Five years after I turned eighteen, the same lark still paid its visit at odd hours of the day, leaving fragrant wildflowers, and colorful pebbles. I moved into a downtown apartment yesterday.

My phone rings from the counter and I quickly walk around my couch to get it and see it's 'Sweet Jessus'. I smirk and pick up while walking into my kitchen for a snack. "Hey, Jess. What's up?"

"Hey, girl! Are you working today? I was wondering if you wanted to check out this cool museum with me - apparently, it's world-renowned and only an hour drive from your place." There are people talking in the background and I hear her type something on her keyboard.

I smile while washing an apple, and double-check with the schedule I taped to my fridge. "I'm down for an adventure today but... I have to be back by eleven because I'm working tomorrow."

There's a pause where I can picture her nodding until she remembers I can't see her, "Great! Let's meet at the museum."

******

We agreed to meet up at the museum and an hour's drive later, I found myself standing in front of the museum framed by high white arches and odd angles.

We entered and paid for admission. Jess and I explored the animal and dinosaur exhibits first then went up to the third floor and stumbling upon an intriguing painting; my lark was delicately rendered in paint on canvas, surrounded by his treasures. It was displayed in the art exhibition.

Jess stood beside me curiously and snapped a few photos with her phone despite the 'No Photography' sign roped in front of her.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" She paused and looked back at me.

I mutely nodded. The details of the painting were well preserved behind two inches of glass, but I would have expected at least a few frayed edges and lost detail. I glanced down again at the dated plaque that claimed the painting was two thousand years old.

The plaque only revealed the date and title of the piece, "Lark's treasure". The painting was unsigned.

Jess took another picture zoomed up of a similar silver-painted pebble to the one I had at home and then led us away from the painting. We walked out of the exhibit and decided to ask the front desk about the artist.

The front desk secretary was a stout woman wearing a floral collared shirt, she waved us forwards after helping another visitor with directions, "May I help you?" Her hair was pinned up in a neat bun and she .

I spoke up and gestured back the way we came in what I hoped was the general direction of the painting, "We were just wondering if you knew where the museum acquired the painting with the lark?"

Jess piped up, "The 'Lark's Treaure'?"

The secretary stiffened and nodded. "One moment please."

She picked up her radio and spoke a few words to someone on the other end in a strange lilting language. Then she turned back to us with a pleasant smile, "Please wait here."

I nodded hesitantly and looked to my left at Jess who seemed a little creeped out.

We sat on the bench we found propped against the opposite wall and waited for something to happen.

Visitors passed by to take pictures of the dinosaurs in the foyer and the waning daylight shone through the revolving glass doors to our right. We agreed to wait for an hour and if nothing happened, then we would try to sneak out with the crowd but an hour turned into two and then three since we both fell asleep.

I was woken by a tap on my shoulder.

"Miss? We are closing in half an hour."

The security guard tapped Jess awake too and informed her before walking off to find more sleeping visitors.

I looked towards the secretary's desk and see that she is nowhere to be found and sigh in disbelief. We waited for nothing.

The lights suddenly flickered and went out as a gust of cold wind burst through the glass doors.
The security guard came running back.

"There's a blizzard outside, help me fasten the doors!"

Jess and I stood up and ran to help him as the doors spun faster and faster. We managed to lock them in when a few more lingering guests appeared and helped out.

Everyone was breathing hard and looking a little windblown when we turned towards the security guard.

He looked around with uncertainty and picked up his radio saying a few things in the same language the secretary used. He became certain after a few more words and smiled, "The owner of the museum, says you all may stay here for the night or until the blizzard passes. He'll be down shortly."

Everyone expressed their relief differently. One couple hugged, a small family of four nodded and an elderly man whispered to a younger lady beside him, probably asking her to repeat what he said. I was a little nervous about missing my shift tomorrow but Jess was practically bouncing on her toes to be having a sleepover in a museum.

A sudden thrill travelled through my body when I caught sight of the person approaching our small group. He wore something plain and sported cropped short hair but it was his eyes that said he wasn't human. He could also just be wearing coloured contacts of course, but I liked to believe in true golden eyes.

I elbowed Jess and she turned to look. Soon, everyone was staring at the man crossing towards us and walking around the bones.

The security guard bowed and stepped to the side, "Sir."

He nodded, "Call me Dusan. I have already set everything up for you on the fifth floor."