A cold wind whipped Noah’s face as he walked across the bridge. He pulled his coat tighter around him, feeling the cold seep into his bones. He noticed a faint silhouette in the fog, a man standing alone on the bridge. Noah wondered what he was doing there, in such a lonesome place. He heard the man’s voice, warm and friendly, cutting through the silence. ‘Good evening, sir. How are you?’ Noah smiled weakly and replied, ‘No better than anyone here.’ The man nodded sympathetically. “I understand. Times are tough, aren’t they? But what if I told you there was a way to change that? A way to make your life better, easier, happier?” He reached into his coat and pulled out a small object. It was a compass, made of metal and glass.

 It looked old and worn, but Noah could see a faint light coming from inside. “This,” the man said, “is a map. A map to a hidden treasure. And I’m willing to share it with you for a very reasonable price.” Noah felt a surge of curiosity and excitement. He had always loved adventure stories, and now he had a chance to live one. He looked at the compass, wondering what secrets it held. Where was the treasure? What was it? Who hid it? He glanced at the man, who smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, it’s not a trick. It’s a real treasure, I promise. I found it by accident, but I can’t keep it. It’s too dangerous. Some people are looking for it, bad people. They would do anything to get their hands on it. That’s why I need your help.

You look like a smart and brave young man You can help me get the treasure to a safe place, where it belongs. What do you say?” Noah scoffed, He didn’t know if he could trust the man. He seemed friendly, but maybe he was lying. Maybe he was one of the bad people. Maybe the compass was a trap. But Noah also felt a strong temptation. He wanted to see the treasure. He wanted to have an adventure. He wanted to make his life better. He looked at the man again. He saw a glint in his eyes, a hint of desperation. He decided to take a risk. He nodded and said, “Okay, I’ll help you. But how do we get there? Where is the treasure?” The man grinned and said, “Follow me. The treasure is not far from here. 

It’s hidden in an old abandoned house. But we have to be quick. The bad people are on our trail. They won’t stop until they find us. Come on, let’s go.” He grabbed Noah’s hand and pulled him along. Noah followed, clutching the compass. He hoped he had made the right choice. He hoped he would find the treasure. He hoped he would survive. The man led Noah through the rocks, the sand, and the bushes. Noah tried to keep up, but he was out of breath. He wondered how the man knew the way so well. He wondered what the treasure was and why it was so dangerous. He wondered if he had made a mistake. He looked at the compass, but it didn’t seem to point anywhere. It just flickered and spun. 

He felt a pang of doubt. Was the compass broken? Was the man lying? Was there a treasure? He wanted to ask, but he was afraid of the answer. He decided to trust the man, for now. He decided to follow the compass, for now. He decided to hope for the best, for now. After a while, they reached an old abandoned house. It was a large, wooden building with a sagging roof and broken windows. It looked like it had been empty for years. It looked like it was about to collapse. It looked like the last place anyone would hide a treasure. Noah felt a surge of disappointment. He had expected something more exciting, more mysterious, more grand. He had expected a castle, a temple, or a cave. 

He had expected a challenge, a puzzle, or a trap. He had expected a treasure worthy of an adventure. He looked at the man, who smiled triumphantly. “We’re here,” he said. “The treasure is inside. Noah opened the letter and read it. It said: Dear Finder, Congratulations. You have found the treasure of the Lost City. But before you claim it, you must pass one final test. You must answer this riddle: What is always coming but never arrives? The answer is the key to the chest. But be warned. If you answer wrong, the chest will explode. And so will you. Good luck. The Guardian of the Treasure Noah felt a surge of fear. He had to solve the riddle. He had to open the chest. He had to get the treasure.

He said the riddle to himself: What is always coming but never arrives? He thought hard. He thought of things that come and go, like seasons, days, and years. He thought of things that come and stay, like friends, memories, and scars. He thought of things that never come, like peace, justice, and love. He thought of things that never arrive, like… He had it. He knew the answer. Brave as a lion he said, tomorrow. He heard a click. The chest unlocked, and he lifted the lid and saw the treasure. It was a pile of gold coins, jewels, and artifacts. It glittered in the candlelight. It was beautiful. It was priceless. It was his. He craved to grab the treasure, he heard Jonas's voice break the silence,

I'm going to let you take half of the treasure, said Jonas, but in return, you will never see another person again, I will take you to a secluded island in the Atlantic Ocean, the island will be yours to do whatever you will with it. But you must not see another person or I will come and take the treasure from you and you will be left alone on the island to starve you have two choices take the treasure and live alone with no contact with people, and I will give you a satellite phone to call for things you want to buy or leave now with no share of the treasure. Noah thought hard for a good long minute and said I'll take the treasure and live alone he said all of a sudden he was on an island with nothing but a pile of money all alone.