Fiction

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PREVIOUSLY IN THE MYSTERIOUS CITIES OF GOLD REVISITED...

Ben, Stephanie, and Matthew search for Elizabeth and finally come to a city where they find her. Because it is so dark, the kids do not realize they are in the cities of gold. Lionel and Alexis catch up with them when they find Elizabeth.

AND NOW...

Before long, the sun came up, and the group couldn't believe their eyes. All of the buildings that surrounded them were tall, beautiful, and made of pure gold! "Oh, my goodness!" Alexis cried. "We found El Dorado!"

"These buildings are amazing!" Matthew exclaimed. "I never saw golden buildings before!"

"They are beautiful!" Stephanie cried. "It is so neat to be able to see something so beautiful in person and then write our papers about it. Usually when we're asked to write papers, we're expected to just use books, which doesn't even compare to seeing something this magnificent in person!"

Ben nodded. "Stephanie, now that we're here, let's open up the doors to one of the buildings so we can have a look inside. How about this one, since it's right here?"

Stephanie agreed, and she and Ben walked a little closer to the doors. Remembering how the deck hand they had met earlier on in the trip had told them not to open their bracelets all the way, they opened their bracelets only slightly and aimed them at the doors to the golden building. The sunlight bounced off of their bracelets and onto the doors, and the doors opened! "We did it!" Ben cried. He and Stephanie hugged and kissed each other excitedly, then hugged the rest of the group. "Let's go inside," Ben said. The group started to follow him into the building, but they were soon surrounded by a bunch of angry men.

"You have come here to steal from our city!" yelled one man angrily. "You want our gold!"

"No, sir, please, you are mistaken!" Lionel protested. "We didn't come to steal anything. We are honest people. These three, Ben, Matthew, and Stephanie, only want to see the buildings so they can write papers about them. We are their chaperones, and this is Stephanie's sister, Elizabeth."

The men would not listen. They seized everyone in the group and threw them into a prison. "We will talk to the leader of our city, and he will decide what to do with you," one man snarled. The men left.

Everyone in the group felt very scared. What were they going to do now? Just what would the leader of the city do to people he knew or thought were thieves?

Elizabeth started to cry. "Steph, please text our mom and dad and tell them we love them, no matter what happens to us."

Stephanie gave her sister a hug. "Don't worry, Elizabeth. There are a lot of people in this city, not just the men who captured us. Maybe someone here will believe we mean no harm and let the men and the leader of the city know, and we'll get out."

"Or we might starve to death," said Matthew, worried. Everyone groaned.

"Matthew, you're such a comfort," Lionel said sarcastically. He was scared, too, but he tried to remain calm for the sake of the group. "Look, we don't know what's going to happen to us. We should have explained to the inhabitants why were here before we just went ahead and entered one of the buildings. It was our mistake. But even though we make mistakes, I believe that Jesus always looks out for us and protects us." He cleared his throat. "Alexis, kids, everyone stand in a circle. We're going to hold hands and pray."

Everyone joined hands, bowed their heads, and closed their eyes. "Lord Jesus, please forgive us for making the mistake that we made today and for trespassing onto the property of the citizens of the cities of gold. Please help us to make peace with them and help them to understand we mean no harm. In Your name we pray. Amen."

"Amen," everyone said.

TO FOLLOW...

A flash flood hits El Dorado, and the group struggles hard to escape from the prison and save each other and all of the inhabitants of the cities of gold. Will they save the city before everyone drowns? Make sure you read the next episode of THE MYSTERIOUS CITIES OF GOLD REVISITED.

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