Maggie nodded. “Good. Because going back may not be an option.”
“I agree. Forward is our best hope.”
They concluded their examination. They found nothing. “All clear,” Emma said. “Well, I guess we can press that heart and see what happens.”
“Okay,” Maggie agreed. They returned to the funerary display. Emma shined the light on the gemstone. “Ready?” Maggie questioned with a deep breath.
“As I’ll ever be.”
“Together,” Maggie said. Both women placed their hands on the gemstone. “On three. One, two…”
“Wait!” Emma said.
“Now what?”
“On three or after three?”
“After three. I’ll say push. One, two, three, push. We push on push.”
Emma nodded. “Okay.” She exhaled a long breath. “Let’s do this.”
“One, two, three, push.”
The gemstone retracted into the bottom of the slab. A swooshing sound echoed in the chamber. A panel slid open in the sarcophagus base.
“Emma!” Maggie exclaimed. She pointed under the gem. “Look!”
“We found it!” Emma said.
The blue-green ceramic ankh stood inside the small hidden chamber. “We did it!” Maggie cried.
Emma inspected the ankh and the surrounding chamber. With great care, she reached in and extracted the polished item. A smile crossed her face. “The last piece of the puzzle!”
“Yeah! Now to get out of here and use it to find the library!”
Maggie climbed to her feet, offering her hand to pull Emma to standing. Emma accepted. She stowed the ankh in the pocket of her cargo pants. They started toward the exit door.
“Oh, I wonder how much farther it is to get out?” Maggie questioned. “It doesn’t matter. I’m so excited to tell everyone we found it!”
“Me too! There may be another chamber, two at most. I’d say no more than that before the back door.”
“Lead the way!” Maggie responded.
Emma did another quick inspection of the doorway before they stepped through it. Maggie followed her after they ensured they would trigger no trap.
They found themselves in a small, nondescript chamber. Devoid of any markings, the bare stone walls pressed close to them in the tiny room. Directly across from where they entered, a doorway yawned into the area beyond.
Emma stepped toward it. She glanced around the doorway. Something seemed off to her. The doorway appeared odd. She swung the flashlight beam around it. “I don’t see anything.”
Maggie took another step toward the door when Emma grabbed her. “Wait!” Emma screamed. She pulled Maggie back.
“What is it?”
Emma leaned over and blew across the floor. Loose sand and dust scattered toward the corners of the small space. A miniscule contour showed on the floor, outlining a separate block. In the center of the stone piece, a pattern was carved.
Emma pointed at it. She pulled Maggie a step back before she tapped her foot on the brick. It descended into the floor. A large blade dropped from the ceiling of the doorway. It slammed into the door’s sill with a thud. The sickening sound of metal scraping on stone reverberated.
The stone trigger began to rise from its depressed position. As it returned to its original state, the blade retracted into the ceiling, resetting itself for another deadly game.
“Whoa, close call! How did you see that?”
Emma pointed to the small black crevice. “Something didn’t look right to me. I noticed that slit. And when I glanced at the floor, I saw the outline of that carving.”
“Good thing you did. Do you think it’s safe to go through as long as we don’t step on that tile?”
“I assume so. Though I hate to take the chance.”
“Me too, but we don’t have any choice.”
“Nope,” Emma agreed. “I’ll go first.”
“We could play rock, paper, scissors for it,” Maggie suggested.
Emma shook her head. “No, I’ll go first. I have the flashlight and the best idea of what to search for on the other side to be sure there are no other triggers.”
“But you’re also the best one NOT to get caught in a trap because you stand the best chance of finding your way out.”
“You can’t talk me out of it, Maggie,” Emma stated. Before Maggie could object, Emma leapt over the trigger tile and through the doorway.
Chapter 21
Maggie held her breath as she awaited an all clear from Emma. She saw the flashlight’s beam bobble around beyond the doorway. Within a few moments, Emma shouted in. “Seems clear! I’ll stand back so you can jump through.”
