After gathering his scattered thoughts and forcing himself to focus, Vincent finally made a decision.
This is the result of twenty years of my life. I can't let everything fall apart when I'm this close to the finish line.
With that thought firmly in his mind, he continued his research.
He took the 5,000-year calculation he had uncovered and divided it into B.C. and A.D. periods.
The numbers eventually reached the twenty-first century.
Vincent kept adding the years one after another.
A.D. 2012... 2017... 2020...
He was getting dangerously close to the end of the calculation.
But when Vincent tried to finish it, his brain simply refused to cooperate. The freezing temperature inside the cave had given him a splitting headache.
To ease the pain, he drank some of the warm water from the bottle Amanda had left near the fire.
Before he even realized it, he fell asleep.
---
4:00 A.M. — The Next Morning
Vincent woke up suddenly.
How did I fall asleep like that?
Still wondering what had happened the previous night, he stepped out of the secret chamber.
After walking for a few minutes, he noticed cracks spreading across some of the rocks around him.
The sight immediately made him realize that staying inside the cave was dangerous.
He decided they needed to leave as soon as possible and tried calling George.
There was no signal inside the cave.
So Vincent walked outside and reached the enormous rock that had been concealing the entrance to the Calendria Cave.
But the rock was gone.
Vincent stared at the empty entrance in shock.
At that exact moment, his phone rang.
It was George.
Vincent: "George, did you guys get here? The rock that was blocking the cave has moved!"
George: "No, no, Vincent. We didn't do that. Are you safe? We're on our way there right now. Vincent... Vincent..."
Before George could finish, a thick white smoke began spreading through the cave.
Vincent collapsed.
---
When he regained consciousness, his hands were tied against the wall.
David, Beulah, and Amanda were also tied up beside him.
They were all lined up along the wall, unconscious.
Meanwhile, George was approaching the mountain in a jeep accompanied by Mexican soldiers.
But the information George had received was completely different from what was actually happening.
George: "Major, do we really have to use guns?"
Major: "Yes, sir. You know what they're capable of."
George understood what he meant and fell silent.
---
Vincent slowly opened his eyes.
His entire team was still unconscious and bound.
He tried to wake David.
"David... David..."
But before David could respond, the entrance to the chamber filled with members of the Sakala tribe.
And among them stood Sam.
He looked nothing like the Sam they knew.
The tribesmen were bare-chested, wearing loincloths, feathers in their hair, and colorful paint across their faces.
The sharp axes and knives in their hands sent a chill through Vincent.
Then the elderly tribal chief entered.
Behind him, several men carried the enormous statue of the monstrous pig.
A few moments later, David began to regain consciousness.
Beulah and Amanda were still unconscious.
---
George continued praying to his chosen deity for Vincent's safety as he made his way toward the cave.
The entire Calendria Cave was now surrounded by the Sakala tribe.
The cave was completely under their control.
The old chief suddenly shouted,
"Heyyy!"
Every tribesman gathered into a large circle.
The old man shouted something in their language:
"E Patti Ida Nirmoola!"
The tribesmen rushed inside like men possessed, gripping their axes.
Sam grabbed a torch and followed them.
Vincent was still too weak to speak.
Inside, the Sakala tribesmen began smashing the Mayan statue of Kukulkan with their axes.
Sam moved through the chamber, setting fire to the ancient Mayan maps.
To David, the entire scene looked like a group of rabid men who had completely lost their minds.
The Sakala tribesmen hacked Kukulkan's statue into pieces.
One of them raised his axe and smashed the statue's head.
The thunderous sound finally woke Beulah and Amanda.
---
Terror filled Beulah's eyes when she saw the tribesmen.
How did I even get here?
She desperately tried to remember what had happened.
The only thing she could remember was falling asleep beside David the previous night.
Nothing else.
The frenzied tribesmen continued destroying the cave that Cheran had created.
The old chief watched them with satisfaction.
Then, suddenly, he walked toward the prisoners.
He began chanting something.
The entire tribe repeated the chant behind him.
At that moment, the giant pig statue was brought forward and placed in front of them.
Although Vincent, David, and Beulah were awake, the sedative smoke made from black mamba venom continued affecting them, repeatedly making them weak and disoriented.
The old chief suddenly stopped chanting.
Four tribesmen stepped forward and began circling the pig statue.
One of them took a knife and made a small cut down the middle of his tongue.
Blood flowed from the wound.
He smeared the blood across the tongue of the giant pig statue.
The four men continued circling the statue while chanting:
"Naran Bale Dasa..."
Vincent immediately understood what was happening.
It was a ritual for a human sacrifice.
---
When George finally reached Caracol Mountain with the Mexican military, he felt a wave of relief.
