. With one last smile, she headed home to start her search.
tefla
Fin?
Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2023 6:12 pm
Rayna took the slip of paper that was offered to her before slipping it into the folded up scavenger hunt list and then tucked both papers away for safe keeping. Rayna hoped that Kianna would find what it was that she had been giving insight to and as she turned away, she wished for the same sort of clarity in what she too needed to do.
:Good luck Kianna," and with that blessing did Rayna turn back to stare at the vacant lot once more with a thoughtful expression on her face. Had the visions been a clue in what needed to be done quickly, only time would tell, but Rayba was just itching to see if the vision would return. There definitely was no guarantee that would happen but what was the harm in sticking around?