“Okay!” Maggie called in. “Here I come.” Maggie took a step back and leapt forward. She sailed through the doorway, grinding to a halt just before she bumped into Emma. “Made it!”
Emma investigated their new surroundings with the flashlight. It appeared they were in a narrow tunnel.
“Yikes,” Maggie said with a shiver, “it’s tight in here.”
“Yes,” Emma agreed. “I’d guess this is the tunnel leading out through the back entrance.”
“Boy, I hope so!”
Emma scanned the surrounding area. “Okay, let’s go, but slow. And keep your eyes peeled. We may run into another trap.”
“Okay,” Maggie answered with a nod.
Together, they crept down the corridor. The unadorned walls pressed them close together. With each step, they scanned every inch of the space in front of them.
Twenty minutes into their traversal of the tomb’s corridor, Maggie gasped as the light’s beam panned over a dark spot on the wall. “There!” she exclaimed.
Emma approached it with caution. She studied it in the light before she ran her finger over it. “Just a pockmark in the stone.”
Maggie breathed a sigh of relief. “Good.”
“Good catch in case it wasn’t though.”
“Thanks. I hope this corridor comes to an exit soon. My eyes are starting to glaze over.”
“Mine, too. Everything is starting to look the same.”
“Yep.”
“Want a break?”
Maggie shook her head. “No, I’d rather keep going and find the way out.”
“Onward toward the exit then,” Emma answered.
“Onward to breakfast and a nice nap on my cot.”
“That too,” Emma agreed.
They continued their slow crawl down the passageway. After another twenty minutes, Emma’s flashlight beam struck a solid wall in front of them. Emma swung the beam around.
Maggie’s brow creased in confusion and frustration. “Where do we go from here?”
Emma stared at the stone wall. She studied it, moving the flashlight back and forth to search every inch. “Umm,” Emma began.
Maggie glanced at the sides of the passage. She pressed her hands against the walls on both sides. Nothing budged. They were solid.
“Did we miss a turn or something?”
“The way we scoured the walls, doubt it,” Emma lamented. She spun and leaned against the dead end.
“Well…” Maggie hesitated, staring at the wall behind Emma. “This can’t be a dead end!”
“Do you see a way through?” Emma snarked.
“No. But why is it here? They just put a corridor in for fun? They dug the passage and then decided not to finish it?”
“Or they used it as a back entrance to bring items in Antony’s part of the tomb, then they sealed it when they were done.”
“Sealed it?” Maggie said with a gulp.
Emma’s shoulders slumped, and she stalked a few steps away. She nodded before speaking. “Yeah, sealed it.”
“But you said…” Maggie began.
Emma interrupted her. “I said they built them with a back entrance. I didn’t say they left them open.”
“So… what? You told me that just to ease my nerves? You lied so I wouldn’t panic? What, Emma?”
Emma shook her head. “
No! No, I… I genuinely hoped it was a back entrance. An unsealed back entrance. I… I didn’t realize they sealed it. I mean they did sometimes but… I hoped this one wasn’t.”
Emma stared wistfully at the dead end.
“Well, maybe we missed something,” Maggie said.
“It’s solid,” Emma answered. She smacked her hand against the hard stone wall. “I don’t even see a seam. I’m sorry, Maggie. We’re stuck.”
Emma stalked away and slid to sitting. She sunk her head into her hands. Maggie sat down across from her. Emma sniffled, wiping at her cheeks. Maggie opened her mouth to offer a consoling statement, but her mind found none.
“Emma…” Maggie began after a moment.
“Don’t,” Emma answered. Her voice cracked through her tears.
“Don’t cry, Emma.”
“Don’t cry? What do you propose we do? Dance? We’re stuck in here, Maggie. We’re going to die in here.”
Maggie considered her statements. Emma was right. They’d reached the end. “Maybe we could try to go back the way we came.”
Emma made a face at Maggie. “Okay, you’re right. It’s probably not possible.”
“I’m sorry, Maggie,” Emma said, breaking down in sobs.