The Mexican commander ordered 27 soldiers, arriving in four jeeps, to enter the cave.
But there were 44 Sakala tribesmen inside.
The Sakala completed their ritual and prepared for the sacrifice.
Then Amanda suddenly regained consciousness.
She shouted,
"Hey! What are you doing? This is Mayan history!"
The eyes of the tribesmen turned red with rage.
The old chief became furious.
He grabbed a large wooden water container and hurled it at them.
The water drenched all four prisoners, soaking them completely.
The old chief laughed bitterly.
"You dare praise those dogs in front of us? We were the ones who wiped out their bloodline! Those Itzá Mayans..."
His followers burst into laughter.
Their laughter echoed throughout the entire cave.
---
Hearing the commotion, the Mexican soldiers began climbing rapidly down the ropes.
George watched them anxiously from below.
When the old chief finally stopped laughing, Sam approached him and handed him a knife.
The old man proudly announced,
"I am the priest of the Sakala tribe."
He then walked toward David.
The moment he came close, all three prisoners were fully conscious.
Vincent closed his eyes.
"Jesus... Whatever happens to me, let it happen. But please don't let anything happen to the people who trusted me enough to come here."
He opened his eyes.
Blood splattered across his face.
Beulah's throat had been cut.
She was already dying.
Her final gaze was fixed on David.
"Beulah!"
David screamed her name and desperately pulled at his restraints.
The rope snapped loose from his hands.
David lunged forward and grabbed the tribal priest.
He slammed him to the ground.
The priest's head struck a rock with tremendous force.
He died instantly.
The Sakala tribesmen erupted in rage.
Four of them charged toward David with their knives.
David grabbed a knife lying on the ground and attacked them.
All four were killed.
The remaining forty tribesmen rushed toward David.
One of their blades struck the rope holding Vincent.
The rope snapped.
Sam immediately charged toward David and plunged a knife into his chest.
The blade pierced straight through his body and emerged from his back.
Vincent ran to Amanda, cut her ropes, grabbed her hand, and pulled her toward the exit.
Amanda was frozen with terror, but she followed him.
---
George suddenly felt that something terrible had happened.
He jumped into the jeep himself and drove up the mountain.
Meanwhile, the Mexican soldiers were already entering the Calendria Cave.
Vincent and Amanda ran toward the exit.
Suddenly, arrows flew toward them.
Three arrows were aimed directly at Vincent.
Amanda jumped in front of him.
The arrows struck her instead.
The force sent her collapsing to the ground.
"Amanda!"
Vincent's scream echoed outside the cave.
Hearing him, the Mexican soldiers rushed toward them.
Vincent grabbed a knife and drove it into the throat of an approaching tribesman.
Sam saw him and charged toward Vincent.
Vincent ran straight at him and kicked him hard in the chest.
Sam was thrown several feet backward.
---
Two Mexican soldiers positioned an XM307 automatic grenade launcher inside the cave.
The massive weapon, weighing around 23 kilograms, continued firing until its ammunition was exhausted.
More Mexican soldiers entered with sniper rifles and opened fire.
Even then, they struggled to advance.
Sam was lying against a rock, clutching his head.
Vincent attacked him relentlessly.
The first strike was enough to kill him.
But Vincent's rage had not yet subsided.
Several Sakala tribesmen were hiding behind rocks, terrified of the Mexican soldiers.
Vincent went after them.
He attacked one from behind.
Before another could raise his knife, Vincent drove his own blade into the man's mouth.
Then he kicked another tribesman backward.
Bullets struck him almost immediately.
The situation was rapidly spiraling out of control.
The remaining Sakala tribesmen pulled out poisoned arrows.
---
Just then, George arrived.
He put on a military helmet and charged into the cave.
The helmet fit perfectly over his broad forehead and prominent nose.
His body was completely protected by a bulletproof vest hidden beneath his coat.
As soon as George entered, dozens of arrows flew toward him.
Not a single one managed to penetrate his body.
The Mexican soldiers received permission from the Major and loaded four additional rounds into the XM307.
Every round that came out sent blood and flesh flying through the cave.
George ran deeper inside, shouting:
"Vincent! Vincent!"
He finally found him.
Amanda's body lay nearby.
Vincent had been sitting beside her.
When he saw George, he struggled to stand and walked toward him.
He took two steps.
His legs suddenly gave way.
George rushed forward and caught him.
Vincent collapsed.
Only then did George realize that an arrow had struck Vincent too.
George lifted Vincent's head onto his lap.
"Vincent, don't close your eyes. That's it... whatever you do, don't close your eyes. Soldier, water!"
Vincent began speaking weakly.
"George... I'm not going to survive."
