Finding what you are not looking for

Laerte was a young 20-year-old university student who studied archeology and his life was not so different from that of the rest. He lived with his mother Dione and two younger brothers Rena and Felix, while his father Abramo saw little since his mother left him. Friends had several, but he could only consider Valerio, a school mate from high school and Alysa, who he met in elementary school, as his closest friends.

As part of their studies, Laerte used to go to field practices to different parts of the country in the company of their classmates, where the teachers guided them in real archaeological works that lasted several days, in which, depending on the work, they used to stay in camps, rented houses or hostels. It was in one of these outings, in which Laerte would find something that would change his life.

—For today we have finished boys, pick up the tools to return to the house, —the teacher announced as he looked at the progress of the day. —Remember that we have one week left before finishing."

Students quickly picked up things and put them in the van, because although many were excited about field trips, in that particular place they did not find anything truly relevant that would excite them as on other occasions, so return to the house where they were staying relieved them, especially on a day as hot as that.

—I don't think we'll find anything, we've been digging for two weeks and we've only found a fist of pieces of pots, —Valerio snorted, getting into the truck.

—Maybe we won't find anything, but don't trust each other, —said Master Franco, who closed the trunk of the truck. —As a kind of curse, things usually come out in the last days of work and if that happens, they'll regret finding it, because we can not stay more days, and we will have to register everything in a hurry.

—What would happen if we found something we couldn't register on time? —Asked Laerte.

—I could stay another couple of days, —one of the students commented enthusiastically.

—Very good question. As you know, there are set times to work, not only because of the budget, but because sometimes the owners of the land will not always be so open to let them work for a longer time, —explained the teacher— So if they find something important a few days before At the end of the season, they should evaluate whether or not they can register and pick up the material. If they estimate that it is impossible for them, they must bury everything again, register the site where they found it and plan their methodology to return in the next season.

—Wouldn't that prove that the surrounding people take things out before we can return? —Asked Dalila, one of the students.

—Yes, unfortunately it is a risk, because although it is illegal to move these objects, many people do not know the laws in this regard. We will talk more about that when we return to the classroom, for now, we return to the house.

Despite the fact that several students were aroused by the curiosity of hearing the teacher, they all obeyed because their fatigue was greater and without further delay they went to the house in the center of town. After leaving the tools in the cellar, everyone ate together and when they finished, each one freely chose the moment when they had to do office work or rest, but knowing that at the end of the season they would have to deliver a report of all the work done.

On that occasion, Laerte, Valerio and Oscar, decided to go for a walk to the town. It was not a very big place and there were not many things they could do there either, but that day they had been sitting or kneeling for a long time, and they wanted to stretch their legs.

During their walk, they decided to buy some beers but before being able to enter the store, Laerte received a call that decided to attend outside the store while his friends made the purchase.

—What's up, mom? ——I asked Laerte worried about the sudden call, because although his mother used to communicate daily with his mother, he usually did it at night to say good night.

—Don't be alarmed, son, your grandmother has gone bad and I have had to bring her to the hospital, but she is out of danger —Dione explained.

—Talk to me? —He asked strangely.

—Yes, apparently she has had a dream that altered her and says she won't feel calm if she doesn't talk to you,— she murmured, preventing her mother from hearing her— Please listen to her and don't question her, just tell her you're okay.

—Okay, pass it to me.

—Laerte? Son? You're good? —Asked Daphne with great anguish.

—Yes, Grandma, it's me and I'm fine. I am in the store with some friends.

—What a relief! Listen to me son, I may not see you when you come back, but you have to remember two very important things —said the hurried old woman as if time was running out —Do not trust the woman with green eyes that shine, no matter what I say or How nice it seems.

—Granny, don't say that, I'll be back in a week, of course we'll see each other —Laerte replied, puzzled by her grandmother's words but worried that maybe her mother didn't tell her how bad she really was. —And about the green-eyed woman. You don't have to worry because I don't know anyone like that, but if I get to see her, I'll walk away, I promise.

