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There had to be a way into this damned thing. I moved forward examining the smooth surface of the pyramid. It was like looking at glass or ice or something. The ground shifted under my feet and I scooted back to the paved path between the columns a little bit too late. A plume of dust rose from the ground, rising from the cracks on the pressure plate I had just stepped on. The large cavern was suddenly filled with the sound of what sounded like rocks grinding on rocks-gears perhaps and...metal? Either way, I grit my teeth until the sounds stopped. Jesus I couldn't see anything. I waved my arm around, flapping at the dust choking on age old dirt until finally I could see.
The glass like face of the pyramid had changed! It's reflective surface was replaced by lines upon lines of text etched into the stone. I tentatively stepped forward, relaxing when there wasn't a reaction to my weight on the pressure plate. The entrance to my vexing pyramid was visible now-an oblong rectangle frame with a vertically opening slab. Curiouser was the small square pad embedded into the stone right beside the entrance-faintly glowing through what was left of the dust. Something was out of place here. I flashed my light around looking for power strips or signs of someone else being here before me. There was no reason for that glow-the technology didn't exist up until the recent years and even then light coming off this thing felt unnatural. I continued moving carefully forward, my heart beating faster in my chest as I approached the panel. Then my breath hitched.
It was a sensor. I had seen some similar in dad's research facilities that used patterns detected in eyes or finger prints. In this case, the sensor before me was in the shape of a hand. A right hand to be exact. I felt my brain try to putter to keep up with what my eyes were seeing but no matter how much it puttered, I couldn't make sense of it. There was no need for this technology to be here-to be in a place where it shouldn't exist. This shouldn't exist. I eased forward going completely numb as I reached out my hand. It settled into the sensor perfectly and the eerie blue glow moved in a scanning motion before dimming out. Once again, the sound of grinding gears could be heard. There was a hiss-air being released- and I threw my good arm over my face as more dust clouded around me. Once again, I was coughing through the dust and flapping my arm about. Christ, at this rate my lungs will be considered ancient relics with as much dust I'm inhaling. The air cleared and I flashed my light back around. My pyramid was open.
I found myself stopped at the entrance. I don't know why but this strange feeling washed over me, a feeling I didn't really understand. It reminded me of when I found out my mom died, that sense of your whole world never being the same again. As I looked into the mouth of the pyramid, all I could really think or even feel was that my life was going to turn upside down. Like more so than it obviously had anyways. I took a deep breath and moved forward into the entrance, carefully looking around.The path that connected to the opening behind me descended down and I had to lean against the wall to keep some kind of balance so I didn't lose my footing. I kept going, flashing my light on the featureless walls until I came to a weird fork.
To my left, I could see the path continue downwards while to my right I saw the path take a steep incline. I could feel my lungs screaming at me already just by looking at it. My light came across the wide space in between the two paths. There were two bowl looking objects protruding out of the wall-sconces maybe? I moved forward to examine the contents on the inside....it was a black tar looking substance and by the look of the wall behind it, it was flammable. Quickly I pulled out the small box of matches in my pocket, struck one and dropped it into the bowl. Flames licked up the wall until they finally settled. I did the same to the other bowl and then stood back to examine the effect on the wall. The light from my flashlight had illuminated the old stone and I could faintly see something was on it. On the ground below the two flames were what I assumed was torches. I picked one up and dipped it into the bowl and pulled back as the flame in the sconce shared to the torch. For the first since I had fallen, I turned my maglight off and managed it around to my back pocket. Now, with the light from the flames giving the needed ambiance I could see clearly what it was.
A map.
Upon further inspection, I realized that it was a map of the world-or what should have been the world. There were continents that all had familiar shapes, but seemed to be in the wrong areas. The pictures were faded before, but now they looked almost as beautiful as if they had been painted freshly a few days ago in the light of the dancing flames. It was almost as if they were supposed to be hidden from the light before. There was a figure on either side, bordering the edges of the wall clad in some kind of ancient armor I had never seen represented before. The figure on the left's eyes were pointed up and his left hand was outstretched, finger pointing at a particular spot on the map. The same was happening on the right, only it was reversed and the figure's eyes were pointed downwards index finger pointed towards a different spot. I moved closer for a better look. 545Please respect copyright.PENANAb6RsXDD3rW
The figure on the left was pointing at a spot towards the top of the map, the continent it was on had a familiar shape but i couldn't place it....it almost looked like South America though. Right beside his index finger was a spot marked simply by a half circle. I had to squint to see it among the detail of the trees and areas marked by zigzagging blue lines that I assumed to be rivers. The figure on the left was the same only his finger was pointing lower towards what I assumed was the equator. This continent looked a little like Africa, except with more land mass extending towards the right. I followed the soldier's index finger and found another half circle among areas that I assumed to be mountains. It wasn't nearly as hard to find as the other one was. Then, situated smack in the middle of a blank space of the ocean, was a land mass that I had never seen before. There was no soldier to point to this area, and there didn't need to be one. Directly in the middle was an orb outlined in gold and yellows. The continent had a weird shape in the fact that it reminded me of a bulls-eye. The biggest mass was at the center with smaller islands circling it and extending outward, creating a ring effect. I was reminded of throwing a rock in the water, and watching the waves ripple away-the landmasses created the same effect.