"Don't say that, Vincent. I'll save you. I promise."
"George... you can't. It's too late. All these people died for a reason."
Vincent reached inside his coat and pulled out the Mayan calendar scrolls.
He handed them to George.
The arrow had been coated with the venom of the Wep spider, a poison capable of killing a person within minutes.
The venom had already done its work.
The moment George took the scrolls from Vincent's hand...
Vincent's life slipped away.
George realized it.
For two full minutes, he couldn't speak.
Then his phone rang.
It was an unknown number.
---
Rebecca
George answered the call.
After hearing the information, he immediately got into his jeep.
He drove toward the traditional medicine clinic where Vincent had gone earlier.
When George arrived, the building looked completely ordinary.
Rebecca was waiting inside.
The moment she saw George, she came outside.
A small bandage was wrapped around her head.
George: "Rebecca... Thank God. When I saw your car lying at the bottom of that ravine, I thought I'd lost you."
Rebecca: "So did I, sir. That day, I honestly didn't think I'd survive. If those indigenous people hadn't arrived when they did, I wouldn't be alive today. Luckily, they caught me just as the rocks were collapsing."
George: "Wait here, Rebecca. At least let me thank them. You stay in the jeep. I'll speak to them, and then we can leave for America immediately."
Rebecca shook her head.
"No, George. I've decided to stay with these people."
George stared at her.
"What are you saying, Rebecca? There's barely even a signal here."
"I know. But from now on, these people are my research. I'm going to live among them and document their history. The world needs to know about their medicine, their education, and the way they live."
George nodded.
"You're right. In some ways, these indigenous communities are more advanced than we are. I'll recommend that you're appointed as America's official liaison to these communities. That could help build a better understanding between them and us. There are countless indigenous groups living in these forests. Staying connected with all of them could be extremely valuable."
Rebecca smiled.
"Thank you, George. That's exactly why I made this decision. These people saved my life. I want to do whatever I can for them."
Then she suddenly asked:
"By the way, how are Vincent, David, Beulah, and Amanda? Are they still in Mexico?"
George froze.
He struggled to hide what he was feeling.
George: "No, Rebecca. They're not in Mexico anymore."
Rebecca: "They left?"
"Yes, Rebecca. They left."
"Did they tell you where they were going? I lost my phone, and all their numbers were stored in it. When are they coming back?"
Rebecca kept asking questions.
George composed himself.
"No, Rebecca. They didn't tell me where they were going."
He paused.
Then he forced himself to continue.
"And they aren't coming back here again."
Rebecca looked confused.
"Why are you saying that, George? Couldn't Vincent finish the research?"
"No, Rebecca. But he did everything he could."
Rebecca lowered her eyes.
"I know, George. I've never met anyone like Vincent in my life. Once he committed himself to something, he would never abandon it before finishing it. But so many things have happened..."
She took a breath.
"As long as Vincent, David, Beulah, and Amanda are at peace wherever they are, that's enough for me."
George nodded.
"For me too, Rebecca. I believe they're finally somewhere peaceful."
He said goodbye and got back into his jeep.
---
The End of the Calendria Cave
Inside the Calendria Cave, the Mexican soldiers had finally finished the battle.
Fifteen Mexican soldiers had been killed.
The Major ordered the bodies to be recovered.
The surviving soldiers wrapped the dead in cloth.
David's body had more than seventeen wounds.
A Mexican female soldier carefully wrapped Beulah's body in a white sheet.
Two soldiers went deeper into the cave looking for Vincent.
They found Amanda's body.
Beside her lay Vincent's body, his blood already dried.
The soldiers approached them.
Suddenly one Mexican soldier screamed:
"Run, soldiers! Run! Don't stay here!"
He sprinted outside.
The others immediately followed.
The cracks inside the cave had grown dramatically.
Water from the waterfall began pouring into the cavern.
Within moments, a massive torrent rushed through the cave.
The entire Calendria Cave was swallowed by the flood.
---
Three Centuries Earlier
As George drove away, his thoughts remained fixed on the Mayans.
Because there were chapters of Mayan history that had never been recorded.
One such chapter began on the final night before the Spanish left the Mayan territory.
Cortés had already boarded the ship.
He suddenly felt dizzy.
That night, pork had been prepared for dinner.
The Spanish soldiers had chased down a large, fat pig for the feast.
One of them raised his gun and shot it.
The bullet struck the animal.
The pig staggered and collapsed into the bushes.
Before the Spanish soldiers reached it, Cheran was already standing there.
There was murder in his eyes.
Without hesitation, Cheran drew his knife.
The blade had been coated with poison extracted from a poisonous root.
He stabbed the pig and pulled the knife free.
