Rahim slowly lifted the lid of the big wooden chest. Karim stood beside him with the torch. Both of them felt nervous and excited.
The room was very quiet.
Rahim slowly opened the chest.
Karim moved the torch closer.
Both boys looked inside the chest.
But they did not see gold or treasure.
Inside the chest there were some old papers, a few books, and a small metal box.
Karim looked a little disappointed.
"I thought there would be treasure," he said.
Rahim smiled and said, "Maybe these things are more important than treasure."
Rahim picked up the small metal box.
The box looked old and a little heavy.
Karim asked, "What is inside the box?"
Rahim slowly opened it.
Inside the box there was a strange compass.
The compass looked very old, but it was still shining.
Karim looked carefully at it.
"This compass looks special," he said.
Rahim held the compass in his hand.
The needle of the compass was moving slowly.
But it was not pointing north like a normal compass.
Instead, it was pointing toward the wall of the room.
Rahim said, "That is strange."
Karim looked at the wall.
"Why is the compass pointing there?" he asked.
Rahim slowly walked toward the wall.
Karim followed him with the torch.
On the wall there was an old painting.
The painting showed a mountain and a river.
It looked very old and dusty.
Rahim looked again at the compass.
The needle was still pointing at the painting.
"I think something is hidden behind this painting," Rahim said.
Karim carefully removed the painting from the wall.
Behind the painting there was a small hidden door.
Karim looked surprised.
"Another secret door!" he said.
Rahim slowly touched the door.
There was a small lock on it.
Karim smiled.
"Maybe the golden key can open it," he said.
Rahim took the golden key from his pocket.
He slowly put the key into the lock.
Then he turned the key.
Click.
The lock opened.
Rahim slowly pushed the door.
The door opened quietly.
Behind the door there was a dark tunnel.
Karim shined the torch into the tunnel.
The tunnel went deep underground.
Both boys looked at each other.
"This house really has many secrets," Karim said.
Rahim nodded.
"Yes. And this tunnel may lead to another mystery."
Karim felt a little scared.
"But what if something dangerous is inside?" he asked.
Rahim said bravely, "We have already come this far. We should not stop now."
Karim agreed.
"Alright. Let's go."
The boys slowly walked into the tunnel.
The walls were made of old stone.
The air felt cold.
Water was dripping from the ceiling.
Their footsteps made an echo in the tunnel.
After walking for some time, they saw a small light ahead.
Karim said quietly, "Look, there is a light."
Rahim nodded.
"Yes, something is there."
They walked closer.
Soon they reached a small underground room.
In the middle of the room there was a stone table.
On the table there was an old book.
Rahim picked up the book carefully.
The cover of the book had strange symbols.
Karim looked at the symbols.
"These symbols look like the symbols on the golden key," he said.
Rahim opened the book slowly.
Inside the book there were some old drawings and maps.
One map showed the house and the garden.
But there was another place marked on the map.
Karim looked at it carefully.
"What place is this?" he asked.
Rahim looked closely.
"It looks like a cave near the forest," he said.
Karim looked surprised.
"Maybe the real secret is there," he said.
Rahim nodded.
"Yes. This map may lead us to another mystery."
Suddenly they heard a strange sound behind them.
Both boys quickly turned around.
The tunnel behind them was dark and quiet.
Karim whispered, "Did you hear that?"
Rahim nodded slowly.
"Yes… something may be there."
The mystery was becoming bigger.
And their adventure was not over yet.