The group enjoyed their stay, and when finally they were set to take their leave, the king approached them and said, "You have proven yourselves to be true heroes. I am proud of you, and I know that you will always stand together against any challenge that comes your way." Then, he gave them the treasures he had promised, and also handed each of them an object and instructed them to open it and make a wish to find their way home.
Amina, Bisola, Mike, and TJ looked at each other, contemplating the wish. They had been through so much together, and they knew that they would always cherish the memories of their adventure. After a moment of contemplation, they nodded in unison and wished to find their way home.
As soon as they made the wish, the object melted into a smoke that covered everything, blurring their vision. The smoke was thick and white, and they couldn't see anything. But after a while, the smoke began to clear. Gidado and Avovome found themselves at their various destinations, while Mike, TJ, Amina, and Bisola saw a road that they had never seen before.
"What's this?" Bisola asked, looking around in confusion.
"I don't know," Amina replied, "but I think it's our way home."
They followed the road, and it led them to the exact spot where their car had broken down. TJ was the first to spot the car, and he screamed in excitement. "That's it... our car!" he exclaimed.
The others rushed towards the car, jumping up and down in excitement. They were finally going home. As they were celebrating, they began to hear the sound of police sirens in the distance.
"Police!" Mike exclaimed. "Maybe they can help us get back to town."
The police officers arrived in a blue van, and one of them stepped out. "We've been looking for you guys," he said. "We received a report yesterday about a car being found, matching the description we have in our records. It was reported missing by Mr. Maxwell ten months ago, along with some of his staff."
Amina's eyes widened in surprise. "That's us," she said. "We're Mr. Maxwell's staff."
The police officer nodded. "Okay, good. We've been searching for you guys everywhere. We were here yesterday night, but we didn't find anyone."
The officer ushered them into the back of the van, and they zoomed off towards town. As they drove, Amina and her friends couldn't stop talking about their adventure. They were all still in shock, trying to process everything that had happened.
When they arrived at the police station, Mr. Maxwell was waiting for them, his face etched with worry and relief. As he saw Amina, Bisola, Mike, and TJ step out of the police van, his expression transformed into one of joy. He rushed towards them, embracing each of them warmly.
"Thank goodness you're safe," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "I was so worried about you guys." He stepped back, looking at them with a mix of relief and curiosity. "How about the rest?" he asked, his eyes scanning the area as if expecting the others to emerge from the van.
But instead of a response, an awkward silence filled the air. Amina, Bisola, Mike, and TJ exchanged somber glances, their faces reflecting the weight of what they had to say. Mike cleared his throat, breaking the silence.
"We lost them," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Mr. Maxwell's expression faltered, and he looked at them with a mixture of surprise and concern. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.
Amina took a deep breath and began to explain, recounting their journey and the events that had unfolded. She told him about the creature, the caverns, and the darkness they had faced. She spoke of the bravery and sacrifice that had been made, and the bonds they had formed along the way.
As Amina spoke, Mr. Maxwell listened intently, his face growing more somber with each passing moment. When she finished, he nodded slowly, his eyes filled with a deep appreciation for what they had endured.
"I...I had no idea," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "I'm just glad you're safe. We'll make sure to honor their memory and make sure their sacrifice is not forgotten."
The group nodded in agreement, their faces reflecting the sadness and loss they felt. They knew that their adventure had changed them forever, and that they would always carry the memories of their friends with them.