I examined that map so hard I thought it was going to be forever burned into my brain, but no matter how hard I stared I couldn't figure it out. Eventually I gave up and started up the stairs to the right. I tucked my bad arm against my chest , wincing at the pain that had now turned to a dull throb , and hugged the wall to the best of my ability. The first couple of steps weren't so bad, but as I got further up, I realized that the small steps and narrow passage already combined with the ache in my chest wasn't doing much for my growing anxiety. I paused a moment and leaned against the wall. Ahead of me, it looked like a little more of a climb and I sighed. The faint light from the sconces below cast dancing shadows on the wall that almost lulled me to sleep. For a brief moment I closed my eyes and just stood there with my head against the wall. For a brief moment, I wished that I was back at base camp with Max talking about our next climb...
Oh, Max. I wondered what he was doing right now. Had he talked to The Major yet? Were they looking for me? I had so many things running through my mind and I sorely wished that the situation had different circumstances. There was still so much that I didn't understand though, and it was that drive-that drive to understand -that pushed me so hard. There was also something else-something I still didn't understand. It was a different kind of push, unlike anything I had ever felt and it was like I was on the verge of discovering something so vital... I pushed myself off the wall and continued to climb those treacherous stairs until finally that narrow pathway opened up into a wide room. I lifted the torch high into the air to illuminate my surroundings.
"Whoa"
...................
It emerged from it's carved tunnel and descended down the wall, tasting the air. Where it's sight had long since gone, it's sense of smell and hearing greatly made up for. The creature paused a moment, taking in it's surroundings. Copper was heavy in the air, it could taste it-but it's prey had long since gone....but it's scent was still there. It inhaled deep, taking in the new mix of smells. It circled the area where the blood lay a few times before catching onto the scent and following.
As it moved further, the smell of blood gradually became more fresh mingling with the smell of new dirt-it suddenly hissed. The temple of it's masters had been opened! It screeched in anger, the hunger gnawing at it's empty gullet making his hunt all the more serious. With new purpose and on familiar ground, it moved swiftly down the corridor, it's talons scraping against the paved path below as it tried to keep from sliding in it's excitement. It clicked it's tongue, perking it's ears as it's tight path suddenly opened into a new room-
It slammed into the wall suddenly blinded-light! 545Please respect copyright.PENANAE6KPw0KffK
It roared in anger and furiously raked it's claws out against the wall trying to rid whatever was causing the brightness. It's talons connected with the sconces in the wall and they clattered away onto the ground. The black substance scattered and splashed against the walls and floor, the fire that the creature had hoped would be put out spread like a disease, engulfing the room in more light than before. The creature cried out again and leaped over the flames, the heat from the fire warming it's scaly underbelly. It scattered up the wall and around the corner until finally it was entrenched in darkness once more. Now placated at the fact that it wasn't in pain, It clicked it's tongue once more trying to find it's direction.
It's prey had been here! It tasted the air and quickly regained its hunt. The sound from it's tongue resounded off the narrow passage and it quickly climbed the wall, creating a new path to reach it's prey. In the excitement of it's chase, it cried out. Soon it would have it's meal.
.........
I dubbed it "The Ballroom". The ceiling reached high above to form a dome in the same architecture I had seen in the city outside. The light from the torch gave off light, but not enough to let me see anymore detail to the room besides the fact that there were openings everywhere I looked. I found a sconce by the entrance and carefully perched the torch horizontally on it. With my hand free, I dug my maglight out of my pocket and clicked it on and flashed it up. At first, I didn't understand what I was looking at so it took me a moment to realize that the white dots on the ceiling weren't signs of aging or stalactites-but stars!