Maggie crawled to sit next to Emma. She pulled her into a tight embrace. “Don’t be sorry, Emma. There’s nothing to be sorry about!”
Emma pushed her away. “We’re going to die, Maggie!”
“But it’s not your fault. I was the one who pushed us to find a way out of that first chamber!”
“I’m the one with the knowledge of ancient tombs. I should have stopped us. I should have realized.”
“That’s silly,” Maggie contended.
“I guess it doesn’t matter,” Emma responded. “You hated me before this anyway.”
“I don’t hate you,” Maggie said.
“Could have fooled me,” Emma retorted. “You detest me because of what I did giving away our location when we found this place.”
Before Maggie could answer, the flashlight’s beam flickered, then extinguished. Darkness enveloped them.
“Ugh,” Emma moaned. “Par for the damn course.” She tossed the flashlight down in disgust. It clattered across the stone floor, flickering twice before dying again.
Maggie heard the sound of more sniffling as darkness descended again. She reached to Emma and wrapped her arm around her. With her other hand, she stroked Emma’s hair. She remained silent for a moment before she spoke again. “It’s true I was angry before, but I don’t hate you.”
“You don’t have to be nice to me just because we’re going to die and I’m upset,” Emma said.
“No,” Maggie began, “I’m not, I’m…” Maggie’s voice dropped off. Maggie creased her brow.
“You’re what?” Emma questioned. “Lying? You’re lying and you really hate me?”
“No,” Maggie answered. “I can see you.”
Maggie stared at the clear outline of Emma next to her.
“What?” Emma questioned; confusion apparent in her voice.
“I can see you!” Maggie exclaimed, her voice rising with excitement. “I can see you! I can see you!”
Emma turned toward Maggie. “I can see you, too!”
Maggie stood. “Which means there is light coming from somewhere!”
“Which means we may be able to get out!”
Maggie searched for the light source. “There!” she exclaimed, pointing toward the ceiling.
“I see it!” Emma answered.
Maggie reached for it, but it remained just outside her grasp. She hurried toward the discarded flashlight. After retrieving it, she shook it and smacked it a few times. “Come on!” Maggie groaned. “We just need a few more minutes to investigate this!”
“Try switching the batteries around,” Emma suggested.
“Good idea,” Maggie said. She popped open the battery compartment and swapped the batteries inside. Maggie flicked the switch and light streamed into the passageway.
Both women breathed a sigh of relief. Maggie clicked the flashlight off to conserve the batteries. “I can’t reach the opening. Should we go back and find something we can climb on?”
Emma shook her head. “I’d rather not go back. One of us is going to have to boost the other up.”
Maggie considered it. Emma squatted down. “Climb on my shoulders.”
“Maybe it’s better for you to climb on my shoulders.”
Emma stood straighter. “How much do you weigh?”
Maggie frowned. “Never mind, let’s just try your way.”
Emma guffawed at her. “Oh, Maggie,” she moaned.
Emma crouched and Maggie swung her legs over Emma’s shoulders. Emma stood with a grunt. “You should have answered the weight question,” Emma choked out.
“Quiet, you,” Maggie answered as she flicked on the flashlight. She searched the area near the crevice.
“Anything?” Emma groaned. She wavered as she attempted to hold Maggie on her shoulders.
“No, hold still.”
“Sorry! I’m having trouble staying upright period, let alone still.”
Maggie swung the flashlight’s beam to the corner. “Here!” she exclaimed.
“What is it?”
“A hole!”
“A hole?” Emma questioned as they were plunged into darkness.
“Uh-oh,” Maggie said. She shook the flashlight and banged on it. The flashlight refused to offer any additional light. “No!”
“I need a break,” Emma stated. She fell to her knees and Maggie toppled off her but managed to regain her balance.
Emma collapsed to the floor, gulping air. “You okay?” Maggie inquired.
“Yeah, I just needed a minute. Any luck with the flashlight?”
“No,” Maggie lamented. She knocked it against the wall. “It’s dead.”