By the time the Spanish soldiers reached the bushes, Cheran had disappeared.
Four soldiers carried the fat pig away.
Neither they nor the others realized that the bullet wound and Cheran's stab wound were in exactly the same place.
---
Spain had no choice but to leave Mexico.
Cortés understood the financial situation of his country and agreed with the decision.
Before their departure, they arranged one final feast.
The pig brought by the Spanish soldiers was roasted and placed on the table with an apple in its mouth.
Cortés carved it into pieces and distributed the meat among the guests.
After dinner, the ship was ready.
The special guests from Spain and the Spanish soldiers boarded.
Cortés boarded as well.
Once inside his cabin, his dizziness became worse.
He collapsed onto his bed.
Around midnight, the ship's captain was also affected by the poison.
He collapsed unconscious against the ship's railing.
The enormous ship—approximately 130 meters long and 22.2 meters wide—continued sailing through the sea without anyone controlling it.
There were 190 passengers aboard, including Landa and Jeronimo.
The Spanish ship drifted helplessly through Mexican waters.
Then it collided with another large vessel.
The ship capsized.
The Mexican sea swallowed the very people who had devastated the land.
Those aboard the ship, weakened by poison and unconsciousness, disappeared beneath the waves.
---
Three centuries passed.
The Mayan population, once estimated at around nine million, eventually fell to fewer than a hundred in the region described by the story.
One major reason was their transition from hunting to agriculture.
To create farmland, the Mayans began cutting down the forests.
Between approximately A.D. 800 and A.D. 950, water sources began drying up.
Annual rainfall also declined dramatically.
The resulting drought destroyed their food supplies.
Hunger became increasingly severe.
Some Mayans died from starvation.
Seeing the desperate situation, the Mayan elders called a meeting.
An elderly leader stood before the people.
Everyone waited for him to speak.
Mayan Elder: "You all know what is happening to us. The reason is the curse of Chaac, the god of rain. We must perform a ritual immediately. Otherwise, every one of us will fall into the hands of Ah Puch, the god of death, and be taken to Xibalba, the underworld."
Fear spread through the crowd.
The village elder consulted the diviners and asked what ritual should be performed.
The following day, the entire village entered the river.
Their ritual required them to stand in the water for twelve hours while asking forgiveness for their sins.
Children and adults alike entered the river.
But as the cold intensified, people began collapsing one after another.
Those who survived were later killed by members of the Sakala tribe.
Already suffering from famine, internal conflict, and social collapse, the Mayans eventually began turning against one another.
The civilization continued to decline until, by the nineteenth century, the Mayan population in that region had virtually disappeared.
---
George's Secret
George returned home carrying all these thoughts with him.
When he reached his room, he removed his coat.
That was when he noticed the Mayan scrolls Vincent had given him.
He carefully unfolded them.
His expression changed instantly.
They weren't Mayan calendar scrolls.
They were something else.
Vincent had taken the original eighteen scrolls and somehow compressed them into just two scrolls.
And those were the ones he had handed to George.
George was still staring at them when his phone rang.
It was the Mexican commander.
George opened a box beside him and picked up his vibrating phone.
Commander: "Hello, George. This is the commander."
George: "I know. I was actually about to call you."
Commander: "There's no need. We can make this simple."
George: "What are you talking about? I don't understand."
Commander: "George... fifteen of our soldiers died. Four died on your side. I'm telling you this because tourists come here to learn about the Mayan sites. If word gets out that four archaeologists came here to conduct research and died, it will cause enormous losses for our government."
George understood exactly what he meant.
"I understand, Commander. But how can we hide what happened?"
The commander's voice became quieter.
"George... the Calendria Cave doesn't exist anymore."
George froze.
"What?"
"Yes. The entire cave was flooded by the waterfall. Now it's nothing more than a passage through which the waterfall flows."
He continued:
"We'll report that the fifteen soldiers died in an accident. As for Vincent's team, we'll make it appear as though they were passengers on the flight that disappeared yesterday."
George remained silent.
He knew exactly how many problems would arise if the truth became public.
Finally, he agreed.
The commander promised to take care of everything and ended the call.
---
A few minutes later, George opened the box again.
He took out a black-and-white family photograph.
George was a young boy in the picture.
The photograph had been edited.
It contained eighteen members of his family—his grandfather, great-grandfather, and several generations before them.
George carefully removed the frame.
He folded the Mayan scrolls into four sections and secretly placed them inside the frame.
Then he closed the box.
There was something written on the back of the photograph.
In ancient Mayan glyphs, it read:
"George Itzá."
George stared at the photograph.
And suddenly, the mystery surrounding Vincent's research seemed far deeper than anyone had imagined.
Some mysteries are never meant to be unraveled.