The Ancient - Short Fiction for Three Word Wednesday -

The Ancient

The wind howled while the lopsided trees blacked out the otherwise clear sky. Fallen leaves, ferns and moss covered trunks created a thick wet coat along the unknown trail.

They followed the little streaks of light that escaped through the dense forest cover. The shafts of light grew thicker as the forest started thinning out after a few miles of trek. A little ray of hope swirled in their hearts.

What lay in front took their breath away. Ahead of them stood erect a towering structure. It was prehistoric yet organized.

The place looked deserted of any human civilization.

Wandering around this archaic building Emanuel discovered a tiny stone dial on the side wall. He placed his hand on the dial… nothing… he tried rotating it…. It stood still as if it was frozen.

“Does it work” asked an intrigued Leila.

“No luck”

But just as she pushed the dial the stone wall caved in, miraculously giving way to a hidden tunnel.

Emanuel and Leila walked through the dark and swampy tunnel not realizing what lay ahead of them. At the end of the tunnel lay a large room. Surprisingly it was brighter, streaks of light was getting in from the ceiling. But they were astound to find the space inside spotless and without a blemish. As if someone had just cleaned the entire room!

It just had a large pillar at the center on top of which lay a golden casket. The only other thing in the otherwise flawless room was a dried long stemmed rose on top of the casket.

“What is this place? Whose sarcophagus is this? Is this a tomb stone?” asked Leila who was unable to keep her excitement in check.

“This looks ancient, it has something inscribed on it, I don’t understand what it means. We need to get an expert to read this” said Emanuel who was now trying to open the casket.

“Emm.. I’m not getting a very good feeling about this, this is a tomb stone, for god sake, what if there is a curse or something, I don’t think we should do this”, said a visibly tensed Leila.

“There is nothing like a curse or something, we are about to get famous honey, we might go down in history, let’s see who’s laying beneath”.

***

They had searched almost the entire island but never got to see them. No one had seen them ever since they broke off the group and got lost in the forest trail. It was the fourth day of the search and no success.

“Let’s leave now, I think we lost them to wild animals, or something. We have not left any place and have searched everywhere”, said the captain.

“I think you are right, we are low on provisions already”

The ship sailed off finally but without the two efficient archeologists.

***

Emanuel and Leila never saw another light of the day. As soon as he broke open the casket all hell broke loose in the otherwise empty tomb. They lay trapped within the tomb.

Perhaps Leila was right…