Chapter 16

Inside the Pyramid

            Inside the temple it was surprisingly bare, with the exception of a diagram that showed the pyramid as well as the different levels that were within it.  With each level depicted on the diagram, there was writing in a strange language that neither Jonah nor Alissa could read.  Also, there was a stone doorway that was sealed shut by a heavy looking stone table that was placed in front of it and a large altar to the side opposite the door and table. 

            “Well, there does not seem to be anything of use to us up here.”  Jonah stated with a disappointed look on his face.

            “We could always check inside.”  Alissa said indicating to the door that was blocked off with the table.

            “And how do you suggest that we move that table so that we can get that door open?”

            “Easy.”  She said arching her eyebrow while painting a whimsical smile on her lips.  “You, are the man, therefore, you move it.” 

            She giggled at the look Jonah gave her.

            “Trust me, you can move that.”  She said, encouraging him.  “You just have to put your back into it.”  She demonstrated by pushing a heavy invisible object to show him how it was done.

            Jonah looked at her doubtfully but walked over to the table and grabbed a hold of it.  Straining, he pushed it, using the wall to brace against and slowly the table moved, shifting slowly away from the door.  Encouraged by the little bit of movement he had gotten so far, Jonah continued to push till the table had been moved far enough to get the door open wide enough to allow them to fit comfortably through.

            “See,” Alissa said smiling at Jonah.  “I told you that you were strong enough to move it.  I should know what you are capable of doing you know.”

            Jonah smiled at her and pulled the door open.  A dank musty smell assaulted their noses from the darkness within as the door opened.  Mr. Waffles whined and laid down near the steps refusing to go near the door, so Alissa went to go check on the dog and make sure he was okay.  When she confirmed that he was indeed okay and his apprehension appeared to simply be that he did not want to go into the pyramid; she left him alone and joined Jonah at the entrance to the pyramid.

            They pulled out their hand torches and directed the beams into the darkness, revealing a long set of stone stairs leading down into the darkness below. 

            “More stairs.”  Alissa said, looking at Jonah as she sighed.

            “Yep.”  Jonah agreed, sighing with her.  “Oh well, no time like the present.”  With that Jonah descended into the darkness below and Alissa followed.

            They proceeded slowly down the stairs, the stones in the backs of their hands glowing lightly but not enough to be of any use.  Together they both noted that the stairs were thick with dust and each step they took kicked up a cloud of it, making breathing difficult.  Alissa took a knife out and cut a thick length of cloth off of the bottom of her shirt, exposing her belly.  With the wide strip of cloth, Alissa cut it in two and then she covered both her and Jonah’s mouths and noses by tying the makeshift bandanas in place around their heads.  This offered some protection against the thick dust getting into their lungs, but did nothing to prevent it from irritating their eyes.

            The deeper they went into the bowels of the pyramid the fouler the air grew and the more oppressive the darkness seemed to get.  As they reached the top enclosed level of the pyramid, they saw a long hallway full of stone doors that would have to be pushed open to get to what was inside.  Jonah experimentally tried one of the doors but found that it would not budge.  He tried several more doors after the first but all had the same result when he tried to open them.

            They continued down the corridor, exploring the places where the path branched off and occasionally checking the doors, only to find every one of them that they checked could not be opened.  After almost getting lost on the first level, they finally found the steps leading down to the next level. 

            The second level was built like a maze.  Alissa pulled out a piece of chalk and began marking on the rough stone walls to indicate which way they had come from as they explored the dusty dark depths of the pyramid.  The halls were once again lined with stone doors, same as the level above, and same as the level above, the doors would not open when pushed.  Starting to get frustrated, the couple wondered if they would be able to get any of the doors open to find out what was inside the rooms.  After what felt like a few hours of searching, they came to the next set of stairs leading down to the third level.

            The third level down was designed a little differently, it only had one long hallway that split into two walkways that circled a large pit before merging together and continuing on to the far side of the level.  To the left and the right of the pit were two large sets of double doors that were positioned on opposing sides of the pit.  Splitting up, they both went to check on the opposing set of doors, not expecting any of them to open. 

            Alissa strained against the door that she had approached and managed to get it to creep open slightly before she could move it no longer, the door Jonah tried, though, would not budge at all.  Alissa called Jonah over to attempt the door and he was able to open it enough for them to fit through.  Looking around, once they were in the chamber beyond the door, Alissa saw rows and rows of sarcophagi that filled the chamber. 