“Did you see anything in the hole while you were up there?”
“No,” Maggie answered. “The light died before I could look in there.”
“Use your phone.”
Maggie dug in her pocket and toggled it on. “Can’t,” she answered. “It’s dead, too.”
“You wasted it earlier. You and your selfies! We’re going to have to go by feel.”
“You mean…” Maggie gulped. “Stick my hand in there and feel around?”
“Yeah,” Emma answered as she climbed to her feet.
“Let’s switch, you go up there and feel around the creepy hole and I’ll be the base.”
“No. I can lift you, we’ve proven that, so, come on, just get up there.” Emma crouched again.
Maggie set her mouth in a thin line as she swung her legs over Emma’s shoulders again. “Okay, ready.”
Emma stood with a grumble. Maggie felt around in the corner, locating the hole.
“Did you find it?” Emma inquired.
“Yeah.”
“Well? Is there anything in it?”
“I’m not sure. I haven’t put my hand in yet.”
“What are you waiting for? Come on, Maggie!”
“Ugh, all right.” Maggie grimaced as she steeled her nerves. “Ugh,” she moaned as she reached her fingers inside the crevice. Her fingers touched something cold, and she retracted her hand.
“What are you doing?” Emma shouted.
“Sorry, I touched something, and I didn’t know what it was!”
“Maggie…”
“Shh, okay, I’m going to try again.”
Maggie squared her shoulders and reached into the fissure. She located the cold item again. She let her fingers explore it. “I feel something. It’s cold. Feels like a ring. Maybe metal.”
“Anything else?”
“No. I’ll try pulling this.”
“No!” Emma shouted.
“What?”
“Don’t pull it.”
“Why not?”
“It may trigger something.”
“Yeah, a way out, I hope.”
“We have no idea what that could do. It could trigger a trap. Even if it opens a way out, we have no idea what is on the other side of the opening. It could be a mountain of sand!”
“If it’s a mountain of sand, we wouldn’t be seeing light! I’m pulling it!”
Maggie reached into the hole. Her fingers closed around the cool metal ring. She tugged at it. Nothing happened. Emma stumbled underneath her. Maggie held fast to the ring, but Emma’s wobbling caused Maggie to twist it.
The ring spun at a ninety-degree angle. A loud clank boomed in the small space. Emma lost her footing as a door swung open above their heads. Sand poured through the opening along with sunshine. Maggie clutched at the ring, dangling in the air as Emma collapsed to the floor below her. Maggie heard a sickening smack as Emma hit the floor.
Sand continued to gush through the opening. It buried Emma as she laid unconscious. Maggie lost her grip on the door trigger. She fell onto the layer of sand with a thud.
“Oof,” Maggie grunted as she hit. She wriggled for a moment as the air returned to her lungs. The moment she was able, Maggie pushed herself up to sitting. She spun onto her knees and began a desperate dig through the sand.
“Emma! Emma!” Maggie called in a frantic voice.
As quickly as Maggie dug, the grains filled in any hole she attempted to create. Maggie groaned as she struggled against the shifting sands. Maggie’s digging turned frenzied as she failed to find her friend.
She tried multiple spots, clawing as deep as she could. On her fourth try, she touched warm skin. Her fingers closed around Emma’s. “Emma!” Maggie choked out. She grabbed hold of her hand and tugged. Too much sand still covered Emma to free her.
Maggie worked at a feverish pace. She shoved sand to each side. Emma’s form became visible as the sand fell away. Maggie cleared the grains from around her head. She pulled Emma’s head up. Maggie found no traces of blood. She prayed Emma’s head injury proved minor.
“Emma! Emma!” Maggie called as she tapped Emma’s cheeks with her hand.
Emma’s forehead pinched, and a moan escaped her lips. A choking cough followed before Emma’s eyes fluttered open.
“Emma?!” Maggie questioned. “Are you okay?”
Secret of the Ankhs: A Maggie Edwards Adventure (Maggie Edwards Adventures Book 2) Page 24