—Thank God I told you in time. Please don't forget it, —the woman pleaded, and then changed her tone of voice, which, although it still sounded worried, it was sweeter when she said, —Don't forget that I love you so much.

—I love you too grandma and I will not forget your advice.

The relief in the old woman was very evident and with such tranquility, she could say goodbye to her grandson, but as soon as Dione answered the phone again, Laerte soon asked her mother what she was going through.

—Apparently your grandmother had a nightmare, she says she saw a woman with green eyes that would bring you misery and suffering. She didn't want to talk much about his dream, but he altered it so much that he had a heart attack —Dione answered when she could leave the room where her mother was resting— Luckily it happened when I went to her house to wash her clothes and I could call the Paramedics. The doctor already checked her and said she would be out of danger when she calmed down, but she said she wouldn't be if she didn't talk to you first —she took a heavy sigh— Now that she talked to you she looks calmer and the doctor said she would have her in observation tonight, while stable, tomorrow you will be discharged.

—Are you sure? She said she couldn't see her again when she returned, —he asked worriedly.

—Believe me son, if there was anything else, I would make you come back from your trip right now, but the doctor said it was fine. I will stay with her tonight and if something happens, I will let you know.

—Okay, —Laerte said with a sigh of relief.

—Well, then I leave you. I call you at night, I love you.

—Yes mom. See you later, I love you too. Goodbye.

Laerte hung up without being able to take away the worry and very surprised of the words of her grandmother, in addition, she was not very given to superstitions and fantasies, however a simple dream had altered her enough to cause a heart attack and at least since the last Once she saw her before going to her practice, she didn't seem to show signs of senile dementia or mental affectations.

—What's wrong brother? —Oscar asked that, along with Valerio, he left the store with a bag of beers and some snacks.

—Nothing.

—If you don't want to tell us it's fine, but don't lie that it's nothing, because you have a sepulchral face, —Valerio said.

—Why don't we go back to the house and tell us while we take the cold ones? —Valerio proposed.

—I don't feel like drinking anymore. You come back to the house, I want to go around again, —said Laerte who, from her grandmother's call, wonders if it would be better to go home and help her mother.

—Hey ... —Oscar was arrested.

—If I don't hear from you in half an hour, I go looking for you, —Valerio warned.

Laerte looked at Valerio and nodded before beginning to walk aimlessly, the idea of returning home was born from the moment he heard that his grandmother was in the hospital and after hearing all that strange situation, he kept thinking that his mother I would need help. What kept him from staying was that his mother insisted that everything was fine and that leaving school things for a passing thing would not be worth it. However, the reason I really couldn't make up my mind was because I had a bad feeling.

While thinking what to do, Laerte saw himself outside the town without realizing it and fortunately, he noticed it when he had barely advanced a few meters outside, so he immediately turned around and before moving forward, looked at his cell phone. Half an hour's walk was about to be fulfilled and although he still hadn't resolved what to do, he felt calmer so he decided to send a message to Valerio to let him know he was already back. After sending the message and taking the first step to return to the village, Laerte stepped on something that, despite his thick field boots, he could feel under his foot.

The outskirts of the town was unpaved land, so Laerte was not surprised that what he stepped on was a stone, and since he had other things to think about, there was not even reason to have to look, however, something forced him to focus his eyes on what he stepped on and to his surprise, what he saw was a black ring that gave off pink or purple glitters with sunlight and at the same time a strip of the same color followed the circumference of the jewel in the middle.

Curious, Laerte lifted the ring and looked at it just a few moments, for his cell phone rang and he hurried to read the message that came to him. It was from Valerio, who warned him not to be late, so without paying more attention to the ring, he put it in his pocket and hurried back to the house.

Once he returned, Oscar soon asked what was happening by attracting the attention of the rest of the companions who were in the house, but Laerte explained vaguely that his grandmother was in the hospital and had gone for a walk to wait for the news of his mother, well I didn't want to go deeper into the subject. He even said that his grandmother had just fallen and that his mother had already told him that they had left the hospital.