            “This is a tomb.”  Alissa whispered, her voice seeming to echo all around the chamber.

            Jonah gulped, the sound seeming amplified now that they were on edge due to finding out what the true purpose of the pyramid was. 

            “You don't think this is the tomb that we are looking for do you?”  Alissa asked, looking at Jonah.

            “No, not based on what we were told,” he replied.  “The tomb we are looking for is supposed to be near the city, not in the center of it.  This might have been one that was built to accommodate the bodies of the people as the city was built up, but I doubt it would be the one we are looking for.  After all, what would the chances us finding that particular tomb here in the center of the city?”

            “I agree, not likely, but you have to remember that the information we were told was initially second hand information that had then been passed down over the course of centuries, who knows how accurate it is now.  It could be that this was near the village of Charne, but, as time passed, became the center piece of the city of Charne before the city eventually fell into ruin.”

            Jonah nodded.  He had thought about the points that Alissa pointed out but could not help but feel as if they were in the wrong place.  Together they agreed to push forward, just in case they were wrong and the burial place that they were looking for was indeed in the tomb that they were currently in.  They searched the chamber, avoiding touching any of the sarcophagi, for any potential clues that might lead them to the information that they were seeking.  Finding none, they moved on to the next level after saying a quick prayer for the dead.

            In total they descended thirty levels down and found nothing, though, once they were about twenty levels down Alissa started to hear a faint rustling sound, which sounded as if it were coming from the sealed rooms or from the sarcophagi themselves that they passed.           

            “It's probably just rats that we are hearing.”  Jonah said.

            “Um, really?” she asked, giving him a queer look.  “Are you sure about that?”

            “What do you mean?”

            “Think about it,” she said, giving him a serious look.  “This pyramid has been sealed for centuries, right?”

            “Uh huh.”

            “Despite the fact that there are the remains of people long dead around us, none of them should be intact enough to have anything worth feasting on, even for a rat, right?”

            “Um, maybe?” Jonah asked, looking doubtful at his own words.

            “So, if there is nothing in here that could potentially be a food source for rats, and, for that matter we have not seen any tracks or droppings to suggest that there are rats in here, what could it be that we are hearing?”

            “Um, I don't know.”

            “Neither do I, my love, and, quite frankly, I really am not sure I want to know.  Now, let us hurry up and get to the bottom level because it looks like it is only tombs, crypts, and sarcophagi up above.  Maybe at the base there is something else, though I doubt it and the sooner we can head back up and out of here, the happier I will be.”

            Jonah agreed with her and they pushed forward, descending another three levels before they reached what could only be the bottom floor.  The bottom chamber was a large, open, and nearly empty expanse that had a gentle downward slope to it.  They followed the slope and soon found that it led to the opening of a large cave that seemed to glow faintly. 

            Upon entering the cave, they saw that it was a strange luminescent moss that produced the glow and that the moss caused a stronger reaction from the stones in the back of their hands.  Between the stones and the moss, they were able to cut off their hand torches and the area was flooded with silvery light that was not unlike the light of the twin moons. 

            A little further back in the cave there was a large door that was made out of what appeared to be steel and at its center was a perfectly formed sphere that was set into a recess.  The sphere that sat mounted in the doorway appeared to be made of glass.  Curious, Jonah approached it and the stone in his hand responded by glowing brightly, the sphere in return grew dark as if it were absorbing the light around it. 

            Cautiously, Alissa stepped forward, joining Jonah as the twin stones shone brighter and brighter until the light was nearly blinding.  The sphere grew darker in response.  Soon it was as if there was a battle between the light and the darkness happening before them.  The couple stood there as a sucking sensation came over them as it felt like the sphere was attempting to either suck the stones out of their hands or at least draw the couple toward it. 

            Alissa felt her feet slide forward and she looked at Jonah in a panic, but he was doing all he could to fight the increasing power of the vacuum that was attempting to draw them in.  The stones set in their hands ached from the force of the suction that pulled at them and Alissa felt herself start to slide forward once again.  Suddenly she felt a hand clasp her shoulder as she lost her footing and started to stumble forward, her hand with the stone pulled out in front of her toward the sphere.  Looking back, she could see Jonah, who was holding on to her shoulder as he strained against the forces that pulled at them. 

            The couple screamed together as the vacuum became too much for them to handle and they flew forward, both of their hands striking the sphere simultaneously stone first.  Darkness closed around them and they knew no more.