"Ho-ley Moses" There weren't just stars, but planets up there!...and two figures. I circled around in my spot trying to get a better sense of what I was looking at. The figures were represented as long black shadows, I traced their beginnings all the way down the wall, circled and found that they connected in the center of the room to two statues that I hadn't even noticed before. Awe struck, I moved towards the statues for a better look. There was a man and a woman dressed in garb that reminded me a lot of Norse Mythos-The man was dressed in plate armor, with his helmet tucked under his arm, while his other held a sword that stretched up towards the ceiling. He had long hair tucked into a braid, and a beard that would have made my dad jealous. The woman wore something less reminiscent of war and more...maternal. Her hair was long and draped over her shoulders and down her back. Her dress was long and hung off of one shoulder. In her hands she held-a globe. A reoccurring theme that I had started notice here. Where the man's face was stern and stoic, hers was jovial and kind. Together they gave off an image that sent chills down my spine. I followed the shadows back up to the ceiling. This place was unbelievable. A mural spiraled around the two and the large planets represented, depicting different figures and events. My best guess is that it was an origins mural. I remembered from my past studies that some cultures held these in such regard as they would their gods-their stories were that important.
A terrible sense of dread fell over me as the most blood curdling scream I had ever heard in my life broke the silence. What the fuck was that? I spun around, as something crashed to the ground in the distance. Oh my god. ohmygodohmygod. I could hear whatever had made the noise moving around below me-and by the sound that just ripped a whole new level of fear into my being-it sounded big. Somehow, all I could think of was the massive T-Rex from the first Jurassic Park movie and the roar that erupted from it's mouth when those two kids were trapped in the car. That scene gave me nightmares and it defintely didn't make me feel any better now. I had to move-and fast.
Suddenly, the torch went out and before I could scream a hand went over my mouth and I was quickly shoved against the nearest wall, face first. My poor arm was crushed immediately and I screamed out in pain which only made the hand across my mouth clamp down tighter. I struggled with whoever had me as the full weight of their body pressed against mine.
"Turn the light off." I could feel his words brush against my ear in the quietest whisper I had ever heard. And for some reason, I did exactly what he told me to do. I stopped struggling and clicked the light off. "Now don't move." I leveled my breathing to the best of my ability as whoever he was pressed me against the wall even tighter. Jesus fucking Christ what fresh hell had I entered? Another heart wrenching roar ripped through the dark, sending my heart into an all new level of nervous. I clenched my eyes shut as whatever it was clawed it's way into the room. It was like living a nightmare right now.
His grip around me got tighter, as the monster behind us made a racket of breathing and growling. If this guy could melt into me, I'm sure he would have. My broken arm sure wasn't appreciating the abuse and I had to hold back the tears. I felt him shift as the monster came right up to us and I held my breath. It growled low and deep and I clinched my eyes tight so hard I was beginning to get a small headache. There was a long moment where the monster did nothing but breathe heavily in my ear and blow rancid breath on me and then a clicking noise that I only assumed the creature itself was making. There was another pregnant pause and then the sound of whatever the monster was backing up-I could hear it's claws clicking on the floor. With another loud and cringe-worthy roar, it thundered out of the room kicking up more dust.
As soon as it had gone, I knocked my head back, clipping the guy on the side of his chin and whipped my pistol out. I spun around and clicked the light back on. My arm protested and I was in an extreme amount of pain, but by God I held my light up and rested my gun on the light and shone it right in his face. He didn't even flinch-just rubbed his jaw where my head connected and stared at me with the most unusual set of eyes I had ever seen in my life. If my heart had stopped beating before, this guy had just kickstarted the hell out of it.
His copper red hair formed a perfect halo of soft curls around his head, clashing with the brightness of his sea-green eyes. On any other guy, the hair style would have appeared boyish in nature, but on him combined with the 5'oclock shadow he had going on, it appeared more manly than anything I had ever seen . I aimed the gun at his head as he moved forward. "Don't you fucking move." I growled. I watched his eyebrows rise and it only pissed me off more. "Who are you?" I added. I was proud of myself for sounding so stern, I could practically feel my father's approval.
He rubbed his jaw again before flashing me a sheepish grin. "You really knocked me good on that one, huh?" his voice was deep and combined with an accent I couldn't place and a smile that would put the sun to shame, I nearly melted to a puddle right there in my boots. I kept my steel reserve and held my gun straight. I eyed his uniform, trying to regain my wits about me. I could practically hear my father scolding me for not observing every detail....but no matter how hard I searched, my eyes found nothing. He wore all black, right down to his military issued boots. His black shirt and pants were covered in dust smears. Across his back I saw the muzzle of an automatic rifle and...rope. My rope.
"You moved me!" I said it as it had dawned on me. His face kept it's insultingly calm demeanor. "How did you know I fell? How did you know where I was?" I raised my gun and kept it trained between his eyes "Were you following me?"
"I'll answer your questions if you take the light off my face." He squinted at me around the light and I glowered as I lowered it-but not my weapon. "Thank you kindly." He rubbed his eyes and spoke again "To answer your first question, I'm Tanis."
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