The explanation satisfied Oscar and the rest, but Valerio knew immediately that there was something else in all this, however, upon meeting his friend, he waited for the opportunity in which both were left alone to ask. It was until the night that everyone had already gone to bed, that Laerte went out to the patio to continue reflecting and Valerio went out with him lighting a cigar. Once the two were gone, it was Laerte himself who initiated the issue and explained to his friend what really happened.

—I have a bad feeling and I would like to go back, —Laerte concluded the explanation.

—It's weird that you let yourself be carried away by feelings, —Valerio commented and then remained silent for a few moments and took another breath of his cigar— I admit that I also find your grandma's behavior strange.

—She even makes fun of those who think they have premonitory dreams, but she was really terrified when she warned me. I also can't believe I have a mental problem that appears suddenly, it was fine when you came here.

—I'm not a doctor to dare to say anything about it, so let the doctors find out, but about what you want to do, why don't you better wait?" -—Valerio suggested— Your mother said that your grandmother would be under observation, if that dream is nothing and did not wreak havoc, let her leave tomorrow, so it would be better if you did not think about leaving at least until your mother warns you if they gave her the high

—I had already thought about it, but I can't take away this sense of worry, —Laerte commented, leaning on the wall of the house and putting her hands in her pants pockets— I don't know if I can sleep or concentrate enough."

You say that and still you have corrected Oscar and me with the drawings," Valerio laughed. "I think you are exaggerating, it is not your own, but perhaps it is a pretext that your mind made unconsciously," said another smoked cigar. "I don't blame you." , I think we are all bored of not finding anything interesting, it has been the least fruitful practice we have had.

—Maybe you're right, —Laerte replied, thinking it was a viable explanation and took the ring he had forgotten he was wearing from his pocket— But if they don't discharge my grandmother, I'll leave."

—At least you'll have a good excuse if this is still that boring. —He laughed and noticed the ring his friend was looking at— And that? In case you intend to declare to Airlia?

—I found him while walking, I forgot what he was wearing, —Laerte replied and Valerio took the ring off to see it better.

—It's a men's ring, what will you do with it?  You don't use these things. —He looked at him carefully.

—I don't know, I don't even know what I brought it for. —He took it from Valerio's hands to look at it more closely— I don't know what material it is, if it were gold I could sell it.

—I think it's fantasy, but I like it, it also looks new. If you don't want it, you can give it to me. —He smiled and smoked the last of his cigar.

—No, maybe it's from someone in town. If they see us, they may think we stole it and they will want to kick us out of the place, —he said, putting it back in his pants— Tomorrow I'll tell the guide and maybe he knows who it is.

—Lend it to me, at least I want to try it on. —Valerio extended his hand wanting to extend the theme of the ring so that his friend would forget his concern.

—Forget it, we're not even going to keep it, —he slapped at his friend's hand.

—Do not be boring! —Valerio exclaimed giving a gentle blow to the shoulder of his friend to distract him and to be able to take the ring out of the bag, however, Laerte moved quickly avoiding his friend.

—Don't be childish and let's go back inside.

—I am not childish, so you can lend me a few moments to try it on or I will take it for myself, —Valerio smiled, giving him an idea to cheer on his friend— You won't even notice when I take it from you, I'm like a ninja.

"I want to see you try, if you succeed, I will give you my console," said Laerte, amused at his friend's threat. He took the ring out of his pocket and put it on his finger— I will not leave it so easy.

Laerte showed his hand with the ring on to invite his friend to take it off, but he noticed that Valerio's face changed as he looked at the ring. At first he thought it was a trap of his friend to win the bet, but from the corner of his eye he noticed that something was moving from his hand and when he turned his eyes, he saw how a thick cloud of pink smoke came out of the ring that little by little It was compacted to form a more solid figure.

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