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The Enchanted Cave

by Sai Nietes

Three men, Jose, Pedro and Juan, decided to explore the forest. After

walking for three hours, Pedro said, “I am so tired 1.) _____ we sit for a few

minutes? My feet are badly hurting, and I am so hungry.” Juan answered, “Of

course, Pedro we 2.) _____.” But we 3.)_____ stay longer than ten minutes. It’s

almost noon, and we 4.)_____ find our way back before sunset.”

“Yes,” answered Jose. “Remember, we 5.)_____ stay here after sunset. I

have heard that there are strange creatures coming out at night in this forest.”

“Really?” Answered Pedro. “If that is the case, we 6.)_____ go back before four

o’clock. By five o’clock we 7.)_____ be in the place where we started, or else we

8.)_____ lose our waySo, the three decided to rest and eat their lunch. After a few minutes, the

three started walking. “What’s that?” shouted Juan. “Is that a cave? Pedro

looked at Jose and said, “Are you sure there is a cave in this forest?” Jose

answered, “I have never heard of it. My grandfather never mentioned a cave in

his stories.” But Juan responded, “It definitely is! Look, there’s the entrance. It’s

covered by vines, leaves and “cadena de amor”. Surely no one has discovered it

before.”

Jose nodded his head in disbelief. But he said, “Let’s check our map, and

find out if it does exist.” As he looked at the map, he found many marks, but not

one indicated a cave. “No, there isn’t any cave found in the map.” “There is a lake,

but no cave.” He folded the crumpled map and said, “I believe we 8.)_____ go

back. There is something strange happening here.”

As he started to walk, Juan answered. “Ooh! Where’s your sense of

adventure Jose, I guess the cave was never discovered before. Why don’t we go

inside and explore this unknown cave?” he added. Pedro nodded in agreement.

“Why not? We 10.)_____ discover treasures. We will be rich, if that happens.”

The two excitedly cleared the vines and leaves covering the entrance of the cave

and walked inside, while Jose reluctantly followed them.

The next day, a search party was called by the families of the three men.

The teams searched the forest, but Jose, Pedro and Juan were never found. “We

looked everywhere.” The rescuers told the families of the three, we e ven reached

the lake, but we could not find them.”

Not one among the members of the search party of forest rescuers

mentioned about the existence of a cave.

-The